Thought for Thursday: Faith

"We are not here to be overcome, 

but to rise unvanquished after every knockout blow, 

and laugh the laugh of faith, not fear." 

-Amy Carmichael- 

Teacher Tuesday: Eyes

This week in writing we created "Writer's Eyes." These glasses are to be wore to help the students think like writers when they edit their papers. The kids excitedly created their own, unique writer's eyes and chose the color for their lenses. Let's just say they were a little bit excited to make them and see them completed! :)

 Student samples

and my teacher example: :)

This week's top 5 favorites:

1 Fall weather

I love the warm days and cool nights topped with the changing trees and nature!

2 Pumpkin Spice Lattes

Love the smell and taste of pumpkin swirled with coffee to make a delightful cup of warmth and caffeine in the morning! I even experimented with making my own- YUM :)

3 Psalm 37:4-5

Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

4 Conversations with my family

This week has been full of many, but many times that I'll cherish when I look back.

5 The satisfaction of teaching

Have I mentioned that I am loving my teaching experience. It is a wonderful feeling when you can see that the students have learned something and progress can be seen! :)

Just a quote I have been challenged by of late:

A pure heart is one to 

which all that is not of God is strange and jarring. 

(partly thanks to the reminder from my friend from Thy Wonderful Works- check out her blog!)

Teacher Tuesday

There are so many emotions involved in being a teacher and being an emotional person doesn't help! Here are a few I've felt this past week:

-HAPPINESS: To arrive each morning, to greet each child, and to try to teach them something new, makes me happy :)

-SYMPATHY: We've had the tears flowing this past week. It might be from the frustrations of math, the accidents of changing something on the computer, from not understanding an assignment, the heartache to be home because others are sick- the kiddos this week had their tears. It breaks your heart, but you talk with them, give them a Kleenex, and then have to move on.

-LOVE: How can you not when they give you their attention, give you a hug, follow directions, have an "A-HA" moment, are simply teaching. We had Open House last week where the students got to bring their families and show them the classroom, etc. I loved seeing the families, using my Spanish, and seeing the kids excited about where they learn.

-BLESSING: Meetings have been attended, people have been talked to, and I am blessed to be with my cooperating teacher, para, and at the school I'm at. I'm loving it... and have so much to learn.

-SADNESS: When you feel like there is nothing you can do to help a kiddo and situations make things difficult.

-FRUSTRATION: This emotion comes when a child doesn't want to cooperate, a child isn't understanding, a lesson didn't go well, you feel helpless in getting a student what they need, and when there isn't the help given for others.

-LOST: This emotion comes when I don't quite know what to do, where to go, or how to do it with the work from the university and in teaching the kids... but I'm getting there!

-REJOICING & EXCITEMENT: I couldn't help but rejoice today when after we talked about the sun in science towards the end of the day. As I took the kids outside to go home, one little girl turned and walked away with her grandma and said "Today I ........., and we learned about the sun in science." She was excited, and so was I that she would go home and tell someone what she learned! :) Those little moments make you feel like something finally got through!

Monday Meditation: Wait on the Lord

Just a verse I'd like to share with you today:

The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 

{Lamentations 3:25}

Thought for Thursday: Command

Have not I commanded thee? 

Be strong and of a good courage;

be not afraid,

neither be thou dismayed:

for the LORD thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.

{Joshua 1:9}

Teacher Tuesday: This is why

There is the boy who stands short at his tallest, yet stands tall and smiles when he gets things right.

There is the girl who lost her dad due to gang violence and can be difficult to deal with at times.

There is the boy who lost his brother when he was quite young and has trouble with speech and can't write words.

There is the girl who came in one day with one cross eyed and we can't figure out the problem. 

There are the 2 sweet boys who spike their hair and are always ready to please.

There is the girl who has had lice since before school started, but is one of the smartest in the class. 

There is the boy the looks at you with the twinkle of trouble always in his eyes and has issues keeping out of trouble in the bathroom, but can shock you with his reading.

There is the girl with significant delays, who struggles, but tries, but needs total modification.

