Chasing after slowing down

      Sometimes I feel like I'm being sustained by the notion that "If I just keep working long hours and get everything done, soon I will be able to slow down."  I chase this idea that the harder I work now, the less hard I will have to work in the future.  While this holds merit in some circumstances and professions, it is not a reality of teaching.  I have this image of myself "chasing the slow down," where I am running after a tortoise, hoping to catch up with it so that we can talk a slow, leisurely walk together.  I can never seem to catch the tortoise.  He remains ahead and sometimes hidden, elusive.

      Is peace and rest elusive in your teacher life?  You are not alone!  If you resonated with my word picture while at the same time found it ridiculous--we're on the same page.  Peace is not something we can find and catch by wearing ourselves out running pell-mell after it.  Both Psalm 34:14 and 1 Peter 3:11 tell us to "...seek peace and pursue it."  But it seems counterproductive to sacrifice peace in order to pursue it.  Maybe our pursuit of peace should be daily, hourly.  I do not think working harder, faster or stronger will really put us on the path of peace.

      We cannot always count on our circumstances to change in order that we might have peace.  We can count on God's provision in giving us peace when we seek it.  A peace amidst the chaos.  A peace that seems out of place for our circumstances.

      So if I nix my crazy "chasing the slow down" image.  What does it look like to pursue peace?

Here we are, gearing up for another Monday.  Here are some Monday thoughts for you:

• If you have a rough Monday, let that help you look forward to the rest of the week.

• If you were to count the number of Mondays left in your school day, you might be pleasantly surprised.

• You may not be looking forward to Monday, but there's a kid in your classroom who's been aching for it all weekend--Monday means a return to stability and a safe place.

• Here's a link to a list of reasons why Mondays aren't necessarily horrible.  For example, supposedly we get the least rain on Mondays: http://www.chron.com/news/slideshow/Why-Mondays-aren-t-that-terrible-73382/photo-5394940.php

• Lastly, Mondays are a fresh start-make the most of it!

Image Bearers Part 4 of 4

What about me?  While watching out for the fun God glimpses amongst my students, how can I also be an image bearer?

Because each of us was made in God's image, we reflect Him.  Period.  That's truth.  It doesn't always seem like it though.

Overwhelmed.

Stressed.

Frazzled.

Frantic.

Tired.

All of these things we teachers feel on a fairly regular basis.  How can God be found in these things?  When things are piling up both on your desk and inside your head...where is God in that?

Although He is perfect and infinite, and we are neither.  I believe that my teacher life has attributes that can reflect who He is.  Here are two of my favorites:

1.  Faithful
For some of your students. you may be the one of most consistent adults in their life.  Your days may have ups and downs, but you show up.  Your faithfulness in being there for your students, consistent with your procedures and expectations, mirrors a quality of our God.  May your faithfulness in showing up for your students (in all the ways that may mean) point them to the One who is the most faithful.

2.  Loves the individual
Some days, when I look around my classroom, I feel such a relief to know that my God is limitless.  As a teacher, I care about the needs, strengths and weaknesses of each individual student.  But as a teacher, my day is full and busy and I am stretched thin among many individual students.  I so wish I could meet each student's need on a more individual level.  This could be a slap in the face of my finite, limited self (it often is).  I can't do it all.  I do serve One who can.  That teacher instinct of wanting to love and serve individuals makes us image bearers of our God who desires an individual relationship with each person on the planet.  We carry the reflection of His compassion and empathy.  I pray that I can keep in perspective the reality of my humanity alongside my potential as an image bearer of our King.

