To Teach

"We teach what we need to learn the most"~Oprah. As I watched the Oprah show when she made that statement I did not know how to receive it at first. I want to know what you think as well. Do we teach what we need to learn or do we teach what we already mastered within ourselves? I believe it is both. On one hand as we go through life and learn things along the way, we then share what we have learned or still learning with the rest of the world.

 

As a teacher I believe learning goes beyond the four walls in a classroom. And to teach is more than breaking down math to a class full of students. My theory is the world is a classroom. I am inspired to teach by different things I have been through and what I believe will help others. Even if what I teach is not received it is ok. It is ok because it came from my heart and for whoever it was for will get it, and for those that it was not meant for won't.

 

If it is believed that learning never stops, then that goes for teaching as well. As I write to you I am teaching myself. The things that GOD would have for me to master, I am sharing with you. I am not greater, smarter or more important than you. My mission when I teach is for us to understand that the work we require of others we have to first demand it of ourselves. Because what we teach is not always what we say or write, but how we live our lives. My passion as a teacher is to overcome the things I do not like about myself so I can be the person GOD has called me to be. That is my prayer for you as well.

 

So if Oprah's theory is correct and we teach what we need to learn the most than I am teaching joy, happiness, peace, tolerance and the freedom to be who I am with judging myself! What I also know is I teach what I have mastered. With hard work and Faith I am becoming more like Christ as I release the desire to be perfect and to be free! My prayer is that my life reflects that as well.

 

Master Teacher

You ever watched the movies where the teacher and the student work together? It's usually something like the teacher is "all knowing" and the student is in awe. The purpose of the teacher /student relationship is for growth. It is for both teacher and student to grow, for the better.

That's what happened to me Friday night as I seen Iyanla Vanzant in person for the first time. Seeing her in person gave me a rush. I had goose bumps and the tears were ready to form. As she walked on the stage I was the first person to jump to my feet and give her a standing ovation. At last my master teacher had arrived, what lessons would she have for me to learn today? As Iyanla took her seat the room was quite. Everyone was waiting for her first words. In true Iyanla form she started telling her story.

While Iyanla was speaking I was still in awe. I could not believe it was her standing right in front of me. I dreamed of this moment when I would see her face to face. I dreamed of that day when I still lived in my grandparents house I would sit in my bedroom and day dream about my future. I would think about the day when I would live in DC and I was doing the work GOD called me to do. I would have not known how to prepare myself for those dreams if it was not for Iyanla. That was seven years ago. I was a great student. I took notes. I observed. I asked questions. I took action.

The master teacher and student relationship at times is unbalanced. The relationship is usually the student giving the teacher an almost GOD like personality. The student without thinking seeks the teacher's approval more than GOD or themself. I thought I would never be as good as my teacher. I never once thought of being a life coach because I was not good enough. I did not see my teacher as someone who was once like me, a student. There was a time when she knew nothing and was striving to find her way just like me.

My moment of truth came the night I met her. I was passed my book of wisdom. I was told the stories of failed LOVES, family curses, and death. I was told now you go forth with what I know and be better. I was able to look at myself completely different for the first time. I no longer felt lack, but strength. Now I saw my master teacher as human and powerful as she opened her heart and told her truth. She was teaching. Again I was listening, learning, but something else happened. I realized I had mastered a lot of these things. The lessons that she was teaching was not for me. I had learned from her mistakes, learned from her success, read her work and passed the class!

I am now the master teacher. Does that mean I am all knowing? NO! Like Iyanla Vanzant I am learning, growing and at only 33 I have a lot of learning to do. I am not anywhere close to ending my journey. But I will no longer seek others to give me insight I already have within! I will no longer shrink at the thought of being a leader, a speaker, a writer, a master teacher. I know I prepared for this day! While everyone was out parting, I was home studying! While it was cool to date anyone and have a baby, I was studying. After years of studying I get it now. I finally get it! I walked out of the room where Iyanla spoke feeling I was the advanced student. I walked out the room as a student whose grades were higher than most although we were all in the same class. I am sure there were other honor students too. There were students who have been diligent studying for years too.

