Sheila Sims Iding
When you look into a classroom in session you see a room full of students. A room full of students learning and smiling and trying and worrying. But you and I both know they are more than just students. Each student has his or her own story. Each student had his or her own beginning to the day. Each student has his or her own family issues. Each student has exciting news to share or nerves about a lesson or worry about the day. Today I prayed for those students…not the collective ones sitting there trying to learn…but those students that bring their own individual story to the classroom that day.
Today I prayed for the student who just wanted to stay home with family instead of entering a classroom full of students and full of learning.
Today I prayed for the student who happily greeted friends but seemed more quiet around the other classmates.
Today I prayed for the student who came to class hoping the clothes were okay and the outfit was accepted.
Today I prayed for the student who came to class hungry and couldn’t wait for lunch.
Today I prayed for the student who was trying so hard to learn but that one word was too hard and the student got lost in the confusion of figuring it out…as the rest of the lesson went on.
Today I prayed for the student who had an answer but wouldn’t take the risk to raise a hand to share it.
Today I prayed for the student who fell asleep in class for a brief instant and woke up to the sound of classmates giggling at the brief sleeper.
Today I prayed for the student who was way too wiggly to sit in that seat but was held captive by classroom society rules that said you can’t just sit on the floor…no matter how much you want to…no matter how stir crazy you get.
Today I prayed for the student who heard too many words and too many lessons and the headache came too fast to learn one more thing.
Today I prayed for the student who tried desperately to take notes on that one important topic but the teacher took the words down too soon…and the words were lost and so was the student…again.
Today I prayed for the student who got it wrong...and everyone else in the group got it right. It was just about tearing a paper to make a design. But every paper at the table looked the same...except one.
Today I prayed for the student who prayed that the teacher wouldn’t say the words “find a partner” or “find a group” because in the past it has been painful to find either.
Today I prayed for the student who just wanted to learn alone.
Today I prayed for the student whose body was in class but whose heart was with family.
Today I prayed for the student who hoped a friend would suggest they sit together at lunch because alone at lunch is not a good thing.
Today I prayed for the student whose pencil broke and couldn’t get up to get another pencil and urgently tried to solve the problem so that the work could continue before getting lost and behind…again.
Today I prayed for the student who watched a movie about bullying and wept…and wept some more.
Today I prayed for the student who hoped and hoped when they drew names for prizes that the student's name would be picked. And I prayed for the student who clapped for the ones whose names were actually chosen.
Today I prayed for the student whose mind kept wandering and wandering and the daydreams came faster than the discipline to stop.
Today I prayed for the student who tried to focus on lessons but was worried about an after-class meeting with the principal.
Today I prayed for the student who sifted through notes and papers and notes and papers trying help the lesson make the most sense.
Today I prayed for the student who had homework and wondered and worried when, if and how it would get done. And would it be right? And would it be accepted? And would be good enough for the needed grade?
Today I prayed for the student because “the” student was me. As I sat at my class today this student got a good insight into what it feels like to sit in a classroom all day and have to learn, to focus, to problem solve, to keep up, to sit still, to make friends, to not worry, to learn. Today I prayed for the student and prayed that my insights today will make me a better teacher tomorrow.