There is the boy that needs to be reminded to use his inside voice, but loves to learn.

There is the sweet little girl who is shy and smart and gives the biggest smile.

There is the boy that uses his manners, loves to learn, and asks for reading rotations.

There is the girl who loves to show you her new things and loves to give her teachers her colored pictures. 

There is the boy that that can be easily upset, but always tries to surpass his best.

There is the girl who comes in each morning and tells us she's moving.

There is the boy that stands at a short height, hardly speaks English, doesn't know all of his letters and sounds yet, and is constantly in a daze yet has missed almost 1/2 of the school year.

There is the girl that always walks on her tiptoes and has the answer for everything, that loves learning.

There is the boy who was born with 8cm of intestines, was expected to die, but has survived and has a drink that he is constantly drinking to help him and has the cutest dimples!

There is the girl who is constantly trying to please and bleeds pleasure.

There is the boy that missed the first week of school, is quite intelligent, but likes to talk.

There is the girl who comes from a family without much to spare, yet comes each day clean, loving to learn, with her two pigtails.


This is my class. My 21 children for the semester.

It's each time you look into their eyes. 

It's each time you bend down to tie their shoe. 

It's each time that they walk quietly down the hall. 

It's each time that they smile at you and you smile back. 

It's each time you correct them, teach them, give them the care. 

It's each time that they have joy to have a smiley face on their completed paper. 

It's each morning you greet them and each afternoon you tell them to have a good evening. 

It's each and every day...

That makes me fall in love with teaching each and every day!

I have so much to be thankful for. 

Thought for Thursday: Wait for the Lord

       

Teacher Tuesday

Today I taught my first writing lesson. The lesson went well- thankfully J I know what I can work on next time to make the lessons even more explicit and better. I then was able to 1-on-1 conference with 5 students while they did their writing. We are concentrating on using our newly acquired word books as a resource for spelling words. It is a joy watching the students’ writing take off full speed at the age they are at! J

I just wanted to share an interview by school administration of an eager teaching prospect. I have shared it before, but now I understand what the teacher said just that much more… J

"Let me see if I've got this right … 

You want me to go into that room with all those kids, 

and fill their every waking moment with a love for learning. 

And I'm supposed to instill a sense of pride in their ethnicity, 

modify their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse and 

even censor their T-shirt messages and dress habits.

You want me to wage a war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, 

check their backpacks for weapons of mass destruction, 

and raise their self esteem.

You want me to teach them patriotism, good citizenship,

sportsmanship, fair play, how to register to vote, 

how to balance a checkbook, and how to apply for a job.

I am to check their heads for lice, maintain a safe environment, 

recognize signs of anti-! social behavior, 

make sure all students pass the mandatory state exams, 

even those who don't come to school regularly or 

complete any of their assignments.

Plus, I am to make sure that all of the students with handicaps 

get an equal education regardless of the extent of their 

mental or physical handicap.

I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter and report card.

All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, 

a bulletin board, a big smile , 

AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps!

You want me to do all of this and yet you still expect me....

"NOT TO PRAY"?!

Monday Meditation: God will go before you

A few nights back,  I enjoyed listening to someone speak on the "place in our lives where we are at a crossroads." {Deuteronomy 1: 19-33}

Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them.

The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you... 

{Deuteronomy 1:29-30}

What a great promise... God WILL go before us and he assures us to not fear.

There will be giants in our lives, there will be walls that appear, there will be mountains to face, but we can be assured that we should not be afraid.

Again in Deuteronomy I am encouraged by the reminder...

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: 

for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee;

he will not fail thee, 

nor forsake thee.

{Deuteronomy 31:6}

God will not only go before me... but He will go WITH me. 

Be strong

Be of good courage

Dread not

Do not be afraid of them

Fear not

Thought for Thursday: walking with Him

"Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, 

He will never fail you."

{George Mueller}

Teacher Tuesday: a few days late!

