Tag: Teachers

  • School’s back in session and a lot of parents are groaning, along with their kids. 

    So are teachers. When I talked with “Ella,” a teacher friend of mine, I got some eye-opening insights into what she deals with every day. After talking to a few other teachers, I learned her challenges are not unique.

    Listen in and judge for yourself whether teachers have “cushy” jobs

    “All I ever wanted to do was teach,” Ella said, “and I’ve loved it for almost twelve years, but it gets harder every year.

    “Lots of days last year I dreaded walking into my classroom even though I really loved my kids.”

    “Why?”

    “I had so many troubled kids. Their home situations spilled over, big time. Like the boy whose dad was killed in a car accident. He started lashing out at everyone and who could blame him?

    “Or the sweet girl who knew her mom was on chemo and not doing well. That’s all she could think about. All I could do was try to be extra patient and understanding.   

    “Three or four of my students felt caught in the middle between their divorced parents. One boy talked about his mom’s new husband, who wasn’t much interested in her children–and showed it. One girl’s dad had a live-in girlfriend who loved her man, but made it clear she wanted him all to herself.  

    “Several parents had good jobs that paid very well, but their kids didn’t see enough of them. That’s never good. Some parents drank too much or had drug problems. I saw the fallout in their children.”

    By now Ella's eyes brimmed with tears. "I truly loved those youngsters and I tried to make our classroom a happy place, but that really was all I could do. I felt so helpless! At the end of the day--almost every day--I ended up feeling as limp as an old dishrag."

Are all teachers great teachers? No. Are all unselfish and noble? Of course not.

    Teachers are imperfect human beings like the rest of us. Most of them work with kids because they love teaching. Many are married and may have families of their own. They face personal challenges and get discouraged sometimes, just as we do.

    Think how it could lift their spirits if we were as quick to point out what’s good as we are to complain about what’s wrong.

    With or without children, how can you and I make a difference? 

    Let’s put in the effort to smile and be a friend to kids in our church and community. Sometimes what young people need most is a warm, caring person who makes time to listen.

    Somebody built the schools you and I attended and paid the teachers who taught us. Whether we do or we don’t have children, you and I can be a force for good. 

    Let’s be people who frequently speak encouragement and thanks to those who work with children and teens.  

    If we don’t, who will? It’s as Jesus said in Luke 6:31: 

    “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” 

    It’s not complicated. All we need to do is look for what’s good and say so, whether it’s to teachers or to youngsters. What seems small and insignificant to us can light up the day–or lighten the load–for another person.   

    And isn’t that worth the effort?

    Here’s to finding more JOY in every day!

    Lenore 

    Ever Wished You Could Peek Into A Typical Classroom?

  • This time let me spin a fictional account drawn from a real-life experience, which has something to say to all of us.  

    Picture the beginning of the school year at Spring Street School:

    Blog. Teacher with student. 8. 15When brand-new teacher Angie White stopped by Principal Green's office his assistant, Sue Timms, handed her a stack of file folders.

    "You'll be replacing Martha Black, who just retired. She had your fourth-graders as third-graders last year and she kept these notes on students and class materials.

    "I'm not allowed to give you those students' grades. We never do because we want teachers and students to start fresh."

    As Angie walked to her new classroom she thought, What a nice surprise. Maybe I'll find some clues to help me get off to a good start.

    As she leafed through the folders she noticed a handwritten list of student names. Some had asterisks and some were underlined. Hmm. I'll bet these were Mrs. Black's favorites, maybe the brightest ones, or the most responsible. So many above-average kids, what fun!

    The next Monday Miss Angie greeted each child with a big smile and a name tag. At day's end she thought, I was right. These kids are great!  

    It wasn't long other teachers noted her upbeat attitude. "Well, she's a newbie," said Miss Mary to Miss Liz. "Remember when we thought we could change the world? She'll hit reality soon enough."

    Months later, at the end of the school year:

    Retired teachers were invited to the closing assembly. Afterward, Miss Angie rushed over to meet Dorothy Black. "I'm Angie White, the fourth-grade teacher who inherited your wonderful class. Thank you so much for leaving that list of students and for identifying the brightest students. Those kids are born leaders."

    Dorothy Black stared at her. "My wonderful class? My dear, you can't be talking about the children I had last year. They were the main reason I retired a year early." 

