Today marks our first day of the last unit for the year. My kiddos...who some claim have never been outside Hutchinson, Kansas...are planning the trip of a lifetime. They are required to plan a trip to three different countries on three different continents with only $10,000 in their bank account. Seriously...put a computer in front of some kids and they are off...put a computer in front of other kids and they stare with no idea how to begin researching educationally.
This project could flop so hard even I fall through the floor (my classroom is on the 4th floor, so it would be a hard fall). Or...this project could really show these kids their own potential. Because of my last entry...me of little faith...I am going to begin today with a positive I-am-not-going-to-fall-through-the-floor attitude. We'll see. Tomorrow and Monday I am taking personal days so I am anxious to see how the kiddos do without leaning on me for answers. When I return on Tuesday it will either be utter chaos or perfect harmony...okay, maybe not perfect (there I go again).
More details to come.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Give 'em a Chance!
Yesterday marked a new adventure for me in the 8th grade classroom. For the past five weeks one of my classes has been reading Fahrenheit 451. For those of you who have not read it...read it. Bradbury wrote it in 1953 but his futuristic novel actually speaks loudly of our culture today. Anyway...as you can imagine, I teach a group of kids who either do not read or who only read one genre. So, when I introduced this unit and explained that they would be reading the book entirely outside of class you can only imagine the grumbling and complaining that I received...even from a parent. This unit touches on so many different topics such as censorship, individuality vs. conformity, knowledge vs. ignorance, change, loneliness, and technology. While they were reading outside of class we were able to talk about what makes good news...how do we know what truth is...and most importantly, how do we know what our responsibility is in society. I know...you are thinking that these are pretty heavy topics for 8th graders. I'll admit that I was skeptical too. I didn't think these kids would sit long enough to read let alone think. But they did. They read the book and they actually thought about it.
Their final assessment for this unit was a Socratic Seminar. This is basically a graded discussion. There were two groups and each had a slightly different question to discuss. They were given the question the day before so they could prepare real life support as well as support from the novel. Their goal was to dialogue about the following two questions: What is the relationship between the individual and society? What is an individual's role in society?
I woke up yesterday dreading this day...truly kicking myself because I knew this was too much for 8th graders. They were going to blow it off and sit and look at each other for the 10 minutes they were on the spot. But, me of little faith...as soon as I proposed the question, they took off. Here are a few comments that they made:
"Didn't JFK say 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country?' Isn't that exactly what we need to discuss here?"
"I'm not sure an individual is as much responsible for society as they are simply a reflection of their society."
"Yeah...they may reflect it, but it's their job to affect it if they see it going bad."
"So how do we decide what's right and wrong?"
"The only way to have a good society is to have people who aren't selfish."
"Sometimes we have to do what's wrong in society's eyes in order to actually do what is right."
"It's our responsibility to know the whole story and not believe just what the news and government tell us."
As I sat there simply listening to these kids I was in awe. As time wore down I stopped them. I looked at each of them and said, "do you really believe what you are saying? In your gut...the innermost part of who you are...do you believe what you are saying? Because if you do...if you truly believe it you can impact your community more than you think. But you have to believe it and do it...not just say it."
Today as I watch the same kids in the hall...it's a miracle that we had class yesterday at all...but for one class period...for one day we had a learning moment...and they weren't necessarily the ones learning.
Their final assessment for this unit was a Socratic Seminar. This is basically a graded discussion. There were two groups and each had a slightly different question to discuss. They were given the question the day before so they could prepare real life support as well as support from the novel. Their goal was to dialogue about the following two questions: What is the relationship between the individual and society? What is an individual's role in society?
I woke up yesterday dreading this day...truly kicking myself because I knew this was too much for 8th graders. They were going to blow it off and sit and look at each other for the 10 minutes they were on the spot. But, me of little faith...as soon as I proposed the question, they took off. Here are a few comments that they made:
"Didn't JFK say 'Ask not what your country can do for you, but ask what you can do for your country?' Isn't that exactly what we need to discuss here?"
