There wasn't one best year in my teaching career, but instead many, many best experiences over a 34-year career that resulted in a wonderful career as an educator. The best times as an educator can be summarized in this list:
- helping a child gain an important skill, new knowledge and concept
- helping a child create
- helping a child solve a problem
- working with a family to help a child
- creating programming and events with colleagues that serve children well
- revising curriculum programs to better teach children
- helping children to know themselves well
- creating happy, enjoyable learning events with and for children
- creating a warm, welcoming classroom environment
- meeting the needs of diverse learners in same programs
- acknowledging children's wonderful and unique strengths and talents
- helping children to build confidence
- introducing children to new ideas, ways of learning, ways of seeing and knowing the world around them
- supporting children's friendships
- telling children stories
- teaching children good lessons that help them live good lives
- working with colleagues to better the teaching/learning community and environment
All in all, the best moments in my teaching career were moments when I worked with others to serve children well--helping children in any way that bettered their lives and made them happy and capable were the best moments of the career.