Relinquishing Control

We can't always control what happens to us in life.  But we can control how we react to it.

I have been reflecting a lot lately on the reality that we all like control.  We may not admit to it, but we like it; we feel happier when we feel in control, and when we can manage things on our own.  We feel more secure, and we know what is going on, so we have a handle on things, and the feeling of "unknown" doesn't impact us as much during those times.

So much of our lives, though, is out of our own control.

We don't always know what will happen to us every day.

We don't have control over how someone will treat us at work or in our personal lives.

We don't have control over the line at the grocery, or with traffic on our way to and from work.

We don't have control over the weather.

We can't control our parents, our siblings, or our students.

We don't have control over much of what we encounter, day by day.

But I know I CAN choose how I react to the things that happen to me each day.  I can ask God for wisdom, trust Him to guide and direct me, and seek the best in situations each day.

I don't have to choose frustration or anger.

I don't have to feel helpless or lose hope.

Choosing positive reactions when things happen in life takes lots of training and practice.  We must learn how to be content in any and all circumstances.  In my personal life, I trust that God is in control, and that He has my best interest in mind. I may not always understand everything that happens to me, but I can relinquish the need for control of it, because I'm not supposed to control every single thing that happens to me.  That's where faith comes into the picture.  Faith sustains hope, and hope is what carries us into a new day.  Faith strengthens us and gives us perspective.  Faith in God is a certain path to happiness, but my own sense of control is fleeting.  I'm glad that no matter the circumstance, I can have solid reassurance, even when things are unknown.  Knowing Who is in control helps me greatly in life when I feel out of control.

A Lifelong Reader in the Making

Today was a great day.  My husband and I got to visit my sister and her family in their new home about an hour away.  We got to tour their house and the town, and we got to spend time together and catch up.

As we took a tour around their house, I noticed several things about ways that my sister and her husband were building a reading habit for their daughter, my 6-year old niece.

Their bookshelves outnumber mine in my house.  That's saying something.

They have a wide variety of reading material in their home -- from novels to nonfiction texts, to cookbooks, to newspapers, and lots of magazines.

While we ate lunch, my niece insisted that she be able to bring part of the newspaper to the table to enjoy a bit of the comic section.

While we were playing with dolls and playing in her room, I noticed a growing number of books on her own shelf, too.  I know this is a habit that her Mom and Dad have been cultivating from a very early age in her life--the routine and habit of reading daily -- so this is not too surprising to see many books on her bookshelf.

One of the choice activities in which she wanted to participate today was "writing books" together.  She wrote dialogue and drew detailed pictures to illustrate a simple plot.

I love the reading atmosphere that my sister and her husband are building for their daughter.  Leading by example is surely the best way for children to learn the power of reading.  I hope they know what an amazing job they are doing.

What a joy to spend time there today, and to be able to take notice of these excellent examples of guiding and supporting the love of reading.  My niece will most certainly grow up to be a lifelong reader.  The signs are already there, and the modeling, time, energy, and support they have provided for her have helped her to already love reading and writing.

My heart was glad today for the visit, for the opportunity to catch up, and to see their new place.  But I was so glad to have been able to notice the obvious love of reading in this house.  

It made my heart happy.

Read on, little girl.

Being in the Moment

Tonight, my friend Allison and I were texting a bit, and I loved something she said:

"Be in the moment and appreciate it all."

I love this quote for many reasons.  I attended a wedding tonight of a former student of mine.  I could tell that the wedding party and most of the guests were "in the moment" and "appreciating it all." They were smiling, laughing, enjoying one another's company, and appreciating God's blessings in their lives.

Being in the moment means taking care to notice the small things in our lives each day.  Here are some things that I noticed today:

*I noticed how nice it was to sleep in and get some much needed rest on my first day of spring break.

*I noticed how much joy I got in being able to read today for an extended period of time.

*I noticed today, sitting next to my husband at the wedding, how happy I was having him sit next to me.

*I noticed today that despite the cloudy and cool weather, it was so much nicer than our brutal winter weather, just a couple months ago.

*I noticed a few green patches of grass coming through the dormant layers in our backyard today.

*I noticed that my dog seemed happy to have us home; I know she can always tell when it's the weekend, and that she has more time with us.

I'm indeed happier being "in the moment," and I'm learning to appreciate what's in front of me.  It's just fine to look forward in the future, but it's so important to appreciate the here and now.

Thanks, my dear friend, Allison, for that sage advice today.

Personal Reading Time

Things have been so busy lately, and some of my reading time has decreased.  

But I'm slowly building back time for my personal reading.  And it feels so nice.

Now that I've just begun spring break, I am so thrilled to have some of my reading time back.

