Living Through a Lens

Well hello there! It has been a LONG time... too long. I have had a lot of thoughts running through my mind, but haven't been able to put them into words. On top of that, I have been traveling a lot. I spent spring break in Indianapolis with great friends. The following weekend I was on a trip to Washington D.C. with a group of kids from school. This weekend, I directed our spring play. Needless to say, it's been busy. All of the experiences were extremely rewarding, leaving me feeling very blessed. My busyness will not stop there as we make our way through track season and the last quarter of the year... crazy to say!

As I traveled, I watched people taking pictures. Of course, I was right there with them, capturing moments, monuments, and scenes on my phone and with my camera. It was in the middle of doing so that I realized that I wasn't really even looking. I was only seeing the views through the lens of my camera. While doing so, I was missing out on life. I stood back to see my students with their iPhones in hand, discussing how much battery was left, and missing out on what they were actually taking pictures of. This was an observation that I have been thinking about ever since I returned home. Are we really seeing what is out there, or are we living through a lens?

Food for thought... Happy Sunday :-)

Knowledgable Skills

Knowledge is power. It's something we have been told all along. Not only is knowledge powerful, but it's also incredibly sexy. We are intrigued by those that have acquired a lot of knowledge, been extraordinary places, and share incredible experiences. But what about those who don't have those opportunities? Are they unable to have that sexy, knowledgable appeal?

In education, we have always focused on knowledge. How to find the best ways to ensure students KNOW the material. What they KNOW for the test. While there is a lot of value in students obtaining as much knowledge as possible, I would say that there is a shift in this way of thinking. 

Our students have changed. Many people are uncomfortable with this, some even turning their heads to the changes. This is only doing a disservice to our students. The fact is, people can obtain knowledge within minutes. It's this crazy little thing called Google. Yep. It doesn't take long to figure out when the Declaration of Independence was written. I can figure out within seconds who ran for president in 1860. That knowledge is right at my fingertips. So, do we do away with teaching these facts in the classroom? Not necessarily. We shift our way of teaching. Now the focus must be on teaching the skills to obtain this knowledge. HOW do I find things out? WHERE do I go to find that information? Some may think this sounds lazy, but it's the world we live in. It has changed, and we must too. 

Changes Aren't Always Comfortable

I have had the opportunity to attend some enriching professional development workshops over the past few weeks. The days do get long. My brain is generally fried, and my butt is mostly numb, but I have found myself "professionally developed." For those of you who are not teachers, I won't bore you with crazy acronyms or the latest buzz words in the educational world. What I will tell you is something you may already know - every student deserves a rich education. The ways that we get there are long and difficult for some. As a teacher, it is my job to give each student the gift of being a life-long learner. This is something that excites me beyond words. I have the most complex and rewarding job on the planet, and I love it.

What I really wanted to share about today is the idea of change. There are many changes going on right now in the field of eduction. As you may know, we are adopting the Common Core to ensure that when students leave our schools they are career and college ready. A pretty difficult task, huh? Yes... and extremely important.

What I have found in talking to other teachers is fear. Yep, many of us are afraid of change. Old strategies and lessons are going to have to be forgotten and replaced. These changes can be uncomfortable. We may feel like we are failing at first, but eventually they will benefit the needs of our students. Why change? Because it's what is in the best interest of our students. It's not about the teachers, not about their comfort. It's about our duty to provide the best possible education for each student that walks into our classrooms. They all deserve a chance.

It's time for teachers to step aside and place the needs of our students before our own. No, changes are not always comfortable, but they are often worth it.

Good Things

- belly laughs
- my grandma's quilt
- when I know my students "get it"
- the gift of time
- eight hours of sleep
- the smell of an old book
- long phone conversations
- clean sheets
- the feeling after a long run
- country music on a slow summer night
- the stillness of lake water
- my sister's paintings
- a smile from a stranger
- a smile from anyone
- hot tea
- long visits with my mom
- the promise of tomorrow
- fresh flowers
- leggings and chunky sweaters
- bear hugs
- checking things off my to-do list
- my dad's giggle
- the feeling of knowing I'm right where I need to be
- love

Where We Wait

I was driving home after church this morning when I started feeling anxious. Uncertainties in my life started bubbling up, leaving me with knots in my stomach. After talking to my mom, she suggested I write about it.

The fact is, I know I shouldn't worry. I know that it is all taken care of. I trust in Him; however, I am still human. I still wrestle with decisions and become anxious about the future. The only way I know how to deal with these feelings is to pray... and wait. I wait for an answer. I wait to know what is coming next. Instead of robbing myself of today, I place those problems in the hands of God.

What happens when the answer doesn't come when I think it should? I wait patiently because it's not about me. It's about God's great plan for me. Where does He need me to be in order to serve Him to my full potential?

I started thinking about this "wait time." Because the timing is in His hands, I need to wait for His lead. I can't the driver's seat of my life and expect it to all work out. I don't know what the future holds, but He does. In the meantime, how I spend my wait time is crucial. We can spend that time worrying and overanalyzing the past or future, or we can spend it in peace. We can surrender our problems and live joyfully. Where we wait makes all the difference in the world. Where we wait determines how we spend one of God's greatest gifts - the present.

"I will not fear the storm. Your help is on the way."

Waiting Past the Knots & Tangles

We are constantly being told to live in the moment. Today is all that we can handle, so why stress about the past or worry about the future. Personally, I do my best to live one day at a time. I pray to forgive past mistakes and patiently wait for what is to come; however, this is a daily battle. I am continually tripping and falling because I am human.

This week was very trying for me. There are a lot of uncertainties in my life that are causing stress (and yes, even a zit on my forehead). I have been losing sleep, eating horribly, and feeling down about myself. Enter self-loathing, and you've got a pretty fun person to be around. I guess I'm in one of those ruts that seems difficult to dig out of. My friends and family tell me it's probably the time of year, and who knows, they could be right. No matter where these feelings stem from, I need to figure out how to flip the switch and move forward.

Today I read a kind of cool analogy about life: 

"And remember, our lives our like tapestries, we may only be able to see the one side that looks like knots and tangles thread, but on the other side, each one of those knots and tangles are a part of a beautiful picture."

I have been frustrated because I only see what is going on right now. I focus too much on the knots and tangles of my past, while I should be patiently waiting for the beautiful picture in the end. 

Use Your People

Writing is a huge part of my curriculum. Not every student that comes into my classroom is going to be a great writer, but they will be writing frequently. Whether they like it or not, writing is an unavoidable tool that drives many aspects of our lives. 

One of the most challenging parts of teaching writing comes with peer editing. How do I effectively teach someone how to find errors, ask questions, and help peers strive to do their best? I don't necessarily have the answer to this, but I do know that we practice. Over and over, we will peer edit. Tedious? Yes. Important? Absolutely.

One of my key phrases for peer editing is "use your people." I tell students to find people that are going to help them. If I know that my sister is a grammar guru, then I will ask for her help with commas. If I know that my best friend is an excellent speller, then she becomes my personal spell checker. I want my students to recognize what people are going to help them become their best. 

This idea doesn't stop there. I believe it's a concept that can be taken outside of the classroom. If I have financial questions, I generally ask my dad. If I need someone to listen a personal issue, I call my friend that is a good listener. I choose my people. I use my people. 

 

The other night, I was having a conversation with someone. I found myself getting upset because she didn't seem to know much about the subject. I realized later that she wasn't the person I should have been talking to about the issue. I had chosen the wrong person. 

We don't have to have all the answers; however, we do need to know when it is time to reach out and use our people.