We asked several fifth-grade students from Chicago to share what they wish they could tell their teachers about themselves as readers and writers. Students were asked to reflect and consider the following prompt: As your final months in elementary school come to a close, what ideas or lessons did you learn that you will take with you to middle school? How have your teachers shaped you as a reader and writer?
As teachers, we know that student voices impact our practice and decision making in the classroom every day. Let’s reflect and learn from these students’ letters.
Dear teacher,
I wish you knew I used to hate writing. I thought it was so boring. Now that I find books that I relate and connect to, that I wish the book would never end, I love reading. I feel to really love a book it needs to be exciting but at the same time, emotional.
I want to thank my amazing ELA teacher for making books fun for me. For giving me everything I need to be an amazing student.
I wish you knew that sometimes I feel like a bad writer and reader compared to other kids. I feel like I’m not enough but you make me feel like I matter.
I love to read and write because now instead of being boreing, it’s fun for me.
Dear teacher,
I wish I could tell you how much I liked reading and writing because last year I didn’t really enjoy but this year has been amazing with the cool chapter books and fun writing activities we did as a class. Also, I want to thank you for helping me improve on my reading and writing skills. I like reading because all of the [books] that you have in your library are entertaining and very fun to read.
Dear teacher,
I would like to tell you that I learned so much this year. And I got to read so many good books this year. I wish you knew that you’ve done so much for our class, and you introduced us to so many inspiring and empowering books.
I wish you knew that in the beginning of the year I did not like reading or writing, and honestly I still don’t really like writing but reading I actually look forward too. You may see me in class and think that I’m just goofing off, but I wish you knew I just perfer reading at home in my room, in a quiet corner.
I wish you knew as a kid, I played basketball and soccer and I made it on the practice team for basketball. But soccer is the one sport I’m actually good at. So now my world is surrounded by verse novels and fantasy books, with a mix of soccer.
I want you to know that I’m grateful that you let me read that amazing book, “A Sea of Lemon Trees,” because it taught me that even if your a kid you can do anything you set your mind to. Because half the battle is believing. #Iwishyouknew
Dear teacher,
I am a reader because when I read I can make a movie in my head, and when a movie version of the book comes out I can compare the movie I made to the official version. Another thing is for me it is hard for me to find a book and when I do I get addicted to the book. My favorets types of books are SciFi, mysteries, thriller, and science fiction. Two books that are my favorets are Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir then The Bobiverse (I’m on book 2 out of 6) by Dennis E. Taylor.
Dear teacher,
I wish you knew that in writting, I feel safe. In writting, I feel like I can say what I want and spill out all my feelings out in words and let out all my emotions to the paper. I wish you knew that when I read it takes time for me to find the right type of book for me. I wish you knew that I love reading because when I find the right book I can read it.
Dear teacher,
I wish you knew that when I write [it’s] like I can write a lot of stuff, because I like writting. Maybe because when I write [it’s] like letting all of my emotions out and like when I write (mostly on computer) I express my feelings I express maybe all of the stuff that had been happening today or maybe [in] the future. I also like writting because I also show the members of my family like what I write and I get opinions, ideas, etc. from them and yeah, I like writting. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
Your dear student
Dear teacher,
I wish you knew that I like chapter books a little bit because I’m not entertained by that type of genre. I wish you knew that sometimes I stress as a writer. I wish you knew that I like graphic novels because they have visuals. I wish you knew I like writing because I get to write my thoughts. I wish you knew that I love visuals in a book, it helps me stay focused and understand the book more. I wish you knew I like writing because I’ve always wanted to write a book and publish it online. I wish you knew I don’t like reading as much as I like writing. I wish you knew I like sketchnoting, note format more than other kinds of note formats. I wish you knew that I like when we read as a class more than independently, but I like both equally. I wish you knew that I feel comfortable in your class. I wish you knew that I love to do research projects. I wish you knew that I am a writer because I love writing things in my notebook or jotting down notes. I wish you knew that as a writer, I love to write at least about three pages, I’m always so tempted. I wish you knew that my favorite time in ELA is Literacy Workshop. I wish you knew that as a kid I’m actually not such a good kid at home, I have a lot of attitude *lol*. I wish you knew that as a kid I space out and don’t know what I’m supposed to do after. I wish you knew that as a kid I don’t focus in your class sometimes, sorry. I wish you knew that as a kid sometimes I feel like talking out loud but I don’t want to disrupt your class or lesson that you’re teaching. I wish you knew that as a kid I sometimes have anxiety and get shy or nervous. I wish you knew that as a kid I love being active. I wish you knew that as a kid sometimes I want to talk back but then remind myself that that’s not right. I wish you knew that as a kid sometimes I want to sing out loud but then I forget I’m in school. I wish you knew that as a kid I have scoliosis and when I see a book that has a disability in it, it makes me feel sad although I myself don’t have disabilities, I still feel bad for those who have disabilities. I wish you knew that as a kid I don’t like reading a lot. I wish you knew as a kid just in general I hate having homework, it stresses me out. I wish you knew as a kid I love to fidget with stuff.
Dear teacher,
One thing about me as a writer is that writing is my passion. I journal, write stories, you name it. But writing for a job feels like a wave from an ocean I can’t quite swim in. Writing for a job as a kid, you get praise and encouragement. But as an adult, to me feels like a sad performance.
I wish my teacher knew that I wanted to be a writer when I grow up, but because of discouragement, I can’t. I’ve lose the dream of writing books in the ditch and I can’t seem to find it, it is gone forever. Having a dream that feels like it might actually happen. Losing a dream is like losing your favorite memory. Because that is what it is.
I wish my teacher knew that when I was younger in about 2nd grade, I was very vulnerable. If you told me I was ugly, I would have burst into tears, it was uncomfortable. But one thing I assimilated [learned] is that you don’t have to worry or be sad all the time because crying usually escalates the problem. Even if someone doesn’t really show their care but someone, deep down cares for you. And having a good relationship with that person is important.
I want to thank my teachers for helping me understand and grasp subjects I don’t understand. Teaching feels (and looks!) like an impossible job, but teachers are some [of] the people who do it like it’s nothing. Teachers are amazing!
What I can say to my teacher is that, “Hey, I just wanted to say I appreciate that you [what you] did for my classmates and I. I also appreciate and take [for] granted that how you persevere and problem solve and you come every day with a smile on your face and a serene tone.”
What are the hidden pieces of the students you teach? What do you already know or not know about the children sitting in your classroom every day? What would your students say if they wrote a letter to you?
Biography
These letters were written by Victoria Dotson’s fifth-grade students on the northwest side of Chicago.