Image Bearers: Part 3 of 4

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” 

--Genesis 1:26-27

If you think I'm harping on this verse, you're right.  I need to remember this truth daily.  It arms me with the knowledge of who I am and reminds me of who others were created to be as well.  With the knowledge of who you and each of your students were created to emulate, you can change the atmosphere of your classroom.  The idea of self-fulfilling prophesies and setting high expectations for students is one that is often preached to teachers.  “Set the bar high and be amazed at what your students can do.”  Of course.  We know this to be true.  Let the idea of your students being created in the image of our King help you set expectations.  No humans are perfect, but they do reflect someone who is.  Isn’t that an encouraging thought?  Use what you know to call out the best in your students.  Recognize the good that they are capable of and ask for it.  When you see those positive traits or behaviors that lighten your spirit and remind you of Who created them, call out these positive things.  Maybe you’re already doing this as part of your daily classroom management: “I really like how Sarah followed instructions right away.”  “Wasn’t it kind of Jack to help his friend clean up?”  Isn’t the mood in your classroom so much better when you point out and praise the positives, as opposed to when you’ve spent the day correcting and punishing?  When you see these examples of God’s mercy, of His goodness, His love, humor or perseverance, call out and encourage these qualities in your students.  Know that you’re not merely reinforcing positive behavior, you’re acknowledging and praising God’s image reflected in them.

My students shared more than just a glimpse into who God is...
We are all imperfect, human image bearers. 

Image Bearers Part 2 of 4

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

--Genesis 1:26-27

Each person was created to bear the image of our Creator. 

 On Sunday, I wrote that my challenge for the week was to try to see our students in this way.  I referred to it as a challenge for a reason.  Seeing the good in others is not always easy.  Sometimes a glaring, ugly, undesired behavior gets in the way.  Sometimes our own lack of patience gets in the way.  Somehow we manage to do it when parent-teacher conferences roll around.  Whatever it is I’ve got to talk to the parents about, and however unpleasant it might be, I was trained to always begin with a positive.  This builds rapport with the parent and guides the tone of the conversation.  Before conferences, I write up a short list of “strengths” and “goals” for each student, so that I don’t have to think on the fly with this.  Writing down the strengths is a great exercise for looking for the best in my students.  It’s something I should do more often to help me see each student as God sees him or her.  A new perspective is never a bad thing.  Maybe your Chatty Kathy’s ability to build relationships with others reflects God’s desire to be in relationship with us.  Maybe your artistic student puts God’s wonderful creativity on display.  We know that most parents think the world of their kids and delight in their abilities and personalities.  Guess who else does the same thing?  Their Father.  He has created each one uniquely and in the likeness of Himself so he cherishes their qualities.  This is starting to get a little gushy, but it’s a truth that I wish I remembered more often.

Identifying strengths in each student is good, and it can be helpful to try to see that child from a parent’s perspective.  It would be even better however, to see that child from God’s perspective.  He says, I made you this way purposefully.  You are precious to me.  Maybe this week you just choose one student who you will commit to seeing with new eyes.  They are an image bearer, be convinced of it.  Choose to see beyond the attitude or beyond the snot and find something to cherish.

Image Bearers Part 1 of 4

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’  So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” 

--Genesis 1:26-27

Sometimes being human is the worst.  When we deal with aches and pains, with a stomach bug or with forgetfulness, we can feel very inadequate.  We use the phrase human error.  Is there really any other kind?  Sometimes a discontent with humanity can come not from glancing inward, but from the experiences we have with other humans.  Teachers deal with humans of varying size and reasonability all day long.  You experience their humanity in the B.O., the erratic behavior, and in the wet pants.  Yet each of these tiny, teenage, grouchy or hyperactive humans bears the image of God.

Humans are very different from God.  That kind of goes without saying.  He is so much more than our finite selves could ever hope to be.  We are however, set apart from the rest of creation because we are image bearers of God.  That means a part of Himself is IN us!  That’s something great about being human!  What an empowering thing to remember: you have qualities like those of God.  That alone should be able to put a little extra skip in your step.  Whenever you are feeling inadequate physically, mentally or emotionally, remember that you were made in such a way as to reflect the Creator of the Universe.  Hurrah (insert lion roar here).

