"I Will Give You Rest"

Next week is spring break for the public schools. . .the kids were ready for it, teachers were ready for it, I am ready for it! :)

Today, we worked hard in the morning, and then created things and had an easter egg hunt in the afternoon. Here are some of the creations we did:

We created ducks/chickens making their hands their wings. They had to help Daisy Duck how to show in two ways $1.56 using dollars, quarters, dimes, nickles, and pennies. Oh, they went crazy! They loved it!

Then, we created bunnies were they could place their easter egg:

It was fun to see their personalities being portrayed in their bunny creation.

I've learned that first graders need a lot more help doing things. That there is a lot more prep time for activities like these for six year old children. And that Daisy Duck has magical powers to become a rockstar. 

After talking with my cooperative teacher after school about the upcoming units I am teaching when we return from spring break: Earth Day thematic unit, Lady in the Moon for Reading, Money for math, and Adjective for Writing; I got in the bus, got my sandwich (it was 4, and I still hadn't had lunch. . .ufta), and  I could only thank God for His faithfulness and His strength. He definitely gave me what I needed this week. As I invited Him into my day in the mornings, He was and is there when I wake up, as I travel, as I enter my class, as I see each of my students, as I confront discipline, as I leave the room, as I meet random people in the bus, as I write lesson plans, as I read His Word, as I got to bed . . . He is with me every single minute. He is Emmanuel.

So, I cleaned my room, my good Paraguayan friend and her boyfriend are coming over this weekend (I'm stoked), I will go to Zavala's family for a few days to rest, and will take it easy in lesson planning. It will be a good week. The Good Lord knows the rest is needed.

He gives us what we need.

First Grade Love

I have never done a practicum in first grade, and what I love about them is that the students love you no matter what!

Yesterday, I was just tired of seeing every classroom management strategy I've learned being thrown out the window by my little ones. So, I sat down for a little bit and breathed. As I sat, two little girls came and hugged me. Just randomly. No reason why. Granted, I was asking them to work on the activity on their desks not talking or walking around. But, it was God's way of saying, I love you and I love them. Learn to love like they do.

Then today, one little boy at the end of our small group for reading leaned back, and said with a very serious face, " Miss Gomez, I think you are doing a good job." In my mind I said, "well, you don't know about lesson plans, and how hard it is to find fun activities with so many kids, and, and, and. . ."

Sometimes, I'm telling you. . .I just need to stop, and receive and take it easy.

So, thank you Jesus for your encouragement through my first graders! Despite all the faults, they still love me. Likewise, despite my faults, God still loves me. Actually, He uses my weaknesses for His glory and power to be revealed. Holy Macaroni (my first graders love when I say that!)! He is beautiful.


This full-time teaching this week is tiring, but I have bee having fun with my kids, and I am for sure learning a lot! :)

Sinking or swimming?

"So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most."

Hebrews 4:14 - 16

When Jesus was walking under the sun, hot, hungry, thirsty and teaching with love about the Kingdom of the Only God, His Father. When He was teaching about His love for them, and how to turn away from their sins to live out the grace God offers, I can image that Jesus was tired, that not everyone was listening, that there were people making fun of His teaching in that crowd. I can imagine Jesus being frustrated at their hardened hearts, and at the situation. Yet, he remained obedient, and He did not sin.

So, what does this have to do with this past week in first grade? 

I taught everything except writing this past week, and it was rough my friends. I felt like I was sinking in a ocean this week with children not responding to discipline or encouragement, lesson plans flopping, seeing the hurt that these children face at home, children punching each other while I'm teaching a lesson, polygons being thrown across the room.  It is not easy, and I am ready to get away from the city, and my natural instinct is to walk away from a challenge.

Don't get me wrong, I am SO privileged to serve these 33 children. They sound crazy, and yes, they are a little bit. But they are also six and seven year old children that long to be loved, that long to learn to love, and laugh and make me laugh.

After I draw a stick person on the whiteboard with a mohawk, one little boy draws every person with a mohawk (both girls and boys), and proudly shows me. 

But it is challenging and tiring. I miss the Dordt community support and am anxious to be home.

But you know what, I've been reading through Hebrews, and I am convinced that Jesus understands me. He knows what I feel. I cannot explain how I feel, but Jesus undestand, and all I have to do is go BOLDLY to God's throne full of grace and mercy and dwell at His feet. Jesus experienced suffering, discomfort, temptations . . . I most definitely will, and I will remain obedient to my God just like Jesus did. I need His help, yes, and He gives it graciously. 

