I taught the 2-3’s Sunday School class one year.
About 3 weeks in (as in, three whole Sundays), I realized that a teacher I was not.
All the advance planning, prep work, being patient with other people’s kids…reading stories through tears and whines and spilled Dixie cups of apple juice were just not my gig. I don’t think I was terrible at it (although really…how bad can you mess up with a bunch of 2 year olds, right?) just that I realized quite quickly that being a teacher was a special talent. I think we all know that deep down, but until you lack said talent and then try your hand at it…you realize just how amazing teachers are.
Henry’s teacher is amazing. Kind. Patient. She uses creative solutions. Is always open to suggestions. Keeps parents in the loop with weekly emails.
And I think back to my lousy one year of Sunday School and I am in awe that she does this day in and day out…for years.
It all makes me reflect on my own experience, particularly as I addressed a Christmas card to Mr. Carlson. The high school math teacher I had in 10th grade. The one I called Grandpa because he was the sweetest, grandpa-yist kinda guy you could ever wish to teach you geometry. Almost 15 years later, I’m still sending him Christmas cards. Because he really has become Grandpa Carlson.
It’s amazing, isn’t it? How these people go to work…to do a JOB…and yet, make an impact (good or bad) that will literally stay until someone’s deathbed.
That’s heavy.
And reason 4,067 I am not equipped to be a teacher.
I could totally be the Principal. The one kinda behind the scenes organizing, coordinating, delegating…even dealing with troublemakers, but not ALL THE KIDS ALL THE DAY. (Funny considering I’m a stay at home mom to four!)
It should come as no surprise that one of my favorite things in the whole entire earth is when I see companies using their resources, time, and money to help others.
Life is so much more than the bottom line, and I’m always amazed at the creative ways that corporations come up with to give back.
FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world – one package at a time. Education has been a huge focus for them, and they have given back A LOT of time and money to education funding.
They work closely with Teach for America (to the tune of $2.75 MILLION!), and Teach for All Latin America (yay for working outside our borders FedEx!!!).
It makes me so ridiculous happy to see stuff like this. Like, I want to find the CEO of FedEx and give them a big, giant bear hug and say THANK YOU. Thank you for giving back and giving a rip.
FedEx is now offering a One Rate, Flat Rate shipping option.
Free packaging. Simple rate calculations. TRACKING. (which is more than I can say for certain mail carriers whom I will not name but rhymes with United Lostal Mervice. Ahem.)
I remember shopping for Christmas gifts for my siblings who lived in Texas and having to be super careful about what I bought because it would otherwise cost me a small fortune (and double my gift budget) to mail it to them. So, I’m a huge fan of this option.
Also, my FedEx lady brings treats for my dogs. They get REALLY excited when that white truck pulls up. In fact, yesterday, Ryley bounded up into the cab with her and basically thought she was going to just be her personal assistant that day. Careful FedEx lady, they shed. A lot. (If I was smart, I would have taken a picture of this for this post. Alas, I am not.)
Right now, FedEx is hosting a Countless Possibilities Through Education contest. Visit this site to vote for the teacher submitted videos. The winning school will receive a $25,000 grant! (EEK!)
PLUS, if you ship using the One Rate option now through December 23rd, FedEx will donate $1 to Teach for America (up to $300,000)!
AND, if you use the #CountlessPossibilities hashtag on your social networks, now through December 23, they will ALSO donate $1 (up to $300,000).
GOOOOOO!!!! HASHTAG like a fool. Make Justin and Jimmy proud!!!
PLLUUUUUUSSSSS…
FedEx wants to give away two “Library in a Box” prize packs (each with a $125 value), to one lucky reader! One reader will win both prize packs; one for them and one for a teacher in their community. Each prize contains:
- Top 5 best selling books from Amazon for kids at the grade level (for teacher packs) and kid’s age (for parent packs);
- $50 Amazon gift card;
- Book plate stickers or a book plate stamp from Etsy;
- Letter from FedEx/Countless Possibilities
Fun, right?
Follow the rafflecopter prompts below to enter. Winner will be selected at random on Monday, December 16.
*This is a sponsored post from One2One Network and FedEx. All opinions stated are my own.
