my 3rd grader teacher

A funny thing happened the other day. I was on Facebook, scanning over one of my friends pages when I saw something interesting. I noticed that my friend had a familiar person, a blast from my past, as one of his friends. Mr. Latoria. As in, my former third grade teacher!

When I think back to my school days I am instantly brought back to my year in third grade. It was such a great year! It was the year of math baseball, for one! The class would stand in two lines and the "batter" would be asked a math question. If they got it right, they could advance to the next base. If they got it wrong they would be a strike. The whole class would look forward to math baseball day! It was fair and it was FUN! Now I can see it is not always what you teach, but how you teach it that is the bigger impact.

Third grade was such a good year in many ways, but all come right down to the teacher. Mr. Frank Latoria! He was a happy man. He loved to teach. He loved his students and it showed! A few years back I was going through some old papers in the basement. I came across an old report card from school. It was my third grade report card. In the comment section, Mr. Latoria wrote that I was a good student and he wished me a happy life! Upon reading this, a few tears came to my eyes. For I now know that this teacher really meant those words. He lived to teach! Not teach to live.

Over the years I have had some OK teachers. A handful of good teachers, but only one of two great teachers. Ones that really stand out. Ones that broke from the mold and taught with their hearts. Ones that kept each child individual and unique.

I received a note, via Facebook, from Mr. Latoria today! In it he told me how he did remember me as his student. He struggled with a decision whether to pursue teaching or going into the family business some time ago. Recently, though, he went back into teaching and was not sure if he made the right decision. He said that after he read my note he feels in his heart that he did make the right decision! He can see how his love of teaching has impacted his fellow students. He thanked me!!



'They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel."- Carol Buchner