Possibly the best note of my teaching career...

I know my teaching career only consist of about 4 months as of now…but I can’t see anything in the future topping this note!

Here’s the background info to this letter. The last 45 minutes of every school day we have “pirate time.” During this time each student travels to their assigned pirate time teacher to get extra help in reading. My pirate time kids a mixture of 2^nd and 3^rd graders. One of my 2^nd grade boys, I’ll call him “Paul” is very interested in reading his bible. Everyday we have 15 minutes of Sustained Silent Reading at the beginning of class, Paul always reads his bible and takes notes.  Most days he asks me questions about the bible as well, and I do my best to answer him (a lot of times they are very deep questions for a 7 year old). He’s asked me everything from Genesis to Revelation. Today after pirate time he brought me this note.

Dear Ms. Bass,

I have bin learning a lot from you! I have a lot of knowled in me. I a prepared for Chad. God’s been geting closer to me. I am glad I have you as a pirate time teacher! See you in the third grade!

Your Pirate Time Student,

Paul

I’m not sharing this to show everyone what a GREAT teacher I am. I’m sharing it because I am learning more from Paul than he is learning from me. His hunger and thirst to know God’s word is inspires me so much. He is only 7, and he seeks God every minute of everyday. I am so blessed to have him my life.

Here are a few other cute Paul quotes:

“Sometimes people don’t get why I read the bible all the time…but that’s ok. I know I’m supposed to. God spoke to me and said to read and study his word.”

“Miss Bass, what does blasphemy mean?”

“Miss Bass I’ve been learning a lot about how God should be a part of everything we do…like even at school. For example, when I do math, do is always with me then, he helps me get through it!”

Lots of Love

L-O-V-E.

Sometimes I wonder how such a small word can have such a big impact on our lives. We all want to be loved and love others. Lately, my students have been teaching me how to love them through the “tough times” (aka- them acting up and misbehaving). It’s easy to show love to others when things are easy. The past few weeks my 26 lovely little 3^rd graders have been trying me and pushing my patience to the fullest. I keep telling myself, “Love them like Jesus would, Love them like Jesus would.” But I know some days I fall short.

Today I was reminded by some of my sweet little girls just how much they love me back. After writing time I went back to my desk and I had a pile of letters. As I read the letters from my students I thought about how many times I do things that they don’t like, or understand. They don’t like it when I make them stop talking in the hallway. They don’t like it when I make them do homework. And the for sure don’t like it when I loose my cool because the class gets out of hand. But still, they love me.

The reason I became a teacher was to do just that, love children. It’s so easy to get lost in the job of teaching. The grading papers, lesson planning, entering data, and of course the dreaded state testing, but I have to come back to the calling of loving children. If I’m showing them “Christ-like” love everyday, then I am doing my job. And if I’m doing my job I trust the rest will fall into place.

Here’s a couple of my favorite “love notes”

Dear Miss Bass,

            I love you so much that I never want to let go or forget about you. In fact I love you so much that the world could explode!

                                                                                    Sincerily,

                                                                                                Alexis

“Mrs. Bass is the prites teacher in the world and nise too. I like her the way she is. Mrs. Bass is the best teacher.

Dear Miss Bass,

            I don’t want you to change ever, because you are perfect the way you are.

                                                                                    Your Friend,

                                                                                                Corina

Cute Kid Quotes:

At the end of the day we have “Pirate time” (its kind of an enrichment time). During that time I teach 2^nd and 3^rd grade. I have one 2^nd grader who is really into studying his bible, he brings it everyday, reads it, asks me lots of questions, and takes notes! It’s so cute. Las week after asking me a question he said,

“In this part it talks about persecution. I know all about that, because my dad persecutes me all the time.”

Speak Now

*Disclaimer- This entry has nothing to with my classroom or teaching, but it has everything to do with learning and love.

Speak Now.

These words have been swirling around in my head since my sweet mother bought me the new Taylor Swift CD this weekend.

On Sunday I felt God’s presence in my life in a way I haven’t felt him in a long while. Ted (my pastor) talked about 2^nd Timothy chapter 3 and 19 things that people will become lovers of in the last days.  Since Sunday I have been reflecting a lot on his message and how it applies to my life. I have been thinking mostly on what it means to be holy. I know that holy by definition means “to be set apart” but what does that look like in my life. I learned tonight at small group that 3 is the number of perfection and in the bible and in songs we always say “holy, holy, holy” meaning God is perfectly set apart. Which got me thinking, if I’m supposed to strive to live my life after Christ’s example, are the things I do daily, my thoughts, actions, and words even close to holy?  No, they are often the same as a non believer. Whoa. Hit me pretty hard.

Also, I’ve been thinking a lot about “mindless chatter.” So many times we (myself included, with two hands raised in the air) talk just to fill the emptiness. Our thoughts are just mere opinions, but so often we say them as if they are fact or truth. For example, do I really know that Taylor Swift wrote all the songs on her CD by herself? No. I did hear that on TV, but that doesn’t mean it’s true. But I sure do jump to her defense anytime someone says otherwise.  And when I stop to think about it, why does it even matter in the first place?? Mindless chatter. As soon as one person starts talking about something we feel the need to add our two sense in to the conversation. Why? To feel important? To be included? I don’t know, but we all do it. And many times we don’t stop to think of how our words may affect the person sitting right next to us. I’ve always known we’re supposed to “tame the tongue” but I’ve never really stopped to think about how many words I say have no true value. 

I know God is working in my heart and showing me a few of my many personal areas of weakness. And although I have been driving myself crazy, talking in circles, I find peace knowing that God has my attention and is helping me grow. And while I love to listen and sing along to Taylor in the car, I think the title of her CD should have been Speak Wisely.

Facts I know for sure. 100%. Without a doubt.

-God loves me.

-God sent his son Jesus to die on the cross for our sin.

-I am a sinner.

-God created me for a purpose.

-With God all things are possible.