I need to do three weeks of full-time teaching, and this upcoming week will be the first full-time week. So, I am entering this week realizing that I am not sinking in an ocean of AHHH, but an ocean of grace. He is teaching me how to swim in it. If you are self-conscious for being a slow learner, dont' be, because I am definitely a slow learner in trusting and receiving the fullness of His grace and love every morning. My oh my, He is beautiful!! 

Hence, Jesus understands. He has come to this earth, and has experienced it. And He sets the example. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can follow His steps in every situation, and can swim in His ocean of grace.  

It is midnight, wrote plenty of lesson plans, ate chinese food with my wonderful roomie that made our stomach upsets. . . now off to bed, and I can testify once again God's faithfulness today!!

I'm Walking on Sunshine

The weather outside has been beautiful, I feel as if I have been with my first graders for a month or so although it has only been two weeks. The out-of-ordinary nice weather outside has made my students be ansy to be outside (who doesn't want to be outside?), and made it challenging to teach some of my lessons.

I began teaching polygons for math, and my students have created different creations with polygons such as a robot, people, houses, cats, etc. Also, I began teaching social studies unit on work. We played charades, which they LOVE, learned about needs and wants, how to set up a lemonade stand, and shared what their parents do for job (apparently being a vegetarian is a job).

I continued to work with some students on their writing with the "If I had a pot of gold . . ." prompt. It is a neat opportunity to see the inside of my students' mind: what they love, who they love, who they like (wink, wink), and what situation they're in.

Here are some writings:
If I had a pot of gold, I would buy Amy a jet pack. We would share it. We would have fun.
Writes my Russian student. Amy is another girl in the classroom.

Let me share another writing response from little Lizzie:
If I had a pot of gold, I would spend it on a house. 
And we would not move. Mom could pay the rent. 
It would be nice. 

As I was reading this, my heart almost sunk at the realization of the blessing of a stable, physical house  AND a stable family. I wanted to run and find that pot of gold, and give it to her so that she could have a stable house.

I had a realization of how humbling and fortunate it is to be able to get to know these children, and offer the best I have, which is the love of Jesus. My students have seen and experienced more than they should at their age. But, still they laugh, dance, share, and learn! God's grace in their lives is evident. 

So, as I pick up Language Arts next week (teaching all subjects except writing! AHH!), and create activities that seem like just games and coloring (it is how they best learn), I will walk on sunshine. . but not just the sun rays from the beautiful weather, but the Light of the Jesus through the life and love He offers to us sinners.

I pray my students can see His Light in me, and that students like my Nigerian Oma who is very verbal about her faith in Jesus, can see an example of a follower of Jesus in school. For that though, I need His grace and yielding to Him.

Pot of Gold

If you were to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, what would you do? 

Little Pakistani Ali: Some I would give to the poor. I would keep some to buy a desk because in Pakistan we can have desks and I would study. 

Little Greek/Hispanic Amanda: I would give my pot of gold to my mom because I love her. I love my mom so much. She is so nice. We would give money to the sick kids in the hospital.

Little Middle Eastern Muhi: I would give all of it to the poor. 

Little Nigerian Oma: I would give my pot of gold to my Nigerian friends in Nigeria because they can't use dollars or they go to jail. They would be happy with gold. 

Granted, these children sit separately from each other. These answers are priceless. . .beautiful . . . makes me wonder what they have all gone through. How I would of loved to say, "That's awesome. You know, Jesus would do that also. He gave up life in heaven with His Dad to come and live with us where everything is dirty, different, poor." That is the price public education pays though; not mentioning Jesus unless asked.

This week, I got to know the 34 students (I know all the names, but still need practicing pronouncing some). Here are some facts I learned of the class overall:

• As you could tell from the names of my kids, they all come from various countries: Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Hispanic countries (including Guatemala), Lebanon, Greece, Russia, Philippines, and some Middle Eastern Country (cannot remember). I find this fascinating and beautiful! My one English Language Learner speaks only Arabic and little English (not Spanish unlike Sioux County area).
• Already there is drama of who is my friend and who isn't, and he likes me, but I like another boy. *Sigh* 
• Most of them are children living in poor homes. Most of them get the free breakfast, and because first graders share more than they should, I learned that many of them come from broken homes. 
• They are so lovable, and already I have received many, many hugs! I cannot wait to get to know them better, and love on them and learn to teach them best.