What this also means is that not only you, but each human was created to bear God’s image.  That surly kid who sits in the back row of your third period class?  He bears God’s image.  Your neediest little peanut who needs nineteen trips to the nurse a day and can’t tie her own shoes?  She bears God’s image.  The I-definitely-just picked-my-nose-then-reached-into-the-communal-marker-bin-with-the-same-hand-kid?  Yup.  Image bearer.

So here’s a challenge for this week: How do your students bear God’s image?  Believe me, I need this challenge too (one of the above examples may be true-to-life)  This is about looking for the best in others.  Sometimes it may be hard to find...humans are the worst remember?  But thankfully God > humans and God’s likeness shows up in each of us in unique ways.  How might our Father reveal Himself to you through your students if you’re careful enough to look?

What matters most

Barely into my third year of teaching, I do not claim to have profound wisdom about how to be the perfect professional or have the perfect classroom.  Especially not when I’m fairly convinced that neither of those two things really exist.  My hope is to encourage those who have long crazy days similar to mine and to share thoughts as they come to mind.  Today, I’m thinking about what the most important part of our job is.

How can we align the beautiful vision we have for what our students will take away from being in our classroom for a school year with our day-in-day-out realities?

There are many different types of jobs in the world.  For some, you have set tasks that are completed during a set amount of hours during the day.  Some jobs are very linear: follow this exact procedure, each step done in the same way.  Others, teaching included, involve much more decision making and creativity.  Some jobs can only be completed while at work, some you can bring home, and others require the worker to be “on call.”  Some workers have projects with looming deadlines, some have the pressure of building things that are safe in order to save lives, or some literally save the very lives that are in front of them each day.  

The tasks, projects and other work of teaching are rarely things you can close the book on and claim “finished.”  Even when your grades are finalized and your papers are organized, there is always more work that can be done.  With so many aspects to each day of work, there are always things that can be tweaked and improved.  There’s always more that can be cleaned, learned, repaired or tried.  This creates the major need to prioritize.  And at the end of the day, what’s most important?

I think what matters most is a little bit different to each person.  I don’t think there’s one shining ideal reason that someone chooses to become a teacher.  Perhaps as we gain experience and wisdom, our goal for each school year shifts and changes to fit what we have learned to hope for.  Regardless of your personal answer to “the thing that matters most in your job,” it can be easy for “that thing” to get lost in the shuffle.

Right now, as our new year begins, you probably have expectations for the year, perhaps even aspirations for the year.  “This year, I will manage more consistently.”  “This year, I will pace my lessons more effectively.”  “This year, I will NOT allow students to break their tiny pencils off into MY pencil sharpener.”  You have a vision and a determination to make it so.  “I’ve got a plan for this year.”  And then you go to your first couple teacher meetings.  Suddenly you’re reminded of your standards, your curriculum maps, your role in leading the Fall Carnival, and the special training you have to go to learn to meet the needs of a new student (surprise!).  The to-do list begins to shift and your lovely “Independent Writing Corner” you had planned to create before the first student day gets pushed further and further down the list.  By November, you’ve made it through parent-teacher conferences and your idea of “vision” is surviving until Christmas Break with a minimal amount of meltdowns.  Sorry if this quick glimpse into the future was a little depressing…

First day of school picture

I wrote most of this post well before school 

started but some of it was scarily accurate.

So how can we align the beautiful vision we have for what our students will take away from being in our classroom for a school year with our day-in-day-out realities?  I really wish I knew.  My inkling right now is to start small and consider how I prioritize.  It’s easy (and usually important) to prioritize the things that are most visible or necessary to be prepared for the next day or week.  Of course, there are things that just MUST be done each day.  But let’s go back to our reason.  Why are we teaching?  What matters most?  If you don’t have answers to those questions, I encourage you to do a little soul-searching.  If you do, think about how you would like to convey them to your students and how these reasons might be reflected in your teaching practice.  If you want to make a difference in the lives of your students, what’s your game plan for that?  If you want to see both academic and character development in your students, what small things can you do to achieve this?  

