As my homeroom class of seventh graders continually changes, we are still struggling to become a family. We have lost our German student and gained a new girl. I am still struggling to change this energetic and slightly wild group of middle schoolers into a family. There have been definite improvements in behavior, but there is still no sense of family. I still frequently have to talk to them about using kind words and taking care of each other. Despite my efforts to have times of sharing, prayer and games, there is still nothing like the solidarity in the 7th grade class that I see in the 6th and 10th grade classes. If nothing else, I have finally realized that I can do nothing on my own. I can plan as many team building activities as will fit into our schedule, but I need to spend more time praying for my 7th grade class. God is the only thing that is going to change these kids. I think about the college group I had and the small group I have at New Covenant and what an amazing blessing it is to be part of a group of Christians that are earnestly seeking God and fellowship with each other. I want them to experience a piece of God's family, but I need His help to teach them how to be a family. We did have a class lunch together this past Friday. About half of my 16 students crowded around one little picnic table. I am so busy here teaching 7 classes that I don't always have enough time to just enjoy my students outside of class. This was the first lunch where I could just enjoy them and I didn't have to talk to any of them about saying mean things to each other. I am convinced that the change I have started to see is due to prayer and my giving up the idea that I could think of the perfect activities and classroom management to create a family out of the 7th grade class. This past Tuesday we had an all school Independence Day Celebration. Each class sang a song, performed a dance or read stories to celebrate the history of the Dominican Republic. I was so proud of my seventh graders for their performance. It was well rehearsed and quite entertaining. Please pray that God continues to work in my seventh grade classroom. There are certainly the wildest class in the school at the moment, but they have great potential.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
A forming family?
As my homeroom class of seventh graders continually changes, we are still struggling to become a family. We have lost our German student and gained a new girl. I am still struggling to change this energetic and slightly wild group of middle schoolers into a family. There have been definite improvements in behavior, but there is still no sense of family. I still frequently have to talk to them about using kind words and taking care of each other. Despite my efforts to have times of sharing, prayer and games, there is still nothing like the solidarity in the 7th grade class that I see in the 6th and 10th grade classes. If nothing else, I have finally realized that I can do nothing on my own. I can plan as many team building activities as will fit into our schedule, but I need to spend more time praying for my 7th grade class. God is the only thing that is going to change these kids. I think about the college group I had and the small group I have at New Covenant and what an amazing blessing it is to be part of a group of Christians that are earnestly seeking God and fellowship with each other. I want them to experience a piece of God's family, but I need His help to teach them how to be a family. We did have a class lunch together this past Friday. About half of my 16 students crowded around one little picnic table. I am so busy here teaching 7 classes that I don't always have enough time to just enjoy my students outside of class. This was the first lunch where I could just enjoy them and I didn't have to talk to any of them about saying mean things to each other. I am convinced that the change I have started to see is due to prayer and my giving up the idea that I could think of the perfect activities and classroom management to create a family out of the 7th grade class. This past Tuesday we had an all school Independence Day Celebration. Each class sang a song, performed a dance or read stories to celebrate the history of the Dominican Republic. I was so proud of my seventh graders for their performance. It was well rehearsed and quite entertaining. Please pray that God continues to work in my seventh grade classroom. There are certainly the wildest class in the school at the moment, but they have great potential.
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2 comments:
em! what a great reminder you bring to me through your entry here that we infact can't do it on our own. now if i can just remember how to quit being stubborn. you are doing incredable things with your students, keep up the amazing work. when are you finished with your program? if you are still there after i get back from Uganda (dec 23, 2008) perhaps I could come visit???? the possibility is so exciting.
love you!
carebear
Hey Ems,
It's been awhile and reading through this, it's amazing how much you're learning and teaching to others too. Although it's been tough and difficult but then that only makes the experience more fulfilling and shows more of the awesome power of God through prayer and trust! Hang in there and He will surprise you :-)
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