Wow... as usual, I'm STUNNED by how long it has been since I last posted. Time. Is. Flying. I put the 27 on my calendar, in preparation for Monday (which is indeed, February 27.) and I'm shocked. I don't think I've come to terms with the fact that it's not still January! It's been a busy busy time in 2nd grade! We've trucked on through the War of 1812, Westward Expansion and now the Civil War. We just rocked prefixes and fractions... as well as contractions and fractions. And before that: multiplication and division. All since we got back from Christmas Break!! I have 17 beautiful, multicultural brain-marathon runners... or I suppose more like Iron Man competitors. Of course, they haven't always taken it on joyfully. But, we've made it... for the most part. I've seen success a few times in students who typically struggle to succeed at 2nd grade level. And I've seen Spring Fever at its finest and most destructive... yes. In the beginning of February. (Thanks, Texas, for the inconsistency and the tease... you're making my students think it's almost time for Memorial Day hot dogs and swimming pools.) I'm fairly certain I've written this at least once before.... but the tale of werewolves at full moon probably came from a school teacher after observing elementary students around the time of the full moon. Just sayin'.
We took a field trip to the local children's science museum--- which was so fun. We still do a zumba-revised dance every morning, and the kids still love it. And as a class, we're beginning that transition from primary education to secondary.... socially speaking. I think I put on caps other than "teacher" more often than I actually wear the "teacher" cap. I am often wearing "referee", "social worker" "counselor", "confidant", "mom", "endocrinologist", "punching bag", "triage nurse", "life coach" and "corrections officer". I suppose "teacher" would be more of the Sheriff's-badge I pin on while wearing all these hats... sometimes stacked atop one another. I can't say much without violating FERPA-- but let me say, this year has been an emotionally heavy year for me. I love my students so much, and my heart breaks into billions of pieces for all of them. Many of them are dealing with things no 7, 8 or 9-year old should be dealing with... some are dealing with things no human should have to deal with ever. That being said, I'm looking into getting my Masters of Education in Counseling. The only things holding me back at the moment are:
1. A life-committment to live debt-free.
2. The idea of taking the GRE. I just don't want to.
And, the biggest personal revelation of this year so far comes from Exodus 14:14: "The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest." (AMP)-- coupled with Psalm 82:3-4 "Defend the weak and fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." The latter, I adopted as a vision-verse for teacher as a junior in college. Until about January, I never really gave consideration that it is not God's instruction to me, but a cry out to Him. Of course I am where I am to see justice and hope brought to these students and their families--- but it's not ME who does it all. God's in charge here... and it took me 2 extremely painful, disappointing, frustrating, sleepless weeks to come to that. And since then, it all still hurts.... don't get me wrong. While I remain at rest, letting God fight all the tumultuous battles, my heart of flesh still hurts. To see the injustice of this world... to see the enemy attacking little girls in areas I knew no attack until I was a teenager. Having overcome many of these issues myself, as an older teen, and in my twenties, I've seen firsthand the goodness, protection and redemption of God. Having said that, I've found encouragement in Revelation 12:11 (NIV) "They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. They did not love their lives so much as to shrink back from death." Where I have seen freedom, others behind me may "stand on my shoulders"... and the list of freedom for my life is not short.... or irrelevant to the current or future situations of these dear kids. I guess this is all just a part of "glory to glory". (2 Corinthians 3:18 NASB)
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