The only thing I remember about Ms. Gilbert is her hair. I was just five, and she was my kindergarten teacher. She had amazing hair, shiny brown, straight as a pin, cascading in sheets down to her bottom. I sense kindness and sweet energy when I try to recall any details. No details come, just a knowledge that this was a lovely young woman, and then a flash of bright colors - either from her actual clothing or her warm personality. And again those long chestnut locks. Wait, I remember books. She read to us. While children played with her hair.
That sums up 1975. Do you have a memory of a favorite teacher?
I LOVED Mrs. Skinner in 4th grade. She was such a hippie. Long, frizzy hair, always wore flowing skirts. She put me and my friend in our own reading group, recognizing that we were way ahead. ;-) (Hmmm, that WAS the year that I started getting harassed for being a teacher’s pet, as they called me). Also, Mrs. Skinner read my very favorite book to us, which I’d already read several times at home: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. How cool was that?
Jen July 22nd, 2008 at 10:53 pm
Mrs. Darling, no fair. You need to give me at least a small tidbit about this wonderful teacher!
SmallWorld, Mrs. Skinner sounds like a dream! I must admit, Miss Gilbert had to have been a hippie, too! Think about it - 1975, long straight hair down past your waist, brightly colored and patterned clothing; I just have a feeling. :-)
Hard to choose-but I have to go with Mr. Moffitt. He was my 7th and 8th grade teacher and he was also the principal of our school. He had the whole school to worry about-and was still an awesome teacher. I still remember things he taught me all these years later.
Nice, very nice, Jennifer. Most kids do notice the clothes and hair of their teachers. As a volunteer in my kids’ classrooms, I remember I was watched too. One child said she thought I was “pretty.” (Bless her!)
My favorite teacher was Mr. Fisher. I took HS English from him, both English 11 and 12, back-to- back in Grade 11. He was wonderful, a Scotsman, with auburn hair (hair again!) and a deep Brogue accent… And ultra-straight teeth!
Did you have your interview yesterday? Oh, and I’m SO sorry I didn’t rsvp to the party! I’m really, really sorry. I’ve been distcracted by a stolen camera, and had neglected to do it sooner…we really want to get together with you but today didn’t work.
Mrs. Berg was my 2nd grade teacher. She was so sweet, and I was so sad when she moved across the country to Houston at the end of the school year. She read to us a ton, one of the reasons I think I’m an avid reader, to this day! BTW, don’t forget the Great Pop’rs Giveaway! The more you comment, the better chance you have of winning–Check it out!
Looking back, my favorite teachers were the ones that made me work hard. They were truly dedicated teachers that I feared upon entering their classroom but grew to love. I can remember my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Pratt, always telling me “Mandi, when all else fails read the directions.” She really had a great sense of humor and a great laugh to go with it. ( :
Thanks for your great comment on my latest post - you don’t know how much I have been stewing over your question. Renae
Oops - I accidentally hit the post button before I was through. ) :
Anyways - Renae (Life Nurturing Education) left a great reply to your question at my blog today that really echoes what I have been thinking. I may add to it tomorrow - life is a little hectic right now - we are in fact moving into a house! Yeah!
Jen July 23rd, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Tipper, wow, that is an immense job, to teach 7th/8th AND to be a principal! Gotta hand it to him, he must have been a gifted teacher and competent in many areas.
e-Mom, I loved my high school English teacher, too. Mr. Mitchell, and he was so dramatic - you’d often find him up on top of his desk doing a dramatization of Shakespeare!
Amanda, I’ll email you. We missed you today! I’m so sorry to hear about your camera - your brand new camera!
Veggie Mom, any teacher who reads a lot to her students gets extra credit in my book. :-) It makes a difference.
Mandi, very cool that the teacher you respected and loved was the one who pushed you hard. Having high expectations of your students produces more than just hard work from them, but it lets them know that you think highly of their abilities!
I went back to your blog to check on Renae’s comment, thanks for letting me know about that.
I think Mrs. Steinmetz was my favorite but I don’t remember if she was actually my teacher or just one at my school that I WISHED would be my teacher. She had long hair, glamorous fingernails and always wore high heels. I don’t think she had any kids of her own though. At least that’s what my Mom told me when I asked why my Mom didn’t dress like that.
I have an eclectic educational background- ACE school, a Dutch Reformed Christian School, public school, small private Christian school in our basement, homeschool and finally public school for all of highschool. My favourite teachers were ones who possessed an enthusiasm for their work, and a sense of humour.
It’s a funny thing about hair, I remember my kindergardener’s teacher hair so well. Thick and black. She had poison ivy all over her hands for a week or so and I remember braiding her hair at recess. A pleasant memory.
Jen July 25th, 2008 at 7:50 am
halfmoon girl, wow, you’ll have to tell me more about your eclectic education sometime - sounds mighty interesting. I agree on the sense of humor; the other favorite teachers that come to my mind all had a wonderful sense of humor and added some fun and wit to the classroom.
killlashandra, how funny that you remember the poison ivy! And of course, the hair, the hair, the hair!!
Jen, I have an award for you at my homemaker’s blog.
Memory of a favorite teacher?… Mr. Grimes! He had a mullet and always smiled at me and made me feel like I was president of the school when really I was a scrawny, shy little thing. That was 5th grade, 1984.
