People Share Memories Of Their Favorite Teachers Growing Up

Teachers face a lot of pressure from colleagues, friends, parents, and especially students. Their job isn’t just to teach multiplication and keep kids from passing notes; it’s also to mentor these children and help them turn into balanced adults. Of course, some teachers go above and beyond, and are able to change lives in unbelievable ways.

Sure, a few people might say their favorite teacher used to bring in homemade macaroni and cheese, or give them test answers. That’s pretty awesome! But can you believe the teacher who had her student’s artwork made into a book, and kept it on her desk for decades? Or teachers who went out of their way to make sure their students never felt alone? You’re about to discover the best teachers that the people of the internet have ever had…

The Best Teacher Ever

It’s not an easy title to achieve, but this one college professor really was the best teacher ever! Super hard subject, and she wasn’t nice at all. But she answered every single email I sent almost immediately and would talk you through your issues you had.

Even if was the same stupid question, she’d go through it as many times as it took for you to understand. She’d stay after class to answer any questions that I had and she just really knew her stuff. She reminded me a lot of Professor McGonagall from the Harry Potter books.: stern yet caring. Reddit user: [redacted]

Most Magical Teacher

My fifth grade teacher watched my friends as they would do this weird thing where they would hang out with me one day and then ignore me the next. He would apologize to me and tell me that they were being dumb boys (I am a girl) and that I didn’t deserve it.

He’d sit and play games like chess or Professor Layton with me when I was caught up on work. He saw that I had a passion for math and science and worked to push me into what I liked. He coached our basketball team and somehow managed to make everyone feel equally important among a group of girls.

Flash forward to my senior year of high school. This teacher is living in Florida and working at Disney World. I’m living in  Alabama at this point. He finds out that I’m taking a trip to Disney and actually works to meet up with me. Reddit user: Pikalover10

She Listened When Nobody Else Did

What is one of the best qualities that a good teacher can have? Being observant of things. Pay attention to what’s going on. My favorite teacher actually cared about her students. She’s the only reason I was able to get glasses or ADD medication while I was in school.

My mom would never listen to me very much, but she would always end up listening to my teachers. I definitely don’t think I’m the only one who had the  experience of teachers taking better care of me than my parents wanted to. Reddit user: Random_Imgur_User

We’re Not Crying, You Are

On graduation night, as I accepted my diploma, I was handed a small gift. No one else was given anything, even the honor roll kids. It turned out to be from my favorite teacher, the poor woman who had endured my bad puns and artistic liberties for most of high school.

It was a small painting kit meant to encourage me to practice a super hard technique. To be clear, she was an amazing teacher and an awesome person who inspired and educated thousands of people. But gifts aren’t common in my family, and most of my family didn’t make it to the graduation ceremony, let alone give gifts.

The small gift meant the world to me, and reminded me that I was worthy of doing awesome things (constant self-confidence issues in the arts community). A few years later, and now I have a classroom of my own. Reddit user: IndigoBluePC901

Words of Wisdom

I was a very bad student in high school; I was very close to becoming a cautionary tale of wasted potential. Before going to college (I had no interest in attending), my English teacher pulled me aside and told me, “You’re smart enough to do anything.”

I didn’t believe her at first. I figured that she was just being nice. It’s been close to 25 years since she told me that, and honestly, I never forgot it. It was so important in my life to hear. I wish I could thank her. Today I have my Ph.D. Reddit user: lazyoverachier06

Let Him Think For Himself

In third grade, a little boy who was not part of our class was talking smack about our teacher during recess. Being the loyal little gremlins that we were, our class immediately ratted the kid out once we were back inside. Our teacher heard this, left the classroom, and came back with the little smack-talking boy.

