What's Up August

Happy Wednesday Y'all

Oops... I forgot to post this yesterday. 

Anywho...

Happy Thursday :)

Today I'm joining  Mel, Shay, and Sheaffer for their What's Up Wednesday link-up. 

 

Every month we answer the same few questions based on how things are currently going in our lives. 

The questions are...

 

What am I eating?

I made this deliciousness this past weekend. I cooked the steak in my grill pan on the stove top. And then I added it to some pasta salad I'd made. Then, once it was all mixed together, I portioned it out for lunches for the week.

 

What am I reminiscing about?

I've been thinking a lot about when I injured my wrist last year. Still, after 1 whole year, it's not back to 100%. But, I am definitely better than I once was. And if I have to always live with a bit of soreness and weakness in that wrist, so be it. At least I'm able to continue doing my job, teaching the kids in my care.



Oh, and if you want to read more about the journey God led me on through this wrist injury, you can check that out HERE and HERE.

 

What am I loving?

Being back in school!

I love the routine of school. I love being back with my students. I love hanging out with this sometimes wild and crazy crew in our "home away from home."

I'd be lying if I said this year's easier than last year. It's definitely more challenging. But we're making it work (well, I might add). I may not be planned weeks or months ahead of time like some teachers. But that's okay. Right? :)

What have I been up to?

Teaching

It's pretty much consumed the majority of my time.

What am I dreading praying for?

Once again, I'm choosing to switch the "dreading" part with "praying for," knowing there's nothing I'm really dreading. However, I know that there is always, definitely, something and/or someone I can be praying for...

So what am I praying for at the moment?

I'm praying for an issue that's weighing heavily on my heart and mind at the moment. I typically am not a fan of vague prayer requests made on public sites, like I'm giving here. But I can't really give more details than that. 

But will you please join me in prayer? Help me pray that God would work in this situation. Help me pray, too, that God would give me peace about this. I know I'm repeating myself, but it's weighing heavily on my heart and mind, and affecting my sleep, too. And I truly do need peace on this.

What am I working on?

Trying to create a Lesson Plan template that works for me/my class. Due to the craziness with a capital "C" that comes with having students in many different grades/classes/etc., I can't use a traditional lesson plan book like other teachers. So I'm going to make my own. So today after work (well, after my meeting that's after work), I plan to clear off the table, lay out everyone's schedules, blast some music, get some scratch paper and sticky notes, and get to work. Wish me luck :)

What am I excited about? 

You know... I don't really have any one thing in particular.

I'm excited to be back in school. I'm excited to finally be getting into a routine. I'm excited to see my students excited about learning and all the fun things we're doing in class. I'm excited the weekend's almost here (hello, sleeping late). I'm excited that I've lost a few inches, which I can tell by my clothes fitting better. Not sure on the pounds yet, as I haven't weighed myself yet. I'm excited that I might be able to go to the States for Christmas (maybe - not 100% positive yet), which of course makes me excited that I'd be able to see my family, sooner than I thought I'd see them again. So yeah... I'm definitely excited about a lot!

What am I watching?

Nothing at the moment. Any suggestions?

What am I reading?

All about working with and writing IEPs for students with disabilities for the class I'm taking. This class requires a LOT more reading than my last one. And it comes with three (yes, 3!) required textbooks. So I'm often found reading one or the other when I'm at home. And while it may seem boring to some, I love it! I love reading and researching and learning new things about this career I'm in. I'm so passionate about helping the kids God's placed in my care. So any chance to learn more about that is a good thing for me :)

What am I listening to?

Confidence by Sanctus Real is the song that's been on repeat a LOT since I first heard it on the radio over the summer. This song has been such an inspiration to me each time I've listened to it. And even now, more recently, when I've felt my confidence wavering due to a certain situation, it's been just what I needed to hear.

Seriously... If you haven't listened to it before, check it out.

What am I wearing? 

I think it's safe to say that this might be my new favorite necklace. My mom gave it to me for my birthday a few weeks ago. And I absolutely love it! :)

What am I doing this weekend?

I'm going for lunch with a friend on Saturday. Then as of now, I'm planning to just hang out at home, reading ahead and working on some assignments for my class (as a student) the rest of the day. That is, until time to have a couple ladies over for dinner to plan for Kids Club this year. Yay for volunteers! On Sunday, there's church and afterwards, working in my classroom, prepping for the week ahead.

