1.  New Name!  From Sarah Slauson to Sarah Drambarean.  It all happened on June 25, 2010.  What a beautiful day!  Everything went perfectly, by God’s grace.  His spirit was so apparently there throughout the ceremony and as we made our vows!  We spoke to each other using the Song of Solomon.  We drank lemonade, visited with guests, ate a delightful brunch, took a ton of photos, and drove away (in our purple mini van!) by 3PM!  Onto the honeymoon on Victoria Island, BC!  Glad wedding planning is over!

Mr. & Mrs. Drambarean!

2.  New Role!  Being a wife isn’t easy.  Being a GOOD wife (a Proverbs 31 wife) is even harder.  I will admit, Filip makes being a wife easier, as he is an amazing servant, incredibly humble, and pretty content with anything I cook up… but I like trying to make him happy!  So far, he likes the soups I make; I think I will stick to soup until I’m good at other things!

Wifehood!

3.  New Workload!  I’m no longer in Edcouch (though I miss it a lot!)  I started working for a Charter school called IDEA College Preparatory.  I’m still teaching 6th grade ELA, but the demands at this new school (only 15 miles away from Edcouch) are very challenging.  Ranked 13th in the nation, this school has expectations for it’s students and teachers that seem unmatched!  It has been a challenge for Filip and I as we fight to keep our home separate from our work!  First year at IDEA + first year of MARRIAGE = extra grace required!

4.  New Interpretation of Cold!  Check out this ice sculpture the students and I found outside my classroom this morning!  The kids were going CRAZY!  (Keep in mind it was in the 70s last week!)  Last night, the custodians had run a sprinkler on the trees to see if they would freeze… and sure enough…. a dangerously icy palm tree welcomed us in the 30 degree weather today!  :)  Eventually, they had to block off the trees after seeing students break off the ice chunks and make them into swords!  Oh, and they cancelled school tomorrow for the 33 degree weather!  Ahhhhh, Texas!  Looking forward to a relaxing Friday off!

Texas Students break off an "Ice Sword"

Filip and I. Cute, right? (the one on the LEFT!)

But forgot to mention the other addition:

Also cute (Left.) My 6 month old nephew, Ryker Logan Pope. He is Annie's first baby!

Filip and Ryker have a few things in common:

1.  They both have unique names with 5 letters each.

2.  Both of their fathers are from different countries.  Ryker’s dad (Justin) is from England.  Fililp’s dad (Stefan) is from Romania. (As is Filip).

3.  They are both ADORABLE.  (I know, this one was too easy.)

4.  They are both male, a minority at Slauson family occasions.  (The family originally consists of 5 women and 1 man).  Thanks to Justin, Fil and Ryker, those occasions are much more evenly distributed among the sexes.  (Now, 5 women and 4 men/boys).

5.  I love them both! (Another easy comparison.)

6.  They both have great hair.

7.  They were introduced to the Slauson family on the SAME DAY.  It was July 3rd, 2009.  Filip came to Minnesota to visit the family and MEET THE PARENTS.  He had just flown in from Indiana.  A few hours earlier, Ryker had been born.  That morning, Mr. and Mrs. Slauson met Fil.  That afternoon, they went over to the hospital and met Ryker.

P.U.F. (Potential Uncle Fil) holding P.N.R. (Potential Nephew Ryker)

Perfect, right?

It has been a year and a day since I last posted.  It’s crazy how, if you allow it, your life can go undocumented.  This may be a healthy thing, as people can become obsessed with the overdocumentation of their own lives (as evidenced by our facebook-, blog-, and photo-happy culture!).  But I’m sure, in the long run, a little record here and there doesn’t hurt.  So here is a brief “record” or, reflection, of my life in the last year.

Teaching. I’ve been teaching now for a year and a half, and I’m coming up on my last semester committed to Teach for America, to Edcouch-Elsa School District, and to the Valley of Texas.  The last year or so has been an amazing introduction to the real world.  What I mean: it’s been a great way for God to begin fashioning my heart to be ALWAYS thinking about, worried about, and praying for others in their seemingly hopeless lives, hindered by stigma, lack of exposure and bad education.  But a year ago, I still saw myself as Michelle Pfifer in Dangerous Minds.