We were giddy with anticipation. The boy stood at the front of the class next to our teacher and started to cry. Oooohhh. Our 8-year-old hearts sought vengeance. He was going to get it. What happened next has never left me. Our teacher stood next to him and put her arm around him. It’s okay. He doesn’t have to like me. I hope that if he got to know me better that he would change his mind. And I’m grateful I have the chance now to get to know him a little better. Reddit user: DeadBasilPlant

This Is Not Fight Club

When a fight broke out in class, which happened pretty often, the teacher came in, literally picked up the misbehaving kid as he was trying to claw at the other student, and put him outside the classroom. He said, “headmaster’s office, now” very calmly to him.

He shut the door in the kid’s face, sat down in his seat, and asked what had happened. He also asked why the fight happened and how we were planning to solve it. He was as unmoved as a mountain and as clear as the sky on a summer day. Reddit user: Clemen11

I Wouldn’t Be Who I Am Now

During my middle school years, I was in a band, but I never really enjoyed being in it until I was in seventh grade, when my teacher unexpectedly told us we’d be having a test. I never practiced until he told me that, and I usually freak out from exams, so that night, I practiced my butt off.

Next day, when he told me to play, I played my part of the piece, and when I was done, he said something that I’ll never forget, even if it’s just something small to other people: “Wow, that was amazing. See, guys? You should practice more like X and be just as talented as she is.” I got a full score on the exam, and from then on, those words motivated me to keep practicing. I would not be who I am right now if it wasn’t for him. Reddit user: tofurific

Just One of The Kids

You know you have a great teacher when he talks with you as people, and not just at you. He doesn’t teach in the typical and mundane way that many teachers do. He makes the lesson seem like a conversation, where you don’t even feel that he’s even teaching at all.

Oh, plus him understanding and even telling dirty jokes definitely adds to the fun. I mean, this is high school, so we were old enough to appreciate them. I realize that could have come off as weird otherwise. We’re all in high school. Reddit user: shamblz

He Wasn’t Even My Teacher

My favorite teacher would have endless patience with me. Talked softly. Laughed at my dumb jokes. If someone was sitting, he would get down to their eye level. Cared passionately about the subject he was teaching as well as each and every one of his students.

He just showed tons of love and was so up-lifting. He would come and talk to me when he saw me sitting alone. Wasn’t even my teacher. He was just a math teacher that helped me 1 on 1 for my IEP during blocks that he was assigned there. Reddit user: [redacted]

She Just Knew

She asked me to stop by after class. I thought I was in trouble. It turns out that she had a “gut feeling” that something was bugging me. I never thought that I could trust another human being until I met this teacher. I actually still keep in touch with her to this day.

She helped me throughout so much of my life after that. And when you single-handedly are able to completely restore somebody else’s faith in humanity, then you’re more than just a great teacher…but you’re an amazing person. Reddit user: MephistoTheHater

Rewriting History

Any history buff knows how hard it is to hear completely falsified facts about World War II or King Henry VIII’s wives, but my teacher did it for the good of his class. He told lies in history lectures and got mad when we’d end up failing to bust him on it.

It really taught me to think critically and to question authority after that. The best authority figures are the ones that make you think critically, rather than just throwing out facts at you. It was way better for us for him to do that. Reddit user: [redacted]

Speaking in Latin

My Latin teacher had this goofy centurion Halloween costume that he had to have gotten from some sort of mall store. He would wear this thing and then chant the declension endings while doing this interesting march. That class can be very boring.

But I have to say that he had no problem humiliating himself all for the enjoyment of his students. I’m not going to lie, we probably would not have tried as hard as we did in Latin without having a teacher that was like this. Reddit user: carvedfromstone

It’s Pizza, But No Party

I had a teacher one time in high school that used to buy us pizza on days that we had tests. Talk about a bittersweet (or bitter-cheesy) moment. Sure, you get to enjoy one of the greatest foods of all time, but you also have to take a test right afterward.

Thanks a lot, teach. But really, it was a pretty nice way to sort of soften the otherwise stressful day that it was. It definitely would help get us in a state of being relaxed and talking before we had to focus on the anxiety-inducing test. Reddit user: Captain-C-Man

Trust Your Instincts, Kid

My chemistry teacher and academic team coach complimented me one day in a way that really stuck with me. She probably didn’t even mean for it to be such an impactful statement. In academic team practice one day, no one answered a question that I thought I knew the answer to, but I didn’t want to be wrong.