Knowing I have gained everything I needed as a student from my master teacher it was now my turn. Not to be like her, that's too much pressure. But more like being true to myself! After all that is what I learned the most. Knowing and LOVING self is half the battle. That is what I have mastered. I am ready to go out and inspire and teach all who GOD would place in my path. Prepared to go forth and have the courage to live what I teach. That is how you truly become a master teacher.

Tell Your Story!

I was raised in the hood or urban living as a friend of mine told me yesterday. So dating a crip was normal. That is why til this day I have a weakness for hood dudes. Shout out to 50 Cent!!! So at 8 years old I had a boyfriend. It was normal. In the hood you kinda grow up fast. Although I was in Oklahoma City, the hood is the hood. Period. One of my first friends that I met when I moved to Oklahoma at 8 had seven brothers and sisters. All her brothers sold drugs. Dad was not around(I think he died out in the streets), so her brothers took care of everyone. My friend's sister was 19 and had 5 kids! You read that right. Her first baby was born when she was only 13! My grandmother did not want us to be around these types of influeneces so she went and found girls in our neighborhood who were straight laced. They were in highschool, no babies and had dreams of college.

What I admire about my gradnmother is she knew that she was not a postive role model. So she went out and found girls she wanted to be role models for my sisters and I. Looking back she was very smart for this!

At nine years old I was introduced to Sharrie. She was pretty, played ball in highschool and was popular. To make extra money she would baby sit my sister and I. We would go up to this rec center called Foster Center. That would become my second home. There I was embraced by everyone. They knew my grandparents raised me and wanted to help in some way. This is why I have so much LOVE for inner city communities. There is LOVE there. I am a product of it. Ms. J (RIP) was the manager and wanted to take my sister and I under her wing.

At ten Ms. J showed me things outside the hood. I went to her home that she bought on her own at 36! She began to build her new home in a town called Edmond Oklahoma. At that time no one black lived there. It was an affluent community, only the wealthy lived there. Which happened to be all white. Blacks begin to pour in and wanting a better life outside of Oklahoma City.

I remember going up to Ms. J's house that she was building from stratch. She said something I will never forget. If you go to college you can get a house like this. Coming from a family that just lost their home and moved into a apartment complex, I felt I had hope. School? Where do I sign up I said to myself. From that point on I wanted to go to college. So one day I can have a nice home. Oddly enough the college I graudated from was in Edmond Oklahoma. Thank you Ms. J!

Then there was the other influence, my peers. Girls giving head in the 5th grade was talked about. They were my friends. My closest friend in the 7th grade had a baby at 12. She hid it from me because she knew that I would not think that was ok. See, I was considered the "good girl" then. Wanting to fit in was something I wanted badly. Although I was told "men don't want fast girls", I seen they did with my own eyes. So I was often confused, but wanting to be a "good girl" I kept my legs closed and my eyes open!

What has influenced me the most was in my home. Most people do not know that both my mom and grandmother battled alcohol my whole childhood. It robbed me of my peace, stablity and most of all feeling LOVED. My mom gave birth to twin girls at 16years old. From the moment she gave birth to me and my twin sis she was not around. My father was 20 and wanted to get married but my mom was cool on that. So my mom's parents raised me.

I remember seeing my mom come home with one suitcase because the man she thought LOVED her did not LOVE her any more. My grandmother would let her come home, she would stay for three weeks maybe a year. Then she was gone and I never seen her until another man decided that he did not want her living with him any more. My mom would swear she never had sex with these men who took care of her. My sister and I would just laugh. We were mature for our age. So we knew a man will not take care of you, let you live in his house and not get no coochie. Sorry! The fact my mother was not comfortable with her sexuality was why she was a victim. Also she would lie and say my grandmother "took" her children away from her. These said men would call my grandmother upset, only to find out the truth. She was then sit home living in the same house with the children she abandoned.

Abandonment is real for me. My fear of being hurt runs deep. So I told myself at 15 I would only have sex with a man I knew that LOVED me. Not feeling LOVE at home I wanted that in a man. I then decided at 20 that waiting to have sex until marriage was best practice for me. Being how emotionally fragile I am and loyal to a fault. I am not going to run after a man and forget what my purpose is. I knew GOD had a plan for me from 10 years old although my environment was rough. I did not want anyone to get in the way of that. So I am 32 and still a virgin!

