This week I added something new to my to do list: email two classes of students individually each day for three days. Starting on Wednesday I used Google Classroom to send an individual email to each student. It’s mostly the same email with a change made to personalize it for each student. I hit send, not expecting much. We are on spring break, after all.
The response has been so great. I haven’t heard from maybe 20 students (not many but more than I expected). I have had several thank me for checking on them, others have shared what they’ve been up to, and many have explained that they are bored and actually miss school.
I have two more classes to email today, so I’m looking forward to hearing back from some students.
All in all, this has been a reminder for me. I know I don’t want to teach anymore, not in the traditional sense at least. But it’s reminded me what I love about teaching: the kids. The relationships. The fun we have. The way you build the relationships and the way some of them last for years and years after the students have left your room.
This is what I will miss if/when I move on.
I’m thankful for the idea and inclination to email each of my kids, for the responses I’ve gotten, and for the reminder of the heart of teaching.
Midwestern Heart in Dixie 
I love that you did this! I know you teach a lot of children so this is a massive undertaking. I don’t think we often remember the power of checking in!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess it is true…..we don’t always know what we have until it’s gone! I too am really missing my students (even the challenging ones). I think this will forever change (for the better) my attitude when I am feeling frustrated or overwhelmed in my profession. Thanks for sharing the idea to individually email students!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I spent some of Thursday making calls to students and their families and had a very similar experience, reminding me of classroom connections that I was missing more than I realized.
LikeLiked by 1 person
YES! I sent whole-class emails to each of my classes and got very little response. (Like 1 person responding out of 20 students.) So yesterday I started sending individual emails and have been surprised and touched by the response: of 18 emails I sent yesterday, 17 students replied. So. Individual emails it is! It’s a little more time-consuming, but by mostly using the same email with a little personalization for each student, it’s possible to get through it relatively efficiently. And the results are worth it.
LikeLiked by 1 person