Kylene Beers

Educator. Speaker. Author. Tech-savvy wanna-be. Sometime blogger: 2008-2009 NCTE Pres. Collector: books, wine, & moments w/ friends…

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

It is that time of the year again.

Here is the repeat post.

Why I Hated Meredith's First Grade Teacher: An Open Letter to America’s Teachers

By Kylene Beers

When my first born headed off to first grade, twenty-one years ago, she held my hand as we walked down the hallway of Will Rogers Elementary School in the Houston Independent School District. We walked into Ms. Miner's room and Meredith's steps grew more hesitant. This wasn't the University of Houston Child Care Center, the place she had gone for years while I was a doctoral student at UH. This place looked different – bigger, more official. There were big-kid desks pushed together in clusters. And though there were centers, they were not the dress-up center or the cooking center or water play center of the Child Care Center.

The room was filled with children she did not yet know, with books she had not yet read, with a math center that had number charts, and with a big poster by the door labeled, "Our Classroom Rules" that was still blank. "I don't want to stay," she said. I didn't want her to, either. I wanted her still with me, only me. I didn't want to give up those early years of childhood just yet, years when her world mostly revolved around her parents and new baby brother and a silly dog with big ears and afternoons spent in our local library reading book after book after book or playing in our neighborhood park, sometimes just sitting on the grass, watching the ants march by. Mustering every ounce of courage I said, "Oh, you will love first grade. It was my favorite year in school. I loved my first grade teacher, Mrs. Allen, and I bet you are going to love Ms. Miner, too." Meredith looked doubtful and so very small. And then Ms. Miner, long blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, saw us, came over, and bent down to Meredith's level. A first year teacher, Ms. Miner was full of energy and excitement. She loved books, wanted to be a great teacher, and had obviously spent weeks making her room look inviting to these 22 six-year-olds.

"Oh, you're Meredith! I recognized you from your picture! Come here and let me introduce you to some others. And let me show you all around the room. And, hey, you brought Corduroy as your favorite book and that's one of my favorite books, too!"

And then, somehow, without me even realizing, Meredith's small hand moved from mine to Ms. Miner's and she was gone. She was swallowed up by the sheer joy this other woman brought into her classroom, into learning, and into my child's life. "I guess I'll be going now," I said to Meredith who was busy putting school supplies away in her desk. "So, I'll be just around the corner at our house," I said blinking hard to keep away the tears." I think she nodded. Perhaps she even paused to wave. My feet couldn't move, and Ms. Miner gently helped me out of the classroom. "She's really shy," I said to Ms. Miner just as Meredith sped by holding a new friend's hand showing her "all these hooks where we can hang our backpacks."

Meredith was breathless with excitement at the end of that day – every day – and by the end of the first week, our family had a new member: Ms. Miner. Each afternoon and for long into the evening, I had to listen to "Ms. Miner said . . ." and "Ms. Miner thinks . . ." and "Ms. Miner showed us . . ." and when I slipped and said, "Oh damn" at dinner burned in the oven, I was reminded that "Mom, Ms. Miner would never say . . . ." Right, I smiled through gritted teeth.

For the entire year I watched my child fall in love with school, with learning, with figuring out, and most importantly, with her first grade teacher, Ms. Miner. Meredith, who had once hated ponytails, now only wanted to wear ponytails. And blue skirts, "just like Ms. Miner's." "And Mom, my name starts with an M and Ms. Miner starts with an M. Isn't that great!! We match!" Yes, Meredith, just great. Really great. Oh damn.

Though I had been a teacher for years before having Meredith, before sending her off to first grade, I had never truly understood the power of a teacher in a child's life. We give our most precious and priceless to you – dear teachers – each year, knowing you will teach them, but also hoping you will care for them, help them discover how very much they matter, watching over them, and being there when they have been hurt by the ones who won't let them sit at the "popular" table – and then you do just that and they fall in love with you. It shows up in different ways as they grow older. But it's still there, this deep affection and respect. And, certainly, it's harder to forge those bonds when there are 150 students instead of twenty-two, when the day is fragmented into forty-five minute classes, when education seems to be more about the test than the child. But I promise, underneath that bravado of the seventh grader or swagger of the tenth grader you will find that small first grader who wonders, "Will my teacher like me?" And when that child – that teen – knows that you believe he or she matters, then that student will do most anything for you.

To this day, Meredith remembers you, Ms. Miner, and to this day, I so hated how much she loved you that year. And, simultaneously, I am so grateful that she did.

