Notes from public school - day 81

During the school year, I wake up an hour before I need to get up.

“Ugh,” I start to say to myself, “Today’s going to be a Murphy’s Law kind of day, I just know it!Everything that can go wrong will go wrong.”

Do you ever do that?

“Wait,” I stop myself. “How can you be the good in the world today?”

Then I begin to tell myself ways I can make the world a better place through my teaching and through my writing and through my just being.

Since it is Christmastide, I asked myself this morning, “Hmmm, who would you like to be in the Christmas story and how could it make a difference at school today?”

And I thought of the Angel Gabriel.

I try to bring good news to my students from families struggling with economic poverty. “I’m thankful you’re here...you have a place in my heart...I’ll do everything I can to help you have food in your stomach, clothes on your back and a roof over your head before I help you learn how to write and do math and think scientifically,” I say to them over and over and over again, so when they wake up in the middle of the night worrying and trembling and sobbing and asking themselves, “Where will my next supper come from...how will I stay warm on this cold day...where will we sleep tonight?” they’ll remember that I care and that I am here.

“Don’t be afraid,” I say. “I’ll use all I have to make sure you have enough.”

I try to bring good news to my students who can’t read well or do multi-step math problems. “I’m thankful you’re here...you have a place in my heart...look at how smart you are and what you already know,” I say to them over and over and over again, so when they think they aren’t smart and can’t do the work they’ll remember that I care and that I am here.

“Don’t be afraid,” I say. “I’ll walk with you step by step until you get it.

I try to bring good news to my students from Mexico, Central America and South America. “I’m thankful you’re here...you have a place in my heart...you make this country great because you’re so wonderful,” I say to them over and over and over again, so when they hear hateful words and see angry faces and are afraid they’ll remember that I care and that I am here.

“Don’t be afraid,” I say. “I’ll use my words and give my life to keep you safe.”

I try to bring good news and comfort like the good Angel Gabriel.

All in the days before winter break in public school.