Tag Archives: first year teacher

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*

 

Both Sides of the Coin

Christianity, homeschooling, Love one another, mom, Spiritual Encouragement, teachers, , , , , , , , , , ,

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Have you ever been on “both sides of the coin?”  

Most of us have been at one time or another.  An employee/employer.  Child/Parent.  That is one of my favorites.  You know, when you get around your parents and they make you feel like a twelve year old again?  Or at my age when you get around your boys and they like to tease and make you feel like a very old woman!!  Mine enjoy that for some strange reason!

At any rate, I have been…in chronological order….a student, a brand new public school teacher, a brand new mom, a homeschooling mom, a mom of public/private school teenagers, and a public school teacher again.  So, as you can see I have been on both sides of the coin.  In fact, I have been on both sides of several coins! Sometimes I was shiny, other times very dull and pretty scratched up!

I believe that the Father can use all the experiences in this life to help others; and most often times He helps us.  As I held all these roles I have learned many things.  The most recent role as a public school special education teacher taught me many lessons.  God allowed all these experiences (plus many others) to make me the teacher and the person I knew He wanted me to be. Of course, I am still a work in progress, trust me!!

Once a parent, I became a better teacher.  That was my personal experience.  I no longer acted like I knew everything there was to know about teaching and parenting.  I realized that when someone was sitting across the table from you discussing your child, you took it personally if something was said that was condescending toward your child in any way.  I met parents in a different manner as a result of this experience.

I became a better teacher when I had children of my own because I finally understood unconditional love.  I will never forget looking into my sons’ eyes….and understanding that I would lay down my life for each of them…anytime, anyway. I felt like I “mothered” my students, and taught them as if they were my very own flesh and blood.

I have watched with horror over the last few years as some of our schools have become targets of senseless shootings.  But I have been filled with complete understanding as I have heard some of these teachers say “they are my kids when they are here at school and I will protect them the best I can.” Every teacher I have worked with has had that same attitude.

 I became a better teacher because I homeschooled my own children.  I was forced to put all I learned into practice about children having different learning styles, how God had indeed created them differently;  that each child had a purpose.  I honestly got to teach as I saw fit for each child.  This helped me see all the special qualities of my students. 

As a student, I can honestly say teachers were my heroes.  My parents divorced when I was in junior high and three teachers took time to talk to me and help me through this difficult time.  I always knew I would be a teacher.  It indeed was my calling.

Yes, I recently quit teaching.  The season changed.  It is not the same world I grew up in…and teachers aren’t given the respect that they once were given.  It is a very difficult job right now.  My hats are off to all of them.  They teach responsibility, respect, safety, morals; not to mention Math, Reading, Science, etc. Trust me when I say that there is not enough time in the day.  Education seems to be blamed for everything right now. I believe there are many reasons, but it is not for this time. Teaching had literally affected my spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. It was time to be healed.

So maybe being on “both sides of the coin” can make us more compassionate towards others.  Maybe we can treat one another with more respect.  Maybe we can realize that we don’t understand everyone else’s circumstances. Maybe we can ask each other questions without being condescending towards one another. Maybe we can use our experiences to love on people as the Father would have us love on others. Maybe we can encourage one another…whether student, parent, teacher or homeschooling mom!!

Coins can have a shiny appearance, or be very dull and full of scratches.  Which are you?  Oh, how I pray my side can be shiny to all I meet and come in contact with these days!

“A new command I give you.  Love one another. As I have loved you, so must you love one another. By this you will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

Blessings dear ones…

IN CHRIST ALONE
Isaiah 55:8-9

The First Year of Teaching

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It was a long time ago….but I remember well!

1982.  Yep, over 31 years ago….can I remember back that far?? Or that far back??  Oh yeah.

I graduated the summer of 1982 and was blessed to get a job as a special education resource room teacher.  It started two weeks after I graduated.  It was in a small, rural district.  The catch was….senior high and junior high students all wrapped into one job.  Little did I know that I was about to learn some lessons myself.

However, I knew it all. I was a college graduate.  I had been trained.  I had student taught and learned from the best.  I had sat in classes for 4.5 years.  I had both my elementary teaching certificate and my special education teaching certificate, so I was ready.

