Dreaming - Thinking

Post by Lori Halbison, Primary Teacher

We’ve had some interesting conversations going on in our class lately. We’ve written papers about MLK, talked about what a New Year means and posing one of my favorite questions to ask mid school year ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ Do you remember being asked that question? I can recall the first time but it always makes me wonder how many others dream have come true.

The students who attended the MLK banquet were delighted with the experience and attention they received for their essays. One student's writing spoke about her grandmother who traveled and was part of Operation Smile. The other student’s paper was about her mother who had the idea that their family go to help at a facility for those less fortunate in the community.

When the girls came back to school to share about their banquet experience with the class these were some of their delightful comments: “We got to eat lots of food, we got our essays put on easels so everyone could read them (pointing out the ribbon attached that would never come off) and they are making two more just like these to display around the valley, I had to stand up in front of everyone and read my essay but it was fun, and we got to hug a 91 year old man!” (my favorite comment). After the banquet had ended the 91 year old man, Dr. J. Eugene Grigsby, Jr., an honored guest speaker was delighted to take photos with the girls and enjoyed visiting with them briefly. His list of experiences, achievements, and contributions are to be admired. This was a wonderful growing experience for the two second grade girls.

My first and second graders were posed the question of their dream, what they wanted to be if they could grow up to become anything in the whole wide world and the answers always intrigue me knowing their personalities. Typical answers I get are fireman, teacher, doctor, veterinarian, garbage man, and cowboy. But I especially like this one answer “I want to be a clown”. Discussions trail around the room about why but it is always the clown that interests the class.

What a wonderful justification to hear that the student wants to always make people smile and happy. What a great goal! Obviously he/she sees the need around them at a young age and what a great selfless job they will have, a job all of us should be an example of each day.

Deliberately trying to teach the students to keep dreaming, changing, learning, and growing beyond the risk to get what you want is an honor. As most teachers, I have a captive audience and I get to watch it every day in my class. The pleasures of watching a student understand a concept or get an idea that is new to them is satisfyingly intriguing to me. They have that ah ha’ moment which most call it the light bulb going on when they’ve got it, and I get to be the one to acknowledge it. We give and take from one another throughout the day. I am blessed daily knowing that I can satisfy my own dream of talking about God with a captive audience, helping others, and working with children in a school where they are seen as individuals who are bettering themselves to the glory of an awesome God.