You Are the Best Thing

"Baby, it's been a long day. Things ain't going my way..."

Ray LaMontagne is one of my favorite musicians (among many). Not many people really know who he is, but many know the song "You Are the Best Thing." I let my students listen to music in the classroom from time to time and sometimes we listen to my Ray LaMontagne station on Pandora (lots of oldies and calm music plays on this station)- so my students know the song now, too. 

Over the past few weeks, I have been able to relate to those opening lines a little too well. The stresses of life have piled on my plate like I pile on Chinese food at a buffet...which, if you know me, is a very heavy plate! 

With the struggle of learning to juggle life, the stresses that come with it, and learning how to put a smile on my face in the classroom despite what's going on the inside, I have seen the brighter side of some things. Last week, I had one of the worst days I think I have ever had. It wasn't even the kind of day where you thought you could just go to bed and start over the next day ; It was the kind of day you couldn't wait to get out of, but also the kind in which you had a lot tough things to say and a lot of messes to clean up after saying those things. It really was a wretched day.

My beautiful students were especially amazing that day. As much as I tried to hide that I was carrying a very heavy burden, I think they knew Miss Laura wasn't as bubbly as usual. They are so in tune to what is going on around them! Well, my students certainly didn't waste their spidey-sense like abilities! Not only was my class' behavior excellent, but I got extra hugs from my students that day, sweet notes and lots of smiles. They loved on me when I didn't have anyone else at the time to count on. I did not have to ask them for this encouragement, they simply showed up and showed off their wonderful encouragement skills!

I think this is one of the perks of having such a small classroom. We all signed a classroom promise at the beginning of the year. In that promise we state to show one another grace. I try to facilitate an environment in which my students know the expectations, but also know the why behind those expectations. I want to teach them things that will follow them throughout their lives- things like what loving one another looks like, the character of Christ, the authority of God and His Word and that we cannot do it on our own. I always tell my students that I am human, too. They know that I fall and fail. We don't go into detail, but it is important to me that they know that I do not have it easy and I am not perfect- we are all in the same boat. I do not believe it is my responsibility to model perfection, but it is my responsibility to model the grace and mercy that God has shown me. Needless to say, I was simply beaming after seeing my students step up to the plate last week and show me grace and mercy on one of the worst days I think I have ever had! 

This is one of the reasons I love teaching: Even on the worst day, my students make it all worth it. Whether they know it or not, they are the best thing!

Love,

Miss Laura

Snow Day!

Anyone who knows me even just on the acquaintance level most likely knows about my hatred for winter. I hate being cold. I hate having to bundle up. I hate the dry skin and chapped lips and the whole nine yards. There are some part of winter that I can appreciate, though. While my heart belongs to some sandy, beach-bum free spirit, I DO in fact like snow days.

I always wondered if teachers liked snow days as much as their students. Now that I am teaching and winter was nowhere near fair to us (if it is going to be cold, there must be snow on the ground!), I can certainly appreciate a snow day- even if it is the first full week of spring.

Besides, spring is on it's way!

Alright, kiddos- GO PLAY IN THE SNOW! 

Love, 

Miss Laura

Teacher: Villain or Hero?

I moustache you to WRITE! 

Every morning in Miss Laura's classroom, we boot up our brains with a journal topic. Sometimes the journal topics are opinion based, sometimes they prompt creative writing, sometimes they are flat out hilarious and sometimes they simply require the response of a list of favorites. This morning the journal topic included a picture of myself...

THIS PICTURE:

The prompt requested that the students describe the above character, choosing a creative name for her (him? me!), what the character might do, say or like and maybe even what their story is- whether the character is a villain or a hero...

Well, the results were pretty funny; One of my students called me "The Mustache Villain" while another named me "Mrs. Dorkulous Mustache." However, my favorite journal entry was written as follows:

"The name of this character is Mrs. Moustache. The character's favorite thing is moustaches. She goes around the world giving sad people moustaches. Her phrase is "a moustache a day keeps the coldness away."

I laughed out loud when I read this entry and the author was so pleased to see that his writings evoked such emotion! I always get the best responses and stories from the most unexpected students. 

This is the kind of day-to-day stuff that keeps this moustache-loving teacher smiling! I love how my students know me so well- they are so loving- even when they try to act like they don't really care (gotta love middle schoolers)!

So, while some students decided I should be the villian, others pegged me as a hero. I hope that ALL of my students see me as the hero rather than the villain in their lives...If I can be their hero even in the smallest of ways, I consider that a job well done. 

Love, 

Miss Laura

I Declare Success

Four walls cannot stop me.

I will not stop me. You will not stop me. 

From what? From being the person that God created me to be.

 

I am convinced that God created me to be a stubborn, bull-headed woman for a reason. With this stubborn nature, He threw in some traits to balance me out...I love like crazy, I hurt when you hurt and I laugh when you laugh- no matter who you are- because you are a person and so am I. I do not falter when it comes to what I stand for; my foundation is firm in an unwavering God. I believe God gave me a passionate spirit, one which cannot be stopped. I believe I am slowly but surely becoming who He has created me to be and I will always remember to give Him credit for His work- which currently happens to be packed into a very busy, very bubbly first-year teacher and college student.

I am a teacher. 

I am a learner. 

I am a sinner. 

I am a child of God. 

Enough about me- why am I here?

To glorify my Father! He has made me this complex, walking contradiction for a reason. He has placed me in exactly this spot, with exactly these life experiences, at exactly this time for a reason. I am here to teach and facilitate growth; but I am also here to grow and learn!

The four walls of my classroom will not confine, limit or trap me OR my wonderful students. Within those four walls we LOVE, we FORGIVE, we learn and practice GRACE, we PRAY, we FALL and FAIL, we MAKE A MESS...and then CLEAN IT UP, we PLAN for success and then we CELEBRATE success. But at the end of the day, I always acknowledge my Father and His plan and His work in my life and in the lives of my students. They see every move I make and I pray that what they see is not Miss Laura, but God's hand of grace in Miss Laura's life. 

I am a teacher. I am an advocate for student success. 

I will not stop my students. You will not stop my students. My students are UNSTOPPABLE...

...and I declare success. 

 

Love, 

Miss Laura