Photo credit goes to the hubby

Professionally, my hubby is a geek…a computer nerd. Yes, he is our family’s own personal Geek Squad. His official title is Software Solutions Architect. I know…pretty fancy, right? BUT…when fall arrives, in addition to the computer programming stuff, my man returns to his roots…farming.

For three weeks each fall, I become a harvest widow. My hubby joyfully tells his brother-in-law that he is willing and ready to help out with the harvest. So, after a full day of working with technology, off he goes to jump into a grain truck or a tractor, and he loves every minute of it.

As I contemplated what to write about this week, I thought, hmmm…what do teaching and harvesting have in common? What’s a simile for these two jobs? Who better to ask than my teacher friends. Facebook is perfect for posting a question and getting some great answers.  

Through direct messages, I asked several educators this question, “Write the first thought that comes to your mind. Ready, go: Teaching is like harvesting because…” Now I ask you to do the same thing. Before you read on, answer that question please! Got your answer? If you are willing, please share it in the comments.

From novice teachers (some of my former teacher candidates who are now teaching and who I friend on Facebook AFTER they have graduated), to veteran teachers (some of my former colleagues from when I taught elementary students and who are married to farmers), to music teachers who have been teaching for 12 years and I had her in my first year of teaching…oh man, am I feeling old! :o, to elementary principals, to retired teachers, and to teachers who are no longer teaching but are in different professions…all were asked that same question.

Below are the responses I received back (thanks to all who took the time to send me a direct Facebook message with your answer). A few replies are similar, and a few made me giggle out loud when I read them. 🙂 Compare your answer to theirs, but more importantly, enjoy!

Teaching is like harvesting because…

Dena: We are helping our children’s minds and hearts grow and develop just like those crops in the field. Nature can be impossible to control (like outside family and relationship factors) but we must take these children and tend to them so that they can develop and become a productive member of society.

Bree: Whatever you put into it you get out of it. If you work hard and tend to your crops, you will be successful. Same with teaching.

Mary: It is a huge undertaking that you tackle it one field at a time. Before you know it you’ve harvested down each corn and bean stalk and are left with bins full of golden corn and beans.

Kandy: We are able to glean the seeds of love, creativity, passion and joy for learning that hard work and committed effort sowed.

Aly: You are constantly helping shape a child to help them grow.

Kayla: The main thing I think is just like harvest season, teaching is BUSY BUSY.

Lana: It takes a lot of patience and sack lunches to get through it! HA!

Photo credit goes to Lana…

Julie: You start with something small and end up with something that will benefit the world.

Wilson: You get to gather children’s minds and make something wonderful.

Abbey: Preparation, hard work, and love is put into the crop as they blossom you send them off to the next grade to be harvested once again.

Alex: Teaching is like harvesting because, as the teacher, we plant the seeds in the students’ brains, then after months of fertilizing the seeds, a beautiful crop of knowledge is grown in the student.

Jamie: You dig everything up and revamp (fertilize) before anything new can come out (students’ brains).

LeAnne: We have nurtured the crop and now it is time to send them on their way hoping that they are the best that we have helped them to be. Just as we nurture our students to become the best that they can be and send them onto the next step in their life whether it be a new grade level or onto college or work. We reap what we sow and hopefully we have sown the best seed that we can.

Dani: There aren’t enough hours in the day!

Liz: Even though the season is ending there is always a new beginning for next year.

Sonya: Reap what you sow…Get out of it what you put in…If we don’t work hard in the spring and summer, the fall won’t be as plentiful and winter will be challenging. Teaching to pass the time just won’t cut it.

Jason: The crop is plentiful!

Photo credit goes to the hubby

Toni: You nurture, tend to, and care for young ‘sprouts’ in hopes that they will, someday, be fruitful adults.

Connie: We reap the rewards with every child we teach!

Brianna: Teaching is like harvesting because you help your students “grow” and then you “cut” them loose into the world. Also, teaching is like harvesting because it can be crazy stressful! Crazy stressful but rewarding!

Mel: A teacher plants (seeds) of knowledge within students and nurturers them until they are mastered and ready to harvest.

Jesmine: You water the kids with knowledge and skills to prepare them for success. Over time you watch them grow into beautiful children using the hard work you put in and you enjoy the fruits of your labor! To make it even better, you get to do it all again next harvest with better tools, plans and lessons!

Shawn: First you have to sow the seeds (beginning of school year). Then you watch it (students) grow (the school year) and then it’s harvest (end of school year).

Roberta: You reap what you sow.

Thank you, everyone, for responding to the question. I couldn’t agree more with all of you. The love and hard work and passion and time and patience and faith that goes with harvesting and teaching is unending. Thanks to ALL farmers for your dedication and love of the land; and thanks to ALL educators for your dedication and love of the kids.

Photo credit goes to the hubby

Stay Calm & Harvest On!
Profs Dr. Wendy & Dr. V.