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Describe a recent time when you’ve been discouraged with a student’s progress. Have you witnessed a change in the student’s life, or are you still waiting for that change to occur?
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This year I had a student who came into the school a few months after it had started. So, he was coming into a new school, not knowing anybody. The first couple months were rough and he was not transitioning well. I continued to pray for him and got him some extra support to help him. I was not sure things would ever change. Fast forward to the end of the year and I saw him making friends, handling transitions and changes to the schedule better and his attitude definitely changed.
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I have students who test the waters on behaviors. They can tell me what they did and why it’s not the right choice. Some days they get it and other days they don’t. I have some that need help academically and I tell them to persevere and they can do it because God is helping them. When the light comes on we praise the Lord. When it doesn’t, we keep on praying. In Bible, I pray that the children understand the concepts. We were talking about the ascension and he said “God is everywhere.”
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I have a student who is still behaving as he was in the beginning of the year. I sometimes wonder if I am even making an impact in his life or if he is changing. However, I know it is my job to plant seeds and the Holy SPirit will do the rest.
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As we near the end of the school year, some of the change is that we are almost finished. I have seen progress in some students as we near the end and it is change through much repetition. Sadly, the change could come to a halt as the year ends going into summer. Some of the change is due to learning new behavior of studying skills and that is only modeled during school hours. Grades have come up and better decisions are being made. Some changes are a slow grind and take time and repetition to correct. Lack of instruction or lack of modeling can lead to slow progress. Much like our walk with Christ! If we don’t look to the Word or the Church for modeling or if we don’t look to Christ for instruction, our progress in our race to win the prize, slows.
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I was discouraged watching a 9th grader who seemed unable to comprehend anything being taught and visibly overwhelmed. At long last, the concept clicked for him and he responded perfectly. I gave a fist bump and said I was proud of him. He broke down into tears like he had never heard anyone tell him that before. He went on to be a model student in his upperclass grades and graduated, going on to the Marine Corps.