Sunday, December 7, 2008

The Joy of Teaching

This year has been a lot tougher for me than last year with teaching. I've felt burnt out a lot more and I feel like I am working a lot more hours. First grade is just a lot tougher than second, which I expected but I just get worn out

This week though confirmed to me why I am a teacher and why I will stay a teacher. (Besides the fact that I know the Lord has called me where I am). I have a student this year who at the beginning of the school year I thought would be one of my more difficult students. He was REALLY low. REALLY REALLY low! For the last couple of weeks there has been a change in this little boy. He is sitting taller, he is able to sit still, and more importantly he is reading! READING. I sat down with him on Thursday and we read a little book together and he read it. With some help but more reading then helping. On Friday, I tested his sight words. (I do a weekly sight word test). He had a long list of sight words that he did not know. I asked him if he knew any on the page as I was writing something down and he just started reading off the words. As I began formally testing him he began to get more and more excited with the words that he knew. His voice got higher with excitement, he was looking at me for approval. I was so excited. He only missed 4. 4 out of 30! I was so proud of this little boy. He was so proud of himself. I had tears in my eyes as I watched his pride. I looked at him and said you can read! I called his mom to let her know...I hope she is as excited as I was!

This is what makes teaching worth it. I did not do anything for this boy but give him an opportunity to learn. I am so thankful I could be there to help him!

My class!


~N

2 comments:

aziner said...

aww your class is adorable! what an exciting story. I love it when God shares moments with us that remind us why He's placed us where He has. I'm thankful for people like you who have taken up the difficult call of teaching. I pray moments like this will be bountiful throughout your experience as a teacher. And I'm sure that the opportunity you gave this boy to learn and the excitement, approval, joy you shared with him in his accomplishment will stick with him for a very long time to come. :)

also, I think I have the same skirt you're wearing in that pic!

Grammy said...

Sometimes, one chance is all it takes for someone to excel for the rest of their lives and reading is the key to everything.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing.
Love, Grammy