A Good Teacher

We've reached the mid-point of the year and it's time of reflection for many of us in education.  We think about the first few months and what went well, what didn't go so well and what we hope we never see again.

For me, personally, it makes me reflect on what makes a good teacher...

A good teacher knows your name...
"I have indelibly printed you on the palm of each of my hands." Isaiah 49:16, Amplified Bible

A good teacher plans...
"For I know the plans for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and future." Jeremiah 29:11

A good teacher is gentle…

"A bruised reed He will not break, a smoldering wick he will not put out." Isaiah 42:3

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3

A good teacher challenges…

“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone.” John 8:7 

A good teacher sees the potential…

"I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

A good teacher knows when you need a break...

"Come away with me...to a quiet place and get some rest." Mark 6:31

A good teacher sacrifices…

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."  John 3:16-17

But the best part of this Teacher is He is not just a teacher...

“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11

Professional Conduct

One of these

will be going to work with me tomorrow. 

Know which one?

I thought so.

Happy last week-hope you and yours have a great holiday and break!

Lies I've Told To Maintain My Sanity

The holiday season is upon us and I am offering you, dear reader, something better than a freebie. 

My district has seven more days until the winter break so here are various lies I've uttered to help maintain order and decorum in my room.  As a bonus, I've sorted them into degree of difficulty.  If this is your first year teaching, do not attempt the last few whoppers.  Hopefully these will get you through the last few days before break.

And yes, these are actual statements that just may have left my mouth.  (Don't judge-sometimes a girl gets desperate.)

For the New Teacher:

• I've got your mom/dad/granny on speed dial. (Okay, so there's a 90% chance this may be true.)
• I know Santa's number. 

For the Seasoned Teacher:

• I've got Santa on speed dial.
• You don't have to finish your work now. Sugar, you can stay after school and finish it. I'm here until 8 o'clock. Some nights I don't even go home I just flip my desk upside down sleep inside of it. 
• (Piggybacking off the above lie)  Yes, I do sleep in my desk!  The jackets y'all leave behind are my blankets.

For the Experienced Teacher (Preferably with a Colleague Who Will Corroborate Collaborate):

• Santa is my BFF. If he wasn't taking a nap right now I'd Face Time him and tell him about how you're acting.  (This is actually a dual purpose fib-you can use these exact words as a compliment to those doing the right thing and watch everyone to get their act together.) 
• I am so proud of the progress you've made since the beginning of school!  I'm so proud I went to the principal and told him about how hard you've worked.  I told him you've worked so hard he needs to give you more than two days off!
• Good news! The principal said that if you work hard for the next eight days he will give you 10 school days off.
• Even better news! The principal said if you worked super hard for the next eight days he will let the entire school out for 10 days. Don't believe me? Ask Ms. Crumbie-she was there!  (This is where you get the most no non-sense teacher in the school to look at them and say, "Yes. He. Did."  Who doesn't love collaboration done right?)

So all jokes aside, I do wish you and yours a joyous and peaceful holiday season.  May the next few school days pass quickly and give us much to smile at!

Word Matters

Like all good nerds, I have a massive book pile adjacent to my bed.

In the midst of those books is a book or two on vocabulary instruction, but I'm not certain either could have prepared me for the "teachable moment" dropped at my feet today.

As far as technology and I go, it's a love/hate relationship.  I love it; it hates me-with a passion.

So when the the Smartboard in my room is uncooperative, I simply shrug and tell the kids, "Look at that.  It's being sassy."  I've said it so many times that while some of them are still learning to spell their names, they are crystal clear on the definition of the word "sassy".  They've even been known to say that word on occasion.

But imagine my surprise when the board started acting up today and one sweet little girl shook her head and said, "Look at that.  The Smartboard's being sexy."