Gracious students, baking adventures, and kindergarten babies: what Chalkbeat readers say they’re appreciating this year

For people who mark their lives by the school-year calendar, November can be an especially tough time. The optimism of a fresh start has worn off, but hard work hasn’t fully borne fruit, and there are so many months left before summer break.

So Thanksgiving comes at exactly the right moment to pause and appreciate everything that’s going right. Here’s what Chalkbeat readers said when we asked them what they’re appreciating this year:

“I’m appreciating my students more than ever this year. In a time of such political strife, my students have shown incredible resilience and courage in the face of a very uncertain future. Their ability to balance hard work at school and the work they do outside of the classroom makes me incredibly grateful that they are willing to show up each day and put forth their best effort.” — Ashley Farris, 12th-grade teacher, Denver

“A supportive school family.” — Anissa Christian, kindergarten teacher, Memphis

“I am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to inspire and teach our future leaders of tomorrow!” — Darlene Dorsette, Detroit

What are you thankful for? Add your voice here.

“I appreciate the enthusiasm and persistence with which my fourth graders tackled division.” — Anne Renihan, fourth-grade teacher, Indianapolis

“I am thankful for students who are gracious and forgiving when mistakes are made in the classroom. I am also thankful that students who have suffered from so much teacher turnover but are still willing to trust teachers and allow them to invest in their lives.” Michael Schulte, 11th-grade teacher, Memphis

“It’s now my fourth year in the role of elementary art teacher, and although I do miss the deeper connections I used to make with the students in my classroom, I am thankful for the chance to teach over 400 students every week. Being able to touch so many lives is what teaching is all about.” — Kevin Vaughn, Dolores, Colorado

I’m thankful for my students, who always surprise me and make me laugh. I’m thankful for a supervisor who isn’t insane. I’m thankful for the great honor of representing my colleagues both in my school and on the UFT [teachers union] Executive Board.” — Arthur Goldstein, high school ESL teacher, New York City

“Acting wildly goofy with my family. Taking long walks in the cold woods. Baking adventures (mishaps) with my mom. Laughing uncontrollably. Napping on the couch for hours with a good book.” — Katy C., sixth-grade teacher, Denver

“The reaction that you see in students faces when you share an interesting or funny background story about an event.” Virginia DeCesare, high school history teacher, Greenwood, Colorado

“My kindergarten babies.” — Kristy Russell, kindergarten teacher in Memphis

“The children in my community of Woodglen who are my heart and home for 25 years.” — Valerie Borton, third-grade teacher, Thornton, Colorado

“I’m thankful for my wife, my kids, and that I’m a public school teacher.” — Jeff Ponce, high school special education teacher in Los Angeles

We’ll update this list with more reader submissions as they come in, so add yours here. And please know: We appreciate you. From the comments you leave, to the tips you offer, to the Facebook shares that help our stories reach more people, your contributions make our reporting about your schools so much stronger. Happy Thanksgiving!