First year Finished!

So now it’s summer. My first year of teaching is complete. I originally planned on writing a post right after school ended, but I think I was just so tired that it took me two weeks!

I understand now how people teach for like 30+ years. Each day brings with it something new/exciting/challenging. Although I spent, on average, 10 hours a day at school, it felt like no time at all. Days flew by! Every day was something new- and look now, my first year is finished! I wonder if I will feel this same way in 10 or so years?!

I spent the first 2 months in survival mode. The next 2, persevering through frustration. The winter months I had to cram a bunch of academics because of how little I taught the first 4 months. By the time it was spring, I caught myself having tons of sentimental moments because I realized how quickly I was going to have to say goodbye to my kids. By spring, I finally felt like I figured this whole teaching thing out… at least enough to maintain classroom management, teach all the standards and have a little bit of fun while doing it.

One of the things I realized this year was that no matter how challenging a situation is, if you are walking in God’s will, there will be His grace to sustain you. My parents have taught me that the most important thing in life is to follow the call of God. In doing so, comes the most rich of experiences and eternal rewards. The second part is the hard part because your present circumstances don’t always reap immediate rewards. But I’m learning that that is okay.

I pray that in this past year I was able to impact the lives of the students that were in my class. My heart’s desire is that I was able to show my kids the love of Jesus. I tied shoes, opened milk containers, wiped noses, held hands, gave hugs, encouraged, scolded, drove home… and taught.

My encouragement to you is not to be an inner city teacher- unless that’s what God has called you to- but rather, to ask God what it is that He would have you do, and whatever that is, follow the call.

*Have you heard about my parent’s next adventure? Watch the video below! 

* Also, a big thanks to everyone who helped me through this year. My family, my friends, my Harpeth Hills life group and more.

7 Weeks

It's so weird to think that I'm almost finished with my first year of teaching. There are only 7 weeks left in the school year. Parts of me remember week 7 of school like it was yesterday, then again, it also feels like forever ago. So much has happened this year. I definitely think I've learned just as much, or more, than my students. (Sorry kids, a bunch of the things I tried this year were at your expense :) )

For the first few months of school I would drive home almost in tears (or in tears). My head was pounding from being frustrated and from raising my voice. I felt like a crappy teacher. I didn't know very many teaching strategies. People around school would mention all these acronyms and other terminology and I felt clueless. I felt like somehow I missed an entire very important semester of college. I would have internal battles because I knew this was what God made me to do, but I just wondered why I was so ill-prepared for the job.

There wasn't a specific moment that things changed. I didn't wake up one day and go to the perfect class. No, unfortunately nothing magical like that. But through much consistency and determination, things began to get better.

It's Spring Break this week and I've been reflecting on this year. Here are a few things I've learned and decided.

My classroom will always be a safe place where any student is welcome. I've had kids come and go. In the middle of the day I've had new students arrive at my classroom without any notice to me. I've set the culture in my room to be welcoming (despite how inconvenient it is to get new students). Now when we get new students, my other students are so excited and act like we're getting a new family member!

Don't keep doing things that don't work. This is very hard. I've put time into lessons and activities and when I actually go to teach them, they flop. The temptation is to push through the lesson, but I've learned to stop and try something new!

I've realized the importance to think before I speak. I know this is something parents teach their kids when they are in elementary school, but it still applies when you're a 23 year old. Things happen all throughout the day that require quick decisions and reactions. I've learned though, that my words are powerful. My students don't forget ANYTHING I say, and I'm one of the only positive influences in their lives. Boy, the pressure is on for me to be an exemplary model of unconditional love, self-control, acceptance.

I celebrate small victories, take photos like I'm a first time momma and allow time for hugs and cuddles. I share my life with my students and in turn they feel comfortable sharing theirs with me.

Here's to another 7 weeks! Praying that I say and do all the things God wants me to before I say goodbye to my babies on May 24!

I Have a Dream

 Last week I took the opportunity to focus on the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with my students. We started the week by reading about heroes in our Social Studies book. What makes someone a hero? A day after reading I asked my kids to recall things they remembered from the previous day’s reading. To my surprise, they remembered so much. “A hero is brave.” “A hero is honest.” “A hero is kind.” “A hero helps people.” And my personal favorite: “A hero NEVER GIVES UP!”

Their small little minds could hardly believe that white and black kids weren’t allowed to go to school together, or drink from the same water fountain. They said “So Ms. Thomson! You wouldn’t have been allowed to be our teacher because you’re white!”

We read lots of books about Dr. King. My favorite from the week was:

I told the kids that Dr. King made a very famous speech in front of thousands of people! 

 We talked about how Dr. King had a dream that people would be treated fairly and not judged by what they looked like. They LOVED the picture of Dr. King and that huge “tower” (aka the Washington Monument!)

My sweet mentor at school gave me a craft idea where the students make an “I Have a Dream” mobile. I told the kids that Dr. King saw that things weren’t fair in the world and that he spent his life fighting for people to be treated fairly. I asked them what their dream was for their community. I asked if there were things in their neighborhood that aren’t fair or that they wished would change. 

I couldn’t believe their responses (they are 6 and 7 years old.)

“My neighborhood isn’t safe. I wish it was safe.”

“There are people that shoot guns every night when I go to sleep.”

“A lot of people get raped around here.”

“I know people that do drugs. I know someone that puts drugs in needles and shoots it in their arms.”

“My daddy gets high upstairs and I can’t go up there.”

“I wish people didn’t get robbed.”

“I wish people didn’t smoke drugs.”

I held back the tears as they told me all the scary things that happen in their neighborhood. They were dreaming and wishing that those things didn’t happen.

Dr. King had a dream and so do I. I sat there listening to my kids and I was reminded about my dream. Sometimes it’s so hard to remember why I am doing what I do. I so easily get caught up in the little things like testing, planning and meetings… that I forget why I am teaching. Why this 22 year old white girl goes into a scary neighborhood and spends 40 hours a week with 15 1^st graders.

Thank you Dr. King for reminding me to be brave, honest and kind. To help people. And most importantly, to never give up.

Isaiah 61:1-4

¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,^{[a] 2} to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness,  a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.