    Angie White's forehead creased. "But your list . . .  I mean, at first I was puzzled what those asterisks meant next to certain names. Then I guessed you must be pointing to the top students in the class. 

    "And you were right-on! No matter what challenge I gave those students they out-performed. They sparked the other kids to learn, too.

    "I've been so privileged to have a class like that in my first year of teaching. I'm afraid they've spoiled me for average kids."

    Dorothy Black shook her head

    "I'm confused. Please, give me some names."  

    Miss Angie started reeling off names, her eyes shining. When she finished, Miss Black took her hand. "My dear, you just named my problem children. The incorrigible ones. The ones who never turned in their homework. That's what the asterisks stood for.

    "Sandra Smith warned me what I was in for because she had those students as second-graders. She let me know which children were below-par or real behavior problems–and she was absolutely right. Last year was incredibly hard for me. To tell the truth, I'm not sure how I made it through the school year." 

    Angie White couldn't think what to say. The silence stretched on.

    At last Dorothy Black blotted her eyes and stammered, "Perhaps those children simply lived up to my expectations.

    "And my dear, they also lived up to yours."

    This tale of human nature has meaning for all of us   

    It's easy to go around expecting the worst from people and from life. It takes no effort at all to become negative in our thinking. Before long we've settled into a pattern of looking at people and life through dark-colored glasses. 

    And who wants to live like that day after day?

    The Apostle Paul shows us how to overcome that trap: 

    Finally, brothers [and sisters,] whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8  NIV

    If we daily follow his advice it will lift our outlook on life and people. 

    And wouldn't we more likely enjoy our lives?

    Here's to being a "Miss Angie" in the place where we are and letting ourselves see how blessed we are!

    Praying for all of us,

    Lenore

    What if we started expecting the best?

  • Suppose your middle-school child came home the first week and told you, "Well, today in band practice we played our pencils."

    Would you believe that story?Blog. Sacto music teacher. 9.10 5M17TEACHER_xlgraphic_prod_affiliate_4

    That's exactly what Sacramento music teacher Donna Pool instructed her new band students to do.

    (Maybe she took her cues from Professor Harold Hill in the musical, "The Music Man.")

    This 2010 tale is worth retelling because it carries a timeless lesson for us all. 

    Some of Mrs. Pool's beginning band students at Arcade Fundamental Middle School had no instruments. What's more, there was no money in the budget to purchase them.

    What would you do?

    This teacher was determined to keep alive her students' interest in learning to play. Determined enough to risk being called a fool. I'd call her a hero. See if you agree. 

    The word got out

    It's small wonder that Donna Pool's story appeared in The Sacramento Bee. 

    That year Arcade Fundamental had so many students signed up for the new beginning band class that there weren't enough instruments to go around. 

    Did Donna Pool rant and rave? No.

    Did she blame funding cuts and tell her students to start carrying signs? No.

    Instead she announced they would work with what they had until they had more. Then she  began teaching them basic fingering techniques, using pencils and ballpoint pens. 

    (Mrs. Pool still teaches multiple levels of band at Arcade Fundamental, also the jazz band and concert choir.)

    The news spreads 

    Once The Sacramento Bee article appeared, local television news crews followed. Even CNN picked up the story, although she turned down an interview with Brian Williams.

    In no time instruments began pouring in from all over town and around the country, enough for their needs and more. Excess instruments were added to the San Juan Unified School District's inventory. Anything over that they donated to other school districts. 

    Mrs. Pool encouraged callers to take their instruments to schools in their own communities.

    She attributed the shortage of instruments to adding a new beginning band class rather than budget cuts. However, she said, "The arts don't get enough money. Schools don't get enough money."

    Nevertheless, Mrs. Pool must be doing something right. As of 2010 the music program had grown from 120 students to 190 students and about one-third of the school's 600 students played in one of their five bands. (Sorry, I couldn't get current enrollment figures.)

    There's a take-home here for you and me

    This is one of those win-win stories from which we can learn.   

    • Instead of spending their energies bemoaning what was lacking Mrs. Pool and her students sucked it up and found a way to make it work. We can, too.
    • It's possible to keep moving toward our goal even when conditions are not what we would choose.
    • Creative thinking can lead us down interesting paths–and sometimes that's just what's needed–so it's good to always have a Plan B ready.
    • Doing unto others as we would have them do unto us has not perished from these United States.
    • When we get involved we can make things better in our community and in other places.

