Lead On

I have a sweet, kind class this year, but one of my students (we'll call this child "X") behaves in a way that is unpredictable and inappropriate for a classroom setting.  I like this child very much, but the baffling behavior gets in the way of X's learning (often) and my teaching (sometimes). It upsets me because so much good goes on in our room.  I have a well behaved class in an organized room, and these distractions don't fit well with my outlined plans for each day.

Beyond that, of course, I cannot give more details.

Yesterday in church, because of these political times, the message was about leadership, specifically how to pray for our leaders and our potential leaders. The crux of it all was that we must pray that our elected officials recognize God is in control.  The United States is a great country, but we need to look to Heaven--our leaders need to look to Heaven--for guidance.

The story that was shared was from Daniel chapter 4.  King Nebuchadnezzar was surveying his kingdom and admiring it greatly when God stopped him in his tracks, and, well, turned him into someone who was more animal than human.  At the end of seven years (or so), Nebuchadnezzar turned toward Heaven and realized it is God who deserves praise for all our accomplishments.  He was returned to his kingly demeanor and went on to testify that God is the one who deserves all praise and credit.  (Eugene Peterson's The Message has nothing on my retelling!)

I recognize that if I were to bring a nonbelieving friend to church, this story might be scoffed at as magical thinking.  But to me it held truth.  Shrinking it down to my leadership role as the leader of my classroom, I must remember God is in control there too.  Thinking of this particular child, I recognize that a prayer I started praying just last Thursday is exactly what will be best for both of us, both X and me.

My prayer?  Since X's behavior may not change, my reaction to the choices X makes must be altered. My guidance must come from my God as I seek to help this child.  I must take a moment and listen to that still, small voice and heed its direction.  For this child is one of God's children too.  If I truly want X to flourish in fourth grade, I have to pray for this child and how I will lead this child with Love.

We all are leaders in life.  In what area might you employ Heaven and God's guidance?

Catching My Breath

This year's class is an incredibly well behaved group of kids who are also quite sweet.  I am enjoying my time with them.  However, I am not enjoying my time planning some really extensive reading curriculum.  I'm putting in as many extra hours as I did as a new teacher, but I'm sixteen years older than I was then, so I'm tuckered out.  I've been endeavoring to exercise four days a week, to spend time with Brad, and so this blog thing has fallen by the wayside.

After all those excuses, a fun little photo:

Brad's out showing houses, and so I've been puttering all day.  It's been a good day.

This morning I traced out an S and Mod Podged it to a pumpkin.  I'm allergic to pumpkin guts, so I love that there are other decorating ideas for the outsides that don't involve carving!  That's one thing checked off my fall to do list.

Also off the list: a visit to a pumpkin farm, a walk in a forest preserve (Brad's been working weekends so we opted to go only to the next county not the state park I hoped for), and I've been getting some reading done--four books this fall, though none were "good." Right now I'm reading FatherMotherGod.  I've torn out our impatiens and planted some tulip and hyacinth bulbs (a first), and I'm anxious for spring. I've adorned our berm with a pot of yellow and purple pansies.  No cider cookies yet, but I have made an apple crisp that Brad and Mac enjoyed.  So autumnal.

As for the fall martini, my birthday is at month's end, and I've asked my son for a martini shaker.  In the meantime, I have to settle on one recipe AND pick up some martini glasses.  I'm thinking dollar store stems will do.  Cheapo me.

While I am not looking forward to winter, I recognize each year how fleeting even that season is, so I can deal with it.  But I've concluded my blood thinned over this past summer of near 100 degree days, as 50 degrees is chilling my bones...I am definitely going to be a winter wuss.

Here's to Fall Y'all

A new blog plus less time than ever equals fewer posts (crazy busy school year, hello new curriculum and new meeting schedule).  I don't have today's math lesson fully planned, but I know that much real life math.  So it's time to link up with Listicles again to get my mind off school for a moment and onto something, well, mindlessly wonderful.

This week Stasha asked for our favorite fall must haves.  I encourage you to visit her blog, and then visit others who have linked up. They're much more pithy than I, no doubt.

Today starts October, what do I want around me?

1.  Butterscotch liqueur for hot chocolate (and for the chocolate butterscotch martini I'm going to concoct if Mac answers my birthday wish for a shaker.)
2.  Open windows for sleeping under many covers and waking up to cold.
3.  A scraper for my car windows--morning frost for those few times I can't pull into the garage due to a Brad project going on.
4.  Pansies.  Their bright yellows and purples stare down winter, they taunt it--"Go ahead, I'm frost resistant," until nearly and sometimes into December.  I moved some asters from a pot into a bed, and I now have a pot o' purple and yellow.  Love them!
5.  Mums, they remind me of Mom--they're in the backyard, but I'll get some for a vase near month's end.
6.  My weekend-not-going-out-of-the-house-baggy-in-the-butt-jeans.  (Okay, they're suitable for Home Depot or a WalMart run, and maybe a "the library closes in 10 minutes and I have a book waiting," run...) 
7.  My gray hand-me-down from Brad sweatshirt and my black-hand-me down (stolen) from Mac hoodie.  Wearing the latter as I compose this.
8.  Caramel anything  (Most recently a caramel chocolate martini.)
9.  A good idea for a class birthday treat, my 52nd (eek) is October 28th. 
10. Hikes in state parks, we have at least one planned for sure.

image courtesy of the Illinois DNR

And though it's supposed to be 10, I'm going for 11--

11.  Books that have nothing to do with lesson planning!