Our Christmas Card

Holly Frame Christmas Card
Make a statement with Shutterfly Christmas photo cards.
View the entire collection of cards.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Happy New Year

The holidays were incredibly busy. Lots of food, lots of time with family, and lots of running to make sure we were able to see everyone. I got a Canon Rebel XSI and have taken a ton of pictures. I will put them up soon. Joe and I are doing well and looking forward to the year ahead. I start student teaching at Cook Middle on January 12th. I am excited and nervous and shocked that this is my final semester. I am relieved and a bit "lost." School has been my "career" since kindergarten and to know that it is winding down is almost surreal. I hope to have a real impact on the lives of the students in my classroom this upcoming semester. I had a four week apprenticeship in October that allowed me to get to know the teacher and students I will be working with beginning on Monday. I have already learned that teaching can be a heartbreaking job. So many lives are in your hands, but not all of them can be reached. They tell us that--over and over. It is one of the hardest things for me to understand. I have to learn to compartmentalize--something I have never been good at. I have always wanted to change the world--as corny as that sounds. It is one of the reasons I chose to become a teacher. I want to inspire students. I want to help turn indifference into interest and ignorance into awareness. I want students to understand that they really do have the power to make a difference. Everyday.

Two of my favorite quotes are below:

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”
William Arthur Ward

“I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized.”
Dr. Ginott

So, here's to a new year where much is bound to change. I am excited to see what God has in store for our family.

1 comment:

  1. I wish there were more teachers like you. Thank you for wanting to make a difference in the lives of the children you teach, not just be the teacher. God bless you!

    ReplyDelete