Hello? Can you teach today?

Today was an exciting day for me! I am finally back in the classroom. I am on the substitute teacher list in 3 different school districts. Today, I worked in a kindergarten room in Colchester. What a blessing! I really had forgotten how much I love teaching! I even had a 5 year old kindergartener named Nicolas James, just like my son! He felt pretty special after I told him about MY Nicolas James who is 5 years old and in kindergarten. :)

I am very pleased to be back in the role of teacher. It is a very special role... you are actually so many things! You are a mind molder, character builder, nose wiper, jacket zipper, shoe tie-r (whoa, how do you actually spell that??), confidante, friend... it's just like being a MOM!!!! Because at home, I believe that moms are responsible for educating their children, as well as all the other stuff listed above. Not only teaching them to read and write, but most importantly, teaching them about God and His Word.

As I spoke with Mrs. Anderson today in school, she told me about the limitations put on them at the holidays with regard to religious activities. The "holiday" season cannot be about only Christmas... you must include Hanukkah and Kwaanza, and their must be no mention of the story of Jesus, no prayers with the lighting of the menorah, and Kwaanza is just a heritage type story, so that one is okay. In my opinion, Christmas is entirely cut out, because to me, Christmas has NOTHING to do with Santa, reindeer, and presents under a christmas tree. How sad. Mrs. Anderson told me she has one student (with learning disabilities) who just can't stop talking about Jesus (YAY!!!!!!) because he understands that HE is what Christmas is really about, and says so at every opportunity! How exciting! Children are guaranteed the right of free expression, and I am thrilled to see this young boy freely expressing his belief in Jesus as the Savior of the world! If only every child would be so bold! If only the teachers were ALLOWED to be so bold!

Well, I am exhausted...must get some sleep before the phone rings early tomorrow morning.... riiiiiing......hello, Michelle? Can you substitute today? YOU BETCHA!!!!!!!!

Blessings!
Michelle