Savior complex of a first year teacher

…or the guy in “Stand and Deliver,” or some roughed-up teacher whose students die in gang wars and get busted for drugs.  I was supposed to be the teacher that rescued them from the self-fulfilling prophecies.  I would be the teacher that pushed them to defy all assumptions, to get college degrees, and fulfill their life’s potential, despite the current that runs hard against them.

Pride. I can do none of that! God could, if He wanted to. God has used me, I’m sure, in the lives of some kids.  But after a year and a half of pushing for these ideals, why do I still feel like my life is dragging me behind it?

A couple things.  Sleep and pride.  Sleep: I am still paying the SLEEP DEBT I incurred last year… never sleeping, prioritizing the “cause” above my own well-being!   But more importantly, God has humbled me very much.  When God brings you to your knees, you feel like you’re dragging a little.  I had been dealing with inadequacy issues earlier this year.  But in my weakness, He was strong.  I’m much more able to love and be patient with my students because I see my own weakness so clearly.  Patience is such a hard-earned skill, but if God will humble me enough to be patient with 6th grade punks, I feel like He can much more through me.

The 6th-Grade punks that I adore.

As for now, He is allowing me to teach, love and enjoy these punks.  They are such a blessing.

Fil. We met in Houston.  Well, he says we met in Edinburg, but I only vaguely remember our Edinburg interactions.  His first impression of me as a stand-offish, pretentious city girl did not deter him from crushing on me. My impression of him as a superficial frat boy had the same effect.  During a month-long educator training in June of 2008 we became friends.  It all started in a coffee shop called Inversion on Montrose Street in Houston.  From there, our false impressions of each other were slowly picked apart, analyzed and forgiven.

After training, we moved to the Valley of Texas.  I began teaching 6th grade English in Edcouch, and he taught 8th grade Science in Donna.  Almost every school night became a “work” party at Moonbeans, Starbucks or Cuppies in which I stressed out, worked, and became irritated as Fil distracted me from getting my lessons planned.  (Though secretly, I loved being distracted.)  We became close friends on the basis of our mutual interests, intrigue and experiences.  But God had a bigger plan.  And God’s plan is always so much better.

In October of 2008, Fil and I were just friends, but were unintentionally falling into a half-committed dating “thing.”  When we realized our own lazy attitudes toward our relationship, we took a 28-day slap-in-the-face break from each other.  After a month of God’s divine intervention in both of our lives individually, we felt lead to be together.  During the month apart, Fil had realized his depravity and sincerely submitted his life to Christ.  I had a been given a glimpse of God’s plan for my life during that month, and I knew that Fil had a part in it.  We started dating on 11-11.

A full year of growth in Christ, love and understanding of God’s will for our lives brought us to another decisive moment.  In October, 2009, we decided to take another break so that God could speak clearly about our future, with or without each other.  In November, we sat down together and shared what God had shown each of us.  After a couple hours of conversation, Fil and I decided that God was leading us to pursue a committed relationship.  This “committed relationship” for us means… we get to pursue Christ-likeness under God’s sovereign hand of grace and love TOGETHER.  Cool, right??  Plus, I love him!  So that makes it even better!

Fil and Sarah Anne in Indiana (Fil's homestate)

Future. God’s plan is ambiguous.  This is where trusting Him is crucial.  What I do know is that He has not called me to a life that is about myself.  Nor has he willed that I pursue the comfortable and cushy Christianity that is so prevalent in America.  The only comfort that I will pursue is the comfort available through Christ, NOT through circumstances.  St. Augustine said, “Uneasy is the heart until it rests in Thee.”  My prayer is that in every aspect of life, my heart would remain “uneasy” until each and every part has taken up residence in Christ.

Shivvvvvvvvvvvver. Lots! 

Last Friday, I shivered down the aisle of the plane that flew me from Harlingen, Texas to Minneapolis. As I stepped off, I was welcomed by COLD! I felt it, and I got one. Instantly!

Some smart guy once told me that the body takes approximately 21 days to adjust to a new climate. I thought, having lived in Yankee territory for the majority my life, I would be exempt. Turns out, I’m not. I’m just like everyone else who goes from a 70-degree climate, to 7-below one. COLD. Shockingly COLD!

Within an hour of my landing in the Twin Cities, my dear friend, Anna Leisa, picked me up from the airport and rushed me over to the place of a favorite college past-time. Now, I know what you may be thinking: the Purple Onion, Bordertown, Wilson Library, or Dunn Bros. You’re close, but not close enough! When I was a poor college kid, I rarely had more than $1.75 in my pocket.  But when I did, Emily and I would treat ourselves to a trip to the land of red and white…

TARGET!

