Teaching Through Imperfection

Friends,

It’s been some time since I posted to the blog.  This past semester brought an opportunity to teach Middle School History.  Navigating new teacher life was an adventure that has begun to transform me both personally and professionally.  As we head into the New Year I wanted to share a story from the classroom with you.

Each day the first five minutes of my class was dedicated to something I called Inspire!  (That’s how it was written in the daily agenda of objectives.) It was intentional time given to discussing a character trait or building community.  Sometimes, I shared an inspirational poem or quote.  Other times, students shared about their best or worst part of the day.  The days when we celebrated with an old middle school tradition of the power clap truly gave me a renewed spirit.  On any given day the first five minutes of each class were my favorite. The time was a true reminder that I have been relentless in my pursuit to teach and to give hope.   

After a particularly rough day at school near the end of the term, I asked students to write about a challenge they faced. My request was met with the usual questions. How long does this have to be?  Is this a grade?    So I said, “Remember, everything you do in life is a test of your character and just write until I ask you to stop.   The basics were answered.  I expected students to begin writing. Yet, most of them promised me that they had never faced a challenge.  There were also students who didn’t have a problem identifying a challenge but protested it was too personal to write down.  I respected this could be true and simply said, “It doesn’t have to be anything major.”   I walked around the room until time expired.  As students finished one student prompted, “Miss Lang, Do you want this?”  I replied by telling all students that if they wanted me to know their challenge then they could place their paper face down on my desk. Then we moved on with the rest of the lesson.

Later that day during study hall a student came to my desk to hand me a sheet of notebook paper. “ I wanted you to know that I wrote about my challenge,” he said.    As the student returned to his seat, I unfolded the paper. This young man had certainly written me a decent paragraph about a significant challenge in his life.  However, he had heavily shaded over his words with a pencil. It was as if a toddler had mistaken his words for a coloring page.  Nonetheless, he’d done what I had asked of him.  He was honest and willing to be more vulnerable  than the majority of middle school students.

The way students react to coping and conquering challenges troubles me.  It proves that society has created an urgent and overwhelming need for each of us to be more perfect than our neighbor.  The expectations are high and if we fall short we become ashamed. Furthermore, it illustrates that so often we are persuaded to shade our problems from community.   It’s a powerful and persistent pressure. 

I’ve recalled this story over and over again.  Each time my thought gets louder.  As a teacher who copes with a disability I cannot shade my imperfections.   Then the thought becomes a joyful voice of gratitude. A Thank you to each person who encouraged me and guided me as I taught openly through imperfection.   It was extraordinary!   

Maybe, this New Year should be more about working through imperfections---  celebrating who  we are and not what we wish we could be… Happy New Year!

With a grateful heart, 

Teacher Julie

 

A Teacher's Voice

Friends!

My journey to the classroom has been a winding road.  The newest opportunity has me stepping in for a Middle School Social Studies Teacher as she enjoys her maternity leave.  It’s not a forever classroom but as an educator who copes with cerebral palsy, it is an extraordinary gift to independently lead a classroom. These past two weeks have been as much about physical adjustment as they have been about celebrating what it means to live out my dream.  My heart is filled with an overwhelming joy!

In early September, I reached out to a faith mentor who I admire for his dedication to urban ministry to share news of this stepping-stone.  He responded by sending his prayers and reminding me “Teaching middle school is a special calling.”   This is to say, middle school is an age of transformation.   Students are discovering themselves and being introduced to more challenging academic material. Truthfully, I never thought my passion for teaching would lead me to a middle school classroom.   However, it is the perfect fit!   We are developing our confidence to be difference makers together!

As I walk into the classroom each day, I’m reminded of how much my time in middle school transformed my life as a disabled person.  Leadership was not about being the captain of an athletic team or the president  of student government.  Instead, leadership was a choice to be my best self.   This middle school lesson is essentially how I’ve aimed to live my life.  It helped me keep fighting against the odds.  It also gave me permission to accept that cerebral palsy might keep me from being a classroom teacher.  Logically, I wouldn’t loose my leadership ability if I settled for what I considered second best.   It’s fair to say that at times struggling to  become a teacher  has left me questioning my identity as a a leader.  

At the end of each day, I am continually  amazed at how well I am defeating the visible and invisible challenges that cerebral palsy gives  to me daily.  I am grateful for a team of teachers who keep me uplifted.   The opportunity to lead in the classroom for an extended period of time has shifted my self-image.  I have gone from a struggling leader to  a teacher in transformation!

Dreams really do come true..... I am so proud to be a teacher!

Joyfully,

 Teacher Julie 

  

  

  

Teaching, Learning & Basketball!

This summer I’ve taken on the role of camp counselor.  Camp is the perfect opportunity to develop my leadership skills.  As we end week three I’m reflecting on the magic of summer camp.

 Camp is a place where we work to create community and celebrate summer with purpose.  This can be a challenge but it’s also so rewarding as a teacher.  Last week, as we headed to blacktop to play basketball one of my students moaned that she wasn’t playing.  She clearly thought that if she lingered long enough in the back of the line I wouldn’t notice her sitting on the curb apart from the others.  She was out of the luck--- her classmates rushed ahead of me to meet my co counselor on the pavement. We were now walking beside one another.

 “Miss Julie, I’m not playing.” She was firm as she dragged her feet to meet the others.  So I said, “We’re going to play together. Then, I gave her a challenge.  “Let’s see who can score more baskets you or me.” And just like that, she began running across the black top to the hoop. As she ran her voice grew louder and louder. “ I’m gonna play Miss Julie!”  One of the tallest girls in the group looked at me laughing, “Miss Julie, you’re gonna lose.  “Let’s see,” I said. 

