As teachers, you are often asked to do the impossible, I’m using this post to write a love letter to French teachers. Throughout a typical school year, you are asked to:
- Connect with all students even though they come to class with more and more outside of school issues and trauma
- Continually learn new tech skills (and hope the tech works – fingers crossed)
- Keep in touch with all the parents and inform them whenever their child is missing an assignment
- Cover an enormous amount of curriculum
- Ensure that every single one of your students is doing okay emotionally and mentally
- And the list goes on and on . . .
So today, instead of a regular blog post, I wanted to write you a love letter and include lots of free French resources because I have a feeling you could use some love right now. Here goes:
Dear Teachers (aka Superheroes),
The dedication and commitment that you show to your students on a daily basis is absolutely incredible. You are true heroes! You are often asked to do the impossible and somehow through your perseverance and sheer will power, you constantly find a way to make it possible.
When you feel like you’re not doing enough or that your lesson plans didn’t go as well as you wanted them to, I hope that you also take a moment to realize all of the amazing things that you’re doing each day, too.
You are rising to the occasion and serving your country at a time when students and parents need you most. The students and parents are probably giving you a harder time than ever, because they’re stressed out, too. It would be nice if we lived in a world where teachers were respected and honored the way they should be, but unfortunately, that’s not happening right now. Meanwhile, just know that what you’re doing is so incredibly important.
Students feel your kindness, warmth, and caring.
Teenagers in particular will rarely show you how much your words affect them, but those words will resonate within them throughout their lives. I still remember things my high school teachers said to me and I remember how they made me feel. But did I ever show them how much they influenced me? Probably not.
Hopefully, you take time to celebrate the tiniest of victories this year: each student who shows up to class, a hard-won smile or laugh, the kid who improves from a D to a C+. These small moments add up over the course of the year. Each small step is forward progress. Some days you may not feel like you’re getting very far, so it will be very important to remember all the small wins.
This year, big things will go wrong: technology will inevitably fail, administrators will demand too much, parents will want more than you can give, and students will be reluctant learners.
But keep pushing onward because our country and our students need you right now, more than ever.
You will need to dig deep, to push yourself in ways you haven’t before, to sacrifice. Your effort, dedication, and resilience in the face of enormous obstacles is an ultimate act of love. Thank you for your service, for giving at a time when you may not feel like it. I wish I could give each of you a big hug right now, look you in the eye, and say thank you from my heart to yours. If anyone can do this, it’s you. Teachers are some of the strongest, most determined people that I know. Teachers, you got this!
To help you on this crazy journey this year as part of my love letter, I’m sharing some free resources to make your lives a little easier.
Free French Resources
World Language Cafe Free Resource Library (25+ free resources)
A treasure trove of lesson plans with more added throughout the year!
Hope this love letter to French teachers and these free French lesson plans make your year a little easier. We’re rooting for you, French teachers! You got this!
Happy Teaching!
~Sherry
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