Here is where I insert LOL.  Or even “roll on floor while laughing out loud.” No amount of student teaching could have prepared me for some of the situations I encountered.

Three of my high school students were boys over 6 foot tall.  Not only were they over 6 feet, two were only 3 years younger than me, and the tallest one was..gulp..only 2 years younger. (See, being a child prodigy…I was able to skip kindergarten in my birth state of Kentucky, thus graduating at 17 years of age.  Truth be known, it was not available and when we moved to another state I was already able to enroll in first grade.  So…I graduated at 17 years of age, but I digress…)  These boys had surpassed that age, so I had to act older, look older and be tough.

The first day I laid down the law.  Another LOL inserted here.  Excuse me, but they would simply not do what I had told them. One of them told me as much as he looked “down” into my face. Hmmm…I got through the first day, but went home crying, telling my husband that I could not do it.

Second day I appeared with a new resolve.  And there was tobacco juice all over my chair, and in and out of my desk.  Ok, some authority had to be established here.  I marched down to the principal’s office and explained my dilemma.  THANKFULLY, he was in complete support of my situation and promised to intervene.  These students had caused trouble in all their classes basically.  And intervene he did.  At that time “paddling” was allowed, and he made sure they knew it.  It was my job to let them know I could help them learn in the ways that were best for them.

Things gradually got better.  They knew that I meant business and I demanded respect.  I did not allow any “kidding around” and would not put up with anything.  I was actually very mean, by their definition.  I did not try to be their friend…yet. They were learning that they each had specific learning styles, and that accommodations just leveled the playing field for them. They could succeed.

By the spring of the year we were close to graduation and two of the three were going to make it.  The last one, the eldest, needed to pass the Constitution test.  And there was a government teacher who did not like this kid and saw no value in him.  He had given up on him.   Long story short (which by now you know I am not good at), the kid passed after my fight for accommodations.  They all graduated and no one could believe it.

Many years later I was in a store and heard my Mrs. name being yelled out in a baritone voice.  I turned around and there was a man with grey hair in a ponytail alongside a very pregnant lady.  It was one of those first year students.  I wanted to tell him that “Mrs.” wasn’t necessary since he looked older than me, but I stopped myself.  After all, I had never told any of the students how old I actually was at the time.

Then came the thank you. 

“I graduated and went on to be a mechanic.  You helped me believe in myself.  My life would have turned out different if you hadn’t been mean….and believed in me.  Now we are going to have our first child, and I can be a good dad and provider.”

Can you say “weeping loudly”?  Yep, right there in front of God and country, I cried.  I had taught, I had instilled, I had nurtured.  Through that tentative first year, I learned what it took to be a good teacher, a “Teacher Mom”.

Some lessons I learned as a first year teacher…(this is not an exhaustive list by any means)!

1. You will not know everything.  If a mentor is not assigned to you, find one!  I was so encouraged by a seasoned teacher.

2.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help and admit you don’t always get it.  You will not survive if your pride gets in the way (especially in today’s educational environment).

3.  Do not let down your guard.  Demand respect.  It seems like it was easier to attain back in the 80’s than it is now.  But hold your ground. Be fair, but be strict.

4.  Don’t try and be the student’s best friend.

5.  Do become acquainted with the janitor, secretary and cooks….You will be glad you did for a lot of reasons.

6.  Do not take your work home with you.  I know that this is not always possible, but I tried to get everything done at school before going home.  Often times I went home at 7:00pm or went in early the next morning.

7.  Admit when you are wrong….say you are sorry…even to the students.  (Remember the respect issue).

8.  Dress like a professional.  I know that in this day and age it is more relaxed, but as a new teacher it was important for me to separate myself from looking like another student.

9.  Do not feel like you need to defend what you do.  If you are called to teach (see earlier entry), then you are called to teach.  The Father will enable you to do your job.

10.  Pray….and pray.  I have always believed that praying for my students was one of the most important things I could do for them.  I might have been the only one doing so….

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives..” Colossians 1:9

Blessings dear ones, 

Isaiah 55:8-9