Moment by Moment

Well, I returned to work today, after 10 weeks or so of summer vacation.

And I returned to a new classroom, with a different team of people.

And different "special" people.  Older children. Ones I have absolutely no experience with, either in teaching or assisting.  Children who are in the older elementary grades but who are socially, mentally, and sometimes behaviorally, more like ages 18 months-7 yrs old. It's gonna be interesting.  Because I am not the Master Teacher, I don't have to write lesson plans, IEP's, nor conduct parent-teacher meetings. I rarely have to go to an IEP meeting and only occasionally, a staff meeting.  I rarely work past 12:30 pm.  And I most definitely have rarely worked with this population of children.  Nor do I even have a passion for it. But...I want to work and stay in the Special Education field and until NYS gets "with it" and mandates public schools to cover Special Ed Pre-K, I am not interested in applying for jobs (rare that they are!) that are for older special needs children. So...I'll continue to assist.  In a different classroom. With different staff. (who are all wonderful so far!) With different children. Very different children. And for those of you who are wondering: No, I didn't have a choice about leaving the kindergarten room.  Supposedly they needed another pair of hands in this new room.  There are some "politics" involved as well which I cannot go into on here. Trust me when I say I was not consulted, my previous team was not consulted, and for now, this is my new placement. 

And....I am being challenged professionally and personally.Being an assistant in a public elementary school, where most of the class have autism or other health impairments is definitely a change for me. My experience lies with emotionally disturbed children who have been victims of abuse who also happen to have severe speech and language delays. And these are the children I miss working with. These are the children I have a passion for!  And yet....I became an assistant to earn money and help my husband with the household finances, and because I wanted to get back into the field.  For the last 4 years I was able to assist in the Kindergarten room with higher functioning children. Children who have been closest in age to the ones I've had 10 years experience with previously. And with similar handicapping conditions....speech/language delays, mild autism (meaning higher functioning with verbal skills) and a few ED kids. So of course I am a bit nervous about tomorrow's first day of school. Today's meetings all went well and the new team of people I am working with are very helpful, kind, and caring.  Very professional people. For that I am grateful.  And yet....I know it is a physically and mentally demanding job.  And for that I have been a little nervous. Will they learn? Will I know how to help teach them?

And then I came home and had some quiet time with God.

I picked up the Jesus Calling devotional book.  I turned to the entry for September 8th, the first official day of school for the students in our town.  Here is part of what I read:

   "Accept each day exactly as it comes to you.  By that, I mean not only the circumstances of your day but the condition of your body.  Your assignment is to trust Me absolutely, resting in My sovreignty and faithfulness.....the demands on you seem far greater than your strength....You can turn to Me at any point, and I will help you crawl out of the mire of discouragement.  I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day."

 He will infuse His Strength into us!!!  

Infuse = fill; pervade.

Jesus will FILL us with His Strength!  It will pervade our souls, minds, and bodies.

Moment by moment.....

          ......in the classroom.....this different setting......

              ......with these different children...with different needs...

                          ......with this new team...

                                                       

                                     ......in this new year...

Moment by moment, each new day, a child will grow.....

..........moment by moment, a teacher/aide will grow alongside them......

.moment by moment, we will teach, train, guide, laugh, cry......and grow....

.........and I will take each moment, and give it to Him......the One who infuses me with strength.......

image taken from maine.gov

...........to learn....

...............moment by moment.