Lessons Learned in 5th Grade
I remember 5th grade, probably more than I remember several other years of school. Looking back, I have realized that 5th and 6th grade were probably some of my hardest years of school. I didn't know who I was. I felt awkward and everything was the end of the world, whether it was a tragic loss of boyfriend, a fight with friends, not being invited to the cool table, or trouble with a teacher. My fifth grade teacher was one of the few teachers in my entire school career that I didn't like. To be honest, I'm not even exactly sure anymore why I didn't like him, except that we thought he was mean and he made us do math by ourselves. There are things that I remember that make me laugh now.
I remember doing everything with my BFF Ellen, and watching way too much ZOOM.
I remember passing notes and talking too much in class and getting in trouble.
I remember killing our class pets (our fish) by accidentally washing the aquarium with soap.
I remember falling into the pond on our 5th grade field trip.
I remember trying to be sneaky and not get caught talking or doing things we weren't supposed to in class.
Sometimes, I think because it was such a memorable year for me, God chose to put me here. Probably sometimes to remember the ways I acted with a newish teacher who had no clue what he was doing sometimes. Probably also because as far away as it may be, I do remember that I felt real pain and things were hard at times. Some days did result in tears. It was also at that same age that I truly was developing a real relationship with God.
Some days here, I see my students problems and I just want to tell them to get over it. You're only in 5th grade. It can't possibly be that important. But that's their world and they just want someone to care enough about it, so they know that they are important.
Today I was touched by watching some of the girls in my class who were having friend troubles. I had them sit down together at recess and we were talking through some issues that they were having trying to use logic to see each other's sides. As we were talking, they were kind and able to listen well. Then, I needed to step away for a moment to talk to a school assistant about something and I told them to continue. As I was talking, one of the girls came up to me and said, "Miss, can I go get my bible?" I said, "Of Course" and she ran inside. A few minutes later, when I joined them they had the Bible open to our verse of the month for the character trait of caring (Ephesians 4:32) which we had also been studying in class and I had challenged them to memorize.
It says, " 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
They told me that they wanted to be kind and would like to ask forgiveness from one of the girls for leaving her out, even though it wasn't what they meant to do. After this, they said they also wanted to talk about some of the other problems that had been going on because the Bible says they need to speak the truth and they wanted to lovingly tell the one girl that some of the things she had been doing had been wrong.
I have seen adults who struggle to handle problems in this way. To go back to the idea that we are united and Christ has forgiven us, and then ask for forgiveness and show kindness. We also talked for while about some other problems that they had been experiencing and I was surprised to hear them mention that they remembered some of my stories from when I was in fifth grade and some of the things that happened to me. Several of them mentioned that they knew that there were some people that didn't like them and they didn't know what to do about it. I told them that unfortunately there will always be some people who don't like you. "Oh no, Miss Yoder, everyone likes you. It is impossible" I laughed and told them, "well believe it or not there are people who don't like me. Sometimes you just have to remember to focus on the people who do really care and on what God thinks."
I was encouraged and challenged by all of this. Seeing that sometimes even when I feel like it doesn't, things stick. Stories I tell, verses I share, and more. But simply seeing that God is working in these girls lives, no matter what I do or don't do. It's truly amazing to see that maybe some of those experiences in 5th grade that I thought were for nothing, are able to minister in a unique way to my 5th graders.
I remember doing everything with my BFF Ellen, and watching way too much ZOOM.
I remember passing notes and talking too much in class and getting in trouble.
I remember killing our class pets (our fish) by accidentally washing the aquarium with soap.
I remember falling into the pond on our 5th grade field trip.
I remember trying to be sneaky and not get caught talking or doing things we weren't supposed to in class.
Sometimes, I think because it was such a memorable year for me, God chose to put me here. Probably sometimes to remember the ways I acted with a newish teacher who had no clue what he was doing sometimes. Probably also because as far away as it may be, I do remember that I felt real pain and things were hard at times. Some days did result in tears. It was also at that same age that I truly was developing a real relationship with God.
Some days here, I see my students problems and I just want to tell them to get over it. You're only in 5th grade. It can't possibly be that important. But that's their world and they just want someone to care enough about it, so they know that they are important.
Today I was touched by watching some of the girls in my class who were having friend troubles. I had them sit down together at recess and we were talking through some issues that they were having trying to use logic to see each other's sides. As we were talking, they were kind and able to listen well. Then, I needed to step away for a moment to talk to a school assistant about something and I told them to continue. As I was talking, one of the girls came up to me and said, "Miss, can I go get my bible?" I said, "Of Course" and she ran inside. A few minutes later, when I joined them they had the Bible open to our verse of the month for the character trait of caring (Ephesians 4:32) which we had also been studying in class and I had challenged them to memorize.
It says, " 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
They told me that they wanted to be kind and would like to ask forgiveness from one of the girls for leaving her out, even though it wasn't what they meant to do. After this, they said they also wanted to talk about some of the other problems that had been going on because the Bible says they need to speak the truth and they wanted to lovingly tell the one girl that some of the things she had been doing had been wrong.
I have seen adults who struggle to handle problems in this way. To go back to the idea that we are united and Christ has forgiven us, and then ask for forgiveness and show kindness. We also talked for while about some other problems that they had been experiencing and I was surprised to hear them mention that they remembered some of my stories from when I was in fifth grade and some of the things that happened to me. Several of them mentioned that they knew that there were some people that didn't like them and they didn't know what to do about it. I told them that unfortunately there will always be some people who don't like you. "Oh no, Miss Yoder, everyone likes you. It is impossible" I laughed and told them, "well believe it or not there are people who don't like me. Sometimes you just have to remember to focus on the people who do really care and on what God thinks."
I was encouraged and challenged by all of this. Seeing that sometimes even when I feel like it doesn't, things stick. Stories I tell, verses I share, and more. But simply seeing that God is working in these girls lives, no matter what I do or don't do. It's truly amazing to see that maybe some of those experiences in 5th grade that I thought were for nothing, are able to minister in a unique way to my 5th graders.
the pond dive. a real classic jennifer. :) but thank you for sharing this. i agree. God does have you there- with those kids - at this specific time in their lives, for a reason! I'm glad you see that too. :)
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