Let’s make our goals for this new school year both attainable and aligned with our personal vision.  Let’s put our reason and our means of getting there at the top of our to-do lists.  I’d love to hear about ways you might already be doing this.  What’s your top priority and how do you keep it on top?

Starting with heart

Today was the last work day before my district hits the ground running tomorrow.  Reality hit and hit big.  This stuff is really hard.  I need to remind myself over and over again to pray and keep perspective.  I was kindly reminded that getting through this new year will be only through God's power.  Wouldn't it be easier if I could just do it in my own power?  No.  The truth is that nothing is that easy.  There's no such thing as a situation in which I don't need to rely on God.  Tomorrow, I want to remember that truth and the other truths that I've been promised.

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail."

--Lamentations 3:22

"For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."

John 15:5

Each and every day

"Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  --Lamentations 3:22-23

       Whatever you will encounter tomorrow morning, you get a fresh start.  For some of us, it will really be a brand new start for a new school year.  Even if that's not true for you and your year is already underway, tomorrow morning can bring a new start.  Our God is all about second chances.  His love and compassion DO NOT fail.  What is the opposite of failure?  Some of my favorites from Thesaurus.com are success, improvement, accomplishment, plenty, enough, benefit, triumph, and blessing.  Those words can be used to describe God's love and compassion for us.  They do not fail, so they are enough for us.  They do not fail, so they bring us triumph and blessings.  They do not fail to show up for us each and every day.  These gifts are available to us each new morning, each new moment.

       I have a feeling that this week will bring a mix of both successes and failures for me.  That's just kind of how it works as a human being.  But what if I can keep my eyes on the truth that there is One who does not fail to show up to love me each and every day?  That's great faithfulness.  The other part of the promise there is that this great and faithful love keeps us from being consumed.  I relate this idea closely with being overwhelmed.  This is a very real feeling for people in our profession and I'm sure quickly brings mental images to mind.  In my "overwhelmed" mental image, I'm standing in one corner of my classroom, staring at all of the things that need to be organized, planned, and graded.  I am frozen by the knowledge that my forty-minute prep will not even put a dent in this to-do list.  (I'm pretty sure my heart rate sped up a little as I typed that.)  Maybe this is a somewhat petty, insignificant problem compared to the stressors of many people in our world or the things that might have "consumed" the first readers of Lamentations.  Maybe God's love still covers me and these stressors!  If I believe in the faithfulness of His daily love and compassion, I can be assured that whatever seems overwhelming or insurmountable, does not have the ability to consume me.

       In teaching, there are often seasons where we simply have to take things one day at a time.  Thankfully, our God also takes us one day at a time, providing second chances, love, compassion, and a way out from under what overwhelms us.

My classroom is covered in...

I’d like to first give a shout out to anyone whose first day with students was today: Congratulations! You made it! I’m sure you’ve already begun creating positive memories for your kiddos. For those of you who might already be hitting the ice cream tonight because you started school in JULY, take heart! You are strong and capable; you’ll be staying up late for bonfires during your long October break in no time. For me, today marks “one week left” in the beginning of the year madness. Wherever you are on this cycle of joy, grief, excitement, nausea, etc, you’ve had to consider preparing your classroom for the arrival of students.

This list is probably different for everyone. For some, this summer’s preparation may have been all about “alternative seating” (the buzzword that ate my Pinterest home page this summer) or preparing functional spaces for centers. I moved to a new classroom and became determined that this year my classroom would actually be cute. So my classroom is covered in Oh the Places You’ll Go decor and tiny hot air balloons. But another opportunity for classroom prep has come to my attention and I don’t want us to miss it. Why not cover our classrooms in prayer before school starts? The year has barely started and I bet you could quickly list ten things you could ask the Father to give (or keep away from!) your classroom. What is it you’re hoping for this year? Why not ask? In my recent preparations, I’ve learned that washi tape can cover over a multitude of sins. It doesn’t do a thing however, for readying my room for the intense amount of time 25+ people from different families and backgrounds will be spending together this year. No amount of cuteness will prevent the inevitable frustrations, confusions and general nuttiness that can happen in the classroom. So what’s the most effective way we could prep for a new school year?

