How generous are you? Have you ever met someone that went above and beyond to be generous to others?
One of my co-workers is always who I think of when I think of generous. She is absolutely the BEST at little surprises to make our day brighter! Many mornings we get to school to find our favorite soda ice cold on our table. Or she will text and say she is bringing chicken biscuits. My favorite is when she brings a box of Little Debbie cakes and gives us each a treat (I have a sweet tooth, obviously). Even during the summer, she snail-mailed funny and encouraging cards to us! Is she generous because she is rich? No, she's a school teacher with two daughters in college. Is she trying to get recognition? No, most of the time she just leaves a treat on our table without a "from" tag. She does this because she wants to be generous.
Another co-worker knows everyone's favorite drink and brings them to school. Sometimes she shows up with a Starbucks treat as well. She's always the first to share any teaching resources that she created herself so that we can use them in our classroom as well. She is always generous with her time to help us with any tech problems we are having in our classroom. She works after school as well to create notes and plans and yearly calendars for the grade level. Again--- not looking for attention or praises from others, she does this to be generous.
I also think of my mom and dad. They were always so faithful to be generous to their church. One year, the R.A.s (boys' mission group) had a basketball free throw fundraiser. The boys were raising money to help them go to camp. My dad didn't want any of the boys to feel left out so he pledged a particular amount for every made free throw for every boy. The day of the fundraiser, the boys continued to make shot after shot. In the end, my dad had to write a very large check because of all the shots. He always joked, "I didn't know they shot that good."
My mom is also generous. When she was still working, she would be generous with her time at school. There were many nights that my dad and I had to drive to her school because it was late and she was there at night by herself. We went to make sure she was safe and we could follow her home. She would rather stay late to complete paperwork so that every moment students were at school, she could help them instead of closing her office door.
I can think of so many examples of generosity. I am blessed and thankful to have these examples of being generous in my life.
Some people want to think that generosity is only applicable in material things or that you have to be rich in order to be generous. That is simply not true. Yes, some people are in a place where they can be financially generous to others. However the most generous people I know are just regular men and women. Besides financially, these people are generous with their time, energy, knowledge, and sharing their resources.
For Christians, generosity isn't just a good idea. It's something we are called to do.
"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." Hebrews 13:16
I try to be generous. I love to make things for others and help others. However, I still struggle with generosity.
How? By having an unloving heart when someone doesn't respond how I think they should. When I expect a certain reaction or result in the end, then I'm not being generous. I am not having the correct motivation for what I did.
That's the thing about generosity--- it's NOT about the giver. It's about showing someone love.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I John 3:18
So, I have to work on that. That's my personal goal for this upcoming school year--- to be truly generous regardless of the result or reaction. Even if no one ever knows what I did. Even if I never hear the words "thank you". Even if someone doesn't reciprocate the generosity.
I want to be generous. NO MATTER WHAT.
"By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15 (MSG)
"You have been treated generously, so live generously." Matthew 10:8 (MSG)
Lord,
Teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost.
*partial prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
Sunday, May 5, 2019
It's May--- graduation time! One of my friend's daughter is graduating soon with a degree in education. I have known the soon-to-be-graduate since she was in kindergarten. I taught her in first grade, she has volunteered in my kindergarten class, and I have seen first hand that she will be an INCREDIBLE teacher!
There are lots of future teacher about to get their first classroom! I remember those days--- so full of excitement and expectations and ideas of how to change the world one class at a time! 21 years later, I still have excitement and I still desire to make a difference! However, some of my expectations? I was kidding myself! LOL!
I started thinking about advice I would give a new teacher.......
1. It's not all going to go exactly like expected and that's ok! I remember how crushed I was the first time a lesson didn't go just like I wanted! Some days/lessons will just flop. The important thing to remember is to dust yourself off and try it again a different way the next day!
2. Don't set yourself up for unrealistic decorating expectations! We CAN'T do it all! My first few years of teaching I changed my bulletin boards and door decorations monthly. Like FULL OUT decorating! I still love my room to be bright and colorful, but I've learned how to use basic decorating that can last for years and update with student work. My suggestion is to look at pictures of other classrooms and decide a color scheme (and nothing too theme-y that would become boring or easily date).
3. Don't get in the habit of using your own money for everything! I have to say that I am still guilty of this! Teachers are famous for spending their own personal money for classroom supplies, gifts, books, decorations, etc. To be honest, it is doubtful that you won't have to spend at least some of your money. Even the Dollar Tree can be tricky--- $1 isn't much (until you buy 100 things there!) What you spend-- make it count! Don't just buy everything yourself! In many districts now, there is money set aside for new hires. Don't hesitate to ask parents to send in items! Use donors choose and other crowd fundraising. Ask friends to donate gently used books and toys their children have outgrown.