Latest posts by jeannett (see all)
- Dirt in a Jar, Laundry Scientists, and Clean Water - October 20, 2015
- Because Cake. - October 11, 2015
- How to design a luxury bathroom for less - August 12, 2015
I’d love to win for my daughter’s teacher. Mrs. T has provided the support and positivity that my daughter has been needing to see that she’s smart and capable after having a challenging year last year. I can’t think of anyone who is more deserving!
My son’s former kindergarten teacher is deserving because she’s sweet and loves her students.
My daughter’s teacher Erica would love to win the “Library in a Box”. She is at a very small nonprofit private school and they manage to provide an AWESOME education for the children on a shoestring budget. Erica is totally dedicated to the school and her students, often putting in WAY more than 40 hours a week. She has endless patience and is incredibly organized. She always goes above and beyond to help my daughter understand what they are studying not matter what it is.
I’d like to win one for my friend who is a special education teacher. She loves her kids and works with a great team.
Like shipping candy to a baby? I die! I would love to win this for Jonah’s preschool teacher (who was also Sophie’s). Preschool teachers working with delayed and special needs kids are the BEST!
Jenny from Mommin’ It Up´s last blog post ..Slice = online shopping organized {+ iPad Mini giveaway!}
Oh, I love this idea! We’re at a magnet school in a low income city, so we’ve got great opportunities, but it’s partly because the teachers always help to raise money for the school. This would be a great gift to give back to them. Her teacher is so nice this year and my daughter is really thriving compared to last year! Thank you for doing this!
I would give it to my daughter’s teacher. She is truly awesome and deserving.
Allison´s last blog post ..Excuses don’t burn calories
I would give the library in a box to my mom. She is a teacher in a low income area and spends much of her time and money on her students, without any thought. She doesn’t get much help from the families she services, and yet she continues going above and beyond for her students year after year. She deserves this most of all.
Our daughter attends our small church school and this would be such a blessing to them!
What a great opportunity! Would love to win this. Thank you for the chance!
I would have to say my oldest son’s former kindergarten teacher. She is just a really great teacher and her kids respond so well to her. I’m praying my youngest son gets her when he starts school next year.
My sons 3rd grade teacher. He has been teaching for a long time and deserves some new stuff.
My husband! He is a high school math teacher and I know that it can be really hard for to teach a subject that most people find it hard to get excited for. He does his best to teach not only math, but life lessons that his students can take with them for the rest of their lives. (Like how to persevere through something you don’t like). :)
Liz´s last blog post ..Our Growing Peanut
Very cool. There aren’t any of my teachers from my younger years that I still connect with but I have some awesome professors at UW-Stout that I know I’ll keep in touch with.
Tonya´s last blog post ..…
It’s nice when companies give back to the community. Thank you for also giving back with your giveaways. Merry Christmas!
My sister in law Laurie is teaching at a very low income school and has very little resources. She would LOVE this!
I would give this gift to my sister who is a home school teacher. Imagine the patience that takes! I’m in awe of her.
I would love this for either of my kid’s classrooms – love FedEx! :)
My teacher choice would be my co-workers daughter who is in her first year of teaching. I want her to have all the encouragement she can have that there are people and companies behind her 100%. And Fed Ex leads the way!
Gin´s last blog post ..Christmas-y
I’d give it to my son’s first grade teacher. Yes, he’s now in fifth grade (and homeschooled), but she was an awesome teacher that could do great things with the prize.
Natalie´s last blog post ..Book-related donation opportunities
My husband would get the package – he teaches 9th grade English. He’s amazing – patient, kind, disciplined, gentle. He’s a great teacher, and it’s his first year in this school, so he could use more supplies for his room!
I would love to gift this to our high school English teacher who just received his National Board Certification and is an asset to our school!
Paige´s last blog post ..{Burlap Wreath}
I would like to give a library in box to DD’s teacher in our community. She is the most kind and patient one, so good to all kids.
I will donate it to my daughter’s parks and rec preschool program. We have loved all the teachers and my daughter really looks forward to going to school!
I homeschool my kids so I wouldn’t mind keeping that for myself, but my aunt also teaches science and would be very deserving of it.
