1000 gifts #16

151.  e-mail to quickly say 'hi' to family and friends

152.  discount on printer

153.  gift card to help even more with cost of printer

154.  being able to get out of the house

155.  free movies from Red Box

156.  boxes from the warehouse

157.  candy cane Hershey kisses

158.  sleeping in

159.  warm blankets for a cold room

160.  cross-stitch

Things Heard in the Classroom

I was substituting for the 6th grade teacher who teaches Social Studies to both classes.  We were discussing the Titanic that day.  We discussed the embarking of the voyage, we imagined a little (after reading what the book said) what it might have been like to have been on the Titanic and then discussed the sinking.  The class was very interested to discover that I had been alive when the Titanic remains had been discovered.  

"What did they find?"

"I think I remember hearing they found some of the dishes that had been used."  

"What else did they find?"

I told them I was in high school and couldn't remember a big deal being made over it.  Of course we didn't have a television so I didn't see all the hype that may have been made.  (They have trouble understanding that someone could survive without a television).

Finally after me not giving them the answer they wanted they asked, "well did they find any bones?"

I hemmed and hawed for a few minutes.  "Well did they?  Did they find any skulls?"

I told them I didn't remember anything being said about that.  

Can you tell that class had more boys than girls?

Things Heard in the Classroom

While substituting for high school sometimes all one can do is crowd control.  I give the assignment & also write it on the board.  I want to make sure the teacher knows I did assign it.  Then the high schoolers have to decide whether they are going to work on it during class period.  

After the assignment is given, the students' reactions are varied.  Some will work on that assignment the whole class period.  Some will start working on that assignment but will end up working on another class assignment.  Some will not work on any assignment and will just sit there and talk.  At the beginning of class, I tell them no talking.  But I have to tell you I do allow them to whisper.  It's so funny to watch.  They don't think I know they are whispering.  When I look directly at someone who is whispering, they will usually get quiet and motion for the person to whom they are whispering to get quiet also.  I never say anything to the contrary.

While they have been whispering, I have learned some interesting facts about the students and teachers.  I have learned which Bible teacher the students like best.  I have also learned the differences between the 3 Science teachers.  And I have learned which Math teacher is the best.  With each of these, the teacher that is liked the most is the one that has the most structure in their class.  

Two of the girls were talking about the Math teachers.  They say Mr. C works magic.  "As we learn a new section in Algebra, we have no clue what we're doing.  Then we learn a second new section.  We still don't know how to work Section 1 and now we have Section 2."  It continues like this until time for a test.  They come to school dreading their Algebra test that day because they don't know how to do any of the sections.  But somehow when they get the test, they know how to do every single problem.  "We don't know how Mr. C does that but he knows how to work magic somehow" is their explanation for what happens.  

I think that is very high praise for a teacher.

1000 gifts #15

141.  good Thanksgiving dinners

142.  medicine being under $20

143.  warm clothes

144.  "25 Days of Christmas" on ABC family

145.  pictures from a cousin's Thanksgiving

146.  peaceful Thanksgiving

147.  John didn't get sick this past Thanksgiving

148.  anticipated lunch with a friend

149.  great lunch and fellowship with the friend

150.  possibility of a place to live

Things Heard in the Classroom

Close to the end of the day (very close to the end of the day) a 7th grade boy expressed a sound similar to pain, frustration, etc.  I asked the boy if he were okay.  Surprised he looked at me and said, "Yes, ma'am."  

One of the girls said, "Mrs. Wagner, you should know by now that he's dramatic."  I replied that I was aware he was.  (I didn't tell her but I did want to make sure he was truly okay)

A few minutes later another student, who had been called to the office, returned to the room.  He made a big to do about opening the door and then making sure the door closed.  To return to his seat, he "had" to go between desks where there were obstacles.  So he tripped over someone's feet...which led to him kicking over a pile of books...which led to him bumping into another's desk and causing their work to fall to the floor...you get the picture.

I looked at the girl and said, "Talk about dramatic".  The whole class giggled.

The office returning student said, "what's traumatic?  Did I do something wrong?"  

I assured him he had done nothing wrong & stated we had just been talking about people who were dramatic.  He said, "oh what does that mean?"

I used his actions in getting to his seat to show him how he had been dramatic.  I ended my explanation by saying that someone who is dramatic likes to call attention to himself. 

"Oh", was his very quiet reply.

I subbed for this group of students quite a bit this year.  For several subbing days after that, he was very quiet when he came back into the room.  Toward the end of the year, he became interested in a girl.  This caused his dramatic antics to continue where he had left off. 

1000 gifts #14

131.  husband who provides for me

132.  husband with a sensitive heart

133.  inerrant Word of God

134.  faithful Lord

135.  finding a friend from childhood

136.  reliving childhood memories

137.  love from this friend's parents

138.  nurse at the doctor's office who loves the Lord

139.  ticket to the ladies holiday dinner

140.  lovely ladies holiday dinner

Things Heard in the Classroom

The younger elementary grades LOVE to cut, paste and color with markers (unless it's something the teacher has left for them to do).  Almost every time I am in one of those classrooms I get surprises from the students.  They will hand me items they have made and make sure I get a hug from them.  I wonder "do they think I'll be nicer to them since they've given me something"?  Here are 3 different items made by different students.