    We can get stuck in what's lacking

    At any age it's easy to fixate on what's missing in our lives. We endlessly replay all the things we wish were different. 

    This takes us nowhere.

    My grandmother lived through her share of hard times and doing without. She used to say, "Do the best you can with what you got."

    Grandma's grammar might make English teachers cringe, but Donna Pool modeled this truth for her students and taught them a life lesson they won't forget.

    It's still good advice

    Whatever our age, whatever our situation, each of us can lift our hearts and bless others by focusing on what is and doing what we can.   

    It's as John Wesley said years ago:

    "Do all the good you can.

    By all the means you can.

    In all the ways you can.

    In all the places you can.

    At all the times you can.

    To all the people you can.

    As long as ever you can."

    The good we do may be as "small" as praying for individuals who do a good job. Or supporting them with encouraging words–to them and about them.  

    Such simple gestures can mean the world to those on the receiving end. And they won't cost us a cent.

    Here's to stepping out in faith,

    Lenore

    Note: Photos are from the Sacramento Bee.

     

     

    This teacher responded creatively to tough times–and teaches us all

  • That's a question worth considering because it applies to all human relationships, the workplace and even school classrooms.

    By now I've lived long enough to understand we often find what we're looking for.

    Does that sound too simplistic? Read on. This often-told story is said to be true and it carries a timeless universal message. Here's my version, all names fictional. 

    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

    Shortly before school commenced for the year brand-new teacher Angie White visited the school office. The secretary handed her a stack of files. "Sorry, no grade transcripts. Principal Green likes new teachers to start off fresh and form their own opinions.  I do have some lists and notes Mrs. Black left behind when she retired. Last year she taught most of these children in fourth-grade."  

    Angie noticed some students had asterisks by their names and a few names were underlined. Hmm. I'll bet these were her favorites–or maybe the brightest ones or the most responsible. What a treat it will be to have a class with so many above-average kids!                               

    Next Monday the children showed up and Miss Angie greeted them with a Blog. Teacher older kids. 3.17big smile. Over time other teachers noted her consistently upbeat attitude. A couple of veterans talked about it in the teachers' lounge. Miss Lucy said, "She'll get over it soon enough. In the beginning we all thought we could change the world, too. It won't be long before our Miss White gets a dose of reality."

    At year's end Principal Green scheduled the usual closing assembly and picnic. Retired teachers were invited as special guests. As soon as she could Angie headed over to meet the teacher who had eased her way.

    "I'm Angie White, the fifth-grade teacher who inherited your wonderful class. Oh Mrs. Black, you must have been an inspiring teacher to those fourth-graders! Thanks so much for leaving behind those helpful notes that identified your brightest students. I loved teaching them. No matter how I challenged them, they amazed me with their ability."

    Dorothy Black stared at her. "My wonderful class? My dear, you must have me confused with someone else. You can't possibly be talking about the children I had last year. They were the main reason I retired early."

    Angie White's forehead creased. "But remember your list? At first I didn't know what those asterisks next to certain names might mean. Then I figured out that was your code to identify top students. And you were right-on. Those kids absolutely exceeded my expectations. It seemed they sparked everyone else, too. I was so privileged to have a class like that in my first year of teaching. Hope they didn't spoil me for next year when I get a class of kids who are just average."

    "I'm sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. Please give me some names!"  

    Mrs. Black took her hand. "My dear, I marked the names of the problem children, the incorrigible ones, the ones who never turned in their homework. They barely made it through fourth grade.

    "I wasn't surprised, of course, because their third-grade teacher Sandra Sims warned me to expect a rough year. Just as she said, many were below-par and a couple had real behavior problems. So I just did the best I could with them and somehow got through the year."

    Angie White looked away, clearing her throat and blinking back tears. What can I say?

    Finally Dorothy Black took her hand and her voice broke, "I see now there's no mystery, my dear. I think those children simply lived up to my expectations.

    "They also lived up to yours …"

    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦

    This little tale packs a punch, doesn't it?

    It always leaves me with questions.

    • How often do I plug in someone else's opinion instead of making my own judgments?
    • Do I expect the best or the worst out of people? Out of life?
    • Do I allow the people in my life to be who they are?

    Every day, in every instance it starts with our mindset. We can't do better than the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 4:8:

    Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  -ESV

    Still learning, 

    Lenore

     

    Which is more important, facts or expectations?