I am constantly amazed at how the Lord teaches me through things that are very familiar to me, such as how He taught His disciples with fishing analogies and taught the people of Jerusalem with shepherding analogies. These are familiar things that allowed them to better understand what the Lord is truly teaching.
I have been in the world education as a profession for the last 10 years. For better or for worse, it is where I have found my passion. I am familiar with the ins and outs of being a teacher and am grateful that the Lord has shown me in a more perfect way how He truly is the Master Teacher. He has also taught me many things about His gospel and the Atonement through my teaching. I have felt impressed many times to sit down and write out these thoughts but get so overwhelmed because I don't know how to outline them and I don't claim to have any talent in writing. I was recently impressed again and had the thought that instead of trying to organize all my lessons and thoughts on this matter, I should just start recording daily lessons from my classroom because everyday I can be taught something new if only I open my eyes to it. So for today I will start with a few cursory (or not so much so) thoughts and then I will start writing every school day about new impressions and lessons. You are welcome to join me on this journey as I record this school year through lessons about my Savior.
For those who don't know, I am a high school math teacher. I teach mostly sophomores and the students who have struggled in math and failed at least one (usually more) year of math. I enjoy working with students. I enjoy learning from each one and seeing them find joy in their own learning.
I have been known to be the teacher who is the first to show up in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. I am constantly looking over my students grades and thinking about each one and where they are at and how I can best help them. I do my best to encourage motivation in those students who have decided not to care. I strive to teach in a way that each student sees the material as understandable and doable. I have found that if they can find success in it, they are more willing to try. I have often felt that I work harder for my students' grades than they do (and I know that I am not the only teacher who is this way. In fact there are many teachers who work harder and do more than I do.). This was my first realization of the greatness of my Savior. He is the Master Teacher. He is much more perfect than I am. He puts in more overtime hours than I could even imagine to help each of us be successful and happy. I truly believe, in many ways, He works harder for our salvation than we do. The pain that I feel with every failing grade in my grade book is minimal compared to the pain our Savior feels when we are not listening to His teachings and applying them in our homework and putting in the effort to learn the material He knows is best for us so we can pass our tests.
I like to analyze my students and see which student I am in the classroom of the Master Teacher. I find that I play the role of many of them at different times in my life. I will do my best to describe a few of the many types.
I have many students who are fantastic students. They never miss a day of class. They turn every homework assignment in on time and get good scores on them all. They prepare well for the tests and easily pass with flying colors. They are attentive in class. They take notes. They work hard. I know I can rely on them to do well on whatever I ask of them.
I also have many students who struggle. They have been burned a bit by math in the past. It is too overwhelming. It seems way to hard to grasp. Many say they don't have the brain to get math (this is an excuse I do not believe, by the way). Yet some of these students want so badly to understand. It is hard but they make the extra effort to work and understand. Some come in out of class for more personal tutoring. Some hire outside tutors. Some spend many more hours than most finishing homework each night. But they are in class every day. They take all the notes. They turn in all the homework. They try so hard to not get frustrated and keep working even when it seems impossible. They may not pass the tests with flying colors but they pass.
I also see some who have been burned by math and because of that have given up completely. They come to class with a defeatist attitude and have already decided it's too hard without even looking at the material. They put in very little effort. They accept their failing test scores because that is all they remember receiving. They are there just to be marked on the role. BUT THEY ARE THERE!
The hardest students for me to reach are the students who don't come to class at all. They have made up their minds that it is not even worth the effort. No matter how many emails and phone calls home I make, I never see their face. Those are the ones I hurt the most for.
Of course there are many more types of students. In fact each student is very individual and all these generalizations are just that. But this is where I will start in my attempts to express my immense gratitude to my Savior who NEVER gives up on me (or anyone) no matter what type of student I am.
I have been the student I first described. Everything almost seems easy. I read my scriptures. I say my prayers. I fulfill my callings. I serve others. I keep my commitments. And I feel the trust of the Lord knowing He can rely on me. In these times, I see where the Lord is a much better teacher because He not only blesses me but is able to push me even further than I ever thought possible.
I have also been the struggling student. I have felt those emotions of this being way to hard. I will never understand. It just doesn't make sense. Sometimes I want to completely give up. And some days/moments/weeks I do. BUT I KEEP GOING TO CLASS! With my students who struggle I find myself spending more time with them. With those who have given up I can still kneel next to their desk and try to understand where the frustration is and help them past it. I give them more encouragement. I am willing to shorten assignments for them to help them feel it is more doable. I will do whatever I can.
It is working with these type of students that I learn the importance to COME UNTO CHRIST. This is a phrase we hear many times in the scriptures. We are constantly invited to Come Unto Christ. I have often pondered that phrase and wondered what it really means. I can't physically go to Christ. Yet through teaching I have learned that coming unto Christ is different for every single individual. But what is the same is the importance of going to class so we can have the influence of the Savior and making the effort to get the extra help we personally need. One of my greatest joys is when a struggling student comes in to get some extra help. They come in humbled and admit, this is hard. I don't get it. Please help. I love giving that one-on-one attention and seeing them find that it may be hard but it is doable. And in time, I love when they start to find it to be not that hard at all.
