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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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As a first year middle school ELAR teacher, I had numerous confrontations and challenges with one particular student. It was a battle day after day. Perhaps I made it tough on myself by not giving him more demerits but I just knew that at some point I would see a change. That change occurred this past year when I did a re-evaluation of how I might be treating this student. However, I think he saw me as “human” following an athletic competition. This past school year, he would come into my classroom just to talk to me and see how things are going. As I prepare to instruct him again next school year, I hope the good vibes continue. Prayer for him during the school year I know helped both of us.
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This school year God gave me many students. In one of my courses one of my students was a little more challenging than the rest. I knew he needed Jesus in his life. I often found myself talking to him after course to see how I could help him improve his behavior and grade average. Sometimes he showed that he cared about my course, sometimes he did not. I prayed so much for him. By the beginning of 4th quarter, I noticed a big change in his attitude and grades. Jesus answered my prayers and helped my student.
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In the second quarter of last year, I had a student who had been struggling with ADHD. You could tell he really wanted to learn and do well in school, but was struggling to focus. He became even more discouraged when he saw his grades were very low. His parents had him evaluated and his doctors put him on medication. His parents were hesitant to put him on medication. When he started taking the first medication his doctor prescribed, it greatly affected his mood and behavior. He became very defiant. He stole another student’s phone out of her backpack and lied to everyone about it until it was tracked to his home using the find my phone app. After that he was so broken. His doctors changed up his medications several times. We prayed constantly over this boy’s life. Finally, he seemed to reach a state of peace with his mood, his behavior, and his ability to focus. We saw great change in his life. One cool thing about this kid is that he gave all the glory to God. He proclaimed himself that God was working through all of his doctors and therapists to help him recover. We saw so much positive change in His life towards the end of the year. He was repentant of some of his old behaviors, he was joyful, his grades improved, and he gave glory to God. He finished the year strong. God is good.
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I have a particular period of high school juniors, where it is so evident that some of the boys are not saved. It breaks my heart. Throughout the year, I have tried to be an example for Jesus, have had personal conversations with a few; and on the last day of course, once again explained and shared the plan of salvation and begged for anyone that isn’t a believer to seek me out, on their time, and talk with me about this decision. Emphasized that in the end it doesn’t really matter how much math they may or may not have learned this year, but what decision they make for Jesus as Savior is THE MOST important lesson of ALL! I can only pray that I have planted seeds, and that someone next year, or years after will come along and water those seeds.
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I currently work with a few very challenging young students. One, in particular, is spiritually sensitive and very intelligent, but, often, directly defiant to whatever authority figure is around. God has answered prayer in developing his trust in me and others, but I see the need for healing in his whole family and realize that we just get to be a part of God’s plan in this young man’s life. With God’s help, we will continue to pour truth and grace into his life and his family’s life and leave the results to the Lord.