LEAven Blog
When I Last Wrote
When I last wrote a few months ago, I told you that I was getting back into teaching after stepping out to deal with end-of-life issues for my mom. I’ve been back in the classroom for about six weeks. I teach part-time at Grace Chapel Lutheran School in Bellefontaine Neighbors, MO. I had taught at Grace for seven years before my leave of absence. How are things going, you ask? Let me give you a brief, bullet-point list of observations from my first six weeks back in the classroom.
– First, let me define “part-time.” I teach five classes, 6th grade Science, 6 grade Math, 7th grade Science, 7th grade Math, and 8th grade Religion. I have around 21 hours of classroom instruction and supervision per week. On top of that, I am the chapel musician, work with musical productions, and will coach basketball at some level this year. Oh, and I grade and plan, too!
– For me, being part-time has been a tremendous blessing. I actually feel as though I get on top of things every once in a while! That was a rare feeling when I was full-time in the classroom.
– If you are a teacher, you need to be around students. It is great to be back in the school building daily. For teachers in general, it’s where we “do what we do.” For Christian teachers, it’s where we do the ministry with which God has blessed us.
– Kids are always different; kids are always the same. Throw in that I’m teaching middle school students, and the predictable unpredictability is magnified just a bit!
– The encouragement we receive from parents is priceless. I acknowledge that not every parent-teacher interaction is joyous, but, if you want to read about that other stuff, go to somebody else’s blog. I have had several parents tell me they are glad that I am back in the life of our school and their children’s lives. Receiving those notes and words is like being upheld in the warming light of God’s love, delivered through His people.
– To be remembered by former students is one of the greatest feelings in the world. Just in the past few weeks I have been contacted by a couple of former students just to say hello or to ask for a college recommendation. The phrase “I’d like you to write a recommendation for me. You were the first person I thought of” is like gold when spoken by a former student.
– God is so merciful to use fragile, fallible, sinful people like us to deliver His love, grace, and knowledge to His children! In all circumstances and situations, we humbly praise His great name for including us in His plans!
– And so the adventure continues!