And so, dear teachers, across this country during the next two weeks, most of you will be opening your classroom doors in a first-day welcoming for your students. As a teacher I am proud to stand beside you in all that you do. But as a parent, well, as a parent I stand in awe of all that you do. And to Ms. Miner, thank you.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

The formal obituary for @KyleneBeers is now posted to her FaceBook page and will be appearing in newspapers in Houston, Waco, and Sulphur Springs.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

After a three month battle with a glioblastoma, Kylene passed away yesterday. A brief obituary is on her Facebook page. https://t.co/5jeZttcOxj

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

In case you are about to miss the deadline for applying to the next Tyrolia Institute (deadline is noon May 5), you can find the application link on my FaceBook page. We hope to see you in June!

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

The application link for the next Tyrolia Institute can be found on my FaceBook page.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Good evening all.
In case you are about to miss it, the deadline to apply to the next Tyrolia Institute is tomorrow, May 5, at noon Central time.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Details for the June Tyrolia Institute have been posted on my FB page, for those that might be interested in applying.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

When AJ Brown started reading, I started yelling at hubby, "Take his picture!!!" Thanks to AJ for showing kids that players are readers and readers are leaders. And thanks to ⁦@Eagles⁩ for letting your players read when and where they choose. This Texan says, "Go Eagles!"

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Teachers, Supervisors, Literacy Coaches, and Administrators - This institute is for you!

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Hey teachers - dont miss this if you are at #NCTE24

[Matt Glover @Mattglover123]

Going to #NCTE24 next week? On Friday at 12:30pm, Carl Anderson @ConferringCarl and I are doing a signing for our book How to Become a Better Writing Teacher at the@HeinemannPub booth. Come by to say "Hi" and talk about teaching writing!

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

I think it is critical that you ask for clarification. I have been in the loop since conference organizers were made aware of what the parent company espouses - not the company that is exhibiting. I am sure a lot of explanations will be forthcoming but it is not my place to do so.

But any petition that says we should always work against those that espouse hate is a great petition.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Seriously #United. On flight 2477 from Houston to Boston. That plane had to return to Houston once in air because of instrument failure. Now on a new plane and pilot just told us that this new plane has an electrical failure so no idea when boarding will happen.

What is your problem with maintaining planes?

[Scott McLeod @mcleod]

VOTE.

@GOP #GOP #maga #republicans @TheDemocrats @TheDemCoalition #democrats #Election2024 #Trump2024

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Excited for my virtual 3-part series on the Notice and Note Signposts to begin tomorrow! Oct 8, 14, and 22 at 6:00 - 7:15 pm ET. Register at https://t.co/NKz98k5SQw tomorrow night we discuss assessment and using signposts with poetry.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Ending my Friday after a very long week by seeing this. Honored to be included in your stack of books.

[Principal Bo Ryan @CrecArtsMiddle1]

Thank you @JSerravallo @KyleneBeers @TimRasinski1 @JuliaASimms for your incredible books!

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Hey teachers - I'm offering a 3-part virtual series on digging deeper with the Notice and Note signposts. This is NOT an introductory series. Dates: Oct 8, 14, 22. Time: 6:00 -7:15 pm. The series will be taped for viewing at your best time. Register at https://t.co/NKz98k5l0Y

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

I've put this on my calendar and can't wait to hear what @DeborahAppleman has to say about academic freedom in this time of unprecedented book censorship.

[Deborah Appleman @DeborahAppleman]

Please join me on Friday, Sept 27 for my convocation address to Carleton's first year class. The subject of the talk is Academic Freedom and the Necessity of Discomfort. You can find a description and a Zoom link here: https://t.co/bVUIsXJ0UV
#NCTE @CarolJago @englishcomp

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

I am surprised and honored to receive this award from @ncte. A lifetime of getting to do what you love is its own reward. This is the topping on the cake.

[National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) @ncte]

Join us in congratulating the 2024 NCTE James R. Squire Award recipient, @KyleneBeers!

Learn more about this year’s Squire Award recipient, this prestigious NCTE award, and past recipients: https://t.co/Aq8xDPAU25.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

We lost our sweet Coda yesterday, Aug 6, to cancer. As I sat on the vet's floor, holding her, she looked up and licked away my tears, loving me even in her last moments. These dogs, they show us all what love truly is. We should learn.

[Kylene Beers @KyleneBeers]

Teachers - join me for a 2-day introductory webinar on the Notice and Note Signposts.

July 23 and July 24 (Tuesday and Wednesday); 10:30-11:45am ET
Register: https://t.co/EEaloT3wm3

This is for teachers just starting to use the signposts. All grades.