4. Don't be scared to ask for help! No one will ever know it all! Hopefully your school will assign you a mentor teacher. That does not have to be the only person you check with! Use your grade level, teacher friends, and administration to help! If you need to know more about a particular skill/topic, ASK.
5. Don't be afraid to share new ideas with your grade level. I'm guilty-- "I've always done it that way" is sometimes why I do certain art or writing activities. However, when I moved to another grade level or another school (or both) I learned from my new co-workers. Many who had been teaching less time than I had. Just because you are a brand new teacher doesn't mean you don't have things to share! In fact, you are probably more current on many best practices than us "older" teachers!
6. Don't be afraid of communicating with parents! Guilty of this one too! I am not a phone person nor do I like confrontation, but I have found that positive communication early on goes a long way! Also... document, document, DOCUMENT!!!! I have a file for every child and if there is a paper/test the child struggled with, I make a copy and put it in the file. I also keep track of behavior and save the sheets. Also, if you ever feel nervous about a conference or meeting, ask your administrator if he/she could sit in. I have always been so amazed at how supportive my administration was!
Finally.....
7. HAVE FUN!!! Teaching can be super stressful! Discipline, lots of standards to cover, testing, documentation, stressful parents, difficult students--- it can be very daunting! Yes, there will be days you go home exhausted and crying. Yes, there will be days you wonder if you are making a difference. However, there area also days where the light bulb goes on in a student's mind. Days where a student makes a connection that you never thought they would. There will be days when you receive a hug and an "I love you" or "You're the best teacher ever". There will be days when you reflect back to the beginning and see the progress your class has made. Enjoy those good days!
There are lots of future teacher about to get their first classroom! I remember those days--- so full of excitement and expectations and ideas of how to change the world one class at a time! 21 years later, I still have excitement and I still desire to make a difference! However, some of my expectations? I was kidding myself! LOL!
I started thinking about advice I would give a new teacher.......
1. It's not all going to go exactly like expected and that's ok! I remember how crushed I was the first time a lesson didn't go just like I wanted! Some days/lessons will just flop. The important thing to remember is to dust yourself off and try it again a different way the next day!
2. Don't set yourself up for unrealistic decorating expectations! We CAN'T do it all! My first few years of teaching I changed my bulletin boards and door decorations monthly. Like FULL OUT decorating! I still love my room to be bright and colorful, but I've learned how to use basic decorating that can last for years and update with student work. My suggestion is to look at pictures of other classrooms and decide a color scheme (and nothing too theme-y that would become boring or easily date).
3. Don't get in the habit of using your own money for everything! I have to say that I am still guilty of this! Teachers are famous for spending their own personal money for classroom supplies, gifts, books, decorations, etc. To be honest, it is doubtful that you won't have to spend at least some of your money. Even the Dollar Tree can be tricky--- $1 isn't much (until you buy 100 things there!) What you spend-- make it count! Don't just buy everything yourself! In many districts now, there is money set aside for new hires. Don't hesitate to ask parents to send in items! Use donors choose and other crowd fundraising. Ask friends to donate gently used books and toys their children have outgrown.
4. Don't be scared to ask for help! No one will ever know it all! Hopefully your school will assign you a mentor teacher. That does not have to be the only person you check with! Use your grade level, teacher friends, and administration to help! If you need to know more about a particular skill/topic, ASK.
5. Don't be afraid to share new ideas with your grade level. I'm guilty-- "I've always done it that way" is sometimes why I do certain art or writing activities. However, when I moved to another grade level or another school (or both) I learned from my new co-workers. Many who had been teaching less time than I had. Just because you are a brand new teacher doesn't mean you don't have things to share! In fact, you are probably more current on many best practices than us "older" teachers!
6. Don't be afraid of communicating with parents! Guilty of this one too! I am not a phone person nor do I like confrontation, but I have found that positive communication early on goes a long way! Also... document, document, DOCUMENT!!!! I have a file for every child and if there is a paper/test the child struggled with, I make a copy and put it in the file. I also keep track of behavior and save the sheets. Also, if you ever feel nervous about a conference or meeting, ask your administrator if he/she could sit in. I have always been so amazed at how supportive my administration was!
Finally.....
7. HAVE FUN!!! Teaching can be super stressful! Discipline, lots of standards to cover, testing, documentation, stressful parents, difficult students--- it can be very daunting! Yes, there will be days you go home exhausted and crying. Yes, there will be days you wonder if you are making a difference. However, there area also days where the light bulb goes on in a student's mind. Days where a student makes a connection that you never thought they would. There will be days when you receive a hug and an "I love you" or "You're the best teacher ever". There will be days when you reflect back to the beginning and see the progress your class has made. Enjoy those good days!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
