For some time, I have been thinking about writing a blog
more directed at the teacher side of my life, and that is what this is. As
stated in the sidebar, the purpose of this blog is to support, encourage, and
assist Christian educators, whether they work in a public or private setting.
We have the exciting and sometimes overwhelming responsibility and joy of
coming alongside young people and their families. As we traverse educational
and spiritual journeys with these families, we can sometimes become depleted.
It is my hope that this blog will refresh and restore us during those times. It
will be a safe place to laugh and cry together. It will offer ideas and
strategies that may make our paths easier to travel. As educators, we are all
lifetime learners. Let’s set out on these “training tracks” together, as we
learn what our Lord has planned for us! Here is my inspiration verse:
“For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is
of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for
the life to come.” Timothy 4:8
What does godliness look like? That’s what I’m figuring
out as I go along this journey called life. With the beginning of the school
year comes my first blog.
There is so much joy in new beginnings! That is a fact,
but if it is August and you are a teacher, it is easy to get distracted from
the joy and caught up in the tasks at hand. This time of the year is FILLED with
list upon list of tasks to be completed. We are setting up our rooms (sometimes
after moving into a new room). We are learning our building’s rules during
training days. We are communicating with students and families. We are putting
up bulletin boards. We are writing lesson plans. We are absorbing information
about our students from the moment we get those coveted class lists. As that
first day of school approaches, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, and quite
frankly, it is easy to lose our focus.
With that in mind, I decided to write a different kind of
list, filled with my goals for myself and my students for the school year.
1.
I want to listen well, both to my students and
to their parents. I want to let them know they have been heard and that their
joys and their concerns are important to me.
2.
I want to encourage others, whether they are my
coworkers, my administration, the maintenance staff, the parents, or the
students. I want my words to bless and not encumber.
3.
I want to refrain from grumbling. There are
bound to be times when things do not go the way I want them to go. There are
bound to be times when something makes no sense to me, from my teacher
perspective. There are bound to be times when I am tired and grumpy. I have
already caught myself grumbling a few times this year, and I want it to stop.
It leaves a nasty taste in my mouth and sound in my ears. I want to be upright
in my thoughts and my actions and to let go of what I cannot change.
4.
I want to be the one who really does pray when
she says, “I’ll be praying for you.” There are so many hurting hearts, longing
for comfort. I want to represent Christ to others in my path as I come
alongside them on their journey through life. If someone asks for prayer, I
want to be their prayer warrior.
5.
I want my students to know they are loved. And
that means ALL of my students – the ones who skip into the classroom every day
with a smile on their face and the ones who come in with tears or scowls; the
ones who learn easily and the ones who struggle; the ones with self-control and
the ones who are not interested in self control; the ones who snuggle and the
ones who fight. Each one is important to me. Each one needs to see LOVE in my eyes,
to hear LOVE in my tone, and to feel LOVE in my actions.
That’s really not a long list, but if I can do those five
things consistently throughout this school year, I know it will be a wonderful
year. I encourage each of you teachers to write your own list. Print it and
hang it someplace where you will see it often. Remind yourself of who you are
and of Whose you are throughout this new school year. Every one of us will need
to rely on Jesus to help us as we work toward the goals on our lists. I am so
glad He is faithful in all circumstances and more than able to be our guide.
