Grading day. That dreaded 8 hours of grinding away, grading, thinking, deciding, deciphering, trying to be fair and just. And this grading day, to my surprise, I was almost done grading by 8:00 AM on Friday morning. So I was sitting in my classroom organizing and planning when the Kinder teacher poked her head into my room and said, "Can I borrow you for a few minutes?"
I followed her out of my room and into another, wondering what she needed. Then I saw it. A group of about four other women, all in a circle, hands held, ready to pray. "We were thinking of all the believers we knew at our school that we could invite. I knew you are a believer. Would you pray with us?" I immediately said yes, and then I teared up.
"You don't understand what this means to me... I have felt so alone! This is an answer to my prayers I have been praying since September!"
We prayed for the students, for their rebellious hearts - the anger and pain, the bullying and the problems that have manifested in our classrooms. We prayed for ourselves, that we would be just and fair. That others would see Christ's light in us. We prayed for other teachers, that they would not be afraid of us, but curious and joyful and come to Christ.
In the end, I cried tears of joy knowing that once again, I am right where I need to be.
Thank you Jesus.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
From the Top Down. And by Top... I mean Christ.
I teach in a Title 1 School. I teach in a Focus Title 1 School. The demographics of my school are difficult and often sad. Title 1 refers to a school that is high poverty. Focus schools are high poverty schools that rank in the bottom 15%. You can go to this awesome pdf file to read about it if you want more information!
http://www.ode.state.or.us/wma/superintendent/release/priority-focus-and-model-faq.pdf
I have not taught anywhere else, but I certainly did not attend a Title 1 Focus school as a child. Regardless, I love my job. I wake up in the morning and struggle inside myself, asking questions like "Am I pushing them too hard?" "Am I compassionate enough?" I recently was told to be careful with my language when referring to my class. I had an epiphany about their behavior and realized they were defiantly choosing to be lazy and not work hard. So I began battling their work ethic skills, rather than their academics. It is frustrating to see them understand what to do, and then defiantly choose to fidget, play, fiddle, distract and otherwise not try to do anything at all.
I started thinking, these kids are too young an age group for me. Second grade is too young. I'm too sarcastic. I'm too hard on them. And then I met with my principal. She said something that changed my heart. As we were discussing her plan for next year she revealed that she wants to keep me on staff for next year, if I like teaching here. I assured her that I do love it, that this is where I am meant to be. She laughed and said that although sometimes she wonders why, she knows that God put her here at our school for three reasons. Her daughter. Her son. And our School.
I realized... this woman just said God. She just said that God has a purpose for her being here. Last spring, I prayed and prayed to be placed in the right place, the right school, the right job, with the right principal! And His blessings just keep raining down!
It's true. I am right where I need to be.
http://www.ode.state.or.us/wma/superintendent/release/priority-focus-and-model-faq.pdf
I have not taught anywhere else, but I certainly did not attend a Title 1 Focus school as a child. Regardless, I love my job. I wake up in the morning and struggle inside myself, asking questions like "Am I pushing them too hard?" "Am I compassionate enough?" I recently was told to be careful with my language when referring to my class. I had an epiphany about their behavior and realized they were defiantly choosing to be lazy and not work hard. So I began battling their work ethic skills, rather than their academics. It is frustrating to see them understand what to do, and then defiantly choose to fidget, play, fiddle, distract and otherwise not try to do anything at all.
I started thinking, these kids are too young an age group for me. Second grade is too young. I'm too sarcastic. I'm too hard on them. And then I met with my principal. She said something that changed my heart. As we were discussing her plan for next year she revealed that she wants to keep me on staff for next year, if I like teaching here. I assured her that I do love it, that this is where I am meant to be. She laughed and said that although sometimes she wonders why, she knows that God put her here at our school for three reasons. Her daughter. Her son. And our School.
I realized... this woman just said God. She just said that God has a purpose for her being here. Last spring, I prayed and prayed to be placed in the right place, the right school, the right job, with the right principal! And His blessings just keep raining down!
It's true. I am right where I need to be.
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mathew 25:40
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Sometimes... it takes a Southern Baptist
Now, I am not a Southern Baptist. I have some Baptist cousins, one of which is a dear friend and a very good wise counselor to me. I lived in Texas, I have heard that thick drawl, and I have felt the hospitality of a good Southern Baptist, but that is not what I expected to have walk into my classroom on a Friday morning.
There she was. A tall, thick accented, beautiful woman in modest dress... ready to meet my classroom with a smile. So before I left for my training, I warned her. "This is a wild class... they will take advantage... only expect the best..." and the list went on.
Finally she looked at me and said, "Are you a praying woman? Maybe we should pray!" I laughed and was so relieved!!! Yes I am a praying woman! I pray for these kids every morning! My IA is a praying woman. My kids are surviving because this classroom is a Godly classroom!
Let me tell you... for the first time, I walked out of that room confident that they would have a great day. All 32 kids. All 21 boys. All of them. And do you know what? THEY DID!
Lord, your blessings never cease to amaze me. In your love you have shown me that humbleness and kindness will lead us straight. You help me balance strict consequences with kind and playful friendship. And you give us hope that we will each become as you would have us be. Thank you for your daughter, our substitute. A breath of fresh Christian air in a secular worldly place. Bless her for kindness and understanding.
Amen
There she was. A tall, thick accented, beautiful woman in modest dress... ready to meet my classroom with a smile. So before I left for my training, I warned her. "This is a wild class... they will take advantage... only expect the best..." and the list went on.
Finally she looked at me and said, "Are you a praying woman? Maybe we should pray!" I laughed and was so relieved!!! Yes I am a praying woman! I pray for these kids every morning! My IA is a praying woman. My kids are surviving because this classroom is a Godly classroom!
Let me tell you... for the first time, I walked out of that room confident that they would have a great day. All 32 kids. All 21 boys. All of them. And do you know what? THEY DID!
Lord, your blessings never cease to amaze me. In your love you have shown me that humbleness and kindness will lead us straight. You help me balance strict consequences with kind and playful friendship. And you give us hope that we will each become as you would have us be. Thank you for your daughter, our substitute. A breath of fresh Christian air in a secular worldly place. Bless her for kindness and understanding.
Amen
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