Why I Teach for WDC New Horizons Academy

Why I Teach for WDC’s New Horizons Academy

You know, it's interesting when I look back during those years in my life when everyone is trying to help you decide what you should be when you grow up. My family kept insisting that I pursue a teaching career like my older brother did, but I didn't see it. Me? A Teacher?  I went into the Banking Business instead, and, on many occasions when my position as a manager necessitated the duty of instruction, I continued to be blinded by the fact that I was good at teaching others—even when the employees I trained surpassed me on their way up the corporate ladder.

When Boos girl encouraged me to take over the Comma Class in November of 2009, I thought something was seriously wrong with this lady. I'm not a Teacher. I'm just a Newbie Writer with a lot to learn. But I agreed. What the heck. I didn't have anything else to do since I retired (too early, I might add) from my thirty-year career. How hard could it be? I thought. Once I personalized the lesson pages (already set up by Katzendragonz ) to fit my strange personality, and once I studied all my brother's English Grammar text books and actually stepped into the 'classroom' for the first time, I was completely hooked. I thought, Hey, look at me—I'm a Teacher!! I had an epiphany of sorts. Writers of WDC were actually relying on me to give them answers on where that damn comma goes. I thought, This is cool. They really need me!

I find myself constantly editing, updating, polishing, and adding on to the lessons as each term leads me to explore more and more reliable comma-usage sources. Some say the course is too difficult, but I believe the challenge ensures the dedication of the students. EVERY student, whether they make the effort to take advantage of my lessons or not, is important to me. I work with each student until they comprehend each Comma Rule. I make them do their assignments over and over again until I am assured they 'get it'.

Each term, I revise the example sentences and the exercises by incorporating the new students' names and interests into them. I go into their ports and use their own writings as examples when trying to make a specific point about an area of confusion. They are surprised to see sentences, which they have written, used as teaching tools. This makes the course personal and, I think, keeps the students curious about what is around the next corner. I encourage active forum discussions by turning them into contests, offering merit badges for the best answers. I try to answer EVERY post in the forum, which averages about 800 total posts each term.

Why don't I get a 'real' job? Why do I put up with my family and friends' ridicule that I must be crazy to spend my time doing this without pay or compensation? Why do I spend six weeks, three times a year, with an aching back and neck so I can keep constant watch on the forum and immediately answer the student's questions? Because I'm a Teacher, and that's what Teachers do. My ‘compensation’ lies in the excitement I see in their discovery of how a simple, curly punctuation mark can offer clarity and even-paced rhythm for their readers. My ‘payment’ is beyond monetary value when former students leave announcements in my in-box, boasting of awards and publications they have achieved.  I’d like to think I had, in a small way, something to do with their success. I am honored when my graduates, and there are many now, continue to email me with requests to read their work and help them with their commas and other grammar issues.

I'd like to share with you my 'payment' for this term, a gift from my students, an honor I will always treasure: