Six Lessons Learned for Teachers

This was my first semester to teach a class! I learned so much! I want to thank each one of my sweet students for teaching me these six important lessons.  This is for any of you future teachers out there or any of you who enjoy young children. I'm sure other teachers and even mommas can relate to this. Hope you enjoy.

1) Very few things go as planned. It's true, things will run a whole lot smother if you are prepared, and preparing is vitally important. However, don't expect things to go exactly like you planned, because I guarantee they won't. I hate to burst your bubble of joy, but be ready to be flexible.

2) You will learn to think on your feet. Children have a way of throwing the unexpected at a teacher. Be ready to make quick decisions. 

3) Prayer time will turn into story time. In my K-2nd class I have 12 students. On a normal day we probably have about 8 to 10 prayer requests and before I know it they all have stories to tell me. I love hearing all their prayer requests and stories, but it takes up way too much class time. I finally found a solution. Every week I take only 5 prayer requests at the beginning of class, and I write them down. Then, we say a prayer and start class. Writing them down helps if one of the students would like to pray, but has trouble remembering the prayer requests. Then after class as they leave the classroom, the children that were not called on tell me their prayer request and I write them down in my book. This way I can pray for them over the week.

4) Don't be afraid of correcting misbehavior. I want to be their friend as well as their teacher. So when I had to correct a child it was sometimes difficult. I initially thought they may not like me as a teacher anymore since I had to correct their behavior. However, I learned that this is not the case. Generally, the children want to please the teacher and they will improve their behavior. If that doesn't work they will straighten up if something they enjoy is on the line. 

5) Consistency is key. Don't be discouraged if  your students don't understand what is required of them immediately. I remember trying to get my 12 twirling students into two straight lines facing the mirror. As I tried to give them instruction they would either make a line perpendicular to the mirror or face the wrong way. It was frustrating for me. I tried so many different ways. You see that was the problem. Since I tried so many things, they didn't know what to expect. I soon discovered that if I used the same technique over and over they soon knew exactly what to do. 

6) Stay firm in what you say. Don't let your students persuade you into something you told them not to do. One of the little girls in my class has really taught me to stay firm in what I say. It's difficult when she asks over and over and over again. Many times I just wanted to give in so she would stop asking. However, I didn't. I knew that if did, she would most likely end up questioning my authority more often. I didn't want to make that mistake. 

The Unlucky Box of Lucky Charms

It's Thanksgiving! It's time to eat turkey and enjoy family and friend's fellowship. On this thanksgiving, I am thankful for many things, but I am extremely thankful for my little students! This is my first year teaching and I love it! So today I will include a story that is about one of my students and her box of Lucky Charms.

Once upon a time there was a box of Lucky Charms that went to ballet class two weeks in a row. It all started when one of the cute little girls in Miss Caroline’s ballet class, brought a box of Lucky Charms with her to school. Why she brought a box of Lucky Charms, is still a mystery to many. As Miss Caroline talked to the little girl at lunch, the little girl tried to shove the big box of Lucky Charms in her backpack. Miss Caroline offered to take the box of Lucky Charms to the classroom so she would not have to carry it around. Miss Caroline thought this would reduce the risk of the little girl forgetting the box somewhere. As the class began, everyone asked why Lucky Charms were in the class room and the box of Lucky Charms was given much attention. After class, however, the little girl was rushed out the door because she needed to get to the pickup line. Unfortunately, the box of Lucky Charms was forgotten. Now fast forward to the next week. At lunch the little girl waves and exclaims to her teacher, “Hi, Miss Caroline!” So the teacher walks over and sits in the seat next to her. They talk about her food. She opens her mouth and shows Miss Caroline her dessert. Then the little girl looks at the lost and found, which is located in front of us, and shockingly screams “My Lucky Charms!” So Miss Caroline asks the little girl if she would like for her to go get it. Of course, the little girl says “yes”. Now, Miss Caroline isn't very tall and it’s up high. So Miss Caroline asks, “Do you think I can reach it?” The little girl answers “yes,” again. As Miss Caroline walks over to the lost and found, sure enough, she could reach the box!  As Miss Caroline walked back towards the little girl, she exclaimed “I reached it!” In her confident, matter of fact little voice, the little girl excitedly proclaims, “I told you so!”  Then Miss Caroline leaves the little girl to check on some other students. However, the little girl approaches Miss Caroline a little later, asking if she’ll take her Lucky Charms to the classroom. So Miss Caroline takes it and tells her she will put it in a different spot where it’ll be easier for her to remember. At this point you should start seeing a pattern here. Yes, the Lucky Charms box was forgotten again! It is now sitting lonely on the top of the lost and found until after Thanksgiving Break. And that concludes the story of the unlucky box of Lucky Charms!