Teacher Appreciation

It's "Teacher Appreciation" time in the US, which doesn't seem to be getting near the publicity here that "cut the teacher's pay 3%, increase the class sizes, and take away any job security they had" did. (Yes, that's sarcasm - thank my English teachers for that.) It's been a tough few months for all those who have devoted their lives to helping others learn and grow.

And yet, they went right on teaching.

They crafted lessons, sometimes having to make several changes to better reach children who struggle with learning disabilities, physical issues, or a lack of English.
They created and gave tests, or "assessments" as they are called now, because their purpose is to help determine what each child knows now, so that the teacher can change his/her instruction for better results later.
They graded hundreds of papers. I was grading spelling last week and after a while I wasn't sure myself how to spell some of the words. The teacher in the class laughed and handed me the list of words saying "that happens to all of us."

They kept trying to do one of the hardest jobs there is - relentlessly seeking to improve what they do in order to help others learn.

Teachers take what society sends them. Today's kids come from everywhere on the globe. When I subbed at Choctaw last month, I had students from Russia, Indonesia, Colombia, and Mexico as well as those who were born here. Most of those they teach are children of divorce. Some are homeless. Some come to school hungry, sleepy, sick. Some have parents that are extremely interested and supportive. Others do not.  And yet the teacher takes them as they are and tries their best every day to help them learn. I've been amazed to learn just how much each teacher I have worked with knows about their students and their home lives.

Teachers care.

Our church is blessed to have two public school teachers as part of our family of faith. (as well as several people headed in that direction :) ) Amy Anderson and Diane Weech are true servants and followers of Christ who are living out their calling every day in our public schools. They are deserving of praise for what they do. And they serve through New Hope as well, each contributing through their church family their talents and time.

So THANK YOU's go out to Diane and Amy as well as to all the other teachers who help see boys and girls grow up to be good citizens and lifelong learners.

And yes, if you can read this, thank a teacher.

Hello Mr Wilson :)

From It's Like Herding Cats

Well, I'm officially a substitute teacher. After spending some time yesterday in Amy Anderson's class to get oriented, today I was officially the "substitute teacher" while Amy went to a conference. Amy's an ESE teacher at Lewis School here in Valparaiso and has an all boy class (at the moment). Every one of the boys can touch your heart in one way or another - and they did mine.

Even with a "head start" from yesterday, I still needed some help from Amy's assistant to get started teaching. Her lesson plans were clear, I just didn't know what grade each of the kids were in. :) That helped a lot. Once that was cleared up, I was able to grasp where each of the kids needed to be. It was a blast to be able to help them work through some roadblocks and finish their work.

And yes, I ate in the cafeteria and got to play with the kids at recess! The atmosphere at Lewis is just infectious from the minute you get there. The principal, Mr. Fantaski, and a teacher Jimmy Harrison (who I met delivering Supper on Saturday a couple weeks ago) were at the curb greeting kids as they were being dropped off. And every other staff person I saw was just as kid-focused. Great school.

I saw lots of kids I already new from New Hope or from Bunny's piano teaching. Most of them were happy to see me but a couple were a little shocked. That was funny. "What are YOU doing here?" was the most common question and then when I answered it changed to "that's cool."

Once I got through today, I got about an hour turnaround at home before heading to New Hope. Bunny had spent hours cooking the chili for tonight's meal, so all I had to do was cook the grilled cheese sandwiches for tonight's meal.Once that was done, then worship practice and finally teaching 1 John 4. It was a LONG day.

But it's a good tired.

Going to dial it back to only two things tomorrow - sermon prep and then working on my schoolwork for Gulf Coast.

Because Friday I get to go teach Middle School!

"Well Done"

"A man makes a living out of what he gets, he makes a life out of what he gives away." - Winston Churchill

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.
John 15:13 (NLT) - Jesus Christ

We laid the body that had contained the immortal soul of Tommy Williams to rest yesterday. While living his life enjoying the love of his bride Amelia, his daughters Amy and Blythe, his grandson Ian, and that of his friends, he was overtaken by cancer and succumbed to death.

I knew Tommy mostly from the impact he had on his family. We had met several times when he would bring Ian (or pick him up from) to his piano lessons, and when he'd come to New Hope to watch Ian do something special in the service. Thinking back, I never saw Tommy Williams when he wasn't focused on someone else.

At the viewing, the family had provided dozens of pictures of Tommy and family throughout his life. They showed a couple in love, the family as it began and grew, and as they experienced one of the sweetest of God's gifts - joy. I peeked into those vignettes and found Tommy was many times sitting next to someone laughing. In others where he was the sole subject, he appeared at rest and in contentment. So few people are.

Yesterday more windows into Tommy's life opened as we heard from people who had known him for many many years tell of how he had lived a consistent life of service, compassion, and faithfulness throughout his adult life. His pastor pointed out that it was the presence of Jesus within Tommy that was behind it all. This pastor can tell you that though many people have been given new life through Jesus Christ, far fewer live one.

Tommy did.

To the very end.

Tommy's already heard this from Jesus, but I want to say it too.

"Well done."

He will be missed, but not forgotten.