"the more we get together, together, together.

the more we get together, the happier we'll be."

"Socially competent children are happier than their less competent peers." (NASP, 2002)

In high school I was popular. I didn't succeed in school to my fullest potential; but I was happy. I wanted to go to school. I had fun going. I enjoyed the classes I took, and understood what was going on in each of my classes. I felt accomplished and I had fun going. High school for me was very social, and I was happy because of that. Most of my high school teachers enjoyed what they were teaching and had a passion for it. They loved their job just as much as I loved going to High School.

Junior High and Middle School was a totally different story. There was only 1 or 2 teachers I really liked, and that I felt loved their job. The others were just waiting to retire, and didn't care much about what they were teaching. I hated Junior High and Middle School. I couldn't wait for 2:30 to roll around so I could go home. I didn't succeed in hardly any classes. I didn't want to go to school everyday. It was not a social experience for me.

As I think back to Elementary School, I had fun going to class. I was exciting to learn something new everyday, and expand my education. I think back and compare High School and Elementary School to each other. My teachers in Elementary School had a passion for their career, and were motivated by their students to help them succeed.

"the things YOU say and do will make a real difference in children's lives"

My mom taught pre-school in our home when I was younger. We moved to Northern Utah when I was around 10 years old, and my mom began teaching High School. She loved her job. She was passionate about it. She loved her students like her own children. I saw that same passion my mom had for her students in a lot of my teachers as well. I think back, and remember how special I felt when one of my teachers would do something specific for me, or pointed out something I did right. I remember when I was in 2nd grade we had a reading chart, and my teacher said if we read 1,000 pages before the end of the school year she would take us to get a milk shake. I read the 1,000 pages, and was able to get a milk shake with my teacher. It was so exciting to get some 1 on 1 time with my teacher. We stayed after school together, and ate our milkshakes talking about the books I read. She was interested in me, and it made me feel so much better about myself.

It is so important that as a teacher we help children feel confident and important.