This school year started itself off with personal challenges. Over the past two years I’ve questioned by ability to teach and struggled with my health. After meeting with many parents and students, and looking over the data for one of my classes, I left work talking with God about what He expected and what I wanted.
One afternoon, as I prayed, I heard a voice respond, “This is your purpose.”
The challenge: a class full of mostly boys with academic and behavior problems, many who are autistic. I’ve had classes before with one child on the autistic spectrum, but never almost half the class. I’ve had classes with behavioral problems, but never with over half the class. I thought to myself, “God, really? This is my purpose?”
The solution? Lots of engagement. Lots of movement (because you are going to get it whether you want it or not). Create a community, even if these students struggle to like one another. Remind them that they are to check on you as well.
I asked my students to check in on me if they noticed I wasn’t optimistic or had a good attitude, and guess what? They did. I had a headache from being dehydrated, and a student noticed I seemed in a bad mood (it was mostly the headache pain) and they asked me to check my mood. I’m hoping that this year will go well.