18 Responses
Oh dont even get me started! I had a wonderful teacher in grades 3-5 and I pattern all my teaching after her. It could fill a book!
I LOVED Mrs. Skinner in 4th grade. She was such a hippie. Long, frizzy hair, always wore flowing skirts. She put me and my friend in our own reading group, recognizing that we were way ahead. ;-) (Hmmm, that WAS the year that I started getting harassed for being a teacher’s pet, as they called me). Also, Mrs. Skinner read my very favorite book to us, which I’d already read several times at home: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. How cool was that?
Mrs. Darling, no fair. You need to give me at least a small tidbit about this wonderful teacher!
SmallWorld, Mrs. Skinner sounds like a dream! I must admit, Miss Gilbert had to have been a hippie, too! Think about it - 1975, long straight hair down past your waist, brightly colored and patterned clothing; I just have a feeling. :-)
Hard to choose-but I have to go with Mr. Moffitt. He was my 7th and 8th grade teacher and he was also the principal of our school. He had the whole school to worry about-and was still an awesome teacher. I still remember things he taught me all these years later.
Nice, very nice, Jennifer. Most kids do notice the clothes and hair of their teachers. As a volunteer in my kids’ classrooms, I remember I was watched too. One child said she thought I was “pretty.” (Bless her!)
My favorite teacher was Mr. Fisher. I took HS English from him, both English 11 and 12, back-to- back in Grade 11. He was wonderful, a Scotsman, with auburn hair (hair again!) and a deep Brogue accent… And ultra-straight teeth!
Did you have your interview yesterday? Oh, and I’m SO sorry I didn’t rsvp to the party! I’m really, really sorry. I’ve been distcracted by a stolen camera, and had neglected to do it sooner…we really want to get together with you but today didn’t work.
Mrs. Berg was my 2nd grade teacher. She was so sweet, and I was so sad when she moved across the country to Houston at the end of the school year. She read to us a ton, one of the reasons I think I’m an avid reader, to this day! BTW, don’t forget the Great Pop’rs Giveaway! The more you comment, the better chance you have of winning–Check it out!
Looking back, my favorite teachers were the ones that made me work hard. They were truly dedicated teachers that I feared upon entering their classroom but grew to love. I can remember my 5th grade teacher, Mrs. Pratt, always telling me “Mandi, when all else fails read the directions.” She really had a great sense of humor and a great laugh to go with it. ( :
Thanks for your great comment on my latest post - you don’t know how much I have been stewing over your question. Renae
Oops - I accidentally hit the post button before I was through. ) :
Anyways - Renae (Life Nurturing Education) left a great reply to your question at my blog today that really echoes what I have been thinking. I may add to it tomorrow - life is a little hectic right now - we are in fact moving into a house! Yeah!
Tipper, wow, that is an immense job, to teach 7th/8th AND to be a principal! Gotta hand it to him, he must have been a gifted teacher and competent in many areas.
e-Mom, I loved my high school English teacher, too. Mr. Mitchell, and he was so dramatic - you’d often find him up on top of his desk doing a dramatization of Shakespeare!
Amanda, I’ll email you. We missed you today! I’m so sorry to hear about your camera - your brand new camera!
Veggie Mom, any teacher who reads a lot to her students gets extra credit in my book. :-) It makes a difference.
Mandi, very cool that the teacher you respected and loved was the one who pushed you hard. Having high expectations of your students produces more than just hard work from them, but it lets them know that you think highly of their abilities!
I went back to your blog to check on Renae’s comment, thanks for letting me know about that.
I think Mrs. Steinmetz was my favorite but I don’t remember if she was actually my teacher or just one at my school that I WISHED would be my teacher. She had long hair, glamorous fingernails and always wore high heels. I don’t think she had any kids of her own though. At least that’s what my Mom told me when I asked why my Mom didn’t dress like that.
Well, though I’m homeschooled I did attend our church kindergarten and my teacher was one of the sweetest ladies I’ve known. :)
MooBeeMa, I love the “glamorous fingernails” part! Too funny - we all seem to remember those lovely teachers with the pretty hair and such!
Miss Jocelyn, kindergarten is a special year. Praise God for some dedicated, sweet, godly teachers who influence our children.
I have an eclectic educational background- ACE school, a Dutch Reformed Christian School, public school, small private Christian school in our basement, homeschool and finally public school for all of highschool. My favourite teachers were ones who possessed an enthusiasm for their work, and a sense of humour.
It’s a funny thing about hair, I remember my kindergardener’s teacher hair so well. Thick and black. She had poison ivy all over her hands for a week or so and I remember braiding her hair at recess. A pleasant memory.
halfmoon girl, wow, you’ll have to tell me more about your eclectic education sometime - sounds mighty interesting. I agree on the sense of humor; the other favorite teachers that come to my mind all had a wonderful sense of humor and added some fun and wit to the classroom.
killlashandra, how funny that you remember the poison ivy! And of course, the hair, the hair, the hair!!
Jen, I have an award for you at my homemaker’s blog.
Memory of a favorite teacher?… Mr. Grimes! He had a mullet and always smiled at me and made me feel like I was president of the school when really I was a scrawny, shy little thing. That was 5th grade, 1984.
Lol, Mr. Mitchell sounds fun! My Mr. Fisher had a dramatic streak too. :~D
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