"I'm not sure an individual is as much responsible for society as they are simply a reflection of their society."
"Yeah...they may reflect it, but it's their job to affect it if they see it going bad."
"So how do we decide what's right and wrong?"
"The only way to have a good society is to have people who aren't selfish."
"Sometimes we have to do what's wrong in society's eyes in order to actually do what is right."
"It's our responsibility to know the whole story and not believe just what the news and government tell us."
As I sat there simply listening to these kids I was in awe. As time wore down I stopped them. I looked at each of them and said, "do you really believe what you are saying? In your gut...the innermost part of who you are...do you believe what you are saying? Because if you do...if you truly believe it you can impact your community more than you think. But you have to believe it and do it...not just say it."
Today as I watch the same kids in the hall...it's a miracle that we had class yesterday at all...but for one class period...for one day we had a learning moment...and they weren't necessarily the ones learning.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
You Try...
Fine...if you think you can get 13 kids from the ages of 15-7 months old to all stand in a picture you do it yourself!!! Oh...and top it off these 13 kids are LAMBERTS!!! :0 Ever meet us? So...this is our Easter picture...or at least the Easter picture of the kiddos. We are a lively bunch...fun...and a bit hard to get organized! :)
No Small Task
You want to talk about conviction? Let's talk church on Sunday.
In all honesty, I must confess...I have not treated this school and this particular job as a chance to impact Christ's kingdom. I've been plugging along, longing for May 23rd just to be finished and say "Adios students!" It's been a year filled with the mentality of survival...not a mentality of fruitfulness. So...as the year comes to an end in about 4 weeks, my God chose last Sunday to knock me upside the head and say, "get over it...enough."
The scripture was Mark 8:34-38...especially 36, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" This is a well-known passage. One that is quoted, read, quoted, read, and re-quoted because it's read so much. If we've grown up in the church I'm sure we've heard Jim Elliot's famous quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." This is the type of passage, the type of thinking that is applauded and encouraged in others. I love to read stories of those who have been selfless and given over their life to the advancement of the gospel. BUT...very rarely have I stopped long enough to look in the mirror...very seldom have I stopped to take time to digest.
The basic message...the bottom line is this: am I living for worldly pleasures? Do I store up treasures on earth? Is my curriculum more important than the faces sitting in front of me? Is owning a house more important than resting where God has me right now? Is my education or degree more important than seeing knowledge through the eyes of God? AND...are my needs more important than my husband's? Not that these things are bad...but what is my focus? What is my motive. I believe that this morning, as I was revisiting my notes from Sunday, if you had been watching my face you would have seen my smile diminish at the same rate that my eyes grew in realization that it is so incredibly easy to simply live life. It is so easy to simply live...without regard for living with value. My soul is the only thing that goes with me from this world to the next. What am I doing to improve my soul...to gain it? How tightly do I hold to earthly things?
I will probably never have this concept conquered. In fact I know that until Christ returns I will struggle to live life with value...and to store up my treasures in heaven. BUT...I pray that the things in my life that are vanity would decrease as my motives change. I am grateful for a God who does not leave me where I am...or in the same mindset that I am comfortable in. He has challenged me...no, commanded me to live a life with value and eternity in sight. A paradigm shift...no small task.
In all honesty, I must confess...I have not treated this school and this particular job as a chance to impact Christ's kingdom. I've been plugging along, longing for May 23rd just to be finished and say "Adios students!" It's been a year filled with the mentality of survival...not a mentality of fruitfulness. So...as the year comes to an end in about 4 weeks, my God chose last Sunday to knock me upside the head and say, "get over it...enough."
The scripture was Mark 8:34-38...especially 36, "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" This is a well-known passage. One that is quoted, read, quoted, read, and re-quoted because it's read so much. If we've grown up in the church I'm sure we've heard Jim Elliot's famous quote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." This is the type of passage, the type of thinking that is applauded and encouraged in others. I love to read stories of those who have been selfless and given over their life to the advancement of the gospel. BUT...very rarely have I stopped long enough to look in the mirror...very seldom have I stopped to take time to digest.
