Category: Thinking about School

Strangely wordless . . .

On By mdannels3In Thinking about Communication, Thinking about God, Thinking about Relationships, Thinking about SchoolLeave a comment

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I haven’t written a blog in a couple of months. I’ve wanted to… but for some reason, I’ve been somewhat “wordless.”

It’s not for want of ideas. I’ve had several, some of them were good ones, too.

I’ve considered writing about friendships, Valentines, laughter, politics (don’t worry — sanity soon returned), creativity, options, and a few other things… but every time I started to write, I found myself with a topic, but for some  reason, I was strangely wordless.

Then, I seemed to be surrounded by grieving people.

A young boy lost his father to a tragic illness. A 10 year old girl who lost her mom some time ago welcomed me into her world of pets and interestingly enough, classic rock and opera. Friends have lost loved ones.

Recently, a boy whose mother died a few years ago became upset after missing part of a recess due to a poor decision on his part. I watched as his silent anger became evident in a stiff stance and tension in his arms and neck, in silent tears that poured down his cheeks. I asked God to give me words — and suddenly I knew that He was telling me to choose silence.

So I did.

I turned to my classroom sink, washed my lunch dish, rinsed my coffee cup, and got myself a drink of water, looked back to the small angry boy to see that the tension was starting to leave, but still his silent tears flowed.

And I listened.

I listened to those tears. I heard emotions in the rigidity of his limbs. The things I heard were things that we might expect — thoughts about his life being unfair. Hard questions like, “Why my mom?” I sensed that he needed a hug — from a mom. I also felt disappointment at the fact that he won’t walk into the kitchen to find his mom pulling freshly baked cookies from the oven and pouring a glass of milk — just for him. I hurt with him — and I heard his silence, his pain, and his grief.

I heard him.

It seems to me that there are times when we may be so busy planning our answer, analyzing what we’ve heard, or anticipating how we will try to help someone that we fail to hear the cry of their heart. When words fail us we are finally able to hear — to listen.

One small blonde fifth grader seems to take it as personal challenge to assure that silence is NEVER heard in my classroom. I finally turned to him one day and said, “Don’t feel compelled to fill every silence with noise or movement.”

That night in my devotions, I heard my words echo in my heart — but they were from my Father in Heaven, “Marylouise, don’t feel compelled to fill every silent moment with noise or movement. Sometimes, I am calling you to be wordless so that you can truly listen.”

Even though it isn’t easy for us, there are times when all of us should choose to be wordless — no matter how strange it feels.

In our silence I wonder, what will we hear?

School’s Out for the Summer

On By mdannels3In Thinking about SchoolLeave a comment
A bright bit of summer.
A bright bit of summer.

8th grade, Montrose Junior High School, final bell had rung, my locker was empty and I was headed for the bus. Suddenly, the music of Alice Cooper came over the intercom singing, “School’s our for the summer….” One of my favorite junior high memories.

Things have changed a bit over the years. Our last day of school was today. We had movies, awards, cleaning, “Nerd” Olympics (why would anyone CHOOSE to eat 1/2 a raw onion?), volleyball, basketball, four square, kick ball, bump and jump, popsicles and a water slide. Of course, this was just the prelude to the water balloon fight. Our students are able to earn the right to throw a water balloon at their “favorite” teacher by purchasing a book at our book fair in April. I purchase books at the book fair, so yes, I too get to throw water balloons — of course mine are thrown at students. When the final bell rang, the music of Alice Cooper wasn’t blaring over the PA, but it was playing loudly in my head — it does every year.

The end of the school year is always a good time of reflection. As a sixth grade teacher, I have the privilege of seeing the enormous distances that students travel during their middle school journey. Sixth graders who come into middle school are often small in stature, lacking confidence, and even a bit afraid. Lockers are a challenge, they are suddenly thrust into a busy hall filled with 200 students with four minutes to change classes, and teachers have high expectations that require independence and responsibility — it can all be quite intimidating. By the end of that year, they are managing lockers, moving between classes with confidence, using planners, and most are doing homework like pros. The difference between the first of the year and the end are enormous.

