Teaching

I was thinking this week about teaching and the intricacies of it. I have been teaching for a long time, but it was the same two kids classes. Over the summer, I changed my schedule and left the Advanced Black Dragons for the Tiny Tigers and the Beginner and Intermediate Black Dragons. It was a big change, and I am still feeling the effects.

Teaching the Advanced kids had some specific expectations that developed over time, and I had a pretty good feel for how to accomplish them. However now, I feel like a total newbie when it comes to teaching. I think I have found my rhythm with the Tiny Tigers, but am still struggling with the Black Dragons.

It is an enjoyable challenge though. I have had to go back to the basics, and learn how to teach them. And I have realized that there is a lot that I have taken for granted over the years. It is exciting because I am always learning. And that is truly awesome.

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Stigma

 

If anyone has noticed my car, they will have seen my bumper stickers. They all have meaning to me, but there is one that I hesitated for a while before I chose to put it on anyway.

It's one that I hope will encourage conversations about mental illness. My dad saw it an agreed that depression lies. However I didn't think he really understood and so I explained it to him. Depression will tell you that you are hopeless, worthless, and that you can't do anything. It will discourage you every chance it can get. But IT LIES. Because you are worth it, and you aren't hopeless and you CAN do anything you set out to do.

I have a couple of books by Jenny Lawson, and they have really resonated with me. I bought my bumper sticker through her online shop (and a some other cool stuff) because challenging this stigma is important. I am personally affected by mental illness, but it doesn't define who we are. Yes we may seem awkward or fragile sometimes, but we all have something amazing to offer. Sometimes, it is hard to see, and the battle will continue. We are all amazing and we need to celebrate that.

 

(My first blog was better, but I had a moment and accidentally deleted it. But my point is still the same.)

 

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