I had a student last year (who is actually my TA this year) who came in with her mom the first week of school to let me know that she has always struggled with math and it is just her vice. She worked so hard all year. I watched her as she took a little longer to understand things than her peers. I watched her as she made mistakes. But she pushed forward and always came in to see me when things got harder than she could handle on her own. By the end of the year, she constantly received the highest scores in her class and has found great joy in math. She now tells me she gets math and even told me that she has a college already looking at her because of her high math scores. All because she was willing to come to me humble and willing to work.
I also love (and hate) when I have students who have done nothing all term, put in minimal effort, don't pass a single test and then they come in the last week of the term begging for a passing grade. The part I love is that they CAME TO ME. The struggle is that it then takes work for both of us to get them where they want to be. In order to receive a passing grade, my students have to show that they have learned the necessary lessons and material. I will work with them til the bitter end (when grades are due) to get that material learned. And I LOVE when it happens!
The Savior is perfect. He is able to work with us as we COME UNTO HIM better than I am able to with my students. I know that He will and He does. Sometimes it takes a small change in our lives and other times it takes much more work (side note here: I am so grateful for repentance and the chance to make changes both small and large). We may be the student who needs more one-on-one attention right now to understand the material. We may be the student who is begging for mercy because we have wasted the entire term doing nothing. Regardless of what student we are, the Savior is there waiting and wanting to teach us the material that we specifically need to learn. He knows what material we need to learn. Sometimes I think the Lord makes the test He puts on my desk harder than the ones He gives others. But that is because He knows what I need to learn and He knows the best way that I need to learn it. Sometimes I see the tests of others as much harder than my own and I am grateful for the test on my own desk. I know the Lord knows each of us so personally. He is able to diversify His lesson plans and His assignments and His tests so that we learn the material we need. I am far from being that kind of teacher.
And, unlike me, in His great mercy the Lord is even able to influence and love and encourage those of us who quit going to class recently or years ago. He finds ways to bless all of His students. And He is there miraculously for ANY student.
So no matter which student you currently are choosing to be at this time, I invite you to KEEP GOING TO CLASS or GO BACK TO CLASS and COME UNTO CHRIST. I promise He is there with open arms and so much love. He knows how to help us solve every problem, complete every homework assignment, pass every quiz, and ace every test. We may not do it the first time but He will help us try again and again. I know because He has done it for me many times! And I know He will have to do it many more!
I have been in the world education as a profession for the last 10 years. For better or for worse, it is where I have found my passion. I am familiar with the ins and outs of being a teacher and am grateful that the Lord has shown me in a more perfect way how He truly is the Master Teacher. He has also taught me many things about His gospel and the Atonement through my teaching. I have felt impressed many times to sit down and write out these thoughts but get so overwhelmed because I don't know how to outline them and I don't claim to have any talent in writing. I was recently impressed again and had the thought that instead of trying to organize all my lessons and thoughts on this matter, I should just start recording daily lessons from my classroom because everyday I can be taught something new if only I open my eyes to it. So for today I will start with a few cursory (or not so much so) thoughts and then I will start writing every school day about new impressions and lessons. You are welcome to join me on this journey as I record this school year through lessons about my Savior.
For those who don't know, I am a high school math teacher. I teach mostly sophomores and the students who have struggled in math and failed at least one (usually more) year of math. I enjoy working with students. I enjoy learning from each one and seeing them find joy in their own learning.
I have been known to be the teacher who is the first to show up in the morning and the last to leave in the evening. I am constantly looking over my students grades and thinking about each one and where they are at and how I can best help them. I do my best to encourage motivation in those students who have decided not to care. I strive to teach in a way that each student sees the material as understandable and doable. I have found that if they can find success in it, they are more willing to try. I have often felt that I work harder for my students' grades than they do (and I know that I am not the only teacher who is this way. In fact there are many teachers who work harder and do more than I do.). This was my first realization of the greatness of my Savior. He is the Master Teacher. He is much more perfect than I am. He puts in more overtime hours than I could even imagine to help each of us be successful and happy. I truly believe, in many ways, He works harder for our salvation than we do. The pain that I feel with every failing grade in my grade book is minimal compared to the pain our Savior feels when we are not listening to His teachings and applying them in our homework and putting in the effort to learn the material He knows is best for us so we can pass our tests.
I like to analyze my students and see which student I am in the classroom of the Master Teacher. I find that I play the role of many of them at different times in my life. I will do my best to describe a few of the many types.
I have many students who are fantastic students. They never miss a day of class. They turn every homework assignment in on time and get good scores on them all. They prepare well for the tests and easily pass with flying colors. They are attentive in class. They take notes. They work hard. I know I can rely on them to do well on whatever I ask of them.
