Why I do What I do... What Keeps Me Going

I received a text message a couple of nights ago from a parent that left me speechless and emboldened to press on. As each school year ends and I pack up my classroom, I smile quite a bit because I have so many fond memories of my time with the youngsters. I also start planning how to be more efficient and make better use of my time in the following school year. I'm reminded as I put crafts, books, tools, games, and various other supplies away of all of the things that I hoped to accomplish this year that got pushed to the sidelines. I re-purpose to be a better teacher in the next year. 

And then I pray that I was able to teach these kids something great about Jesus! Because at the end of the day, at the end of a school year, at the end of my teaching career, and at the end of my life... it wasn't about the crafts, read-alouds, or innovative cross-curricular games. It was about pointing all of the entrusted souls that I had the privilege to teach to Jesus! It was about showing them that there's someone greater than me! It was about teaching them to do all things whether in word or deed for the Lord! 

And so the text I received on Saturday night was a reminder that I touched the heart in one child. I showed him that reading is great! But even more so I was used to show him that reading for Jesus is better!
I am both encouraged and refreshed! Surely this is what summers are for.
Christian Educators, Mothers, Fathers, Principals, Aunts, Uncles, Sunday School Teachers, Babysitters, Brothers and Sisters... Press On!

Today's Your Day

If you want to read a great summer vacation book that includes a convicting reminder. then you should pick this up:

Parents, be careful, that one's going to bring a call to action (on your part) by the end of it. However, it is a must read, again and again.

Another great book, not to be confused with the above title I discovered last year while going through the bookshelves at the Goodwill. I am saving it for the daughter that I hope to raise "someday". If you have a young daughter, this would be a great book for you to read with her. It would also make a fabulous shower or graduation gift. 

Here's a little peek at one of the first pictures. It just might entice you to make a purchase of it.

Being Inspired by Public Speakers

I've been at a Literacy Conference this week held at Judson University in Elgin, Illinois. This is my second time attending, and as I was driving home today processing all of the events of the past three days, I thought it would be helpful to engage with my blog. It's been two months since I've written any of my teaching thoughts.

I've learned so much in these past couple of months. I feel somewhat neglectful that I haven't written any of my new learning on here, but guilt will just keep me away longer, so here is one of the many things that I've learned this week.

Good public speakers do multiple of the following:

• Talk with their hands
• Move around. I'm not talking about swaying from one foot to another. I'm referring to intentional moving about within an aisle or on the stage. 
• Speak about something they have a passion for
• Relate/show an awareness of their audience
• Laugh at themselves
• Give breaks for verbal processing time
• Build you up with positivity
• Inspire you to be better at your craft, but don't make you feel like you can't make small changes to improve
• Tell powerful stories
• Make their one or two points very clearly

I also want to recommend a very inspiring book that Denise Brennan-Nelson wrote and showed off in her keynote yesterday morning. This will be one of the first books that I read to my incoming first graders in August, so parents that might have me next year, please don't spoil it. Everyone else, enjoy!

This book inspired me to be the voice that continually reminds
my students, "You can do it!"

What does Easter mean to you? Thoughts from first graders

I wanted to post a few of my students' thoughts concerning what Easter means. They were really deep and meaningful, and they blessed me with their thoughts today.

Easter means to me that Jesus is risen from the tomb. He died on the cross and the people got Jesus' body and put it in a tomb and put the rock in front of it. And then he was risen. The rock moved!

It means to me... that God loves all of his children, every single one of them. It also means that God died for our sins and rose on the third day.

Easter is the day of Jesus' resurrection. 3 days after he died on the cross. He did it all for sin. When you go to heaven you can see his scars. Jesus did nothing wrong to be crucified. But he paid for our sins so we could go to heaven. He saved the world.

Easter means that Jesus died for us. And because he died for us is because he loves us so so so so much. And he will never ever stop loving us. That's what Easter means. Easter is not for candy. It's for God.

Can we skip the bad part?

As Easter is approaching the Bible lessons get closer and closer to the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Today's lesson was the story of the woman who washed Jesus feet with her hair. At the end of this beautiful story, the book that I was reading accentuated that the men sitting in the room didn't just get angry with Jesus; instead they started to plan how they were going to kill him.
After I read that part, many of the students responded with a quick intake of their breaths. One of them so sweetly raised their hand and voiced a sincere question. It was this- 
"Can we just skip the bad part and find out the good ending?" Clearly my students have come from Christian homes. They know their stuff. Jesus is going to go to the cross soon, and he will bear the burden of the sins of the world.
I was so theological in my reply-
"Well no, we can't skip that part because Jesus has to die for God to forgive us for our sins. Someone has to be punished for our sins." And that was that.

However, driving home today I got quite a chuckle out of how my students really want me to skip the death of Jesus. They want the good news that He is alive.

But then I got to thinking... 
How often do I ask God to skip the hard parts/trials in life and tell me the good ending?

I've lived through 27 Easters. I know that Jesus has to die on the cross for me to have the freedom from sin that I dwell in with my life. I wouldn't ask God to skip the cross. But I do often ask the Lord to skip the hard trials and seasons in life and just take me to the good ending. I want to know constantly what do I have to learn from a trial when I'm still in the middle of it. How blessed am I to teach with little ones who teach me even more about the lessons I need to learn myself!

James 1:2-3- "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds."

Deep and Meaningful Literature

I discovered two great books by Kathryn Otoshi this year. Both resulted in deep meaningful conversations concerning bullying and friendships.

Today I shared another deep book. The main character feels insignificant because she's small, and this book follows her journey to discover what she can do to play an important role somewhere. Cloudette was so relatable because at one time or another, each of us has felt insignificant. Each page included quirky illustrations that made my students laugh, and it was one of those moments when my teacher heart pitter-pattered with utter happiness. 

Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld

What is a stagecoach?

What do you do when your students ask you what is a stagecoach?
They have never watched Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman or Bonanza. So I drew a picture for them.

Clearly I need to take horse drawing lessons. This picture had my students and me laughing quite a bit.