This post is being written up in the mountains in Denver. While we were up here this weekend it snowed, sleeted, rained and the sun would come out and smile for a while. Then it would begin all over again.
As this is Memorial Weekend, (I cannot remember a Memorial weekend when it did not rain) I want to salute all of the sailors, soldiers, marines, coast guard, and air force. In addition, I want to salute the families of these individuals, as a former Navy spouse I know what it is like to be in the military. Although my son, an army airman, constantly tells me that I don’t understand what it is like to be in the military.
Teachers, I know some of you are biting at the bit to get out of the school. Some of you are out! Some are still in like me, which means I have lesson plans to write on Monday. I have heard of some schools that will continue through June 27, UGH!! I am so done!
Act 20:24: However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.
2 Timothy: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith
This is something that I have been thinking about for quite a while. I have written about how I am tired of working in the classroom. However, since Spring Break , I have been listening to Joyce Meyers, mainly because I wrote her ministry a letter and they responded by sending me an encouraging letter and some CDs to listen to as well.
The main takeaway I have received is that I need to
- Not be negative
- Not be judgmental
- Watch my words
In the last three years, I have been going through a difficult phase in my teaching career, my pay has become lower and while I haven’t been fired, I have been reassigned. I have been doing a hard time. It has bothered me to no end. I am a good person. I am a good teacher. I know what I am doing. I can do it!
So what when wrong!
As I have listened to Joyce Meyer’s tape on Me and My Big Mouth. She spoke about how we are not to judge those who have the same gifts as us. We are to pretty much keep our mouth shut. Not only our mouth, but we must watch our mind as well, so that we don’t exhibit our thoughts in our mannerism.
There were basically two comments that she brought forth that I know that I do all the time and because I have been doing it so long, it has become part of my mannerisms. I can go back three and half years in my teaching career. I did well, but I was not getting the praise that I thought I should have been, in addition, I realized I wasn’t young any more.
This year, 2013-14, I had written several grants and received them for my class. As a result, my class had everything that it needed to promote individual work for the students. They were able to use technology, they were able have the materials that they needed (play doh, play doh equipment, scissors, pencils, crayons, glue, etc.) and I was able to make all of the curriculum that they needed. I received 6 our of 7 for my teaching from everyone who evaluated me. That summer I went to a technology conference and . However, towards the end of the school year, the principal wasn’t recognizing the work I had put in, rather she was be giving me the hardest students, in addition to the students I already had and the assistant principal had no knowledge of special education. I was angry. I was also very judgmental.
Each year since, I have not acknowledged how judgmental I have been to my colleagues. What I have done is toot my own horn and criticized their own teaching. I forgot myself, I forgot who gave me the gifts of technology, teaching and writing. I became very prideful. I mean, 2014-15, a teacher and I would go out drinking and complain about these people. Since then I have been in different schools where they did no know me or my skills. All they knew is that I had been released from my contract. Now I was there and I did not want to prove myself again, nor did I want to start over.
This story is a cautionary tale to those of you who have had a rough year or who have been in a tough situation. God does want to bless you, as long as you remember where the gifts came from, he who is our Father.
This summer I will look for a new job. God will provide me with one. I hope it is not in the classroom. I will also go through First Five, Ephesians and do a lot of reflecting.
As the end of the year comes to pass, remember the good, look at the lessons and thank our Father that a new school year will start next year.
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