The Teacher.
(Anonymous)
 
The teacher said to the students:
"Come to the edge."
They replied, "We might fall."
 
The teacher again said:
"Come to the edge."
And they responded: "It's too high."
 
"COME TO THE EDGE!"
the teacher demanded.
And they came.
                And he pushed them.
                                   And they flew.

last days are so emotionally jam packed. i made it all the way through without crying, but there's still so much to reflect on.  it was fun for me to bring in my guitar and share some last moments with them. i'm really going to miss these kiddies.

fun moments:

"miss song, one time i ate so many hot cheetos, like half of one of the giant bags, and then i had this really big stomach ache...and then you know the next day, when i went to the bathroom?  it didn't sound so good."

"miss song, i understand math so much better when you teach it. i think it's because you're younger and you have the mind of a kid."

"miss song, can we come to your house?  pleeease??"

"miss song, i can't wait til your goodbye party because then i can hold you for as long as i want."

"miss song, you should be on america's got talent! i would vote for you!!"

"ms. song usted me ayudo mucho y yo le queria dar las grasias, porque usted en el primer dia de clases me ayudo me dijo su nombre, dijo que me ayudaria y lo hiso y aora yo estoy aprendiendo lo que me enseno..." - goodbye letter from my little yasseline from mexico.  she was the hardest one to leave. 

---

3rd grade comments for another student teacher (and one of my romies)

"miss wicks, i am a water bottle."

(pointing at his extended hand, palm up) "miss wicks, i have a leprechaun. i am saving my money until i make 300 dollars so that i can buy a real one."

"miss wicks, i made up this really good joke!!  why did the dolphin cross the road?  to get to the AQUAAAAAAAAAARIUMMM!!!!"  (hahaha....what!?)

"miss wicks, by the time i go to college, you could be 70, 80, 90...or even dead!!" (shes 21)

HAHA that is my favorite one so far. i love how some children have absolutely no perspective on ages beyond their own. man. 3rd grade is hilarious.

---

wow. so it's over. thanksgiving, college life, and life in general are so surreal right now.

i'm excited about growing. i feel like that's been happening a lot. maybe more humanly than spiritually, but hey -you need both for sure.

Here are some ways joy has grown this semester:

• i've grown eyes in the back of my head. and i can stare people (children) down more effectively now.
• i have nerves of copper (not yet steel, but good enough for the time being)
• i have discovered the wonder of casseroles, frozen pasta, frozen vegetables, and philsbury biscuits. oh joy. i can cook!
• i've gotten fatter

report card pickup is tomorrow. i love getting to know the parents, but my spanish is severely lacking as of late. it seems that i can only talk in spanish with kids these days.

i don't feel like a college student anymore. i don't feel like i belong to wheaton anymore. it's a bittersweet process of moving on. next semester is going to be interesting...

here's a pretty sweet site, btw: www.pandora.com

This is a really sweet song.

    Dear Lord Jesus, precious Jesus,
    Can I tell it all to Thee?
    Thou my love and satisfaction,
    Thou my everlasting portion;
    Thou art all that I desire,
    Nothing else I would pursue.

There's nothing like breathing a bit of life to clear the head of frustration and heaviness.

student teaching is really hard and i haven't even started teaching yet.  maybe it's the fact that there's no air conditioning in a 90 plus degree room of 33 little people, or that i can't classroom manage worth beans, or that it seems everyone is textbook driven because NCLB (the No Child Left Behind legislation) is constantly breathing down their necks.  i'm definitely learning a lot, though. and at least i'm using my spanish with the most adorable 10 year old girl from mexico who can't speak english yet.  i start with math next week. come november, we'll see how things are...