This time, I purchased some things that would help me become reacquainted with the snow: mittens, hat, sweater, boots, jacket, and, of course, earrings. Well, those were just for fun, but I thought they would nicely accent the espresso-colored bridesmaid dress that I would wear the following evening… Heck! My dearest Chrissy Grue was to be MARRIED!  And so was JAMES!  In fact, they were going to marry each other!  It was going to be lovely, and so I would wear lovely earrings!

Can you spot them in this photo?

Emily, Sarah Anne (and the earrings), Anna Leisa and Alyssa

I was right! The wedding was awesome: a gorgeous bride… 

Chrissy (Grue) Schofield getting pretty!

…a romantic first kiss for C & J Schofield (sorry, don’t have a photo for this one), a splendid swing dance with Nicole, an FTA (not to be confused with TFA – God forbid!) reunion, quick chats with the Robisons, Jamie, Ochuk & Rebecca, Gina, William, Lee and others, and, last but NOT LEAST, having my lovely amigas and  little sister as my very own “personal attendants.” (And yes, Bridesmaids need personal attendants, too!)

Alyssa, attending to my hair. Emily, criticizing. Thanks gals!

WHO COULD ASK FOR MORE? Not I! Thank you, Happy Couple, for getting married, and making the event possible! 

The Happy Couple who made the event possible!

Congrats!

Note: To those who are asking for an update on my life as a teacher: IT WILL COME. I am just not ready to go there yet. I’m still digesting, and I’m still on break. Let me be on break! 

Coming soon:  ONE year has TWO semesters: 1 down, 1 to go and On being a (first year, 2nd semester) Teacher

It’s written in my calendar and on the chalkboard: “121 days left!”  For now, let’s go to T-minus 189 days; the first day of school.  

120 awkward and adorable, some intelligent, others, not so much, fresh 5th-grade graduates slowly filled the seats of Room 102 over the span of 9 class periods.  Over and over, I would say, “Welcome to 6th grade English: Writing con Ganas, with Ms. Slauson.”  Ms. WHO???  ”Yes, estudiantes, you may call me Ms. S.”  

The first days were like a honeymoon.  Glorious!  The kids were silent, too afraid to act up, talk back, ask pointless questions, whine about homework, beg for bathroom breaks, or yell out, “Miss!  Miss!”

And then it arrived; day 177.  The day they got comfortable.  Oh, the questions, needs and complaints.  They suddenly had voices.  Loud ones, whiney ones.  

The Scene: English 6 with Miss S.  Room 102, David Ybarra Middle School.  5 minutes into 7th period.

Gilbert: “Miss, Miss… can I go to the bathroom?”

Ari: “Miss, what are we gonna do today?” 

Miguel: (after 5 minutes of my giving directions) “Miss, what do I do?”

Samantha: “Miss, I don’t gitchu (get-you).”

Zach: “Miss, I help you clean the chalkboard?”

Vanessa:  ”Miss!  Miss!  (when I don’t respond, she tries the full name)… Miss Wright… I mean, Miss Corona… Miss Garza… ugh… Miss… what’s your name again?”

Miguel: “Miss!  Samantha just slapped me”

Samantha: “But Miss, Miguel was messing with my hair!”

Gilbert: “Miss, can I go to the bathroom.”

Odalis: “Miss, can I go drink water.”

Samantha: “Miss, can I sit in a different seat?”

Gilbert: “Miss, can I go to the office?”

Mireya: “Miss, can I go to the nurse?”

Gilbert: “Miss, can I go to the bathroom?”

Rebecca: “Miss, can I go to the bathroom?”

Gilbert: “Miss, can I go call my mom and then go to the bathroom?”

Gus: “Miss, can I have a marshmallow?  Can I tell a joke?”

Kimberly: (Silent.  Staring out the window.)

Robert and Michael: (Silent.  Ready to learn.)

The “Miss” (that’s me): NO!  ABSOLUTELY NO ONE may go to the bathroom.  No you CANNOT have a marshmallow.  I don’t want to hear anymore tattling.  Sit down.  Be quiet.  I see that Robert and Michael are the only ones ready to learn today.  Everyone else, get ready to listen carefully to my instructions.  They will not be repeated.  If you have a question, don’t ask it.  If you need to go to the bathroom, hold it.  If you have to go to the nurse, go later. If someone slapped you, turn the other cheek.  Do you know what that means?  Probably not.  If you forget my name, it’s on the board.  If you are thirsty, swallow your saliva.  