 I do miss my special ed placement children. I am fortunate to be in the same school, because I get to see them walking to places. They wave dramatically and yell "I miss you Miss Gomez!" If it were appropriate, I would dramatically wave my hands and scream back that I miss them too. Instead, I smile a huge smile and  say "me too," and then put my finger on my mouth because they are being too loud.

These children are a pot of gold itself. God blesses us so much through children. Thank you God.

*The names are not real. I think it best to protect them by giving them fake names. You will find this throughout my upcoming blogs*

Jars of Clay

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

2 Corinthians 4:7,18

 Another version for verse 7 is this one:

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves" (ASV)

or check this one out (I think my favorite one yet):

"We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure.This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves." (NLT)

I am a fragile clay jar that contains the great treasure of Jesus Christ. This verse is the logo verse for Tesoros de Dios (God's Treasure), a ministry for children with disabilities in Nicaragua. 

These children with various disabilities come from homes with low incomes, and have had to deal with rejection from family members, society, schools, and even governmental organizations. Tesoros de Dios provides the opportunities for these children and families to know the treasure of Christ, to hope for the unseen in Jesus, and to realize that they themselves are treasures in God's eyes because Jesus came to die for them. . .because even if these children where the only ones on this earth, Jesus would still come and die and rise for them. 

I got to work with these beautiful children at Tesoros summer 2009

Michelle Adams is behind Dr. Van Tol (this was take last October for a special ed workshop). Michelle is the director of Tesoros. Her vision and passion for this ministry is God anointed! It's beautiful.

When I graduate and return to Nicaragua, I will have the privilege to join this ministry, and learn and see God's fingerprint in this place, children, and staff. Being in my placement at Jamieson has been given me a different perspective on special education, and the following seven weeks, it will continue to broaden my perspective on public education in a low-income community.The Lord is preparing me.

Today, public schools celebrated Pulaski day, which meant that we could all stay home and honor a Polish leader in Chicago. Yay! So, I went to Elim Christian Services, which is a ministry that reaches out the children and teenagers with disabilities here in Chicago. I sat in various classes, and jotted down many great ideas to bring to Nicaragua. 

Elim is always excited to equip people, schools, churches within the America and to various countries, one of those recently being Nicaragua, Tesoros de Dios.

God's Ways are for sure Higher and Better than I could ever fathom to think. God knew I was going to  serve at Tesoros de Dios. He knew Elim was going to begin supporting Tesoros. He knew that I would be student teaching in Chicago and make it more than just student teaching to graduate or for the experience, but for creating and strengthening relationships. 

I cannot wait to being teaching first grade. I cannot wait to finish student teaching. I cannot wait to go home. I cannot wait to begin serving at Tesoros. I am just a jar of clay trying to hold this precious light of Jesus. And He is letting me do that in every step of life. Isn't God just so good?

What's the puzzle piece?

When I was little, I liked puzzles (still do). I remember that the puzzles pieces would get lost with my doll's dresses, my hairbands, and daddy's cassettes. Where would these items escape to, till this day, remains a mystery. However, once those things were lost, I would abandon my puzzle set and move on to the next, new puzzle set until one or two pieces would get lost. 

On Friday after school, my cooperative special ed. teacher described teaching special ed as "finding the lost puzzle piece that fits in the big puzzle." Many of our kids have potential, but something in the curriculum or instruction does not fit and is incomplete; hence, our students struggle in succeeding like the rest of the class.

It is not the child that misfits or that is broken, it is the system/ the instruction/ the material.

Little George is not the broken one, it is the environment, the lack of routine, the lack of visuals, the lack of collaboration. Little Erica is not the broken one, it is the above-her-level readings and math worksheets that discourage her from even wanting to learn.

(Clarification: we are all broken and in need of Jesus, but what I mean here is that society usually sees the disability in children like my students first and not the person that they are created to be. My kids are so beautiful and special. . . I know Jesus definitely thinks so (Psalm 139 my friends). )

So, my job as a teacher is not to walk away from the missing piece like I did when a small child, but create one so that the puzzle is complete. So that the puzzle no longer is a puzzle. This past week was my last week in the special education placement, and I believe I have come a long way from the beginning of my placement. Sadly but excitingly, I now move on to another puzzle to put together in first grade.