Things continue to go more smoothly this semester. There are stresses and challenges, but nothing like last semester. I can't decide if it's me or the kids. I think it's a mixture. I know what to expect, and I know how to respond. I know what to do when a girl starts cursing violently at a boy in the middle of class (still a semi-common occurence in my Spanish 1 class). I know how to respond to other incidents too. I've figured out ways to deal with the missing books issue, and I've figured out ways of dealing with paper flow so I don't drown in grading quite so much. Of course, my classes are smaller too. The kids who sat there and just wouldn't learn are mostly gone (flunked out or withdrawn from school totally). The kids I have this semester are the ones who at least cared enough to pass last semester. So classes are 5-10 people smaller. And as I mentioned in the last post, the relationships I built last semester are standing me in good stead. Plus they know what I expect, and know how to match what I expect.
It's all in the expectations, isn't it?
Something big God has been teaching me in the last month is that in Him I really don't need to worry, fret, or fear, but the basis for that is the Resurrection!!!! What's the very worst that can happen? Death? God's already taken care of that!!!! I've begun to cast a few more of my cares about God, inching away from the sins of fear and worry that plague me. I pray that God continues to drive this truth deep into my soul: I have a Resurrection in Christ, and nothing can take me away from that. There really is the ultimate happy ending, regardless of what troubles may come in this life.
Of course, I still need wisdom every second. It only takes a split second to say the wrong thing, to ruin a relationship. Please continue to pray that I will have the wisdom I need and be grace and peace to my students.
