A Look Ahead

I'm tired. MY. FEET. HURT. I see spots. I hear beeping. I canNOT stop singing songs from Willy Wonka & chocolate is ALWAYS on my mind. These things will go away (although I will miss some of them!). It's what one of my sweet 5th graders said to me late this afternoon which I will probably remember always: "Will I ever see you again after school's out?"

Sigh ... So sweet, I know. My heart felt like it was going to lurch out of me!

Now that I have announced my leaving, it is bittersweet. I have not told any student yet & as they make plans for next year, talk about which teacher they want or ask if I will teach this grade or that grade, it yanks at my heartstrings. Today's question definitely did & sometimes it's just difficult to know I'm leaving things like this behind.

Just for a moment though, can we remember Lot's wife? "But Lot's wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt."

YOWZERS! The meaning of "looked back" in the Greek & Hebrew means she pondered or considered. She didn't just look back to say good-bye once more. She wasn't waving to her friends. She also wasn't looking back at her beautiful home. We can gather from the text that she wasn't happy about leaving, either. But be not deceived, God will not be mocked. They were told not to look back. They were warned. She was warned. So, make no mistake about the tug at my heartstrings ... I am not pondering my decision. In fact, I'm very happy with it. :o) But it did get me thinking....

Each morning, as you begin your homeschooling lessons, do you begin with a look ahead ...or do you look back? I know so often as a teacher, a lesson would botch because a child got sick mid-lesson ...or it was picture day & my schedule was off ...or I lost my place because children didn't answer how I thought they would so I never got my point across. I would think about what I would've changed for days & then I would re-teach it just to see if the same thing happened. It was bad! I'm sure the list could go on ... I'm sure you could add distractions to my list.

The phone rang and you HAD to take it.

The laundry was piling up so you tended to it.

You forgot to pick up the dry cleaning so you ran up the street for just a minute.

With all the distractions we come in contact with every day, it's tough to remember that yesterday is gone & today is filled with an endless possibility of new mercies. Decide each morning that yesterday's distractions will not prevent you from moving ahead today. Try getting up 30 minutes early & preparing before everyone wakes or if you're a night owl, stay up a few minutes more & make sure you've made the changes needed to press forward. Call me to schedule a planning session or let's meet to discuss rearranging your weekly schedule. You've got the great responsibility & calling of pouring into your children & by discussing some changes you'll make in order to stay focused, you can share with your child how looking back is not productive & the changes we've made are going to help you both be more productive. We will learn from our mistakes ~ yes; We will not dwell on them. Finally, as you pour into your child, remember they are watching your every move.

This includes how you react.

This includes how you speak to them and to others.

This includes how you adapt.

This includes how hard you work.

And this includes whether you look ahead ...or look back.


"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Shannan

Welcome Change...Come on in!

I stepped into my first classroom setting in 1999 and on June 11, I will say good-bye to formal school education for the time being. Talk about change!

I will now be working with several home school groups and consulting for an educational curriculum provider. This decision was not made lightly, for it was prayed over by many throughout the course of several months. There are many exciting things (which shall reveal themselves all in the right time) but this is the first step. One driving scripture was Acts 1:4. Jesus says, "but wait for the gift." Another scripture is from Jeremiah 14:22, "...Therefore we will wait expectantly for you, for you have made all these things." I was led to this decision but covet your prayers as the next steps unfold.

MY heart is to serve God with all that is within me using the gifts and talents He provided me. Throughout the past three years, I have served many home schooling families in the support of educating their children. With overwhelming support, they have encouraged me (among others) to do more on a more regular basis. Well, now is your opportunity to take advantage of me! =o) I am available to help you with your home school curriculum selection, outlining your year or planning for each month, as well as leading small groups. I also offer tutoring and evaluations and much, much more. When you contact me, we can discuss your personal needs and create a plan together, suited just for you.

For those of you who have prayed me through this step, THANK YOU! God has truly blessed me with His people surrounding me. Each one of you has shared a unique word ~from His Word~ that has been forever ingrained in me. For those of you just joining my journey, thank YOU for your support! Our lives will forever be intertwined and I anxiously await what's to come!

"Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is..." Romans 12:2. I refuse to drown in this world's rushing waters or stand idly by while I'm called by Him to serve. I will stand firm & pay attention to what HE wants for me.

I hope you join me in this because I can assure you exciting things are to come!!!!



Shannan

I Can Sense It!!!

Can you sense it?

The smell of sunscreen and strawberries waft through the air...The views are breath-taking with turquoise waters, white-washed sands and vibrant, over sized beach towels nestled underneath an umbrella...The distant sounds are those of laughter, lifeguard whistles, and splashing...

It's almost here...

Do you remember when you were a kid and the excitement of summer just couldn't be contained??? You thought about Disney World or trips to the lake...You secretly planned the summer's initiates into your clubhouse (or backyard shed if you were going to Grandma's)...You probably already began begging your mother to allow your friends to sleep over at your house. Guess what?! TEACHERS ARE JUST LIKE YOU! We are already thinking of our summer professional development and the way we are going to decorate our classroom next year, how our behavior plan will change or a better way to group our students...That, of course, is all while we are sitting at the pool! :o)~

Focus for just a moment though...

As the school year approaches an end, have you assessed your child's reading level?

Have you given your child a placement test for next year's math curriculum?

Do you have a plan for a better organization system?

What about the curriculum you've been meaning to take a look at for your child who just wasn't interested in the selection you made this year?

What about the infamous end-of-the-year portfolio review?

If you haven't done these things, now is the time! Call me so we can schedule your next consultation and get busy wrapping up this year and planning your year ahead. Before you know it, just like when we were kids, the newly sharpened pencils and perfectly organized spiral notebooks will be on sale at your nearest super center before you blink your eyes!

I am scheduling now for the end of May and the months of June and July...Because I can sense it! Can you?


scritzer711@gmail.com

Shannan Critzer