a small victory.

I just wanted to post a little something that happened the other day in fourth grade.  As most of you know I've been feeling a bit challenged with my class this year and in particular there are a few strong-willed, stubborn kids.

The other day I had put one of my boys' names on the whiteboard indicating that he had to walk the soccer field for me during his next recess (this is my new strategy, wearing them out plus they have to watch their friends having fun haha I'm such a scheming teacher).  Anyway he came up to me later that afternoon and asked, "Miss Cosper why is my name up on the board?"  I replied, "Because you were talking when you were supposed to be silent reading."  "No I wasn't", my student responded, "I was reading and the boys AROUND me were talking."  I shook my head and said, "I watched you and I saw you talking with the other boys!" almost in disbelief that he was fighting this so hard.  "No really I was reading the back of so-in-so's book." If there's one thing I learned while student teaching it was to call the student out, so I asked him, "so are you calling me a liar?"  The student not sure what to say says, "no I wasn't calling you a liar but I wasn't talking."  "So I'm lying when I say that I saw you talking?... one of us is lying here and it's not me."  He looks around trying to think of how to respond..and says "well it's either you or me...but I wasn't reading."  Oh gosh, I then told him he had to walk for the entire lunch recess and think about what he did and how to make it right.

Haha It's funny when these things happen to me (much later of course).  I am dumbfounded at the sin in man and couldn't believe that someone whom I have grown to love was lying to my face...hmm sound familiar meg?  I know that this is how Christ feels when I am in sin.  I am literally in his face lying to him, and yet I think my sin is somehow different from my little fourth graders.  Woah... reality check for me.

Anyway as I write this I have a big smile on my face, because after lunch my little guy came in, all drenched in sweat, and tapped me on the arm and said, "Miss Cosper, I'm sorry I lied to you."   I threw my arms around his sweaty little body and said, "of course I forgive you, and I am so proud of you for making the right decision.  But next time I want you to think about today and what you learned about lying." "Yea, I'll never do that again."  Well I really doubt that it won't ever happen again, but it was so good to see some change in him.  I can already tell that the Lord is doing some big things in my class.

I keep praying though that the Lord would give me wisdom, guidance, and even patience as I teach these kids.  I also would love for prayer for my kids also, and that they would see the love of Christ in me and have a huge year of growth both spiritually and with maturity.

Thank you,
 A grateful teacher