The Martha Syndrome

Luke 10:38-42
    Jesus says to Martha - "you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about."


Everyday, I worry over details - if something doesn't go as I planned or as I think it should I get upset like Martha and lash out like she did.  It doesn't matter how little or big.  Jesus is saying not to look at details and get upset.  The big picture of spending time with the Lord is more important.  There is a time and place for details, but if things get out of whack, just go with it.  In the long run, it won't matter - Salvation, spending time in the Lord's Word, learning it and living it are really all that matter in the end!

4:00 a.m.

It is 4:00 in the morning, and I can't sleep.  I feel like God is telling me to spend time with him.  A few years ago, I had this idea to start a blog and Facebook page called R3 - Refresh, Renew, Revive.  I was looking into it this morning, and have found a Facebook page and book with that name.  I don't want to use that.  Then I remember came up with HHC - Healing Hands Cards, a few years ago.  That didn't really work out.  So I was sitting on my couch thinking about what I could do.  I really feel like God is calling me to start a blog about His Word, to reach out to people and help them find Him.  (Plus, it will help me in my walk!!) Then it hit me.... I have a blog LAT - Love All Teaching. This is not about teaching in a classroom, but what God can teach me and those who read this.  If you read the information about me you may remember that I said this blog will have a myriad of topics.  Well, this is going to be the most important topic: GOD AND HIS TEACHINGS!!  I hope you will read on, and not be discouraged by seeing this is about God.  I just want to write what He tells me to.  I am not a Bible thumper, I am not a preacher, I just a woman trying to follow God's will for her life.  I will continue to blog about things I do in my classroom, but there will be times that I will blog about the most important thing in my life: my faith and my family.  I pray for each of you that read this.  God Bless and Good Morning ;-)

Sadness

I am little sad this week.  There have been 4 deaths in the past 3 weeks.  3 of them I knew pretty well, and one was an acquaintance.  All have hit me in different ways, but mostly they have reminded me that we NEVER know how long we will be here, on Earth, living.  I like to think that when I die, I will go live with my Lord and Savior in Heaven, but lately I have been struggling with my relationship with God, and I am starting to doubt.  I have been saved, and I believe in Jesus, and God, and the Holy Spirit.  I know deep down in my soul that I will go to Heaven and I will see my loved ones that have passed before me, but the enemy has gotten his claws in me a little.  And that is ALL he needs: A LITTLE.  I get two daily devotionals in my inbox.  Encouragement for Today from Proverbs 31 and Daily Hope with Rick Warren.  I used to read them EVERYDAY. Lately I am lucky if I read once a week.  I recently went through my inbox and deleted about a months worth.  I fell behind again this week, but I am trying to catch up when I have (or take) the time.  Tonight, I came across an Encouragement for Today by  Wendy Blight.  In it she tells about a new on-line Bible study that she is starting TONIGHT.  So I clicked on over and watched the invitation video, and then the first week video.  I have never read one of Wendy's books, or done one of her Bible studies. I have read her work on Proverbs 31.  

I am so excited to start this on-line Bible study.  It is called Quiet My Anxious Heart.  It is a three week study with videos, readings and homework.  It sounds like a lot, and I am sure it will be, but there is only 3 videos, so I will have a week to do the reading and homework.  Tomorrow morning, I am going to restart my quiet time with God, and start on the reading.  I am going to schedule time in the morning and at night to work on the homework.  I hope you will join me and the hundreds of other women as we begin our journey to as God to Quiet MY Anxious Heart.  

I am going to try to insert a link to the study, but in case it does not work, you can alway click on her blog: wendyblight.com

Learning Goals, Progress and Successes

I am in the process of reading The Art and Science of Teaching by Marzano. 

(In my district, Marzano wrote the bible of teaching)  It is a great book and I am getting great information.  I am a little overwhelmed by all the information that is whirling around in my head.  I want to implement EVERYTHING, but I know I won't be able to implement it across all three of my preps.  I am going to try to get some of the things started in my Biology class.  

One basic question that the book answers is "What will I do to establish and communicate learning goals, track student progress and celebrate success?"  That is what I am going to focus on.

In my Biology class, we are going to start working on Punnett Squares.  (I love PSs!!!) and I have picked out 3 learning goals that we are going to focus on.  I am going to create a learning goal sheet that each student will get, and track his or her process on. I am not sure how I am going to do this yet, but I will post a pic as soon as I get it created.  One thing working against me is that I have to have it done by Tuesday, and it is early Saturday morning.  I am glad that Monday is a holiday!!   

I hope each of you have a wonderful and blessed Easter Sunday!!  Praise God for his Son!!  

Organization at school and home

Like most teachers and students, I am ready for Spring Break!  Everyone is tired.  Tired of learning, tired of teaching, tired of evaluations, observations, and assessments!  Only 14 more school days for me.  (YEAH!!!!)  But I am still looking for things to use in my classroom and at home, on Facebook and Pinterest.  One thing that it seems I am finding every where, including magazines at the checkout, is organization.  This is great and horrible for me.  I am a little (or as some say, a lot) OCD, especially in my classroom.  Plus, we just found out that the county is redoing our asbestos infested floors this summer.  This means EVERYTHING has to be packed in boxes so it can be moved to another part of the building.  SO I am looking to purge EVERYTHING I can, and ONLY keep the things I truly need for myself and my kiddos.  In the next few weeks, I will try to blog more about what I am doing in my classroom and my house.  If I have to purge at school, why not purge at home too?  It will not be easy, but I am going to press on, and get it done (not Git 'er Done)!!