First Day

Well... let's just say the first day is over.

It's a relief, but I have to say, my anxiety is not really relieved. With such great amounts of planning for each and every lesson, I know this entire semester is going to be difficult!

Back to today... My school is VERY diverse... "red and yellow black and white, they are precious in His sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world"... I couldn't help but sing to myself as I looked over the many colors of my classroom. With teaching Speech, there is such an emphasis on communications. I started the class teaching my kids the most basic of communication skills, introductions. Firm handshake, stating your name clearly, and eye contact seem to be such simple things that these kids just lack altogether. As I mingled around the room, I began to notice the kids with silent confidence.

I have several Korean kids in my class who don't speak English. They carry these small computer/calculator type things that I soon learned are actually calculators. They vigorously typed on their devices so that they could complete their work in my Speech class, go figure! I passed out a worksheet with various "get to know you" type questions... everything from Who is your idol? to what is your favorite TV show? The students in the class were asked to get up and present 3 or so of their answers from the list of questions (in an attempt to get them comfortable with presenting- since this IS a speech class). Well, after all the volunteers were exhausted, I began calling on kids. Sidenote: I require all of my students to clap for their fellow classmates after they preform in an attempt to be supportive and encouraging. Well, let me just say that most of the kids give this lacking effort kind of clap where they really don't care but are merely banging their hands together because I told them to. I called on this one small Korean girl and with head tucked she looked back at me and whispered "I know no English". At first, I kind of panicked, not knowing how to handle the situation, and knowing that the rest of the class was watching. "Can you tell us your name and answer just one of the questions?" I asked her. With head tucked she walked to the front of the class and stood there silently, staring at her paper. The classroom was silent, and then she spoke. "My name is ____ . My idol is my mom." After speaking those 9 simple words so silently that we could barely hear, I was amazed and inspired by what happened... every single student in that class clapped for her. Not just a half-effort clap, but a REAL one. The type of clap that you perform when you really want to express how you feel.

On this, my very first day... beneath all the junk that high school kids carry... I saw this raw and genuine encouragment for a fellow classmate... and I was inspired.

Aim to Teach

As I sit here in front of my computer on the night before the first day of my first year of teaching, I just hope in my heart that what Gail Godwin says is true... "Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater."

For months I have been filled with excitement for what this new adventure will bring, and yet tonight I can't help but cry tears of apprehension as I have never felt more unprepared to face the unknown that lies ahead of me. Along with the unease in my heart, I still know in my head why I am here... I am here to make a difference, to guide, to serve, to love, and most of all... to teach.

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches." ~Karl Menninger