Classroom Management

I have found only one prayer that helps my classroom management: "Lord, make me smaller."

The Natural Order

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become un-consuming?

The words from Sidewalk Prophets are ringing in my mind after a conversation with a best friend and other recent thoughts . . . but more on that another time.

I took a personal day Friday, at the cost of my three teammates who had to field 33 third graders each, instead of the usual 25, when no sub picked up my position.  I felt too guilty, but I just couldn't do it anymore.  So that night, my loving Father and I had a talk.

My yoke is easy and my burden is light

As I went to turn my light off, I saw Jesus looking at me from his crucifix, and his mother as well, with a soft smile, from a pastel portrait detail of an image known as Guadalupe.  I keep them by my light switch for a reason.
I gave a second glance this evening.  They were telling me something, so I stopped to listen briefly and kiss them goodnight.  "Be at peace.  Do not worry," she, and her son, said with smile more generous than her usual.

About sleep, she meant.  I have been going to bed late for a couple weeks now, and getting used to that pre-6am rise, and I am the most inglorious unrested person I have ever met.  I am working on it.  But, and I don't know if you can relate, when I get more and more behind on sleep, especially if I have significant responsibilities that require my being well-rested for adequate performance, such as teaching, my stress increases, my concentration decreases, and, in anxiety, nothing happens in the end about the sleep while my professional life seems to fall into a heap.