To say it’s been a rough month for teachers is an understatement. With the devastating tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, strikes in West Virginia, and the everyday challenges of the job, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed—or even completely discouraged. So that’s why we were heartened to see hundreds of educators share the wonderful, joyful parts of teaching on Twitter, using the hashtag #teachersget2.
Twitter user and program administrator John Norlin started the trend on Wednesday, saying “for all the things a teacher has to do that seem routine and unimportant, let’s not forget the things a teacher gets to do like shine light into the dark places of a student’s life.”
For all the things a teacher has to do that seem routine and unimportant, let's not forget the things a teacher gets to do like shine light into the dark places of a student's life #teachersget2 pic.twitter.com/sauaVuX5U5
— John Norlin (@johnnorlin) February 28, 2018
Norlin then went on to share more of his favorite parts of the job, including dressing up in costumes for Spirit Week, “developing a ‘look’ that could stop Superman in his tracks,” and getting to share what he is passionate about with students.
Twitter teachers took up Norlin’s challenge quickly, with hundreds of educators sharing their #teachersget2 moments and sources of inspiration. Here’s just a peek at some of what they shared.
Teachers get to build relationships every day.
Teachers get to build relationships EVERY DAY! In classrooms, in hallways, in the cafeteria, library, common areas, on the fields, in rehearsals, in the community. What a privilege! #teachersget2
— Andy DiDomenico (@adidomenico1) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to help kids to go after their goals.
Teachers get to explicitly teach how to never give up. #persevere #teachersget2 #kindergartenskills #lifeskills pic.twitter.com/aAhaPZVCez
— Andrea Haisch (@andhaisch) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to be a touchpoint in children’s lives.
#Teachersget2 Be the one of the 1st caregivers every morning to look into their eyes and see if it is well with their soul. Music helps connect and comfort! #ukulele https://t.co/WIuVd9V0iW @MagicPantsJones @jlpuuri @smanhart4 @nbartley6 @Hahne_Elyse @burgessdave @Linnea_McFadden pic.twitter.com/rg9VuIdu3y
— BarbaraGruener (@BarbaraGruener) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to watch our students make big accomplishments—even if it means some interesting smells along the way. ?
#TeachersGet2 spend 10 hours with brilliant yearbook kids in a room that smells like pizza sauce and popcorn learning marketable skills as they create an award-winning publication they’re proud of. 💙🧡 pic.twitter.com/Bc1AeV0MCr
— Katie Moreno, MJE ADHD (Taylor’s Version) (@KatieMoreno910) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to do one million different things in one day.
#teachersget2 sweat with their students in the cafeteria during an afternoon dance, wear crazy outfits during spirit weeks, and have hard conversations after mistakes are made. Sometimes those all happen in the same day.
— Becky Latham (@tcbecky07) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to read some pretty amazing books.
https://twitter.com/timturner_rhs/status/969085645321789442
Teachers get to be there for students when no one else is.
https://twitter.com/sallyrusk/status/969000537378058241
Teachers get to show up.
We get to show up every day and try again. #teachersget2
— Ryan Healy (@rdhealy) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to model love.
As a teacher I get to model character every day. I get to show my students what undivided attention looks like. I get to be a caring adult in their life. I get to be someone who believes in them more than they do themselves. I get to #ChooseLove #teachersget2
— David Volke (@VolkeSmash) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to foster leadership.
The next generations’ gonna be alright. #prideproject ideas from my 8th Leadership kids. #teachersget2 help build the next generation of leaders. #ssd4kids #loveteachingleadership pic.twitter.com/05pUVEiVS1
— Nick Seavello (@858inthe253) March 1, 2018
Teachers get to play lots and LOTS of Quizlet…
#teachersget2 play Quizlet live five times a day and love it! #csnd pic.twitter.com/CO9djXQaF3
— Michael Gerleman (@GerlemanMichael) March 2, 2018
Teachers get to celebrate differences
And my personal favorite @johnnorlin, #teachersget2 show students everyday that people who look different from them probably aren’t all that different from them. I wear my prosthetic leg proudly each day to highlight that we are all special and 🤞🏼accepted in our own unique way.
— Andrea Haisch (@andhaisch) March 1, 2018
And finally, teachers get to laugh A LOT!
Teachers get to laugh daily at the often unfiltered, quirky and unpredictable stories and moments that students bring to their classroom #teachersget2 pic.twitter.com/954JkIZjWj
— John Norlin (@johnnorlin) February 28, 2018
We’d love to hear—what is your #teachersget2? Share in the comments below or in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. WeAreTeachers HELPLINE is a place for teachers to ask and respond to questions on classroom challenges, collaboration and advice.