Why Do You If You Don't

     My daily interactions with people often bring up the topic of employment; my recent employment, to be precise. Confusion tends to cross their face, often followed by the question: Why do you work with public schools when you don't attend them? Good question.
      As parents, our decision was to place our children in private education until a time when home schooling became our path. While we chose those routes for our convictions regarding curriculum and the need for flexibility with one of our children's medical schedule, it never negated our need to be aware and interested in the public school system.
      To clear a few things up. Public schools, whether we attend them or not, are still a huge influence over our families and our community. Students will interact, mingle, and become friends with our children through community activities, sports, and often worship. These families may not have shared my convictions about education, but their convictions regarding education will cross paths with my life.
       Then, 'once a teacher, always a teacher'. My home schooling journey is near an end with the last of our teens a junior in high school. Those years of experience have led into an avenue allowing me to share my passion and heart for education. Assisting teachers in implementing curriculums that largely share influences I used at home is an awesome privilege and joy.
        Finally, I do it for the kids. Face it, students and teachers face a great deal of red tape and social/cultural obstacles we didn't have when I was a student- even when I was a classroom teacher. My heart goes out to them as they cross through locked doors and guarded playgrounds to struggle to educate and learn. It's a battle and we all need to stick together.
         So, why do I work with the public school system- because I care. I care about the future generations being taught there. I care about the teachers who need every ounce of support they can get in a tough and often adversarial job. I care what happens to our community as these students grow up taking on authority and leadership roles that will affect my family in years to come.
         

Busy Hands in the Classroom

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     In the classroom, every inch of space is important..and every moment a teachable moment. The dread of every teacher is dead time..that lag in events or activities. Such laps in creative, productive energy give way to chaos and madness. To prevent laps and lags in time, especially if you end up with some 'extra' time on you hands..I keep a few tricks in my bag.
Join me at Simply Serving for the rest of the post.

Something That Isn't ...

   We have been looking into the box I use to teach my classes..now let's look at somethings not found in my box: modern media. I am well aware of nursery and children's programs using power point, television, and other contemporary media to get the message across. Many curriculum packets have cutesy music or cartoon-like pictures to assist their planned lesson. When faced with these items I smile and walk away.

Join me in the classroom.
 

Another Peek in the Lesson Box

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   Children in a classroom come from all walks of life and all kinds of homes bringing with them unique insight and imagination. Many years ago I introduced the concept of a home living 'center' to my classroom set up and watched the responses to it. I loved what I saw- the imagination, interaction, role play. Children are amazing and when given the opportunity they show us just how amazing they are.

Join me in the classroom for another resource often found in my box.

 

Let's Look in the Box

   One of the joys of childhood is the wonder of curiosity. To get close and personal with something- touch it and move it around. Children love discovery- and God offers us so many wonderful things to ponder. As we take a look at what's inside my box, one of the first things children get to know about me is I love to discover. Inside my box there is always found items for a discovery table.

Join me in the classroom to discover the wonder of the discovery table.

What's In the Box?

   My classroom may be equip with many wonderful tools and toys, but there is always room for something new. Join me in the classroom as we introduce 'the box' and prepare to understand the concept of object learning.

A Peek at How I Teach

   Many a Sunday morning I can be seen toting this and that from car to class in preparation for a wonderful learning journey. The beguiled glances lead to curious questions ... What on earth do you do? I teach. When I teach my desire is to engage the entire being of the child..I want them to experience the lesson with every fiber of their being. My husband use to say I would stand on my head if it meant they would remember it..and he is absolutely right! Let's walk through a sample Sunday lesson.

Join me in the classroom for a peek at how I teach.

Simply Serving: "Be Real"

   In my experience..kids can spot fake a mile a way. If my desire is to reach their hearts with the love of Christ, showing He is real, then I need to be real as well...but what does that mean? read more...

Simply Serving: Make the Room Work for You

    I am an interactive teacher who loves creative interaction. For me, a classroom holds opportunity and promise...but also a great challenge. The room is a first impression that can either intimidate or welcome..it can inspire or stifle. Preparations for a lesson always include making the room work for me; getting the right setting for engaging every aspect of a child and sparking their interests.
    First consideration: what's available? Tables and chairs? Open floor space? Shelves or a sink? Some classrooms are equip with toys or books. Along with the available elements, layout is important. If I share a space with another ministry then I need to be mindful about the set up. Knowing the elements that already exist and how they are arranged help me set my mind to the next order of business.
   My next consideration: What do I have at home? Basic art/craft supplies, paper goods, and some toys can easily be toted back and forth. Cookie sheets and magnets, rice in a tub, simple every day items can be creative avenues for little hands. It is amazing what house hold goods have traveled with me to aid in the lessons of the day.
   Another question on the list: Do I have help? This helps me determine how far apart to set creative stations, not to mention some activities are just easier with a few more hands.
   When a child enters my classroom there are tables or corners of activity waiting for them... a kitchen set up, a table with water colors, a reading corner and maybe a dress up nook. Each area relates in some way to the lesson at hand..this sparks conversation that prepares for the lesson and gets them engaged in the learning process. If the children are young, then plenty of open space is left for music and movement - getting those wiggly bodies some relief from quiet activities.
   Carpet on the floor and paint on the walls really don't matter when it comes to welcoming a learning environment. I prefer a simple room that allows me the freedom to tote things in and change the objects as the need calls for it. It warms my heart when a little one enters the classroom asking 'what's in the box today'.. they know me..and know we are going to learn, grow, and engage our hearts. There in I know I have made the room work for me.