The basic message...the bottom line is this: am I living for worldly pleasures? Do I store up treasures on earth? Is my curriculum more important than the faces sitting in front of me? Is owning a house more important than resting where God has me right now? Is my education or degree more important than seeing knowledge through the eyes of God? AND...are my needs more important than my husband's? Not that these things are bad...but what is my focus? What is my motive. I believe that this morning, as I was revisiting my notes from Sunday, if you had been watching my face you would have seen my smile diminish at the same rate that my eyes grew in realization that it is so incredibly easy to simply live life. It is so easy to simply live...without regard for living with value. My soul is the only thing that goes with me from this world to the next. What am I doing to improve my soul...to gain it? How tightly do I hold to earthly things?
I will probably never have this concept conquered. In fact I know that until Christ returns I will struggle to live life with value...and to store up my treasures in heaven. BUT...I pray that the things in my life that are vanity would decrease as my motives change. I am grateful for a God who does not leave me where I am...or in the same mindset that I am comfortable in. He has challenged me...no, commanded me to live a life with value and eternity in sight. A paradigm shift...no small task.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tag! I'm It!
Okay Emily...you are really testing me to see how often I check your blog, huh? :) Okay...here it is:
What was I doing 10 years ago?--let's see...that would be 1998. I would have been at Trinity finishing my sophomore year. Probably had just changed my major to English Education and was anticipating working the summer at the pharmacy in SC.
Things on my to-do list:
NOW--grade tests, grade journals, pay bills, teach sixth period, and remember my hair appointment after school...oh and apply for visa, apply for insurance, finish fundraisers, plan my next unit, remember Abdallah's detention at lunch.
LIFETIME--have a baby (or two), go backpacking in the mountains, have a more gentle spirit, never stop learning, and own my own horse.
Bad Habits--popping my gum, eating while I cook, complaining, drinking too much coffee?, and wasting time.
Places I've lived--Smith Center, KS, Deerfield, IL, Libertyville, IL, Mundelein, IL, North Chicago, IL, Waukegan, IL, Istanbul, Turkey, Overland Park, KS, and Sterling, KS.
Things Most People Probably Don't Know About Me--I love dill pickles, I love to curl up and read a book for hours, at one time I knew how to knit, if it's not snowing, I hate cold weather, and I rode a camel once.
Tag, You're It!!--Amy, Rindy, and Beth :)
What was I doing 10 years ago?--let's see...that would be 1998. I would have been at Trinity finishing my sophomore year. Probably had just changed my major to English Education and was anticipating working the summer at the pharmacy in SC.
Things on my to-do list:
NOW--grade tests, grade journals, pay bills, teach sixth period, and remember my hair appointment after school...oh and apply for visa, apply for insurance, finish fundraisers, plan my next unit, remember Abdallah's detention at lunch.
LIFETIME--have a baby (or two), go backpacking in the mountains, have a more gentle spirit, never stop learning, and own my own horse.
Bad Habits--popping my gum, eating while I cook, complaining, drinking too much coffee?, and wasting time.
Places I've lived--Smith Center, KS, Deerfield, IL, Libertyville, IL, Mundelein, IL, North Chicago, IL, Waukegan, IL, Istanbul, Turkey, Overland Park, KS, and Sterling, KS.
Things Most People Probably Don't Know About Me--I love dill pickles, I love to curl up and read a book for hours, at one time I knew how to knit, if it's not snowing, I hate cold weather, and I rode a camel once.
