Starting Out

Congratulations on your bachelor's! Great job!

What do I recommend with you just starting out - advice that you've probably following and given yourself, I would try to make all my decisions based on The Bible. Because it contains Yahweh's guidance in all areas; i.e., relationships, money, sex, etc.

A couple we know, when they have a disagreement they both apologize that day before bedtime. (based on Eph 4:26 "Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:"). By implementing that one Scripture, it's amazing to see the impact on their marriage. Of course, that Scripture isn't just for married folks.

With all the information on the internet, this should be the most financial savvy generation that's ever been. Of course, we have to evaluate their advice against what Scripture says. Occasionally someone will start a thread about selling everything and giving to the poor based on Matt 19:16-22. Yet Scripture also says to "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: ..." (Prov 13:22). Scripture doesn't contradict itself so we have to study all the Scriptures on a topic in order to have a proper understanding of them.

Scripture also says to owe no man (Rom 13:8) which is seldom mentioned today. My grandparents lived that way and encouraged us to follow it. They didn't say it was in The Bible and I thought they were just old folks with old fashioned ideas. But ... (Just recently, searched for "frugal" and found thousands of ideas online to save money).

Also, to live a balanced life. Anytime I've gone over in an area, usually there are negative consequences. Sometimes I have to evaluate what I am doing with my time for example.

Most importantly is to follow the leading of The Holy Spirit and hearing Yahweh's voice is paramount.

What a challenge teaching pre-schoolers! I admire you - you'll be an enormous part of their educational foundation. From my experience with children, I've noticed a major impact is whether they think the teacher likes them or not. I don't know how they come to the conclusion that a teacher doesn't or does like them but will try to get some responses for you. At this point, I think it has to do with how something is said. The comments are probably about their behavior but it's presented as their person.

Hope you have a great year. Blessings, tturt

Congratulations on the job, and the degree completion!

Kids at that age really need grounding, and love. Even while you teach them information, they need to know that they belong somewhere, and that their voice is heard, and that they need to care for others.

They are young to be learning concepts of teamwork, but I think it would be great for classrooms to teach how to stand up for each other. Some of that is included in new anti-bullying incentives, but it's also important to reinforce the positive -- that school friends can not just hold each other accountable, but link with each other.

(A few teachers have introduced wonderful wikis with older kids, where a topic is presented and everyone takes off with informal input.)

Back to preschool -- a teacher prepares students for the next step. Once in mandatory schooling, they will begin to have tests much earlier than it seems they should (some classes test 26 days per year!), and school will start to look scary. It's important that kids learn to love school, so they will be eager to learn, and do not drop out later in life.

Big concepts for little humans... but it might just take one or two conversations for it to stick.

Sing a lot of songs, give them roles to help out, let them rest quietly, let them eat when they need to.

Young kids seem to have shorter schedules for low blood sugar, tiredness, and tolerating chaos. Listen to the cues and see them as physical needs-- resisting the temptation to just get angry and view crankiness as bad motives.