Category Archives: teachers

Simple Teaching

Christianity, Grace, homeschooling, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, , , , , , ,

Simple Teaching                                 jesus

Now, before you get all excited, I know that teaching is never SIMPLE!  I have taught and really get that.  But there was a time in my life when I thought I knew it all!  Imagine that.  Funny thing, the older I get, the less I realize I really know.

When I was in college, I studied and gathered all the information I could about great teachers and philosophers.  There were many theories on learning and child psychology.  I was going to be an incredible educator.  After all, I had two teaching certificates, a college diploma and knowledge galore.

Ahem, then I entered the classroom.  I had a classroom full of junior high and senior high boys.  Somehow all that knowledge did not help.  I needed to love these kids.  My professors never told me that part.

Jesus.  Now there was our role model for teaching.  The professors never mentioned him either.  He taught in the temple when he was 12. He taught the disciples in parables…stories that they could relate to.  And how, because of the love of God.  I had to surrender to that love with those boys.

All teachers have a goal, a plan, a reason for teaching.  Jesus was indeed the Master Teacher.  His goal was salvation and the love of God for believers.  He met people right smack dab where they were in the middle of their life!

Matthew 7:9-12 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?  If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”  

I can just see the face of that mother giving her little boy a bite of fish….thinking, “of course I would never give him a snake, are you kidding?”

Jesus was never patronizing, he always taught with love, compassion and tenderness. ( Although I sometimes wonder if when he was teaching the disciples he got a little tired of repeating!  Peter was probably one of those kids….)  Yet, He loved them passionately.

The ultimate teacher, Jesus.  He was our example.  We are all teachers of the love of God.  He met them where they were…He loved them unconditionally.

If we rest and abide in Him, we will give us the words, peace and love when we need it.  Being led by the Holy Spirit dwelling within!! Teacher or nurse, stay at home or bus driver…we are all teachers in one way or another. It is simple really…love.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV*

Simple Bubbles

Christianity, Grace, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, Uncategorized, , , , ,

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Simple Bubbles

I think I am into “simplification” right now.  I just believe with all my heart that is a message for us.  And what could be simpler than “bubbles?”

As a preschool teacher the word “bubbles” conjures up images of that soapy, messy stuff.  As a grade school teacher up it brings to mind…….standardized testing!!!!! ICK!  Those bubbles of the little kind that a student must fill in and darken with a number 2 pencil so that the computer can grade it.  It must not stray outside the bubble, and no extra erasures on the answer sheet!  I won’t even start on standardized testing…that another blog!!

As a special education teacher, I had to read the tests to my students (except the reading test, which even though not on their reading level, they had to “read” it alone..uh-hum)  For some, darkening the bubble into a certain pattern on the page proved to be the exciting part of the test.  Others simply were discouraged by having to be so “perfect”.

As I walked around the room reading, I had to encourage many of them to “fix” the bubbling.  One had the darkened image outside in the margin, one simply missed them completely.  Finally Marley decided he had to say something.  “Mrs. B. Why do these bubbles have to be so perfect?  You always tell us that we don’t have to be perfect in here.”  Whoa.  He was right.  Efforts are all that are required.

What if our Christian walk was like that?  What if we had to fill the bubble perfectly each and every time we did something?  Unfortunately, I believe some Christians believe that, thus they give up.  Then try to fill out the bubbles on their own.  That is simply not possible.  We cannot achieve perfection in and of ourselves.  Only Jesus did that.  He just expects us to surrender.  He wants to live His life through us.

Marley finally gave up.  “Mrs. B., I cannot do this right…it just won’t stay in the circle.  Will you shade inside the bubble for me? You can just do that work through me!” I was very thankful for his IEP accommodations at that point!

Then it hit me…. well said little one, well said.

Ephesians 2:4-9 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Be blessed~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9

*google image, NIV Bible*

 

Behavior-Respect=Lack of Discipline

homeschooling, Love one another, mom, motherhood, Parenting, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , ,

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An Observed Formula

As a former teacher and mom of adult children, I have made a number of observations.  I cannot say that they are correct, nor can I claim any scientific evidence. But it is was I have observed…my formula so to speak.

Behavior-Respect=Lack of Discipline

Behavior is defined as “the manner of conducting oneself” (Merriam-Webster)    Respect is defined “a feeling of admiring someone or something that is good, valuable, important, etc.” and “a feeling or understanding that someone or something is important, serious, etc., and should be treated in an appropriate way” (Merriam-Webster).  Discipline is defined as “control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior” or  “a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders”.(Merriam-Webster)

How interesting.  Could it be that simple?

The manner of conducting oneself, without the feeling of value leads to lack of behaving in a way that shows a willingness to obey rules?

Yep.  I think it is.

If we don’t teach our children how to have respect for themselves and others, they will have no reason to follow any rules.  What does it really matter to them?  I am mindful of Mark 12:30-31, when Jesus was responding to a question by one of the “teachers of the law” when he asked what the greatest commandments was, and Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.  The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.”

Hopefully we teach our children to love their neighbors, but do we teach them to love their neighbor as they do themselves?  Now I am not talking about the way some might do…the child can do no wrong, I am talking about respect and love.  Teaching your child their value…..that God has a plan for them.  How their lives are so important and they count for something. How Jesus loves them “without condition”.

I have seen both sides of that pendulum.  Children who are given no respect at home, practically raising themselves, and don’t understand what it means to love others and put their needs first.  They are kids for heaven’s sake, and yet the needs of those raising them comes first.  I have seen it folks, firsthand and it is sad.  How can a child dealing with those issues be full of respect for others and be disciplined at the same time?

Most of the issues I dealt with at school involved a lack of respect for themselves, friends and those in authority.  I get it.  But dealing with those behaviors while trying to educate is not always a happy mix. (But that is another blog!)

At any rate, I feel as though I am rambling, and I most likely am…but it breaks my heart.  Our children, the children that are growing up around us…are they taught or given unconditional love?  Can we as teachers, parents, friends…give it?  Does it mean allowing a child to do what he wants when he wants it?  Is our society disrespectful in general?  What can we do?

I don’t have all the answers and will never pretend to have them.  But the one thing I know for sure is that we must love.  We must teach our children the true meaning of unconditional love.  Then we must surrender to the Lord Jesus and allow Him to love others through us. How you teach that is up to you and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

I spent much of my day teaching and demanding respect.  But my students knew that I loved them.  They knew that they were important to me.  They knew that the discipline (to train, to teach, to educate..Strongs) was because of the love I had for them, due to the unconditional love shown me through Christ. The children were not the reason I stopped teaching..although having my proverbial “hands tied” did contribute …  (But that too is another blog)

So what is the answer? Jesus.  Knowing who He really is…having an intimate relationship with Him and not making it about “rules and regulations”  Without the love, rules and regulations will just lead to rebellion. (But that is another blog too!!)

I hope that I have given you some things to ponder.  I would love to hear your thoughts on my observed formula!  And it appears as though I have three more blogs to write….education and dealing with discipline issues….teachers leaving the field…rules and regulations without relationship…..hmmmmmm…..

Blessings dear ones~

IN CHRIST ALONE

Isaiah 55:8-9