Our family of 5

Our family of 5

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

School Adventure Tuesdays: Sticks & Smiles

          I have so much to learn when it comes to teaching my kids.  It seems that there are so many different approaches to teaching, and a multitude of topics to be covered.  I am learning how to make choices in these areas and where to put our time, energies, and focus.  I am also learning basic things, including how to teach my kids to write their letters and how to put letters together to make words.  I can tell the learning is never going to end.  In fact, just when I start getting a little confident in what I am doing, God usually humbles me in various ways. 
      One humbling experience for me happened at our local public library.  I decided to take the kids to preschool story time one day after lunch for W-man.  I used to be so faithful about taking K lady, but it has gotten trickier with more kids and a fuller schedule.  I think I got overly proud of myself for taking W-man to story time and was about to be equally impressed with how I had taught him to write his own name.  As the story time teacher was making W-man a nametag, and she asked him how to spell his name.  I could feel myself smiling as he said, "W...................I................um.... um.....a stick and a stick."  The teacher looked at me in a puzzled way and said she wasn't sure what he said.  I told her that he was trying to say, "L and L", but described them as sticks.   I instantly felt slightly embarrased that I had never really worked with him to the point that he knew that the "sticks" were L's.  I know he is young and it is not a big a deal, but I was still a little embarrassed.  I think I learned that I need to make sure I am teaching him correctly from the beginning.  It was kind of cute, though, and I got some good laughs out of it the rest of the day.  I think that it was partly a pride issue for me.  I knew the teacher was aware that we homeschooled because she had just had a conversation with Kate about school.  I wanted to prove to her that my kids were just as smart and "able" as kids who attend school outside of their homes.  I think the Lord keeps teaching me that I don't need to prove anything or get caught up in the outside appearance of things.   I need to just daily ask myself, "What is my heart like in all of this, why am I teaching my kids, and am I finding favor with the Lord?"   
      Another lesson in humility came this week.  I have been studying Proverbs 31, and have been struck with some of the attitudes of this woman.  I know that the passage mentions many tasks, which are worthy to be studied and applied, but I have really been honing in on her attitudes.  The attitude that really impacted was about kindness, specifically kind teaching. In verse 26 of Proverbs 31, it says, "She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  I started thinking through our daily school routines and then yesterday morning I tried to evaluate if I was teaching with an attitude of kindness.  As we were halfway through a somewhat frustrating math lesson, I realized that I was not being very kind with my teaching.  In fact, I was being rather pushy, demanding, and unsmiling.  I decided to stop math for the moment and I looked at my daughter in her tears and realized that my attitude was, in part, causing her some frustration and sadness.  I don't like to admit this here on the blog, but if I can help someone else, then I want to be transparent.  I apologized to her and admitted that Mommy wasn't being very kind.  I gave her a little break (and myself a little time to pray) and then we got back at school.  Even though I didn't feel like it yesterday, I tried to put a smile on my face.  What a difference even a smile makes!!  It isn't that hard, but sometimes in our own homes, we can forget what even our own face looks like.  As I was smiling at her, encouraging her and teaching her with kindness, she blossomed right before my eyes.  She was enthusiastic, particpating, and eager to learn.  She was receptive to my instruction.   I really need the Lord to help me in this area.  I desire to be full of His kindness as I teach my children.  I know this is possible through His Spirit.
          Oftentimes, I feel like I am the one doing the learning at home, rather than my children.This week, I have learned that I need to smile often, teach with grace and kindness, and not be ashamed of my 3 year old referring to the letter L, as a stick.  What lessons have you learned at home lately?

4 comments:

  1. Such great insight, Sarah. I love reading your heart! I too can find myself getting frustrated at times when I work with L on math......she struggles quite a bit with math and when I can feel myself getting frustrated I know I need to step away for a few....don't ever want her to sense that. Thanks for the reminder to exude kindness and keep a smile on my face. It's so interesting how different learning styles in my kids cause me to depend on the Lord for various fruits of the Spirit to work through whatever that child needs. And hilarious story about W.....way to go that he can even spell his name at 3, even if it is with "sticks" :) Have a great day!

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  2. Thanks, Jenny! I feel like you completely understand what we are both feeling with the math thing :):). And you are so right about the different learning styles and reliance on the Holy Spirit. I am only just beginning this process, but I know that the Lord sanctities us through our children for sure!!

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  3. Sarah, I loved this post and man did it strike right at the heart of things for me. Last year when I went to the CC practicum, I was really impacted by their point for the week... Children are souls to be nurtured, not products to be measured! WOW! I totally agreed but wasn't so sure I always practiced that in my home. I have always felt incredibly convicted by Deut. 6:5-9 in relation to our decision to home-school and I try and make sure my heart motives are to bring glory to God in what we are doing. It is REALLY hard in this culture to get tied up in the comparison game. We want to be validated in what we do, and how people perceive our children can often bring us (or not bring us) that praise and validation. Anyway, such a long-winded way to say that I appreciate you being real with your post, I certainly have had to stop, apologize and re-group as well. I'm thankful that God can work through me despite my short-comings!

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  4. Nikki.....thank you for reminding me of that quote from last year's practicum. I remembered loving that quote, but have somehow forgotten it. I feel like I need to post it on my fridge and look at it everyday, as well as the verse from Deuteronomy. I feel so encouraged and challenged from your comment. THANK YOU!!!!

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