Top 10 teacher superpowers

It's true, teachers are superheroes, and most of them should be recognized as such.  And yes, we do have superhero names and a secret handshake and we all meet once a year in a super secret location to figure out the following year's super secret password.  In case you're curious, here are the top 10 teacher superpowers according to Jessica.

1.  Infinite patience in response the question: "And what exactly is a verb again?"

2.  Ability seek out the one pair of glazed over eyes in a sea of 70 eye balls and get those eyes back in the game.

3.  Infinite resiliency.  How many days do we go home thinking: "There's no clearer way I could have explained that and they still just don't get it."  Yet, we come back the next day, rethink the lesson, and run at it like our butt is on fire.

4.  Multi-tasking.  Today I checked the exchange rate for the euro, figured out several different flight options for Spring Break to Italy, retaught (for the milionth time) definite articles, graded 14 worksheets, and sang a song all at the same time.  No, that's not weird.  It's my life.

5.  Ability to extract at least one interesting tidbit from each and every one of our 120 students that we retain in our super secret safe and whip it out at the most unexpected times.  How else are we supposed to keep you interested?

6.  Unbounded creativity.  Can you make disjunctive pronouns funny, interesting, and memorable?  I can.

7.  Complete disinhibition when it comes to classroom behavior.  When other time would I sing, dance, and tell ridiculous stories from my own life?  If it will make you remember how to form the present perfect correctly, bring it on.

8.  Infinite ability to remember faces.  If you've ever had me as a teacher, I will always remember you.  I may not remember your real name but I will remember your Italian name and probably some ridiculous fact about your life.

9.  Magical powers to add hours to the day.  Have you ever had to grade 27 five page papers, write three lesson plans, study for your doctoral exams, and coach a swim team in the same day?  Been there, done that, wrote the book on doing it in style.

10.  Forgiveness.  If you were me, you would not forgive the excuses I hear for why students don't turn in their homework.  (Gem of the week: I thought lunedì meant Wednesday.  Liar!  I've taught you Italian for two years now, there's no possible way you didn't know lunedì means Monday.)  But, I forgive you and we move on.  Tomorrow we shall dance again.

Not everyone can be a superhero, but teachers are certainly among the most respectable.  So, dear students, please take a moment to thank your teacher, and give them a break once and a while.  Remember you are one (and a very important one), but only one of the nearly 245 students we deal with every year.  You are special, but you cannot dominate our time.