Apples of My Eyes — Who Takes Care of Our Teachers?

🍎What happens when a little righteous anger turns into something rather wonderful?It all started with a television show, an unfair portrayal of public school educators, and my overwhelming desire to write a strongly worded letter to a certain director. (Believe me, Clever Foxes, it was going to be a very good letter.)But after spending far too much time mentally arguing with someone who didn’t even know I existed, I realized something: I could keep feeding my frustration, or I could figure out what it was trying to tell me.Enter metacognition—the fascinating ability to think about our own thinking—and a rather unexpected idea involving animal shelters, apple trees, and the extraordinary people who spend their days educating our children.In this special bonus episode of Middle School Mary Poppins, we’re talking about the tremendous demands placed on K–12 public school teachers, the personal sacrifices they make, and why appreciation should mean more than a coffee mug once a year.And I’m introducing something I’d love to see grow in schools everywhere:🍎 Apples of My Eyes: The Teacher Tree Project!Imagine a beautiful apple tree bulletin board at your local school, created by the PTO or PTA, with an apple representing each participating teacher. Families choose apples and help fulfill wishes throughout the school year.Here’s the twist: half the wishes are for classroom needs, and the other half are for the teachers themselves. Their favorite things, their hobbies, their little comforts, and the things that remind them they’re appreciated as human beings—not just as educators.With local business sponsors, family volunteers, and a little community creativity, we could make teacher appreciation an ongoing tradition rather than an annual occasion.And yes, somewhere along the way, I introduce the concept of The Giving Tree 2.0, with considerably less arboreal trauma.Because supporting teachers shouldn’t mean expecting them to give away every last branch.This episode is about the power of thoughtful action, the importance of public education, and what can happen when we turn our emotions into opportunities to do something good.Clever Fox Challenge: Share this episode with your PTO, PTA, school administrator, or a local business. Ask whether your community could start its own Apples of My Eyes Teacher Tree. Start small, include the kids, and let the kindness grow.I’d love to hear from schools that give it a try! Visit msmarypoppins.com and tell me about your project.A downloadable will be available at the website with ideas for planning your own apple tree!💜 A little note of thanks: If you enjoy spending time with me and the Clever Foxes, there’s now an option to subscribe for just $3 a month to enjoy the podcast without commercials while directly supporting the work that goes into creating these episodes. It’s entirely optional, and I’m grateful you’re here whether you subscribe or simply listen and share.Until next time, remember to Stop. Regulate. Listen.And stay clever, little foxes! 🦊#MiddleSchoolMaryPoppins #ApplesOfMyEyes #TeacherAppreciation #SupportPublicSchools #PublicSchoolTeachers #AdoptATeacher #TeacherTree #TeachersMatter #Metacognition #EmotionalIntelligence #EmotionalRegulation #SocialEmotionalLearning #MiddleSchool #ParentingTweens #TeacherSupport #CommunityKindness #RidiculousJoy #CleverFoxesBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-middle-school-mary-poppins-podcast--7467210/support.☂️ CONNECT WITH THE MIDDLE SCHOOL MARY POPPINS PODCAST™Website • Episodes • Resources • Morehttps://msmarypoppins.com🎧 Listen and follow The Middle