So she revealed the answer, and I was like, “Oh, I did know that, I just wasn’t sure!” And she told me, “Jambalaya, always go with your instinct on these. You are so well-read, you know a lot more than you think you do.” Reddit user: HomemadeJambalaya

Lunchbox Love

My parents were always busy; I was always sick and coughed almost every day, but I thought that was normal. My fifth grade teacher was the first one that worried about me. At the end of the year, I gave her one of those square metal cartoon lunch boxes for kids.

Fast forward to high school; we had a field trip where we were supposed to look after and teach 3rd graders, and the teacher of the 3rd graders was my fifth-grade teacher. She immediately recognized me and was holding the metal lunch box I gave her. Reddit user: FatChopSticks

Let’s Do This

Well, this is one way to make a first impression. In the beginning of our junior year, my math teacher introduced himself by kicking the door open. He then came in and shouted “Let’s do this!” It definitely scared the life out of all of us, but we were paying attention.

Lessons from then on were the best. We all absolutely loved him as a teacher. He still ended up failing me though. But if I’m being totally honest with myself, that was completely on me and not on him. I really did deserved to fail. Reddit user: BundyWA

A (or B) For Effort

Lots of people these days complain that millennials are “entitled” because of participation trophies and being coddled. It’s probably because of having people like this teacher. She was like a freemium game. You know, the kind that you end up playing on your phone.

It always just makes you feel good. She was always complimenting everyone, no matter how far off the mark they were. Like, “What’s 1+1, student?” And someone would answer “3.” And she’d say, “No, it’s 2, but you were close, good job!” Reddit user: glebkrep

Teacher and Friend

Every once in a while, you’ll come across a super awesome teacher who just acts like one of your best friends. My TechApp teacher would let us play music during our class and let us play games when we were done with our work, plus let us sit anywhere we wanted.

She was really great. And during the later years when I spent more time in her class, like from sixth grade through eighth grade, she would let me skip one of my elective classes and hide in her class to hang out with some of my friends. Reddit user: PM_ME_YOUR_EYELASHES

Shared My Love For Nerd Culture

I really thought I was nerdy enough for liking Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, and all the other fantasy books. Everyone else definitely thought that I was for liking them. But it turns out my teacher loved all the same things that I did.

He actually introduced me to things I never would have watched, read, or otherwise seen. If it wasn’t for him, I never would have watched half the things I do now. He really ended up helping broaden my horizons and expose to me so many things. Reddit user: Duhnzz

Newbies Stick Together

I remember in middle school, I had a teacher who was brand new to teaching; it was her very first year. She was the first teacher I ever actually realized was a person, too. She let me and my friends eat lunch in her room sometimes; I remember she liked strawberries, and I would always share them with her.

Some of her assignments really frustrated me, and as a sixth-grader, there were definitely times I got mad and blamed her. But the truth is that she was amazing because she interacted with us like we were actual human beings. Reddit user: captain_asparagus

Always Gleeful

High school choir was around long before shows like Glee took over our TV screens and Billboard charts. And choir directors don’t play around! One of my favorite teachers then was my music teacher, because he was really very passionate about what he taught.

But even more than that, he cared about his students as whole people, and we all knew that. You have to be extremely passionate about music to teach a bunch of high school kids every day. Good thing he cared as much about his students as he did his job. Reddit user: [redacted]

Music Spoke To Me

I will always remember my favorite teacher as the one who would play music from the band Third Eye Blind as we entered the classroom. Not because they were especially popular at the time (though they were) but it’s because he genuinely appreciated their sound.

It really opened my eyes to the idea that following a crowd is totally pointless….But so is hating on things that the crowd loves just because the crowd happens to love it. He really taught me how to do really critical thinking. Reddit user: mach_oddity

Candyman

Mr. Macy sold candy out of a cabinet right behind his desk. He never would lock it if he had to step out of class for a minute. In fact, the cabinet was actually wide open. Nobody ever stole any of the candy. You knew that you just didn’t mess with Mr. Macy.