Tag, You're It!!--Amy, Rindy, and Beth :)
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Hodge-podge of Thoughts
It's been a couple of weeks since I've written. I'm terribly sorry to those of you who check the site regularly. I can honestly say that the past month has been a rocky path through time with a few smooth steps here and there. The two weeks after my trip to New York were a few of the most difficult weeks of my teaching career. There have been times in my work that I've wondered how long I can keep going...but never have I thought about turning in my resignation for next year in February. Those two weeks I wanted to quit. Various things were going on...and through God's grace and Brian's support we made it through what now seems but a bump in the path. When Brian and I accepted the leadership role for the trip to China we had an idea that there would be trials and tests and even discouragement in planning the trip. But it seems that these trials, tests, and discouraging days are not just in planning the trip. School, work, health, busyness, relationships, and our emotions have all been places that we have experienced trials as individuals and as a couple. I know that God is teaching us so many things...our lack of control for one...and I am so grateful for His faithfulness and the fact that His mercies are truly new every morning. We get to start fresh today. I get to start fresh today.
There are a couple of prayer requests that we have for those of you who are praying for our trip. Please pray for the eight students who are going with us. They are great kids...and we truly are learning to love each of them. Please pray that even before we leave for the trip that they would hunger for God. Pray that they would hunger to serve Him and give up themselves. I'd ask that you would pray that for Brian and I as well. Secondly, please pray that our support would continue to come. Many of our students have raised all or close to all of their support, but we have two or three that are not even half way there. God will provide...please pray that He would bless these students in ways they can't understand. Finally, please pray for the details. Our contact in China has been so incredibly helpful. He's excited we are coming and there are so many things that he has planned for us. Pray for him as he plans and pray for us as we prepare to go. WE LEAVE IN TWO MONTHS FROM TODAY!
The picture above is of my niece Anna. She will be one on April 30. If you can get through the snotty nose, I know she'll make you smile.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Spring Break '08
What a great trip! We just returned from visiting my brother in Juarez, Mexico. John lives and works in an orphanage in San Augustin, which is a small town outside of Juarez. We drove in late on Sunday night and left Thursday morning. Brian, my wonderful husband, tiled a shower in the boys bathroom. I learned how to cut tile, which was really my only job. I was able to take the kids to school one day and then pick them up later in the day. On Wednesdays John teaches P.E. in a private school on the other side of Juarez. The neighborhood is a bit rough, but we went with him and were able to watch as he taught the kids games and excercises. We really wanted to go to the orphanage and be a blessing...but as generally seems to happen, I think they did more blessing than I did. John is my hero. The amount of physical, emotional, and spirtitual energy that he gives each day is more than most of us give in a week. Honestly, words are hard to come by...and I wish that I could put my thoughts and feelings adequately in writing. BUT...I will let the pictures do most of the talking. Above, you see pictures of the kids doing homework, posing at school, and other activities that they do throughout the day. One picture is of Moises (our friends here in Sterling are waiting for paperwork to be completed so they can bring him home). We truly loved our time and are prayerful that our time there was as much a blessing to them as it was to us.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
It's All a Muddle
Since my last entry on this blog there have been so very many things that have occurred. Unfortunately, this has caused more reflection and thought than my small mind can communicate to anyone. Some of it has been troubling while other things have been rather encouraging and enriching. So, when I sat down today to write on "The Fish Pond" I began about five times...and then erased just as many times. I really have no idea where to start...so I'm not going to...at least not from the past couple of weeks. I'm just going to let those rest. Some of the memories are best left resting anyway.
So what about today? Well...let me be honest. Let me just share what's going on in my mind today. Let me see. Give me a minute. Be patient. Relax. It's coming to me...it's starting to form.
Nope. It's all a muddle. My mind is just a muddle of completely trivial thoughts mixed with some profound and interesting ideas. All muddled together. So, I guess if I can't understand them...neither will you.
:) Happy Wednesday!
So what about today? Well...let me be honest. Let me just share what's going on in my mind today. Let me see. Give me a minute. Be patient. Relax. It's coming to me...it's starting to form.
Nope. It's all a muddle. My mind is just a muddle of completely trivial thoughts mixed with some profound and interesting ideas. All muddled together. So, I guess if I can't understand them...neither will you.
:) Happy Wednesday!
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