I love Thanksgiving and Christmas but as a teacher, I think Spring Break may be my favorite school holiday. It comes at just the right time to catch your breath and head for the homestretch. But with all three of those mini-vacations, I know I'm going to see the kids again. There are no guarantees with the last day of school. The following, from May 23, 2007, is about the end of that school year.
They walked out at 11:15 this morning. My sixth period, eighth grade Bible class took the last exam on the final day. We prayed right before the announcement came ending the school year and I asked God's blessing on them before they sprinted into the summer. Suddenly, it was over. Ruby and Haley, two of my players, trickled back in to say good-bye and then I was left with my last two sets of tests to grade. My room was empty, the halls were empty, and I already miss the kids. I told both my classes of middle schoolers that today was the last time I would ever see some of them again. It's doubtful most of them grasped what I told them- I probably would not at their age- but you still have to try. Tomorrow, I will clean Room 258 and go through my shut-down checklist. I'm always the last teacher to finish but I hope this year will be different. There is so much to get done and only seventy-nine days until the next kids stroll in on Day One of the new year. I'll be ready.
It was a good year but it will take time to find out if I was effective. I helped plant some seeds of the word of God and maybe watered them as well. The growth that Paul say comes from God isn't always readily apparent. It took me decades to appreciate some of my teachers and invariably, they were the ones I couldn't stand when they stood in front of my classrooms. Is there a connection between competency and being liked? I hope not; my students tend to like me. Sometimes you have to tell them what they don't want to hear and sometimes, you have to supply the discipline they don't find in the world outside of school. I'm already excited about next fall. I know many of the kids who will sit and listen to me open the word of the Lord from Matthew-Mark-Luke-John. The ones I taught in middle school will recall our class traditions and the first-timers will learn them. Everyone will start off with an A for their grade and an E in their conduct evaluation. It won't end up that way but we all jump off at the same place. It's a big responsibility. The great thing is that I get paid to do what I love to do. How many can say that? My vacation is commencing but my fun won't start until next August. The Lord has truly blessed me.
Applicable quote of the day:
"The difference between school and life? In school you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."
Tom Bodett
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
They walked out at 11:15 this morning. My sixth period, eighth grade Bible class took the last exam on the final day. We prayed right before the announcement came ending the school year and I asked God's blessing on them before they sprinted into the summer. Suddenly, it was over. Ruby and Haley, two of my players, trickled back in to say good-bye and then I was left with my last two sets of tests to grade. My room was empty, the halls were empty, and I already miss the kids. I told both my classes of middle schoolers that today was the last time I would ever see some of them again. It's doubtful most of them grasped what I told them- I probably would not at their age- but you still have to try. Tomorrow, I will clean Room 258 and go through my shut-down checklist. I'm always the last teacher to finish but I hope this year will be different. There is so much to get done and only seventy-nine days until the next kids stroll in on Day One of the new year. I'll be ready.
It was a good year but it will take time to find out if I was effective. I helped plant some seeds of the word of God and maybe watered them as well. The growth that Paul say comes from God isn't always readily apparent. It took me decades to appreciate some of my teachers and invariably, they were the ones I couldn't stand when they stood in front of my classrooms. Is there a connection between competency and being liked? I hope not; my students tend to like me. Sometimes you have to tell them what they don't want to hear and sometimes, you have to supply the discipline they don't find in the world outside of school. I'm already excited about next fall. I know many of the kids who will sit and listen to me open the word of the Lord from Matthew-Mark-Luke-John. The ones I taught in middle school will recall our class traditions and the first-timers will learn them. Everyone will start off with an A for their grade and an E in their conduct evaluation. It won't end up that way but we all jump off at the same place. It's a big responsibility. The great thing is that I get paid to do what I love to do. How many can say that? My vacation is commencing but my fun won't start until next August. The Lord has truly blessed me.
Applicable quote of the day:
"The difference between school and life? In school you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson."
Tom Bodett
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
2 comments:
i always enjoy these writings and your thoughts...keep them up!
dave
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