My first year of teaching is winding down.
(Well, actually it winds up a whole lot before it winds down, thanks to state testing... but, you know what I mean).
Reflection and introspection are passions of mine. So I've been thinking a lot about my chosen work. Did I chose the "right career"? As a disciple, should I be more involved in explicitly missional work?
The working answer to both: yes.
There's actually something spectacular about teaching.
When I chose a field of study, I wanted work that allowed me to pursue all of my scattered interests: mainly creativity and people. The best people in the world are children. So here I am... a 4th grade teacher in a public charter elementary school.
The core of my work is not on display for the world to see and admire or despise... sure, there's the "Common Core"... but ask any decent teacher and they will tell you that students don't learn because you've seamlessly integrated the four domains of reading, writing, speaking, and listening into your lesson plans. Students do learn because of classroom culture, relationships, and motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic).
I can complain about America's system of education or I can do my work faithfully, unto the Lord, living in my freedom as a child. Teaching is my vocation, not my identity.
My measure of success is not in test performance, but in relationships and growth over time. No test can measure how much a student's confidence has grown or their delight in special interests or subjects! You can't measure the triumph on a student's face when they win a foot race on the playground or make their first three-pointer in basketball. Or when a student takes a risk! Don't get me started about the impossibility of measuring a child's creativity and imagination!
I'm realizing that no one can really know what goes on in my classroom, except for me and my students. I could post all the pictures in the world and film lessons, but unless you are one of my 32 students, you will never fully understand the depths of beauty of our community.
The excitement.
The anticipation.
The laughter.
The tears of frustration.
The teacher look.
I'm learning that my work is precious. It's missional in nature, because I'm offering myself as a gift.
I give my students gifts of learning, creativity, passion, joy, critical-thinking, and problem-solving. They cherish these gifts and learn to give them away too.
We learn how to express ourselves and create. We learn about community and progress. We explore the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.
{The classroom is a magical place.}
I wouldn't trade it.
(Well, actually it winds up a whole lot before it winds down, thanks to state testing... but, you know what I mean).
Reflection and introspection are passions of mine. So I've been thinking a lot about my chosen work. Did I chose the "right career"? As a disciple, should I be more involved in explicitly missional work?
The working answer to both: yes.
There's actually something spectacular about teaching.
When I chose a field of study, I wanted work that allowed me to pursue all of my scattered interests: mainly creativity and people. The best people in the world are children. So here I am... a 4th grade teacher in a public charter elementary school.
The core of my work is not on display for the world to see and admire or despise... sure, there's the "Common Core"... but ask any decent teacher and they will tell you that students don't learn because you've seamlessly integrated the four domains of reading, writing, speaking, and listening into your lesson plans. Students do learn because of classroom culture, relationships, and motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic).
I can complain about America's system of education or I can do my work faithfully, unto the Lord, living in my freedom as a child. Teaching is my vocation, not my identity.
My measure of success is not in test performance, but in relationships and growth over time. No test can measure how much a student's confidence has grown or their delight in special interests or subjects! You can't measure the triumph on a student's face when they win a foot race on the playground or make their first three-pointer in basketball. Or when a student takes a risk! Don't get me started about the impossibility of measuring a child's creativity and imagination!
I'm realizing that no one can really know what goes on in my classroom, except for me and my students. I could post all the pictures in the world and film lessons, but unless you are one of my 32 students, you will never fully understand the depths of beauty of our community.
The excitement.
The anticipation.
The laughter.
The tears of frustration.
The teacher look.
I'm learning that my work is precious. It's missional in nature, because I'm offering myself as a gift.
I give my students gifts of learning, creativity, passion, joy, critical-thinking, and problem-solving. They cherish these gifts and learn to give them away too.
We learn how to express ourselves and create. We learn about community and progress. We explore the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.
{The classroom is a magical place.}
I wouldn't trade it.