So, I know you're wondering... how's school going?
I've answered this question so many times already and the answer has been different depending on when it is asked. If you asked me before this past Wednesday, this was my answer:
"School is going GREAT! I am already so in love with my students and my schedule. I love that it is a small class and I can give them the small group or one-on-one attention they need. My students are such good listeners and generally eager to follow directions. They are kind-hearted and genuinely care about each other. I haven't even needed to use my classroom management system for discipline yet! I can honestly say that I enjoy going to school everyday and spending my days with these children and the wonderful 2nd grade team that I have the privilege of working with. This may just be my best school year yet!"
Unfortunately, my blissful situation at school was turned upside-down a few days ago. Maybe that's a bit dramatic, but that's how I felt when I heard the news. Our staff was called in for a meeting after school this past Wednesday. We knew that we may have some staff and scheduling changes to address since there were some last-minute decisions made before school began. But, I certainly did not anticipate how they would affect me personally.
So now when people ask me how school's going, my reply is different:
"My class is wonderful and I love spending time with them. But class sizes are small, and I'm worried for my school. Our enrollment is lower than anticipated for this school year. As a result, some tough budget decisions had to be made. One of these decisions involves our elementary school instructional aides. While we are fortunate to keep them on staff, their hours will be reduced as of tomorrow. Also, the aide positions have been switched around so that one works strictly in 1st/2nd grades, while the other works in 3rd/4th grades. This means that the aide I have worked with for 3 years and grown to love as a friend and colleague will now be working in 4th grade. While I am happy she still has a job, I am so disappointed that her job no longer involves working closely with me. I'm confident my new aide is a hard worker, but I am grieving the loss of an amazing aide and friend. My time at school will simply not be the same without her help."
Tomorrow begins a new journey at school - one with new schedules and new aides to train. I can only hope that our new journey will also bring new students to solve our enrollment issue. We have another staff meeting this week to learn of other changes that will be taking place across all of our campuses. I am praying for how this will impact our students, our staff, and our school. Please pray for EC!
Sunday, September 15, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
on the eve of a new school year
Tomorrow begins a new school year. My 5th year of teaching! It's hard to believe I am 5 years into my career already. When I tell people that I'm entering my 5th year, they assume I know what to expect and can just whip out my old lesson plans and do it all over again. There is some truth to that, but even after being a second grade teacher for several years, I still have many emotions going into the first day of school.
I'm sad to say good-bye to the sweetness of summer.
I'm excited to get to know 15 new students and help them grow this year.
I'm eager to see how this group of 9 girls and 6 boys will interact together.
I'm anxious about all of the small details I need to remember on the first day.
I'm hopeful that the first day will go smoothly, even without the extra set of hands of a student teacher (what a blessing last year!).
I'm grateful for a small class size, an always positive co-teacher, and an amazing aide.
I'm nervous about our low enrollment for this school year, and what that could mean for the future of our school.
I'm not sure how I feel about getting back into routine. I typically enjoy and thrive in a routine, but I'm fearful that I will have a hard time sticking to it. I'm afraid of overcommitting my time and energy.
But aside from all of my mixed emotions, the one pressing most on my heart for this new school year is feeling chosen by God to be the teacher for this particular set of 15 children. Of course, I feel this way every year to some extent, but this year is different. Perhaps it is because I have a few children in my new class that come from heartbreaking family situations. I know these children are loved by their families, but they have been through so much grief in just 7 short years. I'm feeling the responsibility of making sure that all of my students, but especially those that have experienced brokenness, know that I love them and will be there to support them, no matter what life brings. I want to be a model of Christ's love for them.
The problem is that I'm not exactly sure how to do that. There are no curriculum manuals with step by step directions for growing in love. I can't do it on my own. Will you pray with me that God will give me the grace and patience I need to make a difference in the lives of my students this year? Pray that my words and actions are not my own, but God's. Pray that my relationship with God will be my first priority, and that evidence of this will overflow into my daily interactions with students. Pray that they will see Christ in me and want their lives to reflect His as well.
Even if these children forget how to add 3 digit numbers, count coins, tell time, spell high frequency words, or write a paragraph, if my students grow in their love for God and others, I will be one happy teacher.
It all begins... TOMORROW!
I'm sad to say good-bye to the sweetness of summer.
I'm excited to get to know 15 new students and help them grow this year.
I'm eager to see how this group of 9 girls and 6 boys will interact together.
I'm anxious about all of the small details I need to remember on the first day.
I'm hopeful that the first day will go smoothly, even without the extra set of hands of a student teacher (what a blessing last year!).
I'm grateful for a small class size, an always positive co-teacher, and an amazing aide.
I'm nervous about our low enrollment for this school year, and what that could mean for the future of our school.
I'm not sure how I feel about getting back into routine. I typically enjoy and thrive in a routine, but I'm fearful that I will have a hard time sticking to it. I'm afraid of overcommitting my time and energy.
But aside from all of my mixed emotions, the one pressing most on my heart for this new school year is feeling chosen by God to be the teacher for this particular set of 15 children. Of course, I feel this way every year to some extent, but this year is different. Perhaps it is because I have a few children in my new class that come from heartbreaking family situations. I know these children are loved by their families, but they have been through so much grief in just 7 short years. I'm feeling the responsibility of making sure that all of my students, but especially those that have experienced brokenness, know that I love them and will be there to support them, no matter what life brings. I want to be a model of Christ's love for them.
The problem is that I'm not exactly sure how to do that. There are no curriculum manuals with step by step directions for growing in love. I can't do it on my own. Will you pray with me that God will give me the grace and patience I need to make a difference in the lives of my students this year? Pray that my words and actions are not my own, but God's. Pray that my relationship with God will be my first priority, and that evidence of this will overflow into my daily interactions with students. Pray that they will see Christ in me and want their lives to reflect His as well.
Even if these children forget how to add 3 digit numbers, count coins, tell time, spell high frequency words, or write a paragraph, if my students grow in their love for God and others, I will be one happy teacher.
It all begins... TOMORROW!
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