Or his candy. He was the kind of teacher, to me at least, that you wanted to like you. You wanted to do well just to impress him. He kinda just commanded respect, but he was also funny and sometimes crude. A great combo. Reddit user: Siren_of_Madness

The (Pretty Great) Showman

I was still a budding theater talent as a little kid, but my favorite teacher of all time loved the topic even more than I did and really encouraged my passion for it. I knew I loved theater as a kid, but I didn’t really fully understand how much there was to know and love.

I knew I there must have been more that I loved beyond the pretty costumes and shiny tap shoes. This teacher showed me it was a craft, not just American Idol wannabes. Now I can do something with it, and it’s thanks to him. Reddit user: MissBee123

Ask Me Anything

My physics professor in high school was so amazing. He combined lectures with hands-on demonstrations in a really entertaining and engaging way (like in class karate demonstrations and watching him fire a potato gun on the football field). What truly set him apart in my mind, however, was his question box day.

He said, “As young adults, I know you guys probably have tons of questions that aren’t related to physics or even school. Anonymously drop any question into this box, and once a week, I’ll read them aloud and do my best to answer them. And if I’m unable to answer it myself, I’ll do my best to get back to you.’”

People asked all sorts of questions they had about any topic. Everything from family problems they were having to how a car engine works. It felt amazing to be treated like a developing adult rather than just a student and a child. Reddit user: jigglawr

She Encouraged My Passions

I was TERRIFIED when I found out I was going to be in her 3rd grade class, because I had heard that she was the meanest and hardest teacher in the school. I begged my mom to push for me to transfer, but she said this wasn’t a battle worth fighting.

In the end, yes, this teacher pushed her students and didn’t put up with any B.S., but she also championed our accomplishments and truly valued my work. I was naturally good at math but I LOVED creative writing, so if I finished a multiplication worksheet early, she let me work on my stories.

We had to write a “chapter book” as one assignment, and because of her, I ended up writing a whole mini-series of books. She had them bound in a special binder that she kept on her desk. She used it as an example in her classes. Reddit user: SuperquoooL

Making History Buffs of Us All

I am a big history buff, mostly the crusades. Anyway, my history teacher and I would talk about Mott and Bailey castles all the time. One week we decided to make a project just for funnies, and he ended up giving me extra credit for it. But I didn’t need the EC.

So he gave it to my friend, who was struggling in school but wanted to continue playing football with me. That extra credit gave him the GPA to play the rest of the year; after that, he really helped my friend turn his grades around. Reddit user: HammerlaneNYHC

She Flagged Me Down

In 3rd grade, we were given a project to make a class flag, and unbeknownst to me, my teacher ended up using  my flag as the class flag for more than twenty years after it. And what sets her apart even more is what she did when she retired.

She actually put in all the effort to track me down and give the flag back to me. I just about cried when she gave it to me; it was really so sweet. I had no idea that she had kept it, and I wonder to this day what about it was so special to her. Reddit user: brorack_brobama

Humor Heals All

Note to teachers: it is okay to be human and let your funny side show in the classroom. My favorite teachers always had great senses of humor. I think all teachers should display it and really need to do that. It really makes their lessons fun.

Students will enjoy listening if they’re not droning on, and it makes content easier to remember. Sure, school is about learning and becoming smarter people, but teachers aren’t only repositories of knowledge. They’re people too. Reddit user: disco_thief

“I Just Reached Out to Him”

I’ve got two teachers. The first one was not only a great (fifth grade) teacher, but she was GORGEOUS in an Audrey Hepburn kinda way. She STILL looks fantastic in her 80s! She used to drive a red Porsche 911 convertible. This was 1965 and she one of those women who “informed” my ideal of attractiveness over the decades.

