Back to School Lesson

If you are a teacher than you know that the summer can be one of the greatest perks that comes with being a teacher. As with everything in life, though being a teacher also has some not so desirable attributes. One of those being the fact that as a teacher (at least in elementary) we have no say what or where we teach. Our administrators are free to move us around as they please and see fit.

Just a few days ago, I discovered that I had been promoted to 2nd grade (pun intended). You see for the past three years I have taught first grade and I was feeling pretty comfortable there. I got along fine with everyone, knew the curriculum and had my own little classroom. Sadly, for me all that would come to an end. As it turns out my classroom would be moved to an arena upstairs where I would now be sharing a room with another teacher and her students. If you are not familiar with an arena setting, picture a huge room with no door divided with a bookshelf and one teacher at each end attempting to teach simultaneously. I speak from experience when I say that it is not the best environment for the little ones who have an average attention span of 5 - 12 minutes. Basically, it feels like I am starting from scratch.

So last night at youth group, as is the custom, we went around a circle giving thanks for things God has done in our life. The only thing I could think of and said was that at this moment it was hard for me to give thanks because I had been moved from the grade I loved teaching and taken away from all of the people I knew and felt comfortable with (my first grade level team) but I also knew that God's word tells us to give thanks in ALL occasions. Despite the move, I was grateful that I had a job.

Isn't the enemy clever? He tries to get us to focus on the little things to distract us from living an abundant life full of joy. He does it in our marriages, in our families, in our churches and with our jobs. So today I ask you, "Can you identify one situation or area in your life that maybe has you down in the dumps?" Now I encourage you to try to pinpoint at least one thing that you can give thanks for. I promise that it is there. You just have to look for it and sometimes you may need help from an outsider to help you see it. Ask God to give you his perspective of the situation and allow you to see things through his lenses.


(Part of the first grade team. From left to right: Ms. Maloney, Mrs. Quigley, Ms. Lozada, Mrs. Lara-Rodriguez, me and Ms. Larson)

The Cross

Yesterday one of my students handed me this drawing. He is very special to me for many reasons (they all are) but this one has been my mission from God.



The first thing that stood out of the drawing was the cross in the center and the fact that it was surrounded by hearts. I asked him what it meant and his response in one word was, "God".

Every day I try to be that role model for my students and it's so awesome to hear every once in a while "Hey, you're doing a good job!" Eventhough he didn't say it in all those words, I could tell that God was using this student to tell me that the work I am doing in the classroom is having an eternal impact.

Lord, give me the wisdom, love and patience to continue to shine for Jesus.

All Good Things Must Come to an End

As the saying goes, "All good things must come to an end" and although I don't completely agree with the cliché you can't deny that it makes for a catchy title and I just couldn't resist the opportunity to use it. Tomorrow we (teachers) go back to work and as much as I have enjoyed these two weeks off I am looking forward to seeing the little ones. I know I am going to go back to students with missing teeth, haircuts and maybe an inch taller than they were when I last saw them.

Not only is my vacation from school over but I will also be returning to graduate school. I am actually enrolled in two courses and as excited I am about it, I'm also a little apprehensive. So far I've been able to do really well (I have a 4.0 GPA...so what if I've only taken six credits?). It's not that graduate school is easier but I am in a sense a more mature student. I guess that's why it feels like I handle it better than when I was doing my undergrad.

Like a good friend of ours says, "The best is yet to come". Stay posted!

My first three days back in the classroom

I have to say that they have been even better than I expected. They are such good kids...all of them. There are currently 17 students in my class, four of which get pulled out during Language Arts and Math so I couldn't ask for a better teaching assignment.

When I told my former Spanish teacher that I was teaching retention/ESE she told me that I wasn't going to get Spanish this year so I was a little boomed out. Just imagine being with those 17 little ones all day...no breaks only 30 minutes to heat up and gulp down my lunch, use the restroom, check my mailbox and emails, and the endless list of things teachers must do in addition to teach. Naturally, I asked myself, "How am I going to survive all year without a break?" But on the following school day guess who stops by. Yup, Señora Perez! I had not even realized that her name was listed on my schedule to assist during Math. So instead of getting Spanish 3 days a week, we get Señora Perez EVERYDAY for 45 minutes. As surprised as I was I knew that it was God's way of telling me that He was in control and He is looking out for his child.

I remember last year towards the end of the school year feeling so frustrated and thinking, "I don't know how much longer I can take of this." I wanted out of the classroom but thanks to one of our wonderful school counselors, Ms. Diaz, my students and my husband I realized that God wanted me exactly where I was. I was called to be in the classroom because I would have access to students in need of something I have and that it was the best way to make an impact in the lives of those little ones.

Who would've known that getting the class that every teacher dreads teaching would've been one of the greatest blessings for me? I can tell you that our God is a mighty God and His ways are higher than ours. And although I didn't know what He was up to, I chose to trust Him and give thanks. And now I couldn't be happier. I am not saying everything is perfect but I think that I am learning the key to contentment.

And I encourage you...whatever you are going through...give thanks. Your circumstances may not change but your perspective will. You will take the focus off of you and place it where it belongs...on God.

The class God gave me

Today was my second day in my new classroom and I have to say that I love it! It's a little room all the way in the end of the first floor with plenty of storage space (something my classroom last year lacked). There is a door that I can open when it gets too hot or too cold or just to get some fresh air.

The reason I am getting my own little room this year instead of sharing an arena with two other teachers is because I will be teaching the first grade retention, ESE (Exceptional Etudent Education) class. Initially when I found out on Monday I felt a multitude of feelings: anxiety, excitement and worry all in one. I was anxious and worried because in my two years of teaching first grade I have never worked with ESE students. And I was excited because I was finally going to get my own classroom.

I have gotten accustomed to the fact that I will be teaching this "special" class and that I will have one little girl with "Downs Syndrome". I have also realized that no one other than God almighty has placed me here. He "chose" me to teach these kids and it is a privilege that he picked me!

I'm so excited about this upcoming school year and although I am a little apprehensive to this change I am confident that God will give me the strength, wisdom, love, and patience I need. I know that I have something special to share with my students and that is the love of Jesus. I may not be able to tell my students about Jesus but no one can stop by from showing what He is like.

Now that is what I call finding your purpose in life.

Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.