Saturday, November 30, 2013

Teaching Connections



A colleague and I have been coaxed out of our blogging hiatus by "two guys teaching in a basement." Actually, Jill and I  were working on  a Virginia teachers networking project when we stumbled upon Teaching Underground, a blog written by Steven Turner and Richard Lindsay. Apparently, these two high school teachers from Albemarle, Virginia, really do teach in a basement and in their spare time share their insights on teaching and education through their blog. I was immediately struck by their thought provoking  commentary and an hour later we felt compelled to post on our own blogs again.

 Here is what Steven and Richard say about blogging:

After teaching together for over a decade and sharing our stories and insights with each other across the hall and at the lunch table, we've decided to open a window to our little part of the world.  We could never provide comprehensive insight into the American public education system, but we can provide insight into some of the teachers, students, parents, and citizens who make our system what it is today, for better or for worse.

We hope that by sharing from our experiences that others may find ways to relate.  Maybe in some way, our "lunch table" just got bigger, and instead of three or four people sitting in the basement helping each other navigate the complex interactions between adults and children we've taken a step toward a community that moves forward together in conversation and action to make a difference for the better.

We aren't as concerned with "Waiting on Superman" as we are with becoming super men and women leading a generation to become super themselves.


I can relate to their rationale for blogging and thoroughly enjoyed sitting at their "lunch table" for awhile.
 Check them out here:
http://teachingunderground.blogspot.com/





Sunday, November 10, 2013

Sunday's Words for the Week

I need to thank all my blogger friends who continue to follow me and send me love and encouragement even when I'm not posting and even when I don't always respond right away. I don't deserve it, but boy do I appreciate it!  I'm trying to get my feet back on solid ground but I feel like I keep taking one step forward then two steps back again. I apologize to those I have not gotten back to yet! Forgiveness was on my mind a lot this past week.  Little Ruth, back in 1791, was on the right track when she made this sweet sampler.
A different century, but the same story and I, too, am grateful.
 Amen!


Sunday, October 13, 2013

Sunday's Words for the Week

I got to celebrate turning another year older today.  I'm feeling so blessed to be where I am at this point in my life.  Hard life lessons have taught me so much. I am older but so much wiser and determined to not take even a single day for granted.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Sunday's Words for the Week

 I have been enjoying getting to know my new third graders this year.  They are a diverse group each with his and her own unique story and now I get to step in and get to take on an important part-assume a lead role.  Such a responsibility, such an honor, such a privilege. 


I believe I was meant to be in their lives and they in mine. They add value to my life.
I pray I am able to do the same for them. 

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Sunday's Words for the Week

My Bible study group is finishing up our reading of Timothy Keller's book and video series, Gospel in Life. What a great one this was! So many thought provoking points in this series.It focused on how to live out the gospel in our day to day lives- first in our hearts, then in community and finally how to bring it out into the world. Schools are rooted within community so I found this series helpful in my dealings with children, parents and whole families.
 
Our last lesson dealt with mercy. Timothy Keller makes this point, "Clearly, Christians who understand grace will not be quick to give up  on an "undeserving" needy person. Christ's mercy was not based on worthiness. It was given to make us worthy. So also our mercy must not only be given to
those who reach some standard of worthiness."

 
A good lesson for me. As a public school teacher I must reach out to make a connection with each and every child and parent I come into contact with no matter what their background and situation is.  Each one is deserving of compassion and mercy.
Let me give it freely.