Reviews from

Dream fulfilled

My teaching aspirations and ...

35 total reviews 
Comment from prettybluebirds
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I can see why this story won the contest. It is beautiful and engaging. My next older brother was the victim of a cruel teacher and developed a stutter because of it. Lucky for me, she was gone by the time I started school. I congratulate you on your win.

 Comment Written 21-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 21-Jul-2022
    Thank you so much. Some people are not meant to be teachers. I feel for your brother - what untold damage the teacher did. I loved teaching, and I had the respect of my students, as my attitude was that when students are in a happy environment they learn best. Thanks you again.
    Wendy
Comment from Sandra Nelms-Ludwig
Excellent
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A beautiful, well-told story. You are the type of teacher all students would be lucky to have. I too am a retired educator and appreciated this story and your ending. I loved you told the story in large colorful font like the many colors of you colouring pencils. The story was told in a logical order and flowed well. Good luck in the contest.

 Comment Written 18-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
    Thank you very much Sandra! I am so glad yoou enjoyed it. Thanks too for the good wishes!
    Wendy
reply by Sandra Nelms-Ludwig on 19-Jul-2022
    You are welcome. I voted for you Wendy, and you are still in 1st place! Woohoo!
reply by the author on 19-Jul-2022
    Oh thank you so much! Appreciated greatly!
    Wendy
reply by Sandra Nelms-Ludwig on 19-Jul-2022
    Of course, I enjoyed it.
Comment from MissMerri
Excellent
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This is a wonderful, well-told true story. I loved how you started with your four-year-old imagination and the happy pencil-students, carried us through the cruel and kind teachers who influenced your own dreams of becoming a teacher, and how you ended with the unmistakable evidence that you had so richly fulfilled that dream, with students as happy as your "pencils."

The way this was told, as well as the story itself, make this a wonderful winner in my book. Best wishes Wendy.

 Comment Written 18-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
    Thank you very much! I am so glad you enjoyed it. I appreciate your very kind and encouraging words.
    Wendy
Comment from Gypsy Blue Rose
Excellent
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Excellent entry for the Teaching Affected Me contest. You brought memories of my catholic school in Spain. We had mean teacher that scared us with pictures of hell.

I'm a teacher. It's the best job ever. Good luck in the contest.

Gypsy
"The poet waits quietly to paint the unsaid." -Atticus

 Comment Written 18-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
    Yes, it is the best job ever - a privilege and a responsibility. Thanks for a wonderful review, and for the good wishes.
    Wendy
Comment from Father Flaps
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Hi Wendy,
Very nice entry for the "Teaching Affected Me" contest. I thought about entering, but I'm just too busy these days. I can't keep up with my reviewing. And this past week, I've been dealing with a toothache.
Are you sure your Grade 2 teacher wasn't a witch? She'd never get away with that kind of behavior up here in Canada. Scary lady! However, that being said, she showed you how not to act when you began your own teaching experience. I think many teachers get frustrated with some of their students, but they still have to be prudent. I think you left a good legacy behind when you retired from teaching. I'm sure you sparked an interest in teaching to some of your students.
Nicely penned! Good Luck in the contest!
Hey, did you see that Australian Cameron Smith won the British Open on the weekend? He's 2.5 million dollars richer for his victory, and the fifth Australian to win the British Open!
Hugs,
Kimbob

 Comment Written 18-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
    Thank you very much for such a great review. That grade 2 teacher would have lost her job very quickly in today's world, and she obviously did not like teaching nor was she good at it. Thank you for your good wishes. Yes, I saw that Cameron Smith won the British Open. Congrats to him. Love your review, it's just like a nice chat with you!
    Wendy.
Comment from Pearl Edwards
Excellent
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It sounds like you learnt from a young age to be a kind and caring teacher, I am glad you fulfilled your dreams. I remember always being in trouble for the ink blobs and compared to my sister who had none. I loved the pencil students, cheers
Valda

 Comment Written 18-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 18-Jul-2022
    Thank you Valda! What a lovely review! Teachers should never compare siblings - so unfair!
    Wendy
Comment from GARY MACLEAN
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I understand teachers were like that back "in the day." But then, I don't know how many horrible school shootings or mass killings we had back then either.

Wow, "honour the Queen, serve our country, and salute our flag" I can remember giving the pledge of allegiance to our USA flag every morning also. Some things should never have been eliminated.

Para 4: (school".) should be (school.")

What a precious compliment, "everyone's favourite grandma.) You must treasure that one.

 Comment Written 17-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
    Thanks Gary. Great review - I appreciate it a lot.
    Wendy
reply by GARY MACLEAN on 17-Jul-2022
    The more I read of you, the more I wish you would have been my teacher back in the day. You must have really enjoyed your profession.
Comment from K.L. Rockquemore
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I love this heartwarming story.
I found it inspirational and motivational.
To have a dream come true as you did, is not only validating but in your own words "fulfilling."
Your writing is honest, emotional, and descriptive.
I especially enjoyed the ending with the comment the parent gave to you. In my mind, I don't know if you could have been paid a higher compliment then that.
Thanks for sharing.


 Comment Written 16-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 16-Jul-2022
    Thank you so much. Yes, to me that was the most beautiful compliment ever. I am very fortunate to have been fulfilled in a career I loved. I appreciate your kind and encouraging words.
    Wendy
Comment from K. Lang-Slattery
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

I like the way you tie the essay together with the story of the colored pencil pupils.... very creative. I also like how you use two very different teachers to show your feelings about teachers. Question: do all Aussie public schools have so much religion in the daily activities or was this a peculiarity of this headmaster? To my eye, it seems strange for a public school.

 Comment Written 16-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 16-Jul-2022
    Thank you so much for reviewing. Greatly appreciated.
    Religion is quite rare in daily activities. It was not common then in a public school, and nowadays, that would never happen. Christian schools have more freedom though, but even that is declining these days.
    Wendy
Comment from Jumbo J
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi Wendy,
you conveyed this story with the innocence and aspiration that dictated the narrative so beautifully.

Memories that inspire... and ones that scare you at the thought of. Your second grade teacher visually was the exact description of my second grade teacher... only she was kind, and unfortunately I only had for a very short time as we moved around a fair bit.

Your headmaster sounded like a real hoot and such a driven, dedicated and kind man... such a shame on losing him so tragically.

But what a truly wonderful thought that the little four year old Wendy and her colouring in pencil students... she had a dream... and that dream came true.

Doesn't get much better than that!

Enjoyed reading this story Wendy.. you are a storyteller.

All the very best in this contest.

With our thoughts we create...
reality.

Kind regards,
James.

 Comment Written 16-Jul-2022


reply by the author on 17-Jul-2022
    Thank you very much James. Yes, my dream as a little girl was in fact fulfilled, and as you say, it doesn't get much better than that. I very much value your words and insights, and I thank you very much for the gift of an exceptional rating again. It's an honour, and valued.
    Wendy