Before our students arrive, or maybe even before knowing their names, we could pray for them. Look at the empty chairs that will soon be occupied. What kinds of things could we ask Him to give those tiny and cute, tall and lanky, or weird and grubby bodies that will soon be filling those chairs? What’s going to have a lasting impact on our year: spending extra time to make sure our bulletin board borders are exactly symmetrical, or spending some of that time in prayer over our classrooms? I am certainly guilty of spending way too much time staring at my classroom walls, dreaming, planning and taking calming breaths. But I want my classroom covered both in aesthetics and in prayer. I hope to begin prioritizing the preparations that really do need to be made, such as learning my students’ names and praying that together we can have a joyful, productive and safe blast of a year.

Breakfast: A first day of school story

Last summer, as a new school year approached, I was feeling pretty good. I had spent a great deal of time preparing myself, my classroom and my plan book for a group of little third graders.  This was my second year of teaching, and I hoped to avoid the drowning sensation that had been my companion throughout the previous year.  Thus, I spent my summer working hard, preparing for year two, and a new grade level.  I was ready...I thought.  

No really! In reality, I was prepared. My subconscious however, did not agree.  As the first day of school drew nearer, I began to have vivid dreams about that day.  In many of them, the principal appeared at my door part way through the first morning with more students. I had not planned for these extras and I did not have enough desks!  Of course, while this is a somewhat plausible scenario, the dreams always included a hint of the ridiculous...not only did I not have enough desks, but those I did have were inexplicably smashed together in the center of the room without pattern (nightmare!) and some of my “third graders” were actually random adults from my life.  In one dream, the extra students were dragged into my classroom by their earlobes.  The principal explained that they’d spent a part of the morning in the office for bad behavior on the bus, but they were my problem now.  In another, I poured myself a bowl of cereal to eat in the car on the way to the first student day.  I set the bowl down on the seat of my car while I placed my purse and school bag in the back. I came back around and then sat in the cereal.

Actually, that last one wasn’t a dream.  My first day as a third grade teacher did not involve missing desks or the appearance of unexpected and rambunctious children.  It did however, involve a change of pants before leaving for school.  Having the parent packets printed since June and the cute student name tags already placed on the desks didn’t prevent me from sitting in my cereal on the first day of school.  At the time, my husband also worked for the schools and we often drove together.  After cleaning up both myself and the car seat as best I could, I sat in the back seat as he drove us to work. And oddly enough, I don't remember what I actually ended up eating for breakfast that day.

They say life happens and we all know that that’s certainly true.  I say that teacher life really happens.  I don’t have anything introspective or heart-warming to say as I reflect on my sat-in-cereal-bowl-on-first-day-of-school experience.  I just hope that it helps calm whatever nerves you might be feeling about your approaching first day back (or maybe first day ever!).  You surely will not do anything as stupid as that.

In the coming weeks, I hope to share some encouragement and some tips for the start of a new school year. Hopefully this first post alerts you to the fact that I don't have it all together. I won’t be suggesting that you can tie your teacher life up in a bow with ten simple steps.  Even if you’re not a klutz like me, teacher life is messy and it’s hard.  But I've got heart and a faith in One who has given this teacher an abundance of hope to share.  My goal is to bring a little positivity into your crazy teacher day and to give you permission to step back and breathe.

During the school year, I will post a couple of times a week with encouragement and reminders about what’s most important in our lives and in our job.  Just some things my (and maybe your) teacher heart needs to hear.  Our new school year will start whether we’ve got fresh pants or not, so let’s take a deep breath and get ready to begin.