How old are the kids you taught your first year of teaching? I just wished a former student a happy birthday on Facebook. He was in my first class of kids. He turned 44 today!
Mine are 21-22. A few of them pop me emails once in awhile to let me know how they are, what they’re up to, sometimes they tell me how much they appreciate me not letting them cut corners with their work and now they find things are easier because they’ve had a good foundation or how they wish they still had me as a teacher. Makes me feel really good! I even have a former student work as a student aide in my classroom whilst studying to be a teacher herself.
Mine just graduated this year, so they are 18. I had them in third grade. It's actually saddened me that graduation ceremonies can't take place as usual this year, because I had one student who I have kept in touch with and whose graduation I had hoped to attend. He was a challenging student when I had him, but he was motivated. He overcame a lot of hardship, and I always told him that I wanted to watch him walk across the stage at his graduation. The last time I heard from him was on New Year's Eve, and I truly believe that I would have been there to watch him walk if the ceremonies weren't canceled. :-(
I have not been teaching nearly as long as you all - my 2nd graders from my first year just moved up to middle school. I'm pretty sad about it because of how the year ended with COVID. We always do a big send off for the 5th graders, and we didn't get to do that. I probably won't see most of them again, which really sucks.
It depends on how you look at it. My first position was an all grade level behavior teacher. The oldest kids I had are now 23 almost 24. My first actual class of kindergartners just graduated this year. My first class at this school I taught 1st grade and they are going to be seniors. This class I really connected with. I have been watching them play ball, band, run track, play little league, and in general just grow up to be great young adults.(my youngest daughter is in this class)
The Supt. of our county now was in my first few PE classes. I taught 8th grade math my first year in 1978. So some are 55 now. Many have grandchildren and my FIRST was just born last month.
My first set of MS students are now 36 - 38. They recognize me, but I seldom recognize them. Some are teachers, I use one who is an accountant, and I met one who is a nurse when in the hospital a few years back.
My first class was third grade. They are now 29. One of the girls graduated from Duke Medical School last December.
