I just can’t help it ... when it’s time to go back to school, I have a desire to buy pens, pencils, paper, stuff, and set up an inviting, organized, functional classroom.
Maybe it’s ingrained after being a student through high school, junior college, university, and grad school.
I still remember those crisp, dew-sprinkled mornings. New shoes, school bag, and lots of expectations standing waiting for the bus.
As a teacher for 27-plus years, I guess I’m like the old, sweet mules my mama told me about on the Delta farm that were trained and eager to get back in the harness! Or maybe, balked a little sometimes.
This year, our youngest grand girl will begin second grade! The first grade was successfully completed with all A grades even with her broken arm and elbow keeping her out of school the last few weeks.
Our oldest grand girl successfully completed high school with honors and is ready to start university study at Ole Miss. She will be studying toward orthopedics with music added on.
What advice, hopes, dreams, cautions, concerns, or prayers do you have for the school folks going back? The administrators, teachers, staff, bus drivers, custodians, coaches, teacher aides, secretaries, parents, students, and all those souls involved in our education system need your prayers!
I asked my friend who was a longtime teacher. She said, “I would say don’t be quick to be judgmental. A child may seem like a troublemaker, but you never know what kind of morning he/she has had, or what they are coming to school from.”
The same goes for your co-teachers and staff mates! Adults need be adults and be kind to each other.
She went on to say, “Do your best to come to school every day with a positive attitude and make the best of the day.” We can all have that goal!
Students can learn so much by watching the adults around them. They know how others feel about them. Although they may get the wrong idea sometimes, over time, relationships can grow in positive, appropriate ways to demonstrate positive characteristics. We can show, demonstrate, model how to learn, get along, laugh, struggle, and make progress together.
The Bible teaches much about learning, studying and developing spiritually and as a person. Be willing and develop an eager attitude to learn: Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Spiritual learning will produce eternal results!
Ask God to lead you in your learning and studying (or teaching): Psalm 32:8, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
You are not alone in your learning! There’s the best tutor around Who loves you.
Be ready to participate in learning: “A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will gain wise counsel.” We keep growing! And we can learn from each other.
Be an encourager! Whatever role you have as leader or team member, teacher or student, front desk or cafeteria staff, remember 1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”
Ready, Set, Go! Grow, no matter your age.