What am I looking forward to next month?

I have lots of fun activities planned for my class!
Kids Club starts back!
Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) at school.
Staff Retreat (Fri. afternoon - Sun. afternoon at a nice hotel)

What else is new?

My balcony was FINALLY finished over the summer. Well, almost... But it's actually usable now. So while it's been too hot to sit out there much at this point, I'm looking forward to hanging out there more during Cool Season :)

Then there's always a special question each month.

August’s question is...

What's your favorite Back to School tradition?

Does sharing a tour of my classroom count? 

If so, I love doing that each year :)

And that's what I'm up to this month.

What about you?

What are YOU up to this month?

Philosophy of Teaching

Once upon a time (or maybe, just yesterday...), my professor gave my classmates and I the following prompt for our first Discussion Board Assignment...

In 250+ words, share your Philosophy of Teaching Special Education and share what your job is. Be sure to incorporate Scripture and your Biblical worldview.

So I did.

And as I clicked submit, I started to cry.

Seriously...

Full on tears.

Why? 

Because this is more than just my philosophy...

It's more than just my beliefs...

It's more than just 306 words typed in Times New Roman 12 pt. font.

It's my passion.

It's a gift.

It's my calling.

It's what God, Himself, has told me to do.

Want to know what I said?

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Proverbs 31:8-9 commands us to "Speak up for the voiceless, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

God laid this verse on my heart during the summer of 2016, with a goal of reaching a group of kids in my country of service. At this point, once they reached Middle School, these students, all with moderate to severe special needs, were being told that there was no schooling option available to them in our part of Senegal. Their families were having to leave the mission field. Or if they were not missionaries, they were having to leave the only opportunity of hearing the gospel. And I knew that this was due, mostly to the fact that we, at my school, did not have the manpower, nor the resources available to teach these students. But I could not get Proverbs 31:8-9 out of my heart. I knew God was calling me to teach these students.

So towards the start of the 2016-2017 school year, I headed into a series of 3 meetings with my school's director, and spoke up for these seemingly "voiceless" individuals. I took the opportunity to fight for the rights of a group of individuals who needed an advocate. I fought for the education of an incredible group of God's children. And after shedding many tears, and even harboring many doubts, wondering if it would ever actually happen, our school's director, finally said, "Yes."

I believe this back story is important to use in explaining my philosophy of teaching in the field of Special Education. My philosophy has always been to educate the ones God places in my care to the best of my ability. It does not matter where they come from, what their family looks like, what language they speak, how they act, or what background knowledge they have. We need to teach them to the best of our ability, meeting their needs. I believe that education is one of many tools our Heavenly Father uses to advance His Kingdom. And we, in the field of education, should fully embrace this calling God has placed on our lives, and work to the absolute best of our ability, to meet the needs of each and every student God places in our care.

Over time, God has expanded my philosophy of education to include the command in Proverbs 31:8-9. You see... My job as a Special Education Teacher has many parts.

I provide my students with the education they need and deserve.

I advocate for my students.

 I speak up on their behalf.

I fight for their rights.

I modify and accommodate.

I mentor.

I encourage.

I teach.

Welcome to My Classroom

Happy Friday Everybody

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Today, I'm joining Erika, Andrea, and Narci and for their weekly Friday Favorites linkup. Click one of their names to and join in on the fun.

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But instead of a long list of favorites, I'm sharing only two.

My first favorite is my classroom.

After all, it is the 7th day of school. 

It's time for a tour. 

Right? :)

But first, a little background, for those who may not know...

Back in November 2016, I wrote a post, in which I shared about how God used Proverbs 31:8 and a dream to reach a group of students in need (which you can read about HERE).

My classroom was originally a meeting/storage room at our school.

This is what it looked like before I started setting up last school year.

There's nothing like a blank canvas to start with.

And then in August 2017, I shared (HERE) a look at it all set up. I also may or may not have teared up many times this past year at how God provided.

And while I'd love to say that my class will be around forever and ever.

And now fast forward to the present.

Ready for a tour?

Welcome to my room. 

