By Xavier Williams,

This month marks the last month of the year of 2014 and the beginning of the winter holiday season. This season features the beautiful and joyful holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, among others. These holidays are a time to celebrate with family and loved ones. So I decided to ask three teachers a question that connects with the holidays and it was, “Why is your family important to you?”.

Why is your family important to you?

	My family is very important to me. My family is supportive. Although we do not see each other too often, I always spend Christmas with my family. For that reason, Christmas is a special holiday for me. With all of the craziness in the world and the stresses of daily life, I am very fortunate to have a family that supports me. Going to visit my family in Western Maryland is a time when I can slow down, relax and breathe again. My hope is that everyone, even if their family is not supportive, can find a place where they can breathe this holiday season. -Vincent Tola (ESOL Teacher)
	My family is very important to me because they provide support, understanding, and unconditional love to me. I grew up in Seattle, Washington; my parents and little brother still live there. The holidays are the only time throughout the year that I am able to return home to Seattle and be with them. My family acts as a “re-charge” for me; they help me to stay grounded in what is most important. I am so grateful for the time in December to spend real time with my family at home, 2,800 miles from my Baltimore home. -Katie Casto (ESOL Teacher)
	My family is important to me because they are the people who know me best. We have known each other all our lives. We support each other. If any of us has a problem we know we can call each other for help or just a listening ear. We are not all together very often because we live on opposite sides of the United States, but we call each other most weekends. When we do get together, it’s special and fun. -Ms.Warzer (ESOL Teacher)

Next month’s Teacher Talk question will be: “What is your New Year’s resolution?”