The Fourth Week Thus Far...

It is so funny how teaching has its ups and its downs. Of course I could have told you this before I even began the student teaching experience since I used to teach at The Manor Schools. Nonetheless, student teaching has over emphasized the fact that one day you can be on top of a mountain and then the next day you can be low, low, low in a valley. I say all of this because the end of week three, I was one bad math lesson shy of having a nervous break down. I literally came home Thursday night, looked at my husband with tears in my eyes and said, "I don't think I can do this. I do not think that I am cut out to be a teacher." Thank God for a blatenly honest husband because Kevin looked at me with this crazy expression on his face and said, "Honey, you're tired. You need to go to bed." So I took his advice and went to bed.

The next morning I woke up two hours later than I normally do because I had to go to a "Teach at the Beach" seminar. Therefore, I had plenty of sleep and was now able to function with a clear mind. After the seminar, I headed to John B. Dey only to later find out that the students had taken a math test that morning. Mrs. Hartin quickly ushered me over to a table and told me to sit down--she had something for me to look at. As I flipped through the tests, I was rejoicing over the students success because the majority of them made a 100%, while all the rest made a low A or high B. I could not have been any happier at that very moment! All of my hard work, sweat and tears had paid off! To say the least, I was on top of a mountain.

This week, thus far, has gone just as well (if not better). I have had a few of those "this is why I am a teacher" moments. The more and more I get into the routine of becoming an elementary school teacher, the more and more I realize that this is exactly where I am suppossed to be--this is truly my calling. Therefore, I cannot let a single, solitary lesson get me down in the dumps. I am have to try to keep my head held up high, try harder, work harder and continually strive for excellence. Not only that, but I also realzied that due to my math lesson gone bad, I was able to exeplify to the students the well known phrase, "if at first you don't succeed, try, try again." This seems to be a resounding quote that we have heard the past couple of weeks throughout numerous lessons. So I guess I can truly say that I too learned my very own lesson!

In closing, I felt that it was more than appropriate to share a few words to encouragement that come from Phillipians 4:13, NIV. It says, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." So if you happen to be in a valley, simply know that you won't be there forever. Keep your head up high and know that even when you feel like you cannot write another lesson plan, teach another lesson or share another smile, you can because you have an almighty God who is on your side and cheering you on. He is your strength, your peace and your rest!