GL MakingRoom 2020 Digital - Flipbook - Page 8
IN WITH TH
The announcements came on over the loudspeaker
signifying that it was time to go home. As the students
lined up at the door waiting for their teacher to give
them either a high five or a hug, they were not aware
that this would be the last time that they would see
their teacher and peers face-to-face. While the students
left the room, their teacher cupped her hands around
her mouth to say,“I’ll see you tomorrow…” Little did she
know, it would be the last time she would see her scholars
in person. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into
months. Eventually, the school year was over, and they
never got to experience a proper goodbye. The only thing
she could say in her heart was, “I hope you enjoy middle
school.”
Reality Check
Making room as an educator during the pandemic has
been a heart-shaping experience. With mixed emotions,
I had to face the reality that things were not going to be
the same in my classroom for myself or for my scholars. At
first, I thought our learning experience was ruined until my
eyes were opened to see that I had instilled in my students
the principle of being lifelong learners. Our learning did not
stop; in reality, it had just begun! It was time to bring our
greatness and innovation to the table.
While our emotions were still running rapid, we understood
that it was okay to grieve something that was lost. This
helped me to see that we were not the only ones in the world
who were losing something great in our lives. In John 20:2,
Mary Magdalene encountered fear from not knowing where
Jesus’ body was taken. Likewise, we encountered the same
emotions, not knowing what was to come.
GOOD Life
Tap Into What You Have
After being away from my scholars for a few weeks, I began
to realize that God had given me a gift to keep my students
engaged. He had given me the gift of teaching, and I needed
to make room for that gift! I may not have been able to
interact with my students in person, but I utilized technology
to continue to help me teach them effectively.
With constant preparation and communication, my
classroom was running in full effect and we did not miss a
beat. Although my teaching platform looked differently, it
still had a positive effect on students and parents. Students
were able to increase their social skills, and they even
discovered some of their hidden gifts and abilities to retain
information.
Making room for our gifts and abilities during this season
required us to tap into what we already had. Once we
tapped into our God-given gifts, every encounter after
that flowed with ease. Mary Magdalene even tapped into
the greatest gift she knew-- Jesus! In John 20:16, she said,
“Rabboni!” which means “Teacher.” She experienced the loss
of someone great, but she then realized that a greater gift
was coming!