The class, in unison: “Miss, what’s saliva?”  

And those were the days when there were only 120 of them.  Since then, a few migrant students (those who come into school late from working the fields up north) have trickled in.  A few others missed the first days of school because they didn’t have shoes, books, rides to school, or ganas (desire).  

My English course is called Writing con Ganas, which most of my students translate as Writing with Guts!  I have discovered that my students are gutsy writers, many of them taking risks with English, their second language.  We have a daily journal at the beginning of each class.  Here is a sampling of some 6th grade journal entries:

The Journal Topic:  The “teachers only” closet in Miss S’s room has always been somewhat of a mystery.  One day while she was still in the hall, greeting students, you open the door, and peak inside.  What do you find?

A world full of walking, talking school materials.  It was exciting.  (Markus)

“HELP!” I yelled.  I discover something very unusual and out-of-the-ordinary.  There it was right smack in front of me.  It was a body.  And not just any-body.  It was MY body.  My body was covered in my favorite food, spaghetti.  I yelled my lungs out to see if anyone could hear me, but unfortunately, they couldn’t.  At first, I was scared and afraid, but then, I became excited and nervous at the same time.  My body was dead right in front of me, and no one could do anything about it.  (Aaron)

Inside the closet there were two paths.  One of them was a path leading to Minnesota.  Miss S takes that path on her lunch break so she can visit her friends.  The other path lead to her house in Weslaco.  (Michael)

Pencils and scissors. (Miguel)

Nothing.  I find absolutely nothing.  All of a sudden, Miss S comes up behind me and pushes me into the closet.  I am locked in there until my death.  (Eduardo.  He and I are working through things.)

A Catwoman suit.  I discover that Miss S is Catwoman!  (David)

Inside I found… MISS S!  Staring right back at me!  I knew better than to scream, so I slammed the door, and crouched down low.  ”What was that?”  She called to me from the hallway.  ”Oh, nothing, Miss S.”  I replied.  ”Well, don’t let it happen again,” she said.  (Cynthia)

I find a world of little green people, and a WANTED poster… of Miss S.  (Zhanne)

Most of my students are wonderfully creative.  It’s refreshing to live in a part of the country that doesn’t offer many distractions.  There isn’t a lot here to entertain the kids, so they are left to entertain themselves.  Though television consumes many of them, others choose the higher paths of make-believe, books, and exploration.  Edcouch-Elsa, as I’ve mentioned, is a rural town, where a common pet is a duck, where goats wander along the side of Hwy 1015, horses are tied to convenience store mailboxes, students journal about their relationships with roosters, cows and chickens, and stray dogs mate in the streets.  

Besides the culture shock of moving from Cosmopolitan Minneapolis to Rustic Edcouch, I am, at the same time, amazed as to how, in a matter of 5 months, I’ve become a grown-up.  From taking care of one college kid’s well-being… to concerning almost every ounce of my energy with the academic success, safety, and happiness 130 others.  From worrying about one student (me)… to facilitating the learning and growth of over a hundred 11 and 12, sometimes 13, year-old kids.  From sleeping in, skipping class, coffee dates, college grunge, late night hang-outs, philosophy papers and Saturday night swing dancing… to 5:30AM alarms, taking attendance, drive through coffee, teacher clothes, 11PM bedtime, planning lessons, assigning grammar homework, giving spelling tests, and teaching hispanic kids to salsa dance.  There are brand new concepts, terms, and acronyms thrown at me each day (this if for you, Jim): ARDs, IPEs, Modifications, GT, SPED, PRCs, PLCs, TAKS, TEKS, TExES, ULI, PFCDYMS…  

It’s coming together, slowly but surely.  With all the new stuff, though, I have to believe that what I tell my students, is true for me, too: “each day, of the next 121, is a clean slate.  There are new mercies cada dia; take them and run.”

(this is for you, Mom, Dad, Carrie Malvig, and Jim Schofield)

Listen up…

Summer School Victories!

My 10 Sharpstown Middle School students graduated 6th grade, and moved onto 7th!

Derrick, Asma, Maria, Claudia, Michael, Ajha, Mohammed, Christopher, Gustavo, and Miss S.

