What is your ‘WHY’?

Two weeks ago, I began my 18th year of teaching. I got into my car, iced coffee in hand, and started the road to my familiar campus, thinking of the day ahead. What would my kids be like? How many would need extra support? What did their data show? Would they respond to my icebreakers? Would I recognize any faces? 

These thoughts are related to my WHY. We all have a reason for choosing the career we get out of bed for each morning. My WHY is the desire to make an impact. I want to help my students become members of their community and go on to commit acts of kindness. Each year I want to create humans that leave a footprint with their own story. Despite the hard days, my lessons, tough love, and relationships will add up to a different person who walks out the door in May. That makes my heart full.

I keep this in mind, each year, as I start with a new class list. This year, however, I wanted to extend this lesson to my class. On the first day, I pulled out my favorite blue marker and wrote on our chart paper, “My WHY.”  I started a class discussion with my 24 scholars and explained the reasoning behind the activity. “I want to know your WHY. What makes you wake up and come to school each day? What will it lead you to? How does your WHY make you feel?.” I listened as they shared their responses with a partner before sharing them with the class. I was excited to hear what they had to say, as it revealed elements of themselves. As they shared, many nodded in agreement or raised their hands to make a connection to what was said. We were off to a fantastic start!

Afterward, I had them all get their favorite color of marker and do the following: write their name on the chart paper and their WHY next to it. I posted it on my wall by the door, so students would be faced with their WHY each morning. It was meant to serve as a reminder of their purpose and to solidify their commitment to academics.

The next day, I had an administrator walkthrough and inquire about the poster. I explained the lesson and how it had gone. She was thrilled to see the fourth graders giving solid answers for their WHY. She turned to the class, smiled, and said, “I expect to see good things from you all. This poster shows your learning and commitment to our expectations on campus. Keep it up!.”

When the final bell rang and my last student had walked out, I closed the door, locked it, and gazed at the poster. Some of the comments included the following:

Hunter: My WHY is wanting to be smart so I can  be in the military some day. I know I need good grades and attendance.

Amber: My WHY is that I want to be the best in everything so I can be a business owner someday. A business owner can’t mess around or be late and gone all the time. I need to show I want to be here.

Felicianna: My WHY is that I will be the first person in my family that wants to be a doctor. I love school and that love will never go away. I am here because I love to be here. 

Isaac: My WHY is that I want to be a pro football player and my parents tell me I have to have good grades and be in shape. PE helps me be healthy and being in school means I will learn how to get along with others to be on a professional team.

Noelanie: My WHY is that I want to have a good job someday, so I can make enough money to take care of my family. My mom does so much for me. I want to be a teacher or nurse. 

Ximena: My WHY is wanting to learn everything I can. I like being in school with my friends and meeting new people. I love the teachers here and I get excited to see them each day. 

Ms. Brinkman: My WHY is wanting to create scholars that thrive and grow into themselves, while learning new things and making positive impacts in the world. It makes my heart happy.

As I reflected, I smiled and thought, “Nailed it.”

About the Author

Rebecca Brinkman is a fourth-grade teacher in Phoenix, Arizona. She has taught at the same school for her entire 17-year career. Her campus is a second home and it has a strong family feel to it. This is what draws her back every year. She is excited to begin her “Sweet 16th” year of teaching! She has taught 2nd grade for ten years and 3rd grade for six years. She has served as a team lead on her campus for six years. She earned a Masters in Education with a focus on Curriculum and Instruction from Arizona State University, as well as a Masters in Reading. She also earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education from Arizona State University.

Rebecca achieved National Board Certification in the fall of 2019 in Early to Middle Childhood Literacy. She is passionate about building relationships and creating magic in the classroom for her scholars. She credits her former speech teacher as her reason for becoming an educator. She profoundly impacted her attitude towards school and self-esteem as a young student; Rebecca realized she wanted to make that same impact on children by helping them realize their strengths and pushing through personal challenges.

Her second biggest passion is travel! She can often be found planning her next big adventure. She also enjoys hiking, reading, storytelling with The Moth, volunteering and bucket listing. The quote that resonates most with her is, “The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately.”

Twitter: @SmilinAZTeacher