These were made by a 2nd grader.  She was excited to discover we share a birthday.  (I had subbed for elementary computer the weekend before our  birthday.  She came to computer wearing a tiara and sign saying "birthday girl".  That's how we discovered we shared a birthday).  She - like almost all the younger elementary students - sometimes forget my name and call me by another teacher's name.

Not wanting to be outdone her friend drew me a picture also.  This is from a floral arrangement in the teacher's window.  It actually resembled the bouquet.  Forgive the blurriness of the picture.

This was given me by a little boy in the 3rd grade.  He was adopted from Russia and his dream is to go to Israel.  One of his projects is to sell magnets he has made.  He will then purchase supplies (school items, clothes, food, etc.) for poor children in this area.  One day on the playground he was misbehaving.  The playground supervisor talked with him.  He told her he didn't want to do bad but that seemed like all he could do.  Of course she took advantage of the opportunity and shared with him the plan of salvation.  None of us can do good by ourselves.  Jesus came as a baby, grew up as a perfect man, died on the cross for our sins and rose again.  Currently He is in Heaven interceding for us.  If we ask Him to forgive our sins, He does.  The little boy walked away but came back just a few minutes later and prayed asking the Lord to forgive him.  He knows he is forgiven.  He will tell anyone and everyone.

1000 gifts #13

121.  cool air to alleviate warm van

122.  praying family and friends

123.  hearing Mother arrived safely in Seattle

124.  loan of 48 Days to the Job You Love (author is Dan Miller)

125.  flute lessons

126.  anticipation of a workshop on teaching inductive Bible study to children

127.  freedom from ties that so easily bind

128.  songs that point to Jesus

129.  husband who loves the Lord

130.  husband who protects me

Things Heard in the Classroom

Toward the beginning of the school year, I was subbing in 6th grade.  We were reading a story which was an excerpt from A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.  In the day's reading the little girl (who has not had food for several days) finds a coin & purchases six hot cross buns.  As she's getting ready to eat them she notices another little girl who is hungry and gives her all but one.  The teacher's manual said to discuss sacrificial giving.

I asked the children "Do you know what it means to sacrificially give?"

A student answered "10%".  Can you tell they have heard sermons on tithing?

I replied, "Yes we are to give 10% but sometimes 10% is not a sacrificial gift.  What if you were to receive $1,000,000.  10% of that would be $100,000.  That would leave you with $900,000.  That would not be a hardship."

To bring it to their level, I asked "what if you were to receive $45?  The local computer game store is running a sale on games.  They are $5/piece.  You have 9 games you want.  You need to tithe from the $45 which doesn't leave you with enough to purchase 9 games.  That would be giving sacrificial...only being able to purchase 8 games."

"Nine games is too many."

"Let's say you receive a basketball for your birthday.  You go outside to shoot some baskets when the little neighbor from across the road comes over.  You know his family doesn't have a lot of money.  He asks you if he can play with you.  You really want to use the ball first.  But you know you should share with him.  If you let him use the ball first that would be giving sacrificially because you would be sacrificing your chance to play with your new ball first."

"We don't play outside.  It's too hot & our parents are scared that someone will take us."  (When I'm relating this story to John, he reminds me that they have just purchased 8 computer games.  Of course they don't want to be outside!)

"There is a little old lady that lives across the street from you.  You have volunteered to wash her windows or mow her lawn.  You enjoy spending time with her and look forward to the day she selects.  But when the time comes to complete that chore, your favorite show is on TV.  You have to go and help her because you have promised but you are going to miss your show.  Going to help your neighbor right then would be sacrificial giving because you are not able to watch your favorite show."

"We'd just DVR the program to watch later."

With that I gave up trying to make sure the children understood sacrificial giving.  I left the classroom that day wondering if we are raising the next generation to not know the joy of giving (our time, talents, money) even though it may 'deprive' us of something we want.

1000 Gifts #12

111.  knowing exact location of a Wal-mart to get out & stretch legs

112.  beautiful weather for traveling

113.  peace (for me)

114.  confidence the Lord knows what He is doing

115.  Pal's tea that lasted the whole trip

116.  Big Red chewing gum

117.  sunglasses

118.  reading glasses

119.  freebies from Pilot Travel Center

120.  cell phone signal in "land of nowhere"

Things Heard in the Classroom

One thing I have noticed in my subbing careers is that the younger students aren't sure whether you know how to teach (if it's your first time subbing in their classroom).  A few Fridays ago I subbed for Miss P's class.  The 2nd graders didn't know whether I knew how to teach.  Yes, I had been their sub for music, library and computer but never a WHOLE day.  Did I know what I was doing?  So to dispel anymore anxiety than had already been expressed, I announced to the class that Miss P had left her plans for me.  I would just follow them.  They had nothing to fear.  As I'm making that announcement to the children, I hold up the 2-3 sheets left for the children to see.  "Oh yes," one boy exclaimed.  "The torture list."