I am SO proud of them! Each and every one of them had small victories that, I hope and pray, will carry them into the 7th grade on a high note. Here are a couple of them.

Gustavo and Derrick on the last day of Summer School. Derrick won fake teeth in our class raffle!

Derrick. The first 2 days of summer school, he simply walked out of my class. The first time, he and I had a stare-down, and out of frustration, he threw down his paper and pencil, and walked out. I made the mistake of going after him for a few second, until I realized that if I left the rest of my class alone, utter pandemonium would break loose, and there would be no turning back. The second time, another student was in his assigned seat. A few minutes later, I looked out the window and saw him biking down the street toward home.

I was at a loss… until I found out what made him tick: rap music, break dancing and his dad. I started doing research, and each day, during our “daily journal” time, I would take the opportunity to give him individualized writing prompts, first providing him with fun facts about local rappers, like Paul Wall, and body-building prodigy, Little Hercules. I would ask him interesting questions about his dad. Soon it caught on. Each day, he would come in, find his seat (first kicking any trespasser out), and eagerly await my notes.

My next challenge was getting him to write. During silent daily journal time, most of the other kids would write. But Derrick would raise his hand and respond to my prompt, verbally. I would listen as he loudly commented on each fun fact, and confidently addressed each question. Thankfully, the other kids were still able to concentrate. After he finished, I would say, “that is SO interesting, Derrick! I don’t want to forget it! Could you write it all down for me?” He would. He didn’t want me to forget it either. He began writing, not as a “homework assignment,” rather, as a “reminder of what he had just told Miss S. so she would not forget it.”

Gustavo. The first day, our “daily journal” writing prompt was: “Who is your role model? Why do you respect this person? What does this person do that you like? Why do you want to be like this person?” I gave my students 10 minutes to respond, and expected no less than 5 sentences.

Gustavo wrote: “My role model is my cousin because”

That’s it. For 9 out of 10 minutes, he stared out the window. When I made sure that he understood the questions, he paraphrased them, and repeated the expectations back to me, word for word. He knew what to do. In his mind, he simply had no reason to do anything I had asked him to do.

Gustavo had very little motivation and respect for the “system” (rightfully so – but this is another issue for another time!). Inevitably, this rubbed off on the other kids. Being a really cool (in my opinion), older 6th grader, he had influence in the classroom. Just about every day, I would hold him after class, telling him how much the other kids looked up to him, and, for this reason, I needed him to be a good example of hard work, participation, and respect. He would nod, and crack a mocking smile, saying “yes, Miss.” As anticipated, the next day would be the same thing: no motivation, little participation, and blatant disrespect.

Finally, one day, I held him after class and didn’t say a word about his behavior. I just asked him to help me clean up. He was expecting another lecture to “agree to” and blow off; instead, I kindly asked him to erase the chalkboard and rearrange the desks. “Is that it, Miss?” I smiled and nodded. Confused, he went to lunch.

The next day, our journal entry was: “What are 2 things that make you proud, and 2 things that make you excited?”

Gustavo wrote: That I can do my work in class by myself. And because I can share what I think. Because I can share my story’s whith my friends and teacher Ms. S. And most lee because she is so fun. That school is almost out and I will go to dallas and fothworth TX and is goin to be cool.

It took him the entire 10 minutes to get these thoughts on paper, but he did it. 5 whole sentences!

Student Surveys

On the last day of summer school, I passed out a survey to my students. Here is a quick collection of their responses:

What do you think my first name is?

Michelle, Monica, Sarah (3 votes!), Michael (??), Jeniffer, Madison, Sandra.

If I weren’t a teacher, what do you think I would be?

Translator, a person who writes books, doctor, photographer, photo girl, nurse, model (!).

Do you have any advice for me as a teacher?

“To be a better person”

“Keep doing what you doing/be mean”

“Yeah you are my best teacher”

“To be the same because you are a good good good teacher”

“No”

“Not really, Ms. S”

Well, I’m not sure these responses honestly reflect the daily whining and misbehavior in my class… but they leave me feeling ready and excited to tackle a new group of really cool 6th graders in the fall.

Welcome to Weslaco!

I moved back to the Rio Grand Valley (RGV) and found an apartment in Weslaco, TX with a fellow Math teacher, Dama, from Orange County, CA (shout out to Danni in the O.C.). Dama and I live in a gated community called Sangria Sunset. Yeah, $280.00 a month. Pool and Jacuzzi.