Struggling through all of my history, I had to find peace. My soul craved it! So I would run to the church. I learned a lot by going to church. I LOVE church and it's fellowship is what GOD designed it for. I had to build a bridge between the streets from which I came and church where I am in the present. I did not want to knock anyone because I know what it is like to come from a emotionally empty childhood. It's easy to give in and to give up!

One day I went to a pinic with my sister in Christ from church. I was 23 and heavy into the word. I just started having a personal relationship with GOD. My sister in Christ told me of her cousin who is a prophet. Instantly I wanted to talk to him. I LOVE to hear a word from GOD. I LOVE things that are not seen but felt. So I walked up to the brotha and the first thing he said is stay sweet. Do not change. He spoke to many issues, but one stood out. He said, "do you have a boyfriend?" I said "no". He then said "Do not date. GOD said you are better single because he can use your life. In a relationship you would give everything to that man and forget about GOD." I did not get upset like, what? Be single. I had peace right away! I knew that my life was set apart. So GOD can use my life, my story to be a help to others. For me to live for GOD fatithfully and fully until my husband arrives.

My story is about being lost and found. Confused and then recieving clarity. Know what your purpose is. Why is GOD taking you through what he is? I would not change my oast because it has made me who I am. I praise GOD for my mother and father. And a special place forever for my grandparents. My childhood was tough, but you would never tell by my grace. Allow your story to heal you. Tell your story!

Freedom To Learn/Fine Motor

In my classroom I am known for being fun and serious. Sometimes more of the latter. I had to learn that children do not have to do boring "tough" work in order to learn. I challenged myself to look at teaching from the perspective of a child. That child would be me. I thought about as a little girl what type of leaner was I? I was a visual learner. So I would want a hands on learning experience. That is what I have learned to give my students. A fun and new way to learn. The curriculum my school uses is called Creative Curriculum. The Curriculum mission is for intentional, meaningful opportunities for the students to learn. I have pics of examples of my students using fine motor skills such as writing their phone numbers, coloring, building Lego's,etc. as a creative ways to learn.








Okay so this one is mine. I had to have fun too:)

Teaching and Teachers Matter

April 11-17 2010 was the week of the young child. Every year NAEYC(National Association for the Education of Young Children)has a week dedicated to young children. The themes for the week of the young child varied from Play: Where learning begins, Encouraging Health and Fitness to Teaching and Teachers Matter. As an educator I based my lesson plan this week on fun activities that promote learning through play. To look deeper into how my teaching effects my students I took to heart the theme Teaching and Teachers Matter.

Everyone can remember their favorite teacher. What about the teacher who passed out gifts for well behaved students? What about the teacher who gave parties and made cupcakes and cookies? Or the teacher who always picked you as the helper? The other students who where jealous teased you and called you "teachers pet" LOL. What about the teacher who never picked you as the helper? The teacher who always seemed negative and it effected you emotionally? It has been said that the teacher who effects us the most is the latter. The teacher who was the negative influence in our lives.

As a teacher I always think how my behavior is effecting my students? How will their futures be influenced by how I teach them today? I have the honor and privilege to teach preschool. Yes, I have my work cut out for me. Everyday there are new set of problems that I have to work collectively with others to solve. As the classroom manager I have to help solve issues between co-teachers. I have to make sure that lesson plans are purposeful, with meaning and are child centered activities daily. Not to mention my paper work! So it is important for me that what I teach is as important as what I do. To teach is to lead by example. This is why parents are the first teachers in a child's life.

Parents role in teaching is the source of how the child will respond in school. For example, if the children are in a home where their parents sit down and read to them, that child will have a LOVE for reading and learning. For the child who does not have that luxury at home, is what makes my responsibility as a teacher that much greater. This is why there must be a collective effort from everyone that is in a child's life! Teaching and teachers matter. It does not matter if you are the child's parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents, family dentist, firefighter, writer, or teacher. Our work is to give our children a life free of violence, hate, and ignorance. We must ask ourselves what have I given to our children. What has my life taught a child who will be effected in some way by me being active in their lives.

My mission as a teacher is to make learning fun and purposeful. I want my students to have a desire to learn, ask questions, and be free to be themselves. That is what my teaching environment supports. What does yours?