Today, however, I taught a lesson that I didn't plan and didn't have written down anywhere. I'm talking about the toughest kind...the BIG life lessons that we all remember learning along the way....and I spoke some TRUTH up into 3 children who needed to learn a hard lesson.
I have one beautiful girl in my class that already has body issues as a 10 year old because she is not the average size of other girls in my class. She is many many things--a talented singer, and wonderful writer, and a thoughtful friend to others in our class--and I get very protective over anyone who makes my children in my class feel less than worthwhile. So you can imagine my shock when 3 members of our class were making a joke and referencing her name. We got T-Shirt order forms for Field Day and someone made the comment "Ohhh, she needs to get an XL size!" I was not within earshot of this conversation and THANKFULLY neither was this sweet angel (who they were talking about)...but I have honest students who came told me immediately what had just happened. As I looked to the clock and noticed that there were only 6 minutes left before the bell rang...I snapped into a role I don't often play--disciplinarian.
I had 3 little terrified faces come over, almost like they knew what was coming, and I let them explain themselves. It's amazing how quickly a story changes when you are put on the spot and know you are in trouble--unfortunately for them, I was the QUEEN of changing a story to make it sound better and I know a lot of the tricks. Blaming someone else, saying people misunderstood...classic moves. But I heard them out...then brought about 3 minutes of the most important thing they would have learned today....how to treat others. I preached a little to them--saying God made everyone different and there is NO WAY we are able to pick on someone different than us because we're all different. I told them that words about body image stick with people for life...and that people even cry at night when others say hurtful things about their bodies. I explained that people who tear others down with their words are not the kind of people that they are--and that I expect more from them. I honestly got a little teary-eyed and shared with them that I have even gone through really hurtful times when people have picked on my appearance. I said that words stick with people for life, and that they need to be careful not to negatively impact someone else's life. Like I mentioned, I spoke some gospel up into their lives. Character is more important to me than cursive...let's learn how to be humans in 4th grade. Let's take the time to figure out how we can be better members of society one day.
I wanted them to walk out the door not remembering fractions, the Revolutionary War, or circuit building from our lessons today--but hopefully thinking long and hard about what they had just done by only using their words. Upon reflection, I remember the times in life very clearly that I learned these lessons. This conversation reminded me of how fragile people can be when torn down with words, and made me acutely sensitive to their little spirits.
What a big responsibility this job of teaching is--my babies are growing up and need to have a foundation of strong character as well as learn things in the math book. It's my ultimate goal at the end of the day....and it was practiced today and occurred in a moment that was unplanned, but ended up being sweet and beautiful.
