Open Jen's
November 2009 letter
“Dear God, no biting Stefanie. Amen.”
Is it possible that this short, sweet prayer could
come from the same four-year-old that I wrote about in August? The boy with no
discipline, no language, and no understanding of who God is? Amazingly, it is
(and I can hardly believe it myself!) Here is an exciting update full of
answered prayer about what God has been doing in classroom #4!
It has been a very hard semester. I wrote in
August about the two new students and the fighting, tantrums, and headaches.
Thankfully, our staff was able to work together to teach constant structure
and discipline. It was tiring work, but each week we could see the tantrum
times lessen. The time-out corner was not constantly in use. And finally! The
day when Saul told God that there would be no more biting! Our class has
finally experienced some peaceful days.
With such a young group- early readers- I’ve gotten to
teach some great units. We’ve learned about several “Bible heroes.” Each week
we look at one person- David, Samson, Noah, Jonah... as we look at each story,
I ask, “did this person obey God? What happened when they did (or
didn’t)?” After discussion, I ask “are
YOU going to obey God?” I love to see the eager, unanimous “Yes!”
We also
leaned about pumpkins. A family from PA mailed is five of them! So we
were able to admire them, poke them, take them on the swings & slide (NOT
my idea) and then carve Jack-o-lanterns. We roasted and ate the seeds, too. At
the end of that week, each child took a pumpkin home, and more than one parent
later came and told me that their child insisted on taking their pumpkin to bed
with them. Just when I thought we’d had enough, a pumpkin plant sprouted in the
courtyard where we had messily made our Jack-o-lanterns! And so the pumpkin
learning and excitement continues.
We also read Green
Eggs and Ham... for a month. The kids could read all the words and act it
out. To celebrate the achievement, we cooked green eggs and ham omelets for
lunch one day.
So as you can see, our chaos has dimmed a bit, and we
are back to discovering, learning, and enjoying so much. Especially about God,
and how we can worship, obey, and enjoy what He has made for us. Other
highlights include a visit from my grandparents, and Glendora Friends
Church sending gifts and
letters of encouragement for Christmas!
Thank you for your prayers, support, and
boxtops/Campbell’s soup labels. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for the
Spring!
Jen's November 2008 letter
Dear Family,
I
am so excited to share with you how God has been at work here at the Evangelical School for the Deaf! We were able to
take our six oldest students to the states for a three week long handbell tour.
Our stops included New York City, Washington DC, Oceanport
New Jersey, and Hanover Pennsylvania. We were able to visit Gallaudet University in DC, the only liberal arts
university especially designed for the deaf. We visited the Malmark Handbell
factory and learned how our bells were made. We also had the opportunity to
perform and give testimonies in schools and churches as we traveled. The ABC
news crew even caught up with us and did a special news report about our bell
choir! see it online
Highlights
from the students' perspectives included seeing their first squirrel,
dishwasher, carving pumpkins and roasting s'mores over a fire. It was also
their first time experiencing 45F degree weather and the changing colors of
autumn leaves. We visited wonderful people, both new friends and old that we
will continue to stay in touch with.
Back
in school, my K-2nd graders are reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, by
Eric Carle, one of my favorite children's author/illustrators. Now that they
are mastering the words and signs, we are using his language pattern in our
everyday play. "Mizael, Mizael, what do you see?" "I see a green iguana looking
at me!" What literary adventure might we find ourselves on next? Algebra is going
smoothly with my 10th graders, at last. When they needed some
motivation, I pulled out my college transcripts and proved to them that algebra
doesn't come easily to everyone.
Hurricane
season has just about ended. We have several tropical storms hit and school was
cancelled for a few days due to the flooding on the roads and in students'
homes. Hurricane Omar was set to hit us, with the eye of the storm being
projected to pass just six miles away. Thanks to those of you who kept us in
prayer. Omar blew right past without any damage occurring.
Please
continue to be in prayer for me, my students and their families. Two mothers of
my students have recently recommitted their lives to the Lord. We rejoice with
them and our students as we see those families get back into church. I am
continuing online classes to finish my bachelor's degree. This month I am
taking a philosophy of education class, and enjoying most of it. One of my
students has given me a golden retriever puppy. She has also been a joy, and a comfort
during some lonely times.
Remember to be saving "boxtops for education" and Campbells soup labels for
us! Thank you for all of your prayers and support.
Jen
