My
swan song came in the form of a letter I addressed to the students and staff of
my student teaching placement site. It was printed in the most recent issue of
the school newspaper and I worked very hard to structure it to mirror my
understanding of good practice. I doubt that anyone who reads it could see the
deliberate care I took in composing it, but that’s okay as long as the overall
message of intense gratitude came through. Here is an annotated version of my
farewell letter:
[2]I’ve given myself a writing assignment: a one-paragraph, single
spaced thank-you letter to everyone I’ve met in my three months as a student
teacher at TSHS. [3]You
may be surprised to hear an English teacher say this, but writing can be hard! [4]However,
nothing worthwhile is easy. [5]I
want you all to know that this has been an experience I will never forget (in a
good way!), and I feel I have learned more during my time here than I ever
could have imagined. [6]Although
I’ve been a teacher to many of you, I’m also a student, and in a few weeks I
will be graduating. [7]Whether
you know it or not, I couldn’t have done it without you. [8]You
adopted me into your family, and like most families we’ve had victories,
disagreements, laughs, arguments, more victories, and that one day when the
power went out. [9]Wherever
I go from here, I’ll always be a [mascot].
Ms. Jacover
[1] The salutation was
constructed to deliberately include formal and respectful titles to remind
students that expectations for behavior and conduct are high, and will continue
to be so. I referred to each student and whole classes in this manner on a
daily basis to instill a sense of pride and decorum in how they choose to
conduct themselves. It is my hope that by doing so, I have imparted a lasting
impression on how these students may view themselves in relation to how they
would like to be viewed by the larger world.
[2] This statement was included
to set a tone for the letter, specifically to remind readers that everyone is a
student and a teacher, to some extent. The sentence is intentionally
declarative in nature and provides the reader with an outline for what to
expect from the rest of the text.
[3] This comment reveals an
attempt to connect with the reader on a personal level. It is crucial for
students to recognize that the work of English language arts is a constant
struggle for everyone. By including this statement, I am trying to communicate
that everyone who engages in this type of work faces individual challenges.
[4] This statement acknowledges
and reinforces the overall message I attempted to communicate during my time as
a student teacher. It is slightly preachy, but ultimately intended to present
the conditional factors associated with mastery of English language arts.
[5] The main idea of the
message comes into focus here, and the reader should have been able to use
context clues to predict this statement. It is heartfelt and honest, and
intended to provide a model for authentic writing.
[6] This sentence reiterates my
role as a teacher while reinforcing the concept that everyone plays dual roles
of educator and student. The main idea of this sentence also supports the daily
reminders I gave students about the benefits of completing assigned work.
[7] Specific language
addressing the reader serves as a reminder that learning is collaborative. The
qualifier present at the beginning of the sentence is intended to foster
metacognitive and reflective thoughts in the reader. It is my hope that a
reader can acknowledge and accept his part in the larger context presented.
[8] Again, language specific to
the school culture is included here to support the school’s mission statement
regarding efforts to build a small learning community. The term “family” was
intentionally used to evoke a sense of responsibility within individual
readers.
[9] The closing statement
speaks to the core values present within the school culture, particularly the
value placed on athletics and team sports. The reference to the mascot should
hopefully remind students of my personal investment in the extracurricular
activities most valued by the school and stakeholders.
[10] I included this to indicate
that my gratitude for the experience is intertwined with my investment in the
readers’ success.
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