I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework. – Lily Tomlin

This quote jumped off the page and dove straight into my heart. As a teacher, this is the sole reason why I love to teach. I don’t teach because I love fractions; I teach to open my students’ eyes to the world around them.

Each year my class and I decide on an organization we would like to support through fundraising (CHAT House, Free The Children, World Vision, and Safe Passage/Camino Seguro are some we have chosen.) We have helped build a school, bought tools, seeds and mosquito nets, and supported a child in Uganda and in Guatemala to go to school. In doing so, we work together to host an event called Chili for Children. My students sell tickets, make place mats, advertise, and serve the chili made with ingredients that they have brought in. As they participate, I observe them as they shine in the knowledge that they are making a difference.

Despite being a tad stressful, this has always been my favourite day of the school year.

Then something happened. One year, after the fundraising was “done”, some students came to show me bracelets they were making. They wanted to sell them to raise even more money. This was their idea. This was their work. This was completely their plan.

I just beamed.

This was now my favourite day.

This is why I teach.

(A special thank you to My Spanglish Familia who nominated me to do this quote challenge. Her blog is refreshing, inspiring and humourous. Be sure to check it out.)