Studying for the bar and preparing for class must be an absolute blast because time is flying for me here. Lorilee MacLean (the language arts teacher with whom I share the teaching load) and I spent a few days with our heads together, envisioning a fun semester for 6th-10th grades. Mrs. MacLean taught all 5 of these classes herself last semester while simultaneously raising her 4 children with her husband, Scott. She has been such an encouragement to me, and working with her is a blast. I’ve never seen so many creative ideas ooze out of a person seemingly without effort. She’s got the students incorporating art and magazines and crafts into their curriculum of persuasive essays, book reports, journal entries, and grammar.

We started class this Tuesday, the 9th, due to the fact that Lorliee was out of town with her children, excellent swimmers all, who were competing in an international Sub-Saharan gala. I still felt like a person walking into a room blindfolded despite all Lorliee’s efforts to help and my own hours of preparation. Yet, for once, I was pleasantly surprised to find I had prepared more than I thought. My first class was 7th grade. Oh, they were so great! This makes me particularly thrilled since they are the only class I teach every day. We all buckled down in our purple and animal print painted classroom, labeled class D, which I say is now “D” for Dorothy (I still can’t get used to being called Miss Holliday, particularly when the kids could be my younger siblings). The class willingly engaged in discussion and read aloud beautifully. They didn’t fuss or laugh at me when I turned my back to the board (unlike the 8th graders). And they were extremely helpful in explaining the normal routine of the week for their level.

Wednesday, I made a trip to the other end of the hall, close to my former classroom. All the kindergarteners were standing near the gate of their playground which looks onto the one hall. Three little heads (one white-blond, two black) crowded together. Then I saw them look up, and look back at each other with huge smiles on their faces. Next thing I knew, 17 kindergarteners rushed at me in a frenzy as if I were covered in Skittles or some candy they love but can’t get much of here. Their hugs were so rewarding, truly rewarding. But under no circumstances does that mean I want to teach those little ones for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week again! Wow. That was a JOB. With two days of high school teaching under the belt, the fresh recollection of kindergarten sharpened the comparison of how peaceful and easy filling one hour is with students who know to pick up their pencil when given an assignment and who may talk out of turn, but softly and reasonably (kindergarteners don’t have quiet voices yet). Of course, now I have the pleasure of the sarcastic attitudes of a few and the determination of some NOT to understand a grammar lesson regardless of how simplistically it is explained. One teacher of mine in high school, Mrs. Bass, was so patient with students regardless of how insistent we were that we did not understand the material. But she was also firm enough to know that sometimes students actually prevent themselves from applying their brains by determining that they cannot understand what is being taught. I had one girl in 8th grade who shared this struggle (or maybe it truly was me who couldn’t explain what the uses of a noun are) and continually rolled her eyes at me. Already! But 8th grade is the only class giving me the ‘ole "try the teacher out" thing. Praise God.

My fears have been largely assuaged concerning the need to find time to study for the bar (yes, again). Lorliee takes the first class of each day, so after prayer meeting, I automatically have an hour to study with a fresh mind. It’s great! I managed to find about one hour aside from that during school hours in which to study on Wednesday. Plus, the language arts classroom is so much more conducive to adult studying as opposed to attempting to study for a law exam in a classroom covered in crayola crayon colors with nursery rhyme books everywhere.

My joy at the new placement would be greatly tarnished if the other teachers were not equally satisfied and well placed. Oh, but Ari, our new arrival from California and my replacement, seems perfect for the children. She has truly exponentially more energy than me and more of a bubbly personality. And she brought jelly beans to bribe the children for good behavior-can't lose there. Altogether, everyone keeps walking down the halls saying in passing, “God provided, God provided.” And he really did! I am blessed and amazed. Please pray that I’ll continue to be efficient with my time, particularly when the marking and grading picks up (which is in about 1 day). Also, pray for my patience. I realize how selfish I am by living with someone, particularly after having lived alone for so long. And we’re getting a new roommate as well. I want to lovingly set boundaries and learn to live with others!