Crockett third grade dual language teacher Aaron Gneiding  talks with one of his students during a Veterans Day project

Students in Aaron Gneiding’s third grade dual language class learned about what it means to be a veteran from those who know about service and sacrifice.

Gneiding had his students develop questions they would like to ask a veteran. Then, on Veterans Day, Friday, Nov. 11, some of their questions were answered in video messages from veterans representing multiple military branches.

Ever since Gneiding joined Bryan ISD as an inaugural member of the AggieTERM program, he has led his students in a Veterans Day project and talks to them about his own service. Before embarking on his career in the classroom, Gneiding was a medic in the U.S. Army for four years.

He said he hopes the projects, especially this year’s video messages, help the students gain a worldview they might not otherwise get until later in life and appreciate what they have.

“We could tie it back into the Essential Eight,” he said, noting November’s character trait of gratitude. “Just to be thankful, absolutely be thankful for everything around you. Be thankful for those who served and those of the students who will serve eventually, because in Bryan ISD, there will be at least one in the future who will serve. Just to be thankful for them because not everyone signs up to do it.”

Stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, throughout his four years before enrolling at Texas A&M, Gneiding said the Army helped him with classroom management and classroom expectations of his students.

One thing that led Gneiding to pursue a career in education after his military service was the opportunity to mentor students. It is not exactly like the mentorship he provided at Fort Hood, he said, but he enjoys helping guide students on a path to success.

He said it is easier to mentor students at a younger age, and as a self-contained teacher, he can incorporate math, science and reading into all of his lessons.

After watching the veterans’ video responses on Nov. 11, the students were tasked with responding to writing prompts Gneiding gave them at the end of each video. Then, Gneiding answered a few of their questions also. Some of the questions were if they were ever scared, what they liked the best about being in the military, what they are doing now, what made them decide to leave active duty and the weirdest place they slept. Gneiding’s answer to the last question was on top of a Humvee in the pouring rain.

He said he hopes he has inspired someone and shown students who are interested in joining the military that they can do it too.

Each of the students signed Veterans Day cards that Gneiding sent to those who participated in this year’s project.

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