May 16. The day I graduated from college. 1. The number of days I had to find an apartment. 63130. My new zip code. 67. The number of days that I have been a teacher (with students present in the classroom). 13. The number of students I have in my classroom. 356. The number of books my students and their families read in just six weeks for a charity that donates books to kids who need them (I’m very proud, if you can’t tell.) 8. The number of days until Christmas as I write this letter.
I’ve never been much of a math person, but it seemed that numbers were an easy way to describe the past year of my life. I graduated from Central College on May 16th and moved to Camp Ewalu near Strawberry Point, Iowa. At Ewalu, I coordinated the day camp program and also discovered that I’m horrible at starting fires. (Not such a great thing when your campers are hungry.)
Camp ended mid-August. I loaded up a U-Haul and moved into an apartment in St. Louis where I am currently teaching pre-kindergarten. The school I teach at is a private school that serves students from all walks of life, but intentionally seeks to partner with urban poor, immigrants, and refugees. The school was founded in 1997 which makes us a fairly new school. Currently we have 64 students, 13 of which are in my pre-kindergarten class.
Teaching pre-k is quite the ride. The first month of school was very trying for me. Getting three and four year-olds to do simple things like walking in a line aren’t really as easy as one would think. But as the kids have gotten used to school, and to me, I have found that I am doing something that I love. The kids do the cutest things, SAY the funniest things, and are in great wonder of the world around them. I find myself in some of the strangest predicaments. For example, one day I returned to my room after running a quick errand to the office only to find one child with his pants around his ankles yelling for help, while two children fought over some toys, AND yet another child was crying because he couldn’t get his shoes on. What to do first? No matter what the kids do or say, I’m discovering that I have a love for them that grows deeper with every day I spend with them.
Last night I found myself kneeling in front of a stage full of children trying to lead my class in our part of the Christmas play. My kids were singing a song about God’s love, and how He has loved us since before the beginning of time. As my kids were singing (well, some of them were singing, some of them were waving at their parents, some of them were watching the slideshow behind them..hehehe) it became a reality to me just how much we can learn about God by watching young children. One of things I love about the age that I teach is how much they love and admire the adults in their lives. Even after my kids get in trouble, they will still give me hugs, tell me they love me, or want to hold my hand. My kids exhibit unconditional love to me and each other, and they probably can’t even SAY the phrase. I think I’m learning more than I’m teaching!
My prayer for each of you as this year ends, is that you will discover or rediscover the childlike part of faith. Innocent, unconditional, whole-hearted.
God’s blessings on you,
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