 
This is the place where I spend the bulk of my time during the school year. My goal is for my students to view this room as a warm, inviting room, full of encouragement and love. I want them to see this room as a place where they're free to be themselves, to learn how best they can. I want them to be free to move and play, to sit or stand or pace back and forth, whatever they need to do to help them learn. I want them to laugh and have fun, to learn all the usual academics, but also life skills and social skills. I want them to be prepared to leave our school and head back to whatever country they are from, ready to be productive members of society. And more than anything, I want them to grow in their spiritual walk with the Lord. I want my kids to know that I love them so incredibly much. But more than me... I want them to realize/feel the immeasurable love of our Heavenly Father.

Here's what it looked like when I got here at the end of the Summer.

 

 

Then, here it was on the first day of school.

And for a closer look, here are the different areas of our classroom...

We have a nice "comfy seating" area, complete with different camping chairs, fun cushions, wiggle/sensory seats, and even "friends" to read to/with :)

We have a set of bookshelves, loaded with all sorts of books to read, whether that be our Bibles, dictionaries, novel sets, or just books "for fun." This is also where we keep our board games, card games, and a few other fun supplies.



We also have another set of shelves, full of fun manipulatives to help us learn the various subjects we'll be learning this year.

Up towards the front of the room is another cabinet with a few supplies and other things I'd prefer to be closed away. On the window to the side (since I don't have any bulletin boards) is my Science "board." And on top of the cabinet, you can see our Captain Letter Pie, who I heard about at a Teacher Conference I attended this past summer. This activity set is going to be a really, really fun addition to our literacy learning. I can't wait to surprise my kids with him one day.

We have a few different seating options.

There's a kidney, or "U" shaped table for group discussions.

 
There's also some traditional student desks. I put a group of 4 together to use as another "small group" area. Then I put the other two student desks over by the window for 1) a place to do independent/partner work and 2) another option for a student needing to work with a teacher.

At the front of the room is our clock and alphabet. I love these English/ASL alphabet cards. As for the clock, I got it at a local store last school year, immediately falling in love with his bright colors on the face.

On the board is our Behavior Info. In this little section, I included our 3 rules, Rewards list, and Consequences list. I also included our class Behavior Contract, which basically states that by signing it, the student promises to obey the rules and if they do, they'll get rewards and if they don't, they'll get consequences. Then on the first day of school, each child signed the contract.

Next up, is my desk area. 

I have had students sit/work at my desk far more than I have done so far this school year. I don't have time to sit there during the day at all. And during my prep/lunch break, I escape to the teacher's lounge, so I can work/eat at the same time (and have a bit of quiet time, too). Then after school, I just work at the big kidney / "U" shaped table so I can sit with my feet propped up on a kid's chair while I work :)

I just love all the bright colors in my room. It's so fun and festive. It makes me smile every morning, when I walk in. And my kids love it, too. So win win! :)

This "team" I work with is amazing, y'all. My class is considered Self-Contained Special Education. And unlike in the States, I have a wide range of ages/grade levels in my room, all together. By the time the last one comes in January, I'll have 9 students (Kindergarten, 1st grade, 5th grade, 7th grade, and 10th grade). 

But thankfully, I'm not alone this year. I have an AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL woman working with me this year. We divide and conquer, so to speak, each taking a group of kids and teaching a lesson, or supervising a discussion or activity. My kids love her. I love her. She's great! So, so great! We're all blessed!

This class of mine (the 7 pictured below, plus the 2 more coming later) are a gift. And I am so thankful that God is allowing me to work with them this year. 

And yes...

My second favorite of the week are my students.

They are most definitely my favorites :)

The Little Things...

Happy Thursday Y'all

Google Images came through with the quote below. 

I thought it was perfect for today's post.

Today I'm taking a look at some of the seemingly little things which have brought a smile to my face lately. Things like...

A game of Uno and silly faces...



Technology connecting me with family 



A box of Mac & Cheese

Chinese food in Dakar

But even more than that, a dinner with friends :)



This city I call "home" 



Bathroom access from my classroom



The opportunity to teach Special Education



And also, the opportunity to "refill my cup" on days off



The "team" I get to work with :)



And so much more...

What about you?

What little things have influenced you lately?