Believe it!

FELICITACIONES, C & J!

Christine & James got engaged! WHAT????? Yeah, It’s about time, right? 6 whole months of, what some may call, pre-engagement hanging out! Congratulations, babies!! See you in December!

A visit from the hermanas!

The beauty of sisters, among many other things, is (as my sister Liz put it)…

“the (victorious) struggle to make connections on a mature level, and when it doesn’t work, resorting back to the immature (yet awesome) ways we are used to.”

On the maturity piece, my sisters have become a powerful support for me during this HUGE transition in my life, and despite my move to Tejas, God’s firm grasp on the unity of our relationships is obvious.

Bringing it back the “ways we are used to”… Annie and I still boss each other around, Cat still gets ticked off about our constant meta-analysis of sister dynamics, and Liz still lightens the mood with her mockery of foreign accents and random, unfiltered observations. I love them DEARLY, and will miss being a 20-60 minute drive to any one of their loving embraces… (wow, I’m going to cry)…

Anyway, I just can’t wait until Justin and Annie find jobs in Edcouch, Liz marries a Mexican who decides to move back home, and Cat goes to graduate school at the University of Texas, Pan-American!

Dolly Dolly Dolly!

Last Tuesday afternoon, I got a note on my door from my landlady.

I’m sure you are all aware of hurricane Dolly that is expected to make landfall some time in the early morning hours of Wednesday… (this is where I started imagining bad things)

So I evacuated to Houston.

Okay, so the REAL reason I went to Houston was for an IKEA run and an Apple Store visit. Also, some friends are at a conference for Math and Science teachers, so there was a place for me to crash. So I figured, while I was at it, I would escape the hurricane that was expected to hit my new community! While Weslaco wasn’t really affected, as much as the surrounding towns in the Rio Grande Valley, the area is obviously still in the process of pulling itself together. This video is from a town just north of Weslaco.

So, I’m still not sure what goes down from here… like… do people need places to stay? Should I open up my living room? Do I grab a pail and start helping remove the water in people’s houses? Do I… start by praying that God teaches me how to be a good friend to those in my proximity?

I’ll start with that.

]]> http://sarahanneintexas.wordpress.com/2008/07/26/this-is-a-long-one/feed/ 6 sarahanneintexas Derrick, Asma, Maria, Claudia, Michael, Ajha, Mohammed, Christopher, Gustavo, and Miss S. Gustavo and Derrick http://sarahanneintexas.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/ill-fly-away-oh-glory/ http://sarahanneintexas.wordpress.com/2008/06/28/ill-fly-away-oh-glory/#comments Sun, 29 Jun 2008 05:26:47 +0000 sarahanneintexas http://sarahanneintexas.wordpress.com/?p=33 ]]>

To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away).

I’ll fly away, Oh Glory
I’ll fly away; (in the morning)
When I die, Hallelujah, by and by,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away).

I know this song is about death, and the glorious life thereafter.  But that is not why it’s there.  It’s there because God is SO GOOD at bringing glory to himself in whatever way He can.  Even through old Christian folk songs about death.

Becky, the girl from Minnesota that I drove to Texas with, started a worship circle on Saturday nights during our month of training in Houston.  Tonight, there were 6 of us gathered in the breezeway of the Moody Towers at the University of Houston.  We were worshipping together, and between songs, two TFA dudes, Jim and Joe, walked up with their guitars.  

“Hey, it looks like you guys are having a jam session…”  One asked.

(Hesitant) “Well, kind of.”  We said.

“What are you singin’?”  The other inquired.

“Worship.”  Said Becky.

Awkward silence.  

They seemed to want to scramble to get out of there, but one of us invited them to sit down and “jam” with us.  So they did.  And it was fine.  Actually, it was great!  

Jim knew an old Christian folk song that he had picked up from a movie, so he played it for us.  I don’t remember most of the words, but I do recall him repeating, “Jesus knows the way” in the refrain.  Jim may have had no idea, but these words were true, and they penetrated my heart.  

The next song he played for us was the “old school” I’ll Fly Away.  Stumbling through the lyrics, we all sang along.  

Then we asked if they knew how to play Amazing Grace, and they said no, but Joe wanted to try.  Becky had the sheet music, so she and Joe played while the rest of us sang about our Savior.  Finally, How Great Thou Art was next, and neither of the boys knew how to play it.  Becky did, so they just watched.  Actually, Jim just watched.  Joe sang.  Loud and clear.  Every word.  Every note.  He sang like he meant it.  

