Faith's Findings

Let me brag on my kids: Earlier this school year, my AP kids read  "Blessed is the Full Plate" This was meant as a short article to really analyze for  rhetorical appeals, etc. However, what happened was not on my lesson plan, nor was it expected.  The kids read and analyzed this article, which I highly encourage you to read (link above). The discussion that happened made my heart leap.  Things such as:  "Why don't churches feed more hungry people?"  "Isn't that what Jesus/faith is about?"  "Don't we have homeless here?"  "Can we do something to reach out to them?"  "Ms. Normand, what can we do??"  THIS. THIS is why I teach.  I sat and swallowed tears of pride and joy as my kids wanted to take action in their own community.  THIS. THIS is why I teach.  No. This growth won't be on a data wall in a data room where the show is. No. This doesn't meet any CCSS, GLE, or the next set of standards that's headed...

"Don't you get tired of hot pockets?!?" They said. This was the last thing I remember before my world---our world---was rocked.  Hysteria burst through my door and I couldn't fathom what was being sobbed. I read the messages as hysteria screamed, "They said she didn't make it. What does that mean?? Tell me what that means!!"   And time stood still.  The nightmare was now my reality and I confirmed everyone's worst fear---she didn't make it. She died. An hour before, she was here in these halls, ordering her cap and gown. And there we were---trying to fathom a world where she wouldn't wear that cap and gown.  This wasn't supposed to happen to my school---to my kids. I wasn't supposed to grieve the loss of a current student this early in my career. Of all the preparation that goes into being a teacher, there's none that prepares one for this. My kids shouldn't have to grieve one of their own.  It's hard.  It's beyond har...

The trouble with fostering children comes in the realm of prayers.  You see, I want the best for the children, but I don't want the biological parents to succeed. So, what does that say about me?!? While I'm praying for "God's will"---or really what I think is best---I'm really praying that "those people"---who need Jesus just as much as I do---fail and stay bound in the life that got them here.  Yes. That's my disgusting human heart. That's where I have found myself lately: celebrating when "those people" fail miserably.  I'll let that sink in. It's disgusting. I know.  However, watching and walking this journey with some very close people in my life has allowed God to reveal Himself to me in a new way---which also means, revealing some pretty disgusting things in my heart. Like my inner happy dance when "those people" fail. See, I haven't found myself praying for "those people." I haven't found ...

A  teacher's brain on the first day of school is a scary place. Actually, it's a scary place anytime. At any given point there are 5-10-15 thoughts happening, while managing a group of learners. It's exhausting, but it will keep you on your toes.  Here's a glimpse into my brain today: *alarm goes off* "Noooooooo!!!!!!!! It can't be!! Omgah the kids are coming today." "What am I going to wear? No. No. No. Yes!" *at school* "I bet the copier is full. Or jammed." "These new kids---will I like them? Will they like me?" "Why am I so hungry???" "Seriously, need a potty break." "Why did I wear these shoes?"  "Who invented bras anyway?" "It's only 9am?!?!?!" "Why won't that kid stop whispering while I'm talking?" "Seriously, dude, I know you're still texting or snapping or whatever." "Oh, yes!!! They believed my bluff!!" "Oh crap!! Tha...

I have an early morning and a full day with hormonal, teenage girls tomorrow. It's late and where am I? I just left the bed, where I was cuddled up with a certain dimpled face little boy, so that I can put to life the stirring within. Bear with me. We live in a fallen world. With events just this summer, I don't think many will disagree with me. We live in a society that thrives on offense and stands for little. We demand tolerance and acceptance, but only when it aligns with our own beliefs. We live in a messed up world. I won't sit here and pretend that I know what it's like to be a man trapped in a woman's body or vice versa. I won't sit here and pretend like I know what it's like to use the hashtag #lovewins without it referring to Jesus on the cross. I won't sit here and pretend that I understand the terrible shootings of recent times. I won't sit here and pretend that I think the term "hero" is clearly defined. ...

The end of the school year is a funny thing. It's bittersweet.   It's exciting, yet nostalgic.  It's the ending of families. You want summer so bad you can taste it, but you want to savor the last moments with this family because even if you teach the same group next year, the family will be different.  It's a clean slate. For 9 months, you have spent countless hours with these people. You've shared things and made memories that changed who you are as a person. Everything about you changes from year to year as a teacher. The kids force you to see the world differently, and yet isn't that why WE are there---to make them see the world differently?  I could not be happier with how this school year ended up. My kids continually wowed me. I'm not going to act like it was all rainbows and unicorns because believe me, there were plenty of times I wanted to quit. I allowed myself to get caught up in everything that is wrong with education, until one day a kid said ...

There are no state standards to measure the growth you have shown this year. And furthermore, there are no state standards to measure what I really hope you learned.  I hope you learned to appreciate differences. I hope you learned to see the world with new eyes and to talk about the tough stuff like Ferguson, racism, hate crimes, you know all that stuff that you are told are taboo. But yet, we tackled them in class and my heart swells with pride on how well you all handled it. I must say, you handled them with knowledge and grace better than most adults! Stay informed.  I hope you know that these are not the best days of your life. A lot of people will disagree with me and a lot of people will call me Pollyanna; but, the best is yet to come. You are young and have just been given your first set of wings to explore this great, big world! Have these days molded you and taught you valuable lessons? Absolutely! But remember, the best is yet to come.  I hope you always contin...