A Letter Of Gratitude From A Former Student

I recently received the following letter from a former student, who is about to graduate from KCC and who has begun teaching in her own classroom. I found it very inspiring, and thought both students and faculty would enjoy reading it.

Dear Professor Leggio,

Today, I am the happiest teacher!

Two years ago, I came to Kingsborough Community College just to take a few credits in Early Childhood Education. My intention was to add a few U.S. credits to my resume, assuming that my B.A. in Marketing would be more than enough to work as a Teacher Assistant in an early childhood classroom.

When you were my professor in Foundations of Education, you quickly helped me to realize that early childhood is like a "special island" in the field of education. I realized that those little creatures need their individual space and time to learn. Teaching young children means respecting their exploration through play, rather than sitting them in chairs in a strict, drilling environment.

Before I came to KCC, I was ready to assist in an old-fashioned, teacher-centered class, where learning is determined by how many letters and numbers a pre-kindergartener knows, and how far he/she can count. Before I took your class, I did not really know what teaching young children should be like; however, I had a feeling about what was wrong. I guess that is why I actually came to Kingsborough. How unfortunate for children, and how sad for us in the education profession, that so many people don't have the slightest idea about hands-on activities and child-oriented, developmentally appropriate learning.

This past year I became a pre-k teacher for the first time. I know my English is far from good; however I have realized I am not the only teacher in this school struggling with English, therefore I do not feel as guilty!

However, please let me not go off track with the reason why I am writing to you. Your great lessons opened my eyes and took me into a new world of teaching young children. Now, not only do I have to teach my class, I have an even harder job trying to educate parents and other teachers in my school about appropriate early childhood curriculum.

I started with the NAEYC brochures you had given me in EDC 20. I gave them out to all the parents in my classroom, to explain why I allowed children to play instead of sitting them down with workbooks like the other teachers were doing. Then one day I got a phone call from one of the mothers in my class, who is a doctor. She told me she had read the "Play is Fundamental" brochure, and it amazed her. She said in all her years of medical training, no one had ever taught her how important play was for children's development. She asked me to make a list of items I needed in order to teach through play, and offered me $1,000 to pay for them!

I thought I was dreaming. The classroom I was given had only a big chalkboard, chalk, papers, and crayons. Can you imagine what a difference this donation made to my classroom? Can you imagine what a great thing your lessons and NAEYC brouchures that you gave me did for my class? Is there any way I can thank you?

By the way, the parent said this is only the beginning of her help. She saw how passionate I was about making a difference in the school, and she decided to donate another $2,000, to contribute to playful learning. I now have ordered $3,ooo in toys, furniture and supplies from the Lakeshore and Childcraft catalogs! It is wonderful.

Please give my best regards and thanks to Professor Couper, Professor Friedman, Professor Marrus and all the others for their great classes. From each and every one of you, I have learned a lot of things that I am implementing into my teaching.

Sincerely,

Samira Dervisevic