Sometimes we start things that are a bit harder than we expected. We try training for a 5k, writing our first book, or teaching. Yes, that’s right, even teaching can be harder than we ever expected to be.
We’re tempted to scream, yell, and throw our own temper tantrums. We’re tempted to pull our hair out and rock the “half bald” look in front of all of our parents. We’re tempted to show up in our pjs eating our ice cream in between lessons.
So what do we do before our temptations turn into actions? How should we make peace with our reality and grasping sanity?
It’s an easy, crazy, and somewhat simple answer: We don’t quit!!
Okay…so actually that might be an easy answer, but it really is a harder action to preform. What do I mean by that? I mean that we take the time–we take the hard moments and we envision a future for our class and our individual students.
- Hope for Your Students’ Future
If you don’t have a vision for your students you’ll find your heart wearing down sooner than later and your patience gnawing down to nothing. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish;” (Proverbs 29:18)
If you have a vision, a hope, a goal, or a mindset for your classroom you’ll feel motivated to keep on going. You’ll understand their faults and imperfections as something God can help them overcome. You’ll see your patience increase and you’ll hope for them like you never had before.
Take the challenge to see your “trouble student” as someone who can change the world for the better. That student who is turning your hair gray? See them as someone who will be a doctor, a scientist, or even, yes, a teacher whose changing lives just like you do.
2. Pray for Your Students and Yourself
Pray for your students! Pray for their future, their abilities, their home lives, and their spiritual growth. Why? Because God has given them to you (and also because you can never truly hold a grudge against someone you’re praying for, lol).
Pray for yourself!! Pray for your spiritual and physical strength, wisdom to handle all of those difficult situations that come your way, and for love and enthusiasm for your students. Why? Because your heart is just as important to God as those around you. God loves you and He cares about you. You’ll find God giving you more love and compassion for your class everyday and it’ll totally be worth it!
So trust me, when things are getting rough, don’t quit! When you want to scream, smile. When you want to run away, stay put. When you think you can’t handle it, hold onto God’s loving hand. God’s got a great plan for your life and for your students, so don’t give up! Don’t quit on His plan! Don’t quit on a great year! And don’t quit on your students!
Teaching Creativity 