I would give this to my son’s teacher because she is nice and supportive
I would give this to my friend Jen who is a brilliant teacher and loves her students!
I would give it to my son’s 1st grade teacher because she really cared about the kids.
I would give a box to my daughters’ pre-k teachers, Miss Serena and Miss Yolanda. They make learning fun and make do with what they have. They inspire creativity in the children, provide them with a fun learning environment and teach them a host of things on a very limited budget.
Mrs. Hall would get this box of goodness. What an awesome gift this would be for her!!
I would love to give this to my daughters 1st grade from last year who shared her true passion for reading, and has given my daughter a life time love for books.
I would give this prize to my grand daughter’s kindergarden teacher, she is an awesome teacher!
I would give this prize to my son’s K-garten class. :)
I would have to donate to my son’s former elementary school teacher. She is at one of the smaller and older schools and I think they get overlooked a lot of times. She was instrumental in keeping my son on track (academically and behavior-wise) when he was in 3rd grade. The following year my son attended a new school in our area and she sent us an email the morning of his first day of school to wish him well!
I’d love to be able to give my son’s first grade teacher this prize. My son is a reluctant reader but he’s made huge progress with her guidance.
Ahhhh Mr. Calrson…loved him when I had him WAY before you were even born! He finally was the one who made algebra clear to me…well as clear as it can be to a language arts brained teacher. I thought he was old then…clearly our teenage brains have no concept of age!! So cool that you and Andy were also able to experience a fabulous teacher… it was pretty exciting for me to see him at your wedding…
Old Auntie Peg :)
I would give a pack to Mrs. B, the sweet librarian at our school who is always, always picking out the best books for the kids. :)
I currently am teaching 3-5 year old Weds night school and church, and I’m not a teacher either. Which I know/knew…so I’m not sure how I got pulled into a second year, but anywho…
Definitely my girlie’s preschool teacher. C can be a bit challenging at times, and it works. She loves preschool, she’s doing great, and I would love to be able to pass on some awesome goodies!
I would send it to my mom or any of the other teachers at her wonderful preschool in Northern VA!!!
HELLO, THE TEACHER’S THAT ARE THE MOST ATTENTIVE AND PATIENT WITH THE LEARNER. THANKS.
I teach the kindergarten through second grade at my church and it showed me a lot more about my inabilities than my abilities, let me tell you!
sarah´s last blog post ..32
my sister in CO is a GT teaching and it AMAZING at bringing the best out of kids. She is so creative in her teaching and projects and she really impacts the kids!
I would choose either Karen or Jennifer. They are both mom aquaintances of mine and they have given me things from my kids that they no longer need. It would be great to give them something they could use in their classroom.
Gwendolyn T´s last blog post ..Letter of the week B
I would give this set to Linda Lewis. She is a wonderful teacher who buys shoes and school supplies for her students with her own money. I love her desire to chance the lives of “her” children. I have never met a more loving and deserving teacher!
ninigossett at gmail dot com
actually, my MIL is a teacher at a high school extension and teaches teenagers college classes in early childhood education, to prepare them for college and ajob when they graduate. :) I would LOVE to give her a library in a box for her classroom! I homeschool so i would love it also!
I love your blog and teach 7th grade English. I would give this to my reading coach at my school who Supports all the teachers at my school amazingly.
With six kids and a mom who’s teaches, and me who decided I never want to teach this blog post rang so turn tome. The problem is I don’t know which teacher I would choose. Maybe Mrs. Whitney from CCS, because she is amazing and loves each student and gives them each time to shine.
Tracy´s last blog post ..Bo Peep’s Sheep (CDMA’s “Babes in Toyland”)
My son has a new teacher. Yes, new. As in she started in his classroom last Monday. In December. His previous teacher quit in November… The new teacher has had the class for 10 days today, and WOW, what a transformation! We have been extremely frustrated with school this year and we are suddenly seeing light at the end of the tunnel. She’s walked into a challenging situation, and DEFINITELY deserves some free books! Thanks for the giveaway!
Shawna´s last blog post ..The Return of Elf on the Shelf!
My daughter’s current AIG teacher who encourages her love or reading and makes learning fun
My friend Mary, who is just starting her career