The other teacher was a music theory professor in college. He was beyond brilliant, an Eastman-trained concert pianist who encouraged my passion for music (I’m still actively composing at 63). He could play ANYTHING…imitate all of the great jazz piano legends AND play the gnarliest Prokofiev piano pieces. He too was a car freak: Datsun 240Zs were his thing! I just reached out to him; hopefully he’s still kickin’! Reddit user: Sandler55SD

She Appreciated Memes

Most ’90s kids were texting on old flip phones and writing notes in school. These days, the kids look at influencer posts and memes on their new iPhones. I have to shamelessly admit that my favorite teacher was my favorite for a particular reason.

It was because she would let me look at memes during school or use them when talking. If she was standing behind me, she really didn’t care that I looked at memes. She just “got” it. It was really nice to have a teacher like that. Reddit user: MattTheCoach

Two Pennies Coming Right Up

My seventh grade Social Studies teacher was an amazing woman. Had nine siblings. Lived in Wisconsin or Wyoming, one of the W states. She was told by her school’s guidance counselor that she would never amount to anything. Left home at 18 and ended up working at the same factory the rest of her family did.

She thought that would be the rest of her life. But it wasn’t. At 20, she moved to Chicago, became a nanny to a rich family, worked her butt off. Got a degree in education and became a teacher. She brought up the graduation rate of every class she worked with.

At the end of your year with her, she would give you a penny and a notecard and would tell the class, “I don’t make bad investments….When you graduate in five years, I want you to come back with two pennies.” I’m graduating in a couple of years, and you can bet I will be back there. Reddit user: Of-Flowers-and-Fire

A Work of Art

My favorite teacher spoke to me as a person, not a child. I was failing out of high school, and she was the first person to put an art tool in my hand. She let me borrow a marker set and asked me to draw the parts of flowers, then label them. She was my science teacher.

I was in remedial everything (bad situation at home, plus ADD…barely getting by). Because of her taking a chance that I might be into art, I am now entering my junior year in digital arts and am in the honors program with a 3.6 GPA. Reddit user: Sky_hostess

Confession of an Ex-Bully

When I was in 8th grade, I got mixed up with a really bad crew of kids and became a bully. Nothing I’m afraid to admit now, because as a teacher, I feel the same way my teacher did. She knew I was intelligent & kind and this group was not for me.

Instead of sending a note home to my parents after a big argument with some girls, she kept me in for recess and spoke to me. She reminded me of my good traits, abilities, and how these talents would be wasted if I continued to be friends with people who didn’t realize this. For the first time in that year, I felt like someone truly cared about me, and I definitely feel that THIS is the way to reinforce goodness in children. Reddit user: fh98

He Understood My Issues

He was funny and down to earth and made the lessons engaging, and also he genuinely cared about me and my mental health (depression and social anxiety issues) rather than either letting me fade into the background or just telling me again and again to speak up like the teacher before had.

This was in high school, so I also appreciated how he spoke to me and listened to me like an adult, albeit a young one. I asked to take a week off, doing my schoolwork from home, because I felt I was burning out, and he allowed it. Reddit user: GimmerousFop

Thanks, Mr. Tiegs

My favorite teacher in high school actually would spend his lunch hour researching career goals I had and then brought me relevant information about it. It’s the most interest in my life that any adult had ever shown me (I grew up in an abusive home).

He was always so kind, and I knew he really cared about his students. I didn’t complete my goals because of mental health reasons I still struggle with, but he was one of maybe two adults that ever made me feel seen and cared about as a person. You were the best, Mr. Tiegs! Reddit user: [redacted]

In-Class Concerts

One of my favorite teachers in high school was a former singer of a rock band that had actually been pretty successful back in the day. Every once in a while, she would  just make up random songs about history figures like William Shakespeare or King Henry VIII.

She would use these songs as lesson plans instead of making boring PowerPoints, and she’d sing them to the class. Not only did it keep things fun and entertaining, but it was also the first A I’d ever gotten in an English class! Reddit user: [redacted]