I'm here, at one of my frequent study spots from when I was in University. I feel like a student again. I feel like people are looking at me with my thick binder, computer and earphones and wondering what I'm studying. Truth be told, I'm the teacher! And I'm doing my lesson planning. I'm learning about the human body and currently learning about the "Skeletal System" so I can teach these 10 year olds who are full of energy and questions about the world! What am I learning in this whole process?
I'm learning that I'm the student. I will always be. I'm learning how much I have to learn! I'm learning that each day is a new day for growth and opportunities. I'm inspired by my students. They have this love for reading and it has got me wanting to catch that enthuisiam for it as well. I've intentionally decided that when the class has silent reading for 30 minutes, three times a week, I will read too! It's amazing how this class looks forward to silent reading and how they actually sit quietly for 30 minutes without disruption reading! I've decided that rather than doing assessments or sitting at the computer, I too will pull out a novel and join in the delight of reading. It's been a pleasure so far to sit on the floor and get into a book with the rest of the class.
From this I've come to better understand what it means to model for others what you wanto to see in them. If I want my students to read, what better thing for them to see than me reading as well? I'm not exempt from reading or from partcipating in what I'm asking of them. Secretly (well now not so secretly), this is one of my greatest leadership tactics. Effective practice= modeling. Effective leadership= modeling character, expectations, etc. Actions speak loudly. Repeated actions ought not be overlooked because they are done for a reason. So when someone continues doing something, we ought ask, "What are they trying to model?"
I've thought a lot about being proactive rather than reactive, realizing that an effective leader anticipates what could be as a result of given variables. The effective leader knows how others may respond to such variables and prepares for that. This person examines all angles and devises strategies (either verbally or internally) to deal with a given scenario. Isn't it helpful when someone approaches you with insight into something before it happens, with ideas you may have never considered before? I've learned that planning ahead means a lot to people and it frustrates me when people come after something happens that they didn't foresee to apologize for their oversight. I'm grateful that they recognize their oversight; however, I expect leaders to be able to have the foresight to devise a "strategy" rather than get caught off guard by something.
I feel like I've been quite strict these last 4 weeks in the classroom. This is not me; however, aren't we taught that it's better to be firm at the beginning to gain the class's respect and then we can ease off after they know the epectations?
One of the highlights of my day is when we begin the day with prayer. I open it up for the students to share their prayer requests/ praise items and then pray together as a class. I love when C prays for the mom of the boy who sits beside him, who has major health concerns. She is not overlooked. She is not forgotten and has become part of our class. I love when they pray as they know how. I love when they thank God for things like Birthdays, hockey games and PE. So often their prayers are that "God would help [insert name here]. I've oftened wondered what that really means, but then I've come to realize that it's not a little prayer. God is our help. Our help comes from the Lord, strong and mighty.
I've learned how important space is. When I first got to the class it didn't feel like mine. It felt like I was visiting someone else's house, but it wasn't mine. Since then I've done some re-arranging, added some new decorations and made it feel like my space. A space can impact how we feel. A space can make us feel comfortable or uncomfortable; at home and at ease, or anxious and uncomfortable to name the polars. How can we make the space we're in most condusive to learning? to relationships?
And the ongoing one? Patience. I'm learning patience. Often I can give a snappy answer, but I'd rather give a gentle re-direction with a pleasant tone.
I'll keep you posted as I continue to learn. So who's the student? Do we have a teachable heart?
