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September 2005 ETC Corner
To Tango With A Teacher
Starting off on the right foot with your child's teacher
By: Sydney Millage
Even the sky and earth were crisp the first day of school that fall. As I watched the school buses roll by, tears filled my eyes; not because of the children I would have sent off that sunny morning, but because I wasn't going to school myself. A certified teacher, I had decided to stay home full-time and care for our new child and home. Yet, watching the neighbor children await their ride, I grieved for the many students I would not be reaching.
Now, many years later, my husband and I count it a privilege to send our children to school and support those who serve them. Before one school year ends, we've begun praying for the coming year-and we're not alone. Parents worldwide are actively engaged in their children's education be it public, parochial or private. Over the years we've developed a number of ways to reach into the schools with the love of Christ.
BEFORE MEETING WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER:
Pray. Praying for your child and his teacher gives you the assurance of God's sovereignty in placing each child with a specific teacher for a specific purpose.
Adopt the attitude of service toward your child's teacher. Christ's attitude was one of a servant (Phil. 2:7). He demonstrated true humility when He did what anyone could do, but what others weren't willing to do.
Be grateful. Every teacher spends an immeasurable amount of time each week planning, preparing materials and collecting resources for your child. Count it a privilege to have access to someone that is qualified to meet your child's exact, age-appropriate needs 30-35 hours a week.
Show respect for your child's teacher. The way you talk about the school and teachers will be reflected in your child's attitude. Also, preparing your child with adequate rest and meals communicates honor for the teacher's time and effort.
WHEN MEETING WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER:
Attend your school's Open House. If this is not possible, make an appointment to visit your child's classroom and teacher at another time.
When you first meet your child's teacher:
- Introduce yourself and your child. Ask questions about what your child will learn that year and the teacher's areas of interest.
- Offer to help, giving realistic limitations of your time and abilities.
- Ask how you can help your child at home in a way that is consistent with the teacher's objectives.
- Communicate your child's interests and goals as well as your desires for her growth and development.
- Share how the teacher can contact you. Before leaving, ask permission to contact him in a week or two about volunteering.
Be careful with your speech. Our words should be seasoned with salt, making others thirsty for more of Christ (not leaving a bad taste in their mouth). Let your actions and attitude prepare the way for future words of Life. When and if appropriate, tell the teacher that you pray for him regularly and ask if there are any specific things for which he would appreciate prayer.
AFTER MEETING WITH YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER:
Be faithful in prayer. Follow up on specific answers to prayer and any additional requests.
After a couple of weeks, contact your child's teacher and repeat your offer. Be specific: i.e., "I'd like to help next Friday from 8:30-11:00 a.m. Will that work for you? "
Take an interest in your child's daily "school report."
Set an example for your child in the way you respond to authority. The New Testament book of Hebrews states, "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden" (Hebrews 13:17 NIV).
Continue to show respect for your child's teacher by taking the time to talk personally with her regarding any offense. Be ready to mentor your child through difficulty, supporting the school's authority as much as possible.
Our years of working with the teaching staff have developed relationships that continue to this day. At one time I would have been a presence in the school system; now we have three representatives of our Lord in two different schools. Will you make yourself available to be used, even as you meet your child's teacher for the first time? Pray for, minister to, and serve those God has put in your path. You never know what God could do this year, because of this year, in the lives of those at your child's school.
Practical ways to love your child's teacher:
- Find out when her birthday is. Send a greeting with her favorite homemade goodie.
- Send a "progress report" at the end of each quarter stating what your child enjoyed most or how you have seen progress as a result of his teaching.
- Take responsibility for being your child's primary teacher-feed his interests, provide resources, spend time together and take educational field trips: i.e. don't dump on the teacher.
- Invite her to attend your child's Christmas program or a recital.
- Personalize any small seasonal gift with a note of gratitude and appreciation.
- Join or start a Moms In Touch prayer group. Their website can be found at www.MomsInTouch.org.
- Schedule volunteer time at least once a quarter.
- Be on time and prepared for appointments.
- Accept criticism of your child graciously and ask how you can help.