I also have many students who struggle. They have been burned a bit by math in the past. It is too overwhelming. It seems way to hard to grasp. Many say they don't have the brain to get math (this is an excuse I do not believe, by the way). Yet some of these students want so badly to understand. It is hard but they make the extra effort to work and understand. Some come in out of class for more personal tutoring. Some hire outside tutors. Some spend many more hours than most finishing homework each night. But they are in class every day. They take all the notes. They turn in all the homework. They try so hard to not get frustrated and keep working even when it seems impossible. They may not pass the tests with flying colors but they pass.
I also see some who have been burned by math and because of that have given up completely. They come to class with a defeatist attitude and have already decided it's too hard without even looking at the material. They put in very little effort. They accept their failing test scores because that is all they remember receiving. They are there just to be marked on the role. BUT THEY ARE THERE!
The hardest students for me to reach are the students who don't come to class at all. They have made up their minds that it is not even worth the effort. No matter how many emails and phone calls home I make, I never see their face. Those are the ones I hurt the most for.
Of course there are many more types of students. In fact each student is very individual and all these generalizations are just that. But this is where I will start in my attempts to express my immense gratitude to my Savior who NEVER gives up on me (or anyone) no matter what type of student I am.
I have been the student I first described. Everything almost seems easy. I read my scriptures. I say my prayers. I fulfill my callings. I serve others. I keep my commitments. And I feel the trust of the Lord knowing He can rely on me. In these times, I see where the Lord is a much better teacher because He not only blesses me but is able to push me even further than I ever thought possible.
I have also been the struggling student. I have felt those emotions of this being way to hard. I will never understand. It just doesn't make sense. Sometimes I want to completely give up. And some days/moments/weeks I do. BUT I KEEP GOING TO CLASS! With my students who struggle I find myself spending more time with them. With those who have given up I can still kneel next to their desk and try to understand where the frustration is and help them past it. I give them more encouragement. I am willing to shorten assignments for them to help them feel it is more doable. I will do whatever I can.
It is working with these type of students that I learn the importance to COME UNTO CHRIST. This is a phrase we hear many times in the scriptures. We are constantly invited to Come Unto Christ. I have often pondered that phrase and wondered what it really means. I can't physically go to Christ. Yet through teaching I have learned that coming unto Christ is different for every single individual. But what is the same is the importance of going to class so we can have the influence of the Savior and making the effort to get the extra help we personally need. One of my greatest joys is when a struggling student comes in to get some extra help. They come in humbled and admit, this is hard. I don't get it. Please help. I love giving that one-on-one attention and seeing them find that it may be hard but it is doable. And in time, I love when they start to find it to be not that hard at all.
I had a student last year (who is actually my TA this year) who came in with her mom the first week of school to let me know that she has always struggled with math and it is just her vice. She worked so hard all year. I watched her as she took a little longer to understand things than her peers. I watched her as she made mistakes. But she pushed forward and always came in to see me when things got harder than she could handle on her own. By the end of the year, she constantly received the highest scores in her class and has found great joy in math. She now tells me she gets math and even told me that she has a college already looking at her because of her high math scores. All because she was willing to come to me humble and willing to work.
I also love (and hate) when I have students who have done nothing all term, put in minimal effort, don't pass a single test and then they come in the last week of the term begging for a passing grade. The part I love is that they CAME TO ME. The struggle is that it then takes work for both of us to get them where they want to be. In order to receive a passing grade, my students have to show that they have learned the necessary lessons and material. I will work with them til the bitter end (when grades are due) to get that material learned. And I LOVE when it happens!
The Savior is perfect. He is able to work with us as we COME UNTO HIM better than I am able to with my students. I know that He will and He does. Sometimes it takes a small change in our lives and other times it takes much more work (side note here: I am so grateful for repentance and the chance to make changes both small and large). We may be the student who needs more one-on-one attention right now to understand the material. We may be the student who is begging for mercy because we have wasted the entire term doing nothing. Regardless of what student we are, the Savior is there waiting and wanting to teach us the material that we specifically need to learn. He knows what material we need to learn. Sometimes I think the Lord makes the test He puts on my desk harder than the ones He gives others. But that is because He knows what I need to learn and He knows the best way that I need to learn it. Sometimes I see the tests of others as much harder than my own and I am grateful for the test on my own desk. I know the Lord knows each of us so personally. He is able to diversify His lesson plans and His assignments and His tests so that we learn the material we need. I am far from being that kind of teacher.
And, unlike me, in His great mercy the Lord is even able to influence and love and encourage those of us who quit going to class recently or years ago. He finds ways to bless all of His students. And He is there miraculously for ANY student.
So no matter which student you currently are choosing to be at this time, I invite you to KEEP GOING TO CLASS or GO BACK TO CLASS and COME UNTO CHRIST. I promise He is there with open arms and so much love. He knows how to help us solve every problem, complete every homework assignment, pass every quiz, and ace every test. We may not do it the first time but He will help us try again and again. I know because He has done it for me many times! And I know He will have to do it many more!
1 comment:
Thanks for sharing this great analogy and your testimony. It made me think about what kind of student and teacher I am. I can tell you are a wonderful, loving teacher! We love you, and we're so excited you're blogging again!!
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