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I am still looking for every opportunity to equip these students to walk in wisdom. While all my personal stories and segues do connect with the math lesson, I am purposefully using math to teach life lessons that matter ever so much more than statistics. My goal is to equip them with tools for decision making, so that when they face peer pressure or a crisis, they have already thought through their responses carefully, logically, and with a sound mind. So I was thrilled when I found this blog post which summarizes what I've been trying to teach my students in a manner that is concise yet thorough. (Gift #934) Even better, this post has gone viral, so thousands of others are reading this message as well and continually spreading the word. I want to keep this link here for future reference.
http://truelovedates.com/10-things-every-teenage-girl-need…/
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I am finding that you can take a girl out of her process engineering career for over 13 years, but you can't take the continuous improvement mindset that is so implicit in process engineering out of the girl. My head is always spinning with ways to continually improve the school. I have done lots of research, observations, and interviews, and I have already presented proposals to three principals, the headmaster, and a board member. The school is not that big, but it changes direction slowly.
I recognize I must be viewed as the new kid with no teaching experience who has absolutely no right to suggest changes so soon, especially when I am only teaching part-time. But I'm not looking to force others to change as much as I am seeking ways for the school to best glorify God with excellence in all disciplines, and those changes absolutely must begin with me. I conducted a blind survey/evaluation doing my best to eliminate the many different biases that skew data about which I have taught in depth in class. The feedback was very helpful, and I have been implementing the best practices with great fervor. I am now in the process of summarizing the data and the results into a report to provide further proposals to our board with the hope that some day, I will get more support. Some staff members started this movement years before me, so I am not alone, and most of the board agrees with the improvement ideas we have in mind. I'm just trying to get the wheels moving as I give every effort to making a difference where I am in my little class and tutoring sessions. Lighting fires and stirring up trouble is my specialty after all.
I've been thinking much about the school's vision and goals so as to make sure any changes I recommend are consistent in promoting that vision. One such goal is to foster a love for lifelong learning. The school greatly desires that teachers be passionate about their subjects and devoted to loving, supporting, and serving the students as Christ modeled. So, if a teacher or administrator is not constantly re-evaluating and looking for ways to continuously improve his or her (or the overall school's) effectiveness, then he or she has become complacent. Complacency fosters boredom in the classroom and crushes any remaining intrinsic motivation or love of learning in the students. I'm not suggesting at all that we should fix what isn't broken or waste limited resources making unnecessary changes. But let that desire for excellence in all we do never die, for whatever we do, we do unto the Lord. (1 Corinthians 10:31)
I know there is balance needed lest burnout take down the teacher, and I have certainly not found that balance yet, as I have worked tirelessly to learn the subject, write all the curriculum, and learn how to teach while too often giving my family the leftovers. That is entirely displeasing to the Lord. They are ever so much more important than this job.And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25:40
But love should always compel the believer to serve others devotedly and diligently. I have no patience for teachers who are too proud to admit that there is ALWAYS room for improvement, have no desire to do things differently, never question the status quo, make no effort to build relationships with these students, have no passion about their subject or the supernatural impact that teaching can have on those precious students, or do not rejoice over the amazing privilege and responsibility of not only communicating knowledge but also of imparting God's wisdom into the hearts and minds of our next generation of leaders.
As I seek daily to make lessons relevant to daily life and current events, I have uncovered inaccurate statistics in every venue, even in the church. Bad news sells newspapers, serves as click bait, and even makes for some interesting church sermons, but the stats often aren't nearly as bad as the media gossip embellishes it. The Bible tells us that the truth (Jesus is the truth!) will set us free, but discerning the truth in media can be challenging indeed. Unfortunately, bad news also has the effect of suffocating hope so that people are more likely to stop trying. That seems to be the case with regard to marriage. Here's a dose of encouraging news for marriages in America (Gift #935) that could possibly instill enough hope to save some struggling marriages: The Real Threat to Marriage
In addition to learning my subject, writing (the text, tests, quizzes, homework, lesson plans, projects, supplemental readings, etc.), learning how to teach, and learning three other subjects well enough to tutor five students each day after school, I am also helping seniors with their senior thesis projects. One of my students is presenting a proposal for how the government should address the gay marriage vs. traditional marriage debate. He is so courageous that he has even gotten permission to present at one of the most liberal universities in the country, so I feel enormous responsibility to give him all the support I can before they rip him apart. His proposal does seem to give both sides what they truly want: (1) equality (for the small percentage of people who want to turn the foundations of society upside down to suit their own selfish desires); and 2) preserving the traditional definition of marriage (which has proven itself to be the most effective foundation of society for the greater common good since the world began). I just love watching these young people think, reason, research, and defend. (Gift #936)
As I grade papers, read rough drafts, study a dozen statistical texts, compile Powerpoint presentations, study the Bible to find God's hand in each and every stats concept, and think about how to best teach and reach students with their unique life issues and needs, one constant companion sits beside me (or in my lap or on my head or shoulders) reminding me to kick back and relax every now and then. Miss Muffin, when you aren't staining my carpets with your bright red pee or leaving a million poop balls all over the house or chewing apart my favorite fitness gear, I really do appreciate you.
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| Sometimes a girl just needs to kick back and relax #bunnytrance |
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