Germs of Happiness

I've been sick the past two or three weeks. I think I'm getting over this stuff and here it comes again wave after wave. My headache is gone today, so I am claiming this as a sign of wellness returning to shore. Teaching when you are sick is something all teachers have to learn to do. Children are great carriers of germs. We have to teach them continuously to use hand sanitizer, wash their hands and cough into their elbow. When flu season comes around it is even more important that they follow good hygiene habits.

We have spent the last couple of weeks benchmark testing and working daily to see students progress. Keeping a daily and weekly routine, so that my students know what to expect when they walk into the room is crucial. It is particularly important to students like the new one I received this past week. He has attention problems, but is atypical on the autism spectrum. That means that he displays autism type symptoms and behaviors. I noticed several instances yesterday of his sensitivity to noise. He usually handles the murmur of the class well, but flinched at a boy blowing his nose loudly beside him. While reading aloud to the students sitting on the floor, he was extra sensitive to another student sitting too closely to him. He is also extra sensitive to failure. If he makes a mistake on a paper, he thinks he has failed instead of just erasing the answer and changing it and going on. I have such a variety of students this year that it is going to be a very interesting and productive year. Looking forward to great gains!

"Growth itself contains the germ of happiness." ---Pearl S. Buck, author

Falling Into Place

I am enjoying this wonderful fall weather! My two favorite seasons of the year are spring and fall. They are beautiful times of year! You know, you can feel children changing with the seasons also. They settle into their respective routines of school life just like the beautiful fall leaves that fall and settle on the ground for the winter.

Many of my students are now very comfortable with their new teachers and daily schedules. For some, this brings out their true colors. You find out what they are really like. The two new students to my classroom this year have acclimated well to our classroom routines. They are enjoying earning Big Bucks and getting to reap the benefits of their good behavior and work habits, particularly the new student with previous behavior issues. He has improved by leaps and bounds! I am so proud of his change in attitude and performance! We are not having the major acting out issues, nor the disrespectful talk, and he is reaping the benefits. He has been very insightful as to why he is doing better. He realizes that his attitude determines his day. That is profound for this student! I appreciate his grandmother at home and the staff at my school for working together to help him enjoy coming to school.

My goal for the remainder of this school year is to focus on helping each of my students to enjoy coming to school. I look forward to helping them develop more appropriate social skills, better work habits and motivation to excel in their studies. Believe me, that is a huge task with these students! Several of them have been in my class since first grade and are now in the fifth grade. I have seen much growth, but want more. Academic growth is not enough; they must be able to relate well with others. The work is great...the Source of my strength is greater!

"No steam or gas drives anything until it is confined. No life ever grows great until it is focused, dedicated, disciplined." ---Harry Emerson Fosdick, DD

What Changed?

You are not going to believe this! My new student went one whole week without an office referral or any hole punches on his Tiger card! Now, that's progress! I was congratulating him on doing such a good job with his behavior this week; I asked him what changed. He stopped and thought for a moment and then said, "My attitude." Wow, an insightful kid! He has not been a perfect angel my no means, but he is definitely becoming a better student.

I'm glad this student has done better this week, because I really don't need the extra stress. The year is in full swing now: meetings, paperwork, lesson plans, emails, professional development, you name it. It seems more and more is required of teachers that take away from the time we can spend with students. I refuse to do those things when students are in my classroom, so that means that I have to do them after school or at home at night or on the weekend. I'm working later and taking too much work home. If the real world only knew how hard teachers really work. It is one of the most difficult jobs I have ever had.
It takes your mind, your soul, and your energy to be successful. Thank goodness, I know the source of my strength! That is through Jesus Christ my Savior! He is the one I run to when I feel weak. I rest in Him.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13