I'm posting late again this week... time just seems to fly since I've been student teaching! :)

I began teaching my first daily lesson on Monday. It might only be calendar time, but calendar time is full of important little items that children need to learn, including date, months, graphs, money, adding, subtracting, "daily news," and more! The surprise on Monday though, was that the principal decided to stop in on her rounds into classrooms, which made me a little more nervous. She complimented that I did a "great job getting the students started for the day and that [I] had a confident presence." All I could do was contain my nerves and focus on what I was doing!! Thankfully, each day has gotten easier and more enjoyable! :)

Next week I begin teaching writer's workshop... let the fun begin! :)

The kids are so sweet and eager (even despite a few issues we've had)! A smile can make all the difference! :)

Their joke of the day: "What kind of pet does the sun have?" A hot dog :)
         (They think it is hilarious!)

Tomorrow is Friday AND it is heading into a 3 day weekend! :)

The following is the song we sing each morning to reinforce the days of the week!! 

(We sing a closely adapted version) :)

Monday Meditation: Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal, and forgive.
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Saviour lives.

CHORUS
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, All fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living just because He lives.

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives.
But greater still the calm assurance,
This child can face uncertain days because He lives.

CHORUS

And then one day I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain.
And then as death gives way to victory,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives.

CHORUS

**Enjoy the truth of God's grace... because He died and rose again...He lives.

{Classroom Reveal}

Walking straight ahead is the classroom...
the bulletin board now has their colored "superheroes" with their own faces!

Looking at the front of the classroom from the door (and my "desk")

Looking at the room from the front of the classroom

Another view from the front of the classroom looking towards the door. 

My "desk"... I now have some pictures posted above the baskets too. 

Of course there have been a few changes to the classroom as the students have settled in... but let the fun begin :)

Thought for Thursday: heart work

"If you would prosper in your work for Jesus, 

let it be heart work, 

and let it be done with all your heart."

{Spurgeon}

Teacher Tuesday: It's only the beginning :)

Monday I entered the classroom as a student teacher. I'd say a huge bundle of nerves tied together with excitement would have explained how I felt! 

Over the past few days I have learned... 
1. just how much I LOVE being in the classroom. 
2. the true meaning of naps, snacks, coffee, and chocolate. 
3. that having an organized planner really relieves anxiety. 
4. that 1st graders have the funniest conversation topics and stories!
5. that lice makes the classroom more difficult... and the thought alone makes my head   
    itch. 
6. that a smile and care cane make all the difference... and seeing the change in a child 
   as a result is a fabulous feeling. 

7. that being called "Miss Fitch" and "Teacher" is a great feeling to get used to!

Favorite statements from the day:
**I love being taller than the 1st graders... and on the first day I wore 4-or-so inch heels. While picking the kids up from their specials class on boy looks up at me and says "Teacher... I mean, uh, Miss Fitch, uh, I think you got a little taller." Sadly it wasn't the truth but it made my short stature smile :)

**When reading a book about everyone having a talent... one girl's acclaimed talent was "shoe shopping" :) This is a girl I could get along with ;) 

So far I'm loving 1st grade :) 

A little humor

I will have the Teacher Tuesday post ready soon, but in the meantime enjoy the following picture :) 

If it counts then I am in excellent shape! ;)

I hope you at least smiled :) 

Monday Meditation: Victory

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

{Romans 8:37-39}

We have victory through Jesus Christ who loves us and gave his life for us. Nothing can separate us from Him- nothing. We are given questions, trials, and difficulties, but the hard times in life cannot break the chain of love that binds us to the Savior. 

Enjoy your week- whatever it may bring. Enjoy His love. We have victory through Him. 

I heard an old, old story
How a Saviour came from glory
How he gave his life on Calvary 
To save someone like me...

Oh, victory in Jesus, 
My Saviour forever,
He sought me and he bought me
with His redeeming blood. 

He loved me ere I knew him, 
And all my love is due him
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood.

Thought for Thursday: in the clouds of fire

"But did the clouds rain fire, and the earth open beneath me, I would not stir; 

for I know Who planted me here; 

and as long as He wills me to stand, 

neither men nor devils can move me hence!"

"Where justice is, there are the wings of the Most High stretched out as a shield."

{Scottish Chiefs}