Simply Serving: What Do I Teach?

   I love a good story..even more so if it is a true one. Guess what..children do too. There is a growing concern in my heart over the mindset that children cannot handle stories from the Bible, but instead need cartoon edited, watered down happy thoughts. They don't. I have never seen benefit or purpose in using such 'curriculum'...therefore I do not intend to. So, instead of the 'popular trend' what do I teach?
   Since the beginning of my journey of serving through teaching it has been my practice and passion to teach the Bible..as it is in its true form..line upon line, precept upon precept as it is written. Period. From creation to crucifixion to His glorious revelation the Bible itself is filled with amazing stories, truths, and instructions little ears need to hear and know. Can they handle it? Yes.
    When I prepare for a lesson my first step is to read it. I read my text as soon as I know it is my task then I read it again and again over the days until I teach it. Familiarity with a passage lends me freedom to engage my group with eye contact and interaction..it frees me from being 'tied to the page'.
     Once the passage starts to become familiar I ponder the setting, the historical surroundings and happenings..get in touch with the background of the timeline. These things are important and very interesting, not only to me, but to the children. Example, when discussing the fact that Jesus grew, the children were fascinated to hear what a house from that time would have looked like..the furniture, the kitchen.
     My next focus of preparation is application..what does this mean for me today? Everything in the Bible is given to us to glean from and apply...and the earlier we are introduced to this concept the better. We learn that Jesus grew and learned and served..those are lessons and examples to guide our own growth and behavior.
     As my day draws near to teach, I seriously consider my audience..the personalities and behaviors of the age group. Here is where I start to consider objects and activities to engage their eyes, ears, hands and even their wiggly little bodies. Action, play and repetition are keys to learning..why not apply them here?
     I firmly believe that I need to know it before I teach it..so I do place a lot of time and emphasis on searching out the Word. This happens long before Saturday night...but, what about those days when the phone rings right before bed..a teacher needs a sub. No problem. I have been teaching and learning for many years. Since I am teaching straight from God's Word there is no worry over what I need or passing along curriculum. As for activities..and entire shelf of my sewing room is set aside for teaching items. Things I use and have used over the years reside here for my gathering. Any child I have ever taught will tell you ..she has boxes. Guess what's in those boxes..lots of wonderful things to help guild our learning and our remembering.
      This is my heart. This is where God has burdened and grown me. No greater joy- aside from teaching my own children- has ever been found in me than sharing with others. Oddly enough, even when I teach adults I use the same format..same layout..the objects and activities are just different. I am ever so grateful for the opportunities He has given..and for the opportunity to share it with you.

Simply Serving: "Just"

   I was young..just starting to sort out my life, my faith, and where things would lead me. The church I was attending asked me to consider volunteering in their children's ministry. Concern struck me at once..I wasn't prepared..I didn't know enough..how can I share what I am not sure I understand. Let me just say, I do not recall what I was wearing or the color of the carpet..or even very much of the conversation, but there is a part of that conversation burned into my mind that haunts me to this day...it is just the nursery.
   Over the years of serving and loving my Lord, that particular phrase has reared its ugly head...it is just... God has used that conversation and that reoccurring phrase to spur me on over the years..because the reality is..to Him..nothing is just. It isn't just a nursery, or a home visit, or serving a meal. It isn't just singing, or praying, or even a hospital visit. It isn't just vacuuming a floor or scrubbing a toilet. It is something so much more.
   When I accepted that time in the nursery those many years ago it was a serious step for me and a definite time of growth. Those moments in the room with precious souls was an open door..an opportunity to share God's grace and love and abundant mercy. I was giving worn out parents time to refresh and renew..I was giving children love and affection and compassion. There were days I walked the floor with a fussy baby so that a mother could attend service and find the grace to face the afternoon. Rocking a baby and changing a diaper isn't the only purpose though.
   My heart churned with deep desire to teach and to share. During the week my mind would race with ideas and notions to share with the little ones. Plastic fruits to touch and see..learning God made these wonderful things for us and gave us the eyes to see them and hands to touch them. Little stuffed animals to talk of His creation and their relationship to us. Every week I served totes of 'stuff' came along with new items to learn with..an 'object lesson' for little minds to grasp. These efforts did not always meet with favor, but my obedience to my Lord is so much more important to me than the opinions of others.
   The nursery was only the beginning. I have cleaned the church, gone on mission/ministry trips, sang at convalescent homes and taught Bible studies. With each opportunity God has granted me, He also granted me the conviction that it is never 'just' anything...it is His divine opportunity..and it should not be wasted.
   During the past few months God has been working on my heart restoring my focus..my gift from Him..teaching. With this renewing came a deep burden to share my journey, my heart, and my process. I hope you will join me weekly as I dig deep into my 'tote bag' and pull out the tid-bits and lessons learned along the way. In addition, I invite you to share your heart as well..share your projects, ideas, and experiences..we are all in this together..and learning from each other is a wonderful gift.