- When necessary, offer to make contacts with other teachers, specialists and agencies if it would save your child's teacher precious time and effort.
- Recognize the teacher as the teaching expert. Don't degrade or harshly criticize him. Speak gently and privately.
- Allow your child to suffer the natural consequences of misbehavior or negligence.
- Be honest. If you disagree with your child's teacher, confront her with the problem, not other parents or her administrator.
- Be timely in returning paperwork and settling accounts.
Helpful Hints for Enriched Bible Study
By: Janet Burke, Assistant Editor, P31 Woman
If your goal is to begin or reinforce a habit of spending time in the Word every day, here's some good advice: Don't get too hung-up on the method or worry that you're not doing it "right." Just do it!
If you're just getting started, aim for 15 minutes a day to begin with. Psychologists claim that it takes about three weeks for a new habit to become embedded in our brains, so hang in there!
1. Consider acquiring some tools to assist you in your Bible study time.
These may include:
- Study Bible- This would include any Bible with notes and references in the margins.
- Concordance- A Concordance references every word in the Bible and its location.
- Bible dictionary- A Bible dictionary has references and information on words and topics
- Notebook or journal- Tracking your thoughts and prayers are a great way to see how God is working in your life.
If you don't have anything other than a Bible, don't worry- just get started! Everything else is optional
2. Try Using Online Bible Study Tools.
The one I use is called Bible Gateway at www.bible.gospelcom.net.
3. Choose a Method.
There are many methods for reading and studying the Bible. Choose one that seems the most appealing to you.
- Chapter/Book Study- Simply read one or two chapters each day from a book in the Bible that you're interested in. If you're not sure where to start, try reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) or Proverbs from the Old Testament.
- Word Study- Is there a particular topic that God has put on your heart? See what the Bible has to say about it! For example, forgiveness, discipline, loving your neighbor etc. Many Bibles have an index in the back. Simply look up the topic and it will refer you to specific scriptures on the topic. A Bible dictionary also works great for this method.
- Reading Through the Bible in a Year or Two- There are many Bibles available that have you read for 15 minutes or less each day so that you can read the entire Bible in a year or two.
- Chronological Bible. I have found it helpful to read from a chronological Bible that has the books arranged in the order they happened. Many chronological Bibles are designed so that you can read through them in a year as well.
4. Meditate on God's Word.
Try not to rush through your reading just to check it off your list. If necessary, read less and think more about what God is saying to you.
5. Ask God for Understanding.
Pray that God will reveal a deeper understanding of what you have read and how it applies to you, then listen for guidance from the Holy Spirit.
6. Consider joining a Bible study group at your church or in your community.
Your local church is the first place to look for a group to study with. There may also be groups in your area made up of individuals from many different churches that meet to study topics of special interest.
Meal Swapping ~ Simplify Your Dinnertime Dilemma by Co-op Cooking with Your Girlfriends
By Trish Berg
The rain pitter-pattered on the roof as I snuggled under our old quilt on the couch with my toddler reading If Your Give a Mouse a Cookie for the fourth time. My stomach began to grumble as I realized that five-thirty had rolled around quicker then I had expected. My older children were diligently working on their homework and my son was playing in the playroom. I had no dinner on the table, and nothing thawing from the freezer. Was I worried? No way. I knew that in about a half hour, a warm, home cooked meal would be delivered to my door for my family to enjoy.
I am not wealthy. I have not hired a caterer. Yet three days a week dinner is delivered to my door. Like clockwork, the meals come, and my dinnertime stress is diminished. My kitchen counters stay clean, and my family enjoys wonderful recipes like meatballs and sausage with oriental slaw salad, or poppy seed chicken with broasted potatoes and applesauce.
It is really simpler than you might expect. The solution to my dinnertime dilemma is co-op cooking, or meal swapping. I am not a miracle worker, I am not rich, and I am certainly not a chef. I am a mom, who happens to know other moms who live life as hectically as I do. We are girlfriends who were seeking an inexpensive, simple solution to our dinnertime dilemma.
Through co-op cooking, we share the cooking responsibility for our families. We save time, money, and stress, and build deeper friendships with one another through co-op cooking. For about one to two hours of meal preparation, and about thirty minutes of meal delivery time one day a week, I am blessed with four nights of homemade dinners.