When you consider 6th graders who enter middle school and how much they grow in 9 1/2 short months, multiply that by three and you have a small idea about the changes that occur between the beginning of 6th grade and the end of 8th grade. It is a pleasure to see growth and maturity in these young adults.

I remember talking to father of one former student at the conclusion of his daughter’s continuation ceremony one year. I had been close to his daughter and mentioned that I would miss her. He said something like, “But isn’t that the nature of your job, you invest in them and then you turn them loose?” He was right — that is the nature of my job; but I still reserve the right to miss them.

In the fifteen years that I’ve been teaching I’ve taught children who have done and are doing amazing things with their lives. These incredible young people are social workers, writers, actors, actresses, chefs, vets, sales managers, teachers, coaches, firemen, security professionals, miners, mothers, fathers, soldiers, medical professionals, musicians, photographers, and missionaries. Several are in graduate school. I am proud of each one of them. Their success is theirs. They have worked for it and they’ve earned it.

So, today as Alice Cooper is singing in my head, I’m thankful for another year of working with amazing young people. Yes, many of them have made me crazy this year, there are some who do every year — still, I feel blessed to have them in my life. I can’t wait to see what and who this year’s class of sixth graders will be in two years — or six years — or ten years when I once again hear Alice Cooper singing in my head.

“School’s  out for the summer” and even though I am relieved that it is, I’ll miss “my kids.”

 

A Special Gift

On By mdannels3In Thinking about School3 Comments
Two former students and I having an good time!
Two former students and I having an good time!

I was at WalMart today and I received an amazing gift. At WalMart? Really? Yes, at WalMart…strange, I know.

I was paying for a prescription when the lady who waited on me recognized me. Please understand, I’ve been teaching in the same school for 10 1/2 years — I’ve met a lot of parents. Truly, I wish I remembered them all, but I just don’t. For eight years I taught 8th graders, 60 to 75 per year. Two years ago, I switched to 6th grade, again 60-75 students per year. This is my third year with 6th graders.

The clerk obviously knew me, remembered that I was a teacher, and asked me how my year was going. We conversed for a few minutes then I received the gift. She said, “I want you to know that you are the only teacher who has ever challenged my son.” I almost cried. I thanked her for telling me that and walked away thanking God.

I became a teacher because I felt called to be one. God has placed me in the classroom to teach children, to encourage them, and to give them a safe and secure place to learn. On the way to that goal, I pray for “my kids”, love them, and dream huge dreams for them. I listen to them, cry with them — and for them, and try to model a life that honors God. There are many things that I want them to “see” in me. I want them to see Jesus and I want Him to plant a hunger in their lives for Him. I hope they see a woman who is happily married, who loves her husband and children, and is incredibly proud of each one. I want them to look at my pictures and to see that the world is an amazingly huge place with wonders galore — places to go, beautiful things to see, and challenges to meet. I want them to listen to my stories and realize that laughter can heal numerous hurts. I want them to learn that they are far more capable than they believe — and that they can do even more than they thought they could.

Children walk into my classroom coming from all kinds of perspectives and life styles. While many come from traditional homes, there are many who come from single-parent homes. Some are hungry or tired. Others are broken, they feel insecure and their lives are out of control. How can I make a difference? How can they walk out of my room stronger and more capable? I do want them to be able to read and understand what they’ve read. And of course I want them to communicate more effectively in writing. But if that’s all I’ve given them, I’ve failed them.

I push my students and because of that, many of them don’t “like” me. Do 11 and 12 year olds like to be challenged? Do I? Probably not, but challenges are good for us. They teach us that we are tougher than we thought. By facing them, we are reminded that we are capable of doing far more than we believed. As we face challenges we become stronger. If a child leaves my class reading better, writing with more clarity and variety, and able to live their lives with more strength than they were before, then maybe, just maybe I’ve succeeded. Do I have bigger dreams for them than just this? You know I do, but I can be content if by challenging them, I’ve at least done this much.

(By the way, I accepted her compliment and am grateful for it. However, I know that many teachers feel the same way I do. We teach, but more than that, we hope to give them skills that will benefit them through out their lives. To you other teachers, thank you for challenging your students as well!)