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

Now, I’m not sure if Joe really meant these words, but I am sure that he really liked the song.  I believe that Joe’s words were bringing glory to our Father in Heaven, whether or not he knew it.  

To bring the “jam session” to a close, Jim and Joe parted, with their guitars, to find food, and the rest of us worshipped a little more.  On their way out, though, the 2 boys said that they’d “jam” with us some other time.  

I’m pretty sure God was smiling real big.  

My first day of teaching at Sharpstown Middle School in Houston, TX was last Monday. (I am only at this school for a month during training, and then I move back to Edcouch). It was a tough day; not for me, but for the kids. There was a memorial service for Maria at the end of the day, and all morning they were taking diagnostic tests and reading assessments. My first “real” day of instruction was Tuesday. Though none of my kids passed my reading & writing diagnostic, I have FULL FAITH that they can pass to the 7th grade, attributing the poor diagnostic results to their mourning for Maria, coupled with the lack of motivation that comes from being in summer school. I hope to motivate them, somehow.

Though I can’t yet display photos of my class (since, first, I don’t have any, and, second, I haven’t gotten their parents to sign a consent form), I have taken a photo of their “name cards” from the first day of class. I display them in my bedroom so I never forget their names. I also try to think about, and pray for, them each night.

So, meet (the post-it representations of…) Miss S’s 6th grade English Class.

Presenting: Mohammed, Ajha, Christopher, Asma, Maria, Derrick, Steven, Claudia, Michael, Deon, Quentin, and Gustavo.

Some favorite classroom procedures:

(1) Time Keeping. If anyone knows me at all, they know how free spirited I am about the clock. Well, in a class of 12 6th graders that need to pass onto the 7th grade in 3 weeks, we are racing the clock. That is why I made Gustavo my “time manager.” He comes into class, puts on my stopwatch, and when the bell rings, starts the clock. He is my class “type A” (since I don’t have Rachel Shubatt around), and the Lord knows I need the “type As” to keep me grounded. Thanks, Gustavo.

(2) “Ago, Amé.” So, I told my kids I could speak a couple words in an African Language. This is very true. I can say some full Somali phrases, and sing some Swahili songs, but my favorite is the tribal “Ago-Amé” call-back that I learned in an African Dance class. I use it in my class when I want to get their attention. It works wonders.

(3) My post-it manager. I came up with a “rewards-consequence” system that is very complex, but in short, it entails moving post-its up and down a number chart, indicating positive and negative behaviors of each student. I put Christopher in charge of moving the post-its up or down. What I didn’t realize, when his hand shot up to receive the title of “post-it manager,” that he was 4 feet tall. The adorable 4-foot-tall Christopher is relieved when his classmates misbehave, since it means he moves the post-its down. But when they are rewarded, he has to jump up to “level 8,” where the “above and beyond” behavior is. Sometimes, I offer him a chair as a boost.

So, last week, we learned some fun things. Using Sideways Stories from Wayside School (I know you all read it in grade school), we analyzed inference and prediction, the elements of a paragraph, and the parts of a short story. I think the book is too easy for them, but it is very entertaining (for me, too). On Tuesday, we read the story of Mrs. Gorf, who turns her problems students into apples. Then on Wednesday, I brought 2 apples to school and sat them on my desk, beginning class with: “Based on what we read about Mrs. Gorf, what can we infer about these apples?” As I expected, they loved it. What I didn’t expect was to hear Steven yelling at me from down the hall later that day: “Hello, Mrs. Gorf!”

Mrs. Gorf or not (I do have to be mean sometimes), I simply love them. Today, I was thinking about the worship song that says, “better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere.” To me, it speaks to the fact that being in God’s presence (his courts), and in the center of His will, is the safest, most comforting, place on earth. When I step foot into that classroom, with those 12 little (and not so little) 6th graders, I know I am in His courts. I don’t feel it. But I know it.

I have so much to learn about teaching (and everything else). I sometimes feel like I am training to become a good actress, as this teacher role feels so unreal. There will come a day when it will feel real (and I will start talking like my Mom, a high school home economics teacher). But right now, I am striving to let justice and grace, that which God brought me here to uphold, be my embrace. I have nothing else (…except for 2 very thick teaching material binders…) to hold on to.