It all started about two years ago when one of my girlfriends approached me about forming a cooking co-op. It almost sounded surreal at first, but since we were all struggling with dinner, we decided to give it a try. At a cozy table in a local restaurant we met to plan our meals. Over cold glasses of iced tea, we discussed what meals would work best for our families. Each of us picked a cooking day and delivery time, then with recipe cards in hand, we planned three months worth of family friendly meals.
That was two years ago, and my co-op is going strong. We have gone through many changes, and have been able to adjust our co-op along the way. Co-op cooking has a life cycle for some families, and they may choose to leave after six months or a year. My co-op has seen three families eventually leave and two new families join. Some families left because their schedule changed, their children are now in school, or they simply wanted to try and cook all of their own dinners once again. Each girlfriend that has left our co-op has expressed a future desire to join another co-op someday, and would strongly recommend co-op cooking to anyone looking to simplify dinner. My friendships with my girlfriends who left the co-op are still stronger because of co-opping together, and I have built new friendships with my current co-op families.
Co-op cooking provides tremendous time and financial savings, and simplified trips to the grocery store. But high on the list of benefits is that even in the midst of sometimes hectic days, I no longer stress about what to make for dinner!
Cooking co-ops can take many forms, and that's one of the beauties of the co-op - each one develops its own personality, reflective of the different communities with distinct needs. Some cooking co-ops are neighborhood co-ops. Other families might co-op with co-workers, church members, civic organizations, or extended family members. Cooking for one another's families is a natural extension of neighborhoods, churches, community service groups and friendships. Any definition of community has the potential to develop a successful cooking co-op partnership.
So on those gray, dreary days when the rain is falling, and you have no idea what to make for supper, rest assured that your girlfriends are there for you with a warm smile, a quiet wink, and a delicious dinner in hand!
Suggestions for Starting Your Own Cooking Co-Op
1. Ask a few close friends to pursue the co-op with you. Choose friends with families around the same size as yours, with similar tastes and lifestyles, and who live nearby so delivery is not an added burden
2. Choose recipes to start with that are your family favorites and are kid friendly. But don't feel the need to limit your co-op to only kid friendly recipes. After all, you are cooking for the grown ups as well.
3. Purchase inexpensive, glass baking dishes with lids and Ziploc containers to share meals; do not expect to get the exact dishes back you sent out.
4. Be honest about food likes and dislikes, and possible food allergies up front when you plan your meal calendar.
5. Buy in bulk for your meals, when items are on sale, and try to budget recipes so you don't make two expensive ones in a row (i.e. pot roast is more expensive then pizza burgers)
6. Meet every three months to plan your meals. Give each family the opportunity to leave the co-op each quarter, guilt free.
7. Have one co-op member write out or type up your three month co-op meal calendar and distribute it to each co-op family to hang on their fridge.
8. Delivery times can vary depending on what works for each family. If you deliver at dinnertime, have the meal cooked and ready to eat. If you deliver in the morning, have your meal prepared with baking instructions; that way it is fresh out of the oven at dinnertime. Have delivery times printed on the meal calendars.
9. Stick to the meal calendar. However, if you must change your recipe or adapt your delivery time, let your co-op partners know in advance.
10. Be flexible with one another when life throws you a curve ball, like a sick child, a broken down car, or unexpected circumstance. Have a meal back up plan for those nights agreed upon at the outset, like switching days or having pizza delivered if you are in a pinch.
11. Decide what constitutes a meal at the outset. We only prepare and deliver two dishes: a main dish and a side or dessert. Each family is responsible for adding sides, salad or bread to complete the meal on their own.
12. Relax and enjoy the ride. Don't expect your co-op to last forever, since co-ops do have life cycles. If co-op members leave, try and find new families to fill in the gaps and give it a try. Co-ops with three to five families usually work best.
For more information on co-op cooking, visit www.trishberg.com or e-mail trishberg@trishberg.com. Trish would be happy to answer any questions you may have, send you some great co-op recipes, or e-mail you more co-op tips on getting started!
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