I reflected today on why personal reading time was so important to me.  Here are some thoughts that crossed my mind:

*Reading relaxes my mind.  My breathing changes, and I can sense myself visibly relaxing.

*Reading helps me to take my mind off of other things -- school, housework, other concerns in my life.

*Reading helps me expand my knowledge of events in history, aspects of empathy, points of view, cultural differences, and more.

*Reading allows me to experience life through another character's eyes, expanding my imagination.

*Reading gives me perspective.

*Reading helps me to see the world in different ways.

*Reading enhances my mood.

*Reading helps to grow my vocabulary.

*Reading makes me feel more whole, more complete.

*Reading is a whole lot of fun.

There are many more reasons for taking time to read, but it is most of all life-changing.  Maybe this could be a good mini lesson to do upon returning from spring break.  Asking students to reflect on why personal reading time so important to them will help to refocus the home stretch of weeks left in our school year, and will help give structure and purpose in a very busy upcoming grading period.

Trust is Everything

I love positive quotes.  I like being able to surround myself with sayings, quotes, and Bible verses that uplift me and help me throughout the day.

I saw this quote on a bulletin board down the hall from my classroom.  I took this picture about a year ago.  I believe the teacher was focusing on teaching about theme with her students, and they were creating bumper stickers about a common theme in a book they were reading.  As I was walking by, this one really caught my eye.  So, I snapped a picture of it.  I look at this photo often.  The more I think about this quote, the more I realize how true this statement is in all areas of our lives.

Trust is essential in friendships.  Without it, the friendship isn't real.

Trust is critical in marriage.  Without it, there is no foundation.

Trust is so important with our students.  They must trust us, and we need to be able to trust them.  It's the foundation for all we do with them throughout the year.

Trust in God gives us purpose, meaning, and hope.  It is the basis for our faith.

Whatever we do, believe in, or hope for in our lives, trust matters in all things.

Trust is everything.

Kids are smart indeed.

A Book for Every Reader

"There's a book for every reader, and a reader for every book."

-Reading in the Wild, page 61

Sometimes, when we hear about students (or adults) who "hate" reading, we do little more than gasp, followed by a slow shake of our heads to show our true disappointment.  But when it comes to students in our classrooms, I simply can't leave that statement alone.  It brings out such passion in me.  I automatically want to come to reading's defense, but I know I need to draw them in gradually.  It's truly a matter of finding the right book for each child at the right time and place.  We never know when the spark or joy of reading will take place, but every person has a book waiting for him or her.  

Our job as teachers is to be excellent listeners, from the very first day of school. When we gather information about them through the year in terms of their hobbies, their pets, their interests, and even their struggles, we can begin suggesting book titles for them.  I've often found that asking students to bring several bins to a comfortable spot, and talking through several titles with them works well.  Book recommendations also works wonderfully, as students are definitely motivated to read what their peers are reading.

I'm so thrilled that most of my students are reading voraciously, and that most of them have found many books they love.  But a few outliers still struggle with book selection and abandoning books too often.  These are prime opportunities for me to revisit their interests, and take some time to sit with them to discuss their next book to read.

Every year, my biggest passion is to help guide students toward the love of reading.  Many students already have this foundation well before they step into my room.  Others just need a gentle push, while a few others hang on the outside looking in.  I hope tomorrow is another student's opportunity to find a book that totally captivates them, leaving them with a hunger for more and more books.  It will happen.  I just need to be patient.

Boosting Enthusiasm

With so much of a focus on testing, data, assessments, and accountability, it can drag even the most positive teachers down.  What can we do on a daily basis to keep our enthusiasm up?  

We can...

*Learn to listen to a child tell all about a wonderful new book he or she is reading...

*Ask a child how he or she is feeling after being sick.  This interest will help them connect with us even more...

*Be grateful when students ask you if you will eat lunch with them...

*Be thankful when students show enthusiasm for a lesson you are teaching.

*Appreciate when students laugh at something you say (I guess I'm not that dry after all...) 

*Listen to students when they share their problems with you, and offer your support...

*Give students sincere smiles and positive words...

*Provide lots of time for authentic learning through read aloud, independent reading, cooperative group work, and thoughtful independent work...

*Communicate honestly with students about your expectations so your day will run smoothly...

*Praise students and give specific feedback when possible so as to reinforce behaviors that are desired...

*Realize that children are the reason why we are doing this job...

*Understand that teaching is a unique profession, and not everyone is called to do it...we are blessed...

*Realize that tomorrow is another day to accomplish more...

*Know that our presence makes a difference...

*Trust that our efforts are indeed worth the time and energy we put forth each day...

*Know that kids deserve the best we can give them, and keep focusing on keeping it real, every day.

I need to reflect on many of these reminders each and every day.