Teaching

Well,

It's been a while and I am sorry!  I am now understanding what  a learning curve is!  Not that I wasn't expecting it but I am now experiencing it!  And yes, right now, I should probably be working on some lesson planning rather than writing to you all, but, well, maybe I need a break, or maybe I am procrastinating, or maybe I just figured out what I wanted to write!  Who knows?!

Anyways, I have been busy, we did get a short break for Fundacion de Panama (just like American kids...most had no idea why they had this day off!...yes, they do now).   The teachers chose to take a night and a day, on this longer weekend, to go to Isla Grande, it was beautiful!   I got to snorkel for the first time and see reefs.  It was painful getting to them because it was so shallow, however, once there the reefs were beautiful.. And then following the reef, the vast ocean, the reef is like a wall that just drops off into the ocean...at that point I wanted to go and turn around at the same time....did you know there are sharks on that part of the ocean?!!!

Well, Isla Grande was wonderful and now we are truly  into the school year, only 2 more weeks until parent conferences and the half way mark for the quarter....I would say I have some amount of anxiety, but I think I have an appreciation for the anxiety, I don't enjoy it, but at least it reveals to me that I do care, care about doing well, doing right by the children and the parents!

We had our weekly meeting today, and it ended with my staying late to speak with the director about biblical integration.  this piece has made me nervous, and excited all at the same time. Excited, because I have freedom to speak about my faith, but also nervous, because the way I exercise and speak of Christ may look very different than my students and their families.  I am learning some big things about myself and my faith through this expectation to integrate the Bible into one lesson a week.
1.  I am a peace maker, I always have been, so this may be part of why I really love discussion formats in a classroom.  I can let everyone have an opportunity to voice their thoughts.  However, this needs to be done carefully in a middle school classroom!  It can be good for them, however, they also just need to know the facts and they need to listen!
2.  This is also part of my faith, I have spent many years critiquing my faith and others',, discussing it, and tearing it apart.  Now, (although I am in a trusting, grounded place with Christ) I have a hard time articulating all of the different facets of what I believe in a clear and articulate way.
3.  I believe Christ as Creator, Father, and Healer, ( the most recent characteristics that He has revealed to me of Himself) but breaking this down into teachable moments at this point is difficult for me, my faith has become very personal and it comes with a lot of discussion.
4.  I am finding that it is difficult for me to "preach"/ teach to an audience about Christ, in a simple way.  I believe this is a result of how personal my own faith and reasons for belief have become while journeying with Him.  It is challenging to be placed in a role where I am now instructing, teaching youth on God's character when I sense that I still have so much to learn and trust in!

So, in this my prayer is that, "Lord, You would grant me wisdom and knowledge, gift me with your ability to teach and love these children with Your love.   To speak with humility, truth, and confidence. Christ I ask that these children would hear what You desire for them rather than what may always come out of my mouth.  And I ask that they would know You in an intimate way, the way that You desire to be known by them, as opposed to the way I, or the way their parents may desire them to know You".

So, as of today, I guess that this is where I am at.  Tomorrow (my one integration for the week) I talk about the knight's code of chivalry, 4 cardinal virtues, and 1 Peter, Holy Living.

A heavier topic today....

with love to you all!  Rebecca