I stood as close as I could to the hoop took a shot and missed. Then, I passed the ball to the camper I had challenged.  She missed and tossed it back.  It seemed as if the rest of the girls had quickly given up on the game. I need more people on my team,” I shouted!  One girl stood up and shot the ball. “That’s two points for Miss Julie, she yelled! Another student stood to join her friend.  On the sidelines, someone protested, “Miss Julie’s got to score her own points.”

 They tossed me the ball. “You think I’m going to make it?” I asked.  I stood close to the basket and aimed for the hoop.  The ball bounced against the backboard and through the hoop.  I had just made a basket!  I smiled with both joy and surprise.  We continued to play and each time I attempted there was an excitement that I might make it again.  It was clearly beginners luck but all of my campers were having fun! 

As we headed back inside the camper I had challenged walked along side of me.  Why did so many people want to be on your team?” she asked.  “I’m really bad at basketball and needed way more help then you did,” I said.  My answer seemed sufficient and she skipped to the water fountain.  

It seems that playing basketball with students has left me more grateful for the people who’ve chosen to be on my team.  The people   who challenge me to meet obstacles with a potential for endless possibilities, offer encouragement, and never let me lose sight of my ability to make a difference.  GO TEAM!

 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles--  Matthew 5 :41 

The Magic of Summer Camp!

Summer is here. This means that students all across our city will start summer camp this week!   This summer I’ve been given the chance to work at a camp sponsored by a local church. I am excited for the promises of faith, fun, and learning that so many campers will experience this summer.  Preparing for camp reminds me of why camp is such a magical place.

I was in seventh grade the first time Mom agreed to send me to sleep away camp in the mountains of North Carolina.  Truthfully, it surprised me that she didn’t question my request at all.  Camp is all about fun but it is also extremely physically demanding.  Nonetheless, Mom was brave enough to let me test the limits of cerebral palsy and it was life changing.

One afternoon we took a field trip to a local river to go canoeing.  I was paired with the counselor who was constantly lifeguarding at the lake.  So, I trusted him to keep me safe on the water. We paddled comfortably for a short while as he called stokes down the river. All the while, he kept his own paddles strong and steady so that we were on course.   This is to say, he pulled most on the weight on our ride because he wanted me to enjoy my experience. Then, the unexpected happened.  Our canoe  flipped over and I  fell out!  This left me with two options:  I could swim with the current down the rest of the river route or slide down the river rocks the rest of the way.  I could swim but I wasn’t totally confident so the bumpy ride down the river rock was a go.  The current was slow moving but I was still terrified.  At the bottom I my eyes were filled with tears.  Yet, at the end of the trip I was thankful that someone had been willing to take me on the river trip with my fellow campmates.  It was so much FUN!

Years later, I am still excited to tell the story about the day I fell out of the canoe.  Summer camp is such a magical place.  It seems to be the only place where campers and counselors alike are willing to take a risk and then freely admit it failed.  There’s an element of excitement and adventure to camp that exists at no other time in our lives.  We let go of our fears. We stretch our  personal limits a little bit more only to discover the true joy of being the person we’ve never imagined we could be!

Here’s to celebrating a summer of ever lasting memories for the young people of Charlotte!

Celebrating Education!

I’ve always loved celebrating education as a volunteer and a substitute teacher.  It’s who I am.  It’s what I do.  Nonetheless, I never considered that my role as a substitute really mattered all that much.   However, yesterday that changed. 

I was sitting at the teacher’s desk reading over the lesson plan for the day when a student walked into the classroom.  I said, Good Morning and asked her if she was in my first period class.   She replied with a smile, “Nope. I just came to say, Good Morning!”  I’ve always believed in the power of greeting others--- especially Good Morning.    It sends the message that you acknowledge who people are and the contributions they can bring to an environment.  As a substitute, it is particularly refreshing when students welcome you to their school.  It builds a sense of connection.  They’ve invited you to learn with them. 

 The morning continued as scheduled but at the end of morning announcements the principal left students and teachers with a challenge. “Continue to work hard and until further notice, celebrate everything!”  His remarks made me think.  I know this pathway to teaching has been bumpy but I should find more value in how I’m giving to the school even as a substitute.

As the day progressed, I conducted class as usually.   I took attendance, collected homework, and encouraged students to complete their daily assignment.  The routine is always the same and I’m a frequent substitute for this group.  As students worked I kept the importance of CELEBRATION on my mind.  So right before dismissing second block, I introduced students to the power clap.  It’s a middle school memory that my teachers always used to celebrate success.  You simply bring your hands above your head before you bring them together to clap. Then, on the count of three everyone claps in unison.  If it’s done right, it’s fast, loud, and fun!  It turns out to be more fun when it’s new for students. 

At the end of the day, the teacher from across the hall came into my classroom.  She said, “We haven’t really ever formally met but, you should know that students can’t stop talking about how much they love when you are here!”    Wow, this is a major complement coming from a group of students.  

As she spoke, I replayed the day in my head trying to figure out what I had done to deserve such a compliment. The power clap was new but I can’t say for certain that her students were in my second block class.  All I can say is that there is no substitute for being invited to live out your dream.  There’s an authentic joy that fills my heart the moment I enter a classroom!  It’s a celebration of recreating memories and honoring the teachers, mentors, and friends that have changed my life.  Thank you so much for keeping me inspired!

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!