Simply precious - H

I thought my immune system was going to prevail and that I was going to stay healthy even though all my kids have been getting sick and all of my coworkers have been getting sick from their sick students. Even though I am in effect in touch with hundreds of students a day, I thought that somehow, I'd be able to slip by without getting sick. No luck.

It's not too bad. I had a sore throat, and after a day of lecturing, my poor swollen vocal cords decided to go on strike and stop working. The rest of me is fine though. It was interesting teaching without a talking. I typed on my laptop and projected on a screen with an LCD projector. The students enjoyed the novelty of it and thought it was cool. Aren't they funny?

Anyway, one of my students is suspected to have Asberger's (sp?) syndrome. I don't know exactly what that means, but he doesn't pick up social cues very well or at all. He acts up in class. He can't focus. He's melodramatic, is always talking loudly and out of turn...and always about something not related to biology. He makes classroom management a little difficult. Today, however, he approaches me and says privately to me, "I'm going to pretend that I lost my voice today too." I think it was an attempt to show a bit of empathy and compassion. Sweet, eh?

Teaching is a wonderful profession because of moments like this. You have some idea that you are making a difference in the lives of your students at least by teaching them biology or how to read, but when you see the deeper impact you have and how you've touched someone enough that they want to extend that back to you...well, that's precious. I love my job, and I love my students. Lord, bless them.