1000 gifts #11

It has been a while since I have posted my 1000 gifts.  I have kept track of them in my book but posting them, I have failed.  So these go back several months.  I have relived the thankfulness as I have posted them there.

101.  a pastor who preaches God's Word

102.  friends who share their love with us

103.  Salsaritas for lunch with friends after church

104.  anticipated short trip to get brother-in-law for his 15 day leave

105.  persimmon picking

106.  safety in traveling to get said brother-in-law

107.  GPS unit that got us there and back

108.  a comfortable van

109.  short nap before turning around and heading back home

110.  safety in reaching an out of town interview

Things Heard in the Classroom

I have had the privilege of substituting at a local private school this year.  While the elementary grades are the preferred grades, I have accepted almost any position offered.  While the high school students do say some things that make the substitute smile, the elementary aged children really put that smile on your face.  From time to time, I hope to share some of the things heard in the classroom.

A few weeks ago, we went to eat at a local restaurant after church.  While in the restaurant, a little boy kept running around the restaurant.  Upon seeing me, he stopped & came over to say hello.  I talked to him and asked him how school was going.  I have substituted for his third grade class before.  The lady who appeared to be in charge looked like she was a little nervous with him running around & ended up sitting him at the table with his older brother and parents.  His brother came over to the table and said, "I thought that's who you were".  We ended up talking for quite a while.  The restaurant is owned by his grandparents.  He told us, "this is my restaurant."

The next day I was subbing for the older brother's 4th grade class.  I asked him some questions about the restaurant.  His grandparents have owned it for 20 years.  "That's longer than I've been alive," was his response.  Then he said, "Did you have the famous?"  Before I could answer, he asked what I had had to eat.  "The beef liver", I replied.  He made kind of a face and then like a very polite gentleman said, "I have heard that that's very good.  But have you had the famous?"  So I asked him what the famous was.  It's the fried chicken (which is what John had had to eat).  According to him his grandfather does everything from scratch...including killing the chickens.  While I was relating this to John, we had to laugh a little.  As fast as that chicken was going, I don't think his grandfather could have killed and prepared all those chickens.  We figure he heard his grandfather joking with someone else that he had gotten up early that morning to kill the chicken.  

The next week, I spoke to his younger brother about the restaurant.  He said, "my grandfather owns the restaurant.  He's a very nice man."  

If you're ever in the area ask us if we can go get some of 'the famous' together.  I know two boys who will make you feel right at home in their restaurant.

Happy New Year 2012!

It is this time of year I always wonder if I will ever remember to write the new year, 2012, instead of the past year, 2011. It seems like just yesterday I was having to learn to write that.

How would I define 2011 – if such a thing can be done?

2011 started out with a big move. We moved in with my parents for about 5-6 months. We moved off the camp property. As you all know this is a horrible time to get a job(s). And since we weren't currently employed, no one was really wanting to rent a home to us. I am very thankful that my parents allowed us to live with them for a while. We were able to get some much needed rest. I had not had much rest for several years.

2011 was a year of waiting. Waiting to see which direction the Lord would move us. And as we all know waiting is so hard. So what does one do while one waits?

One studies God's Word. I love the Precept method of Bible study. Precept teaches one to study the Bible inductively. One learns to ask the 5 W's (who, what, when, where, why) and the H (how) questions. We were involved in a study on Tuesday evenings. Oh the riches one learns when one explores the plumb line of God's Word.

This spring I lamented to my mother that I had never learned to make a pie crust. So she and I had a pie making day. I made a blueberry pie (with the store bought pie filling). My mother made a rhubarb custard pie. I have to admit my mother's was much more delicious than mine. Since then I have attempted to make at least 2 other pies...both lemon meringue.

During the summer another lady & I were able to lead a children's Bible study on Thursday evenings. We taught the children to ask the who, what, when, where, why & how questions. We spent 6 weeks studying Genesis 1&2. It was wonderful to see the excitement of little eyes as they saw for themselves what God's Word says.

This fall I felt ready to get back out in the work field. Some of my confidence had returned. I didn't feel ready to have a full-time outside the home job but wanted to get to know others. Through a lady from our Sunday School class, I accepted a substituting position. I have thoroughly enjoyed using my teaching license again. Most of the classrooms have the white dry erase boards. The first room I was in had a small chalkboard. As I walked into the room and was greeted by the smell of chalk, I almost cried. It felt as if I had come home. I have enjoyed getting to know the students and look forward to knowing I will be spending the day(s) with them again. The other teachers have made me feel very welcome. I have no problem asking them for help if needed.

What does 2012 hold? I do not know. But I can say one thing for sure: the Lord is here in 2012. He knows what is going to happen. He will prepare, guide, equip me for every situation in which I find myself.