Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Thank You, God
Yesterday I was mad. Today I am relieved, or I should say at peace. I am finished with my first round of conferences. I have a long road ahead of me, but with God by my side I know everything will be okay. I was reminded today that it's okay to have the heart that I do, to go home crying every other ngiht because I want the best for my students yet unsure as to how I am going to get them to be the best that they can be...BUT I can't do it alone. Someone shared with me today that being a Christian teacher is almost a tougher job than just being a teacher. My heart aches for my students that are lost, my students that have nobody to trust, those students that need that one-on-one support at home, but it's just not there. Sunday at church I was reminded that I can pray for my students. Duh! What was I thinking? More than anything many of my students need someone like Jesus. I'm not the type of person to "sell" Jesus...I just don't feel comfortable doing that; however, the love, care and concern that I share with my students is enough. I can't personally share Jesus' story with them, but I can share Jesus' love. Jesus loves my students, I love my students...I am praying for my students because they are lost and need love. Thank you, God.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Politically Correct
I've always had a tough time at being that "politically correct" person and saying things appropriately versus just spitting out what's on my mind without the use of a filter. With close friends it's easy to NOT use my filter, because I'm in a comfortable enviroment and they would expect no less (at least, that's what I'm hoping). Over time a relationship has been established. I suppose even in a well established relationship I can open-mouth-and-insert-foot, but that's who I am. I'd like to say that it should be easy for me to speak my mind and be myself whenever, but that's not the case. So, I suppose, I CAN use my filter when I REALLY need to, although I really don't enjoy being NOT ME. One case in particular is during parent-teacher conferences.
I've witnessed my first round of parent-teacher conferneces and going into the conferences I was excited, nervous and purely anxious to see deeper into the roots of where my students have come from. I enjoy having that open communication with the parents, but honestly with today's society it's down right challenging for me to have that continious open communication...and then when all is not going as I would like it to...I want to scream at parents. In my perfect little world, my little bubble, it would be outstanding if every student could go home to "Mrs. Cleaver" with an apron on, homemade cookies fresh from the oven and a glass of milk sitting on the table for snack, and an eager mom ready to sit down with their son/daughter to help them with homework. Then once homework is finished, my students could go play softball in the streets, build forts in the neighborhood forest nearby, and ride bikes off sweet jumps. Shortly "Mr. Cleaver" comes home from work, hugs "Mrs. Cleaver" and the entire family sits down at the table for dinner. Oh-wait. My bubble has been popped.
What has happened to the value of family, the value of relationships, and the value of our education? (Oh my goodness, these could all be three separate posts where I would open-mouth-insert-foot.) Who cares if so-and-so is skilled at soccer, into theater, shopping at Abercrombie and has an I-phone (Seriously? A 12 year old does not need an I-phone!). Seriously, we don't need to be keeping up with the Joneses, unless they are like the Cleavers, of course. What about reading, writing and math? What about family time? What about a sit-down-family dinner? What about making sure your child is successful in their education? Have parents checked to see if homework is finished? I can't tell a parent that their child is failing because it's their fault. Oh how I would love to, but I can't do it. That's not being "politically correct", or shall I say "political". However, OF COURSE it will be my fault when a student is failing, but if only parents could see that I can't make a student successful all by myself. Due to the pressures of society, as a teacher I HAVE to have that support at home. I can't do it alone.
More than anything I want ALL my students to be successful. I want all my students to understand that it's okay to fail and learn from their mistakes. I yearn for my students to see achievement in their own works. I want honest and valuable support from students' home life. I want to wave my wand and make all my students' worries go away so they can be great students and have fun being kids (because they don't know how to anymore). I would love for parents to slow down, take a step back and just take that extra time to spend with their kids (preferably not in front of a t.v. or game console of some sort).
Like I said, my bubble has been popped. I have entered into a profession where I have to be politically correct. I enjoy the challenges and rewards of conferences (even though they are emotionally exhausting) and I will continue to strive to be the best teacher that I can be.
I've witnessed my first round of parent-teacher conferneces and going into the conferences I was excited, nervous and purely anxious to see deeper into the roots of where my students have come from. I enjoy having that open communication with the parents, but honestly with today's society it's down right challenging for me to have that continious open communication...and then when all is not going as I would like it to...I want to scream at parents. In my perfect little world, my little bubble, it would be outstanding if every student could go home to "Mrs. Cleaver" with an apron on, homemade cookies fresh from the oven and a glass of milk sitting on the table for snack, and an eager mom ready to sit down with their son/daughter to help them with homework. Then once homework is finished, my students could go play softball in the streets, build forts in the neighborhood forest nearby, and ride bikes off sweet jumps. Shortly "Mr. Cleaver" comes home from work, hugs "Mrs. Cleaver" and the entire family sits down at the table for dinner. Oh-wait. My bubble has been popped.
What has happened to the value of family, the value of relationships, and the value of our education? (Oh my goodness, these could all be three separate posts where I would open-mouth-insert-foot.) Who cares if so-and-so is skilled at soccer, into theater, shopping at Abercrombie and has an I-phone (Seriously? A 12 year old does not need an I-phone!). Seriously, we don't need to be keeping up with the Joneses, unless they are like the Cleavers, of course. What about reading, writing and math? What about family time? What about a sit-down-family dinner? What about making sure your child is successful in their education? Have parents checked to see if homework is finished? I can't tell a parent that their child is failing because it's their fault. Oh how I would love to, but I can't do it. That's not being "politically correct", or shall I say "political". However, OF COURSE it will be my fault when a student is failing, but if only parents could see that I can't make a student successful all by myself. Due to the pressures of society, as a teacher I HAVE to have that support at home. I can't do it alone.
More than anything I want ALL my students to be successful. I want all my students to understand that it's okay to fail and learn from their mistakes. I yearn for my students to see achievement in their own works. I want honest and valuable support from students' home life. I want to wave my wand and make all my students' worries go away so they can be great students and have fun being kids (because they don't know how to anymore). I would love for parents to slow down, take a step back and just take that extra time to spend with their kids (preferably not in front of a t.v. or game console of some sort).
Like I said, my bubble has been popped. I have entered into a profession where I have to be politically correct. I enjoy the challenges and rewards of conferences (even though they are emotionally exhausting) and I will continue to strive to be the best teacher that I can be.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Classroom...Just Kidding
I took pictures of my classroom today...I left my camera at school. Pictures of my classroom will have to be posted another day.
On another note...I'm tired. I feel wiped and my "hmph" is gone. Grades are due in a week and I feel behind. The only thing that gets me through my teaching day are my 6th graders. They are lovely. Although today I wanted to strangle a couple of them...all with love of course...and maybe duct tape.
Note to self: 6th graders can't handle sitting next to their close friends. They just want to socialize and hang out and not pay attention and interupt their teacher...not meaning to though. Sometimes it's so hard to be or get mad at them.
On another note...I'm tired. I feel wiped and my "hmph" is gone. Grades are due in a week and I feel behind. The only thing that gets me through my teaching day are my 6th graders. They are lovely. Although today I wanted to strangle a couple of them...all with love of course...and maybe duct tape.
Note to self: 6th graders can't handle sitting next to their close friends. They just want to socialize and hang out and not pay attention and interupt their teacher...not meaning to though. Sometimes it's so hard to be or get mad at them.
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