Inspiration a divine gift...

As educators we have the divine right... no responsibility to inspire every single learner and student that crosses your path. Easier said than done, right? Most of us struggle to keep our heads above water, to keep up to date with planning, marking and actually teaching the work. We lose track of why we are teachers because we are overwhelmed by admin...admin...admin. 

I often forget how enriching it is to encourage my kids. I hardly have time to inspire myself, how the hell am I supposed to motivate and encourage the kids?? Sometimes we have to look at the Bible to give us the inspiration to inspire others whether it is your colleagues, friends or the children you teach.

Here are some steps to follow in life and in your classroom:

Step number 1: Remember there is always a bigger plan. You might not understand why certain things happen the way they do but God does.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future"

Step number 2: Remember no matter small the act of kindness it will make a difference.

"Children may forget what you said to them, but they will never forget how you made them feel."

Step number 3: This one is just a quote to remember "Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all."

Step number 4: Remember how important you are as a teacher! We often forget mostly because society lets us believe our job is not important, but now I am reminding you. You are amazing because you are a teacher.

"As a teacher, I possess tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal. In all cases it is my response that decides whether a situation will be escalated or de-escalated or a child humanized or de-humanized."- Haim Ginott

Step number 5: Be the teacher that makes every child feel like they can achieve anything no matter how impossible it seems. Be the constant person that motivates them and reminds them of how special and talented they are. Because we have a God-given talent to treasure the children of God and show them the way, the successful way.

"Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody..."

2015 A year filled with blessings

I just watched the most beautiful movie “Mom’s night out” about motherhood and all the challenges faced by a group of mothers and how in the end they find a way to see the beauty in the chaos. I suppose teaching is a lot like motherhood. We nurture a child’s dreams for 7 hours each day, we build where they are broken and encourage every aspect of their life.

Teachers forget to see the beauty in our chaos. You forget to see God’s light shining through every single little or big face we see daily. We forget that we carry with us the blessing and opportunity to make one of many children SMILE. We forget to make them LAUGH. We forget to let ourselves LOVE them. We forget to HELP and EDUCATE them for life not a mark on a piece of paper. And most of all we forget to be immensely GRATEFUL for the chance to make a DIFFERENCE.

After my first year of teaching I wanted to give up and found myself extremely unhappy, unsatisfied and negative about my career choices. I didn't see their beautiful faces anymore; I saw my choices and actions affecting them negatively. I was carrying around a lot of guilt because I did not choose to be a teacher, God put me here. I didn't have faith in myself or God. I believed he had made some sort of error putting me on this path. I felt personally responsible for disadvantaging them. I was so blinded by self-doubt that I forgot to see the absolute BEAUTY in my job. I saw only hostility towards my way of teaching, my methods, my practices etc.

I realize now moving into my second year of teaching that I have a divine right given to me by God to make a difference, in the way I teach every single child that enters my classroom. I do not just teach them I educate them. I have a responsibility to help them do well but also to help them succeed in life one day when they are no longer greeted by a friendly teacher in a bright yellow classroom. Little old me, I have the capability to help ease the pain they will one day experience when they face the big world filled with disappointment and forces working against them.

No one said it was going to be easy, but no one said it wasn't going to be worth it.

As a “different teacher”- You may find other teachers criticizing your practices but do not let it get to you. Because even if they believe you’re not worth it the children will more than make up for it. They will believe in you when no one else will. Those beautiful children of God will embrace you on challenging days, compliment you when you feel down and make you laugh when you feel like crying. It is our responsibility to acknowledge and appreciate the “touch of God” in our lives every single day. {Ezekiel 11:19}. I challenge every teacher and parent to see that even if you feel like you are mess, remember you are beautiful mess and that "you are God's masterpiece".