What They Teach Me In Kindergarten

As a kindergarten teacher, I do a lot of…well…teaching.  Numbers and letters, shapes and colors, Bible stories and history lessons.  I teach students how to sit still, how to use kind words, and how to be good friends.  All day long, I teach.  But I also learn.

Even at four and five years old, my students have valuable lessons to teach me.

Lina teaches me to always have a tender heart.

Lina is truly one in a million.  Her gentle kindness makes our classroom a better place.  Her sweet smile lights up the room.  Her grace and patience for others inspires me to be the patient and gracious teacher she deserves.  Lina cares for others and beautifully reflects the heart of Christ, silently teaching me to do the same.

Amos teaches me to always lend a helping hand.

Even when it isn’t convenient.  Even when it isn’t easy.  Even when there are other things he could be doing, Amos is always ready and willing to help.  Amos loves to carry my bags, clean up toys, and run any errand I need.  He reminds me that we are called to serve others with happy hearts.

Duke teaches me to laugh.  To laugh at the world, to laugh with others, and to laugh at myself.

Duke is always ready to laugh.  When Anna’s shoe comes flying off in the middle of a math lesson and everyone is still glancing around to figure out what happened, Duke is already in fits of laughter.  When I read Goldilocks and the Three Bears aloud and use a silly little voice for Baby Bear, Duke catches my eye, then burst out laughing.  Sometimes, he literally rolls on the floor laughing.

The best part about Duke’s laughter?  It’s contagious.  When Duke starts laughing, it’s never long before everyone else is laughing too.  Including me.

Nikka teaches me to be true to myself.

Every time Nikka has a chance to choose a book, she ALWAYS chooses The Little Engine That Could.  Taking it from the bookshelf, she holds it up, looks at me with big, round eyes, and says, “sivouple li l pou mwen.”  Please read it to me.

 “We just read it together this morning,” I say…but I can’t resist.  Putting down what I’m doing, I sit on the carpet beside her and begin.  “Ti tren ki te kapab la,” I say, opening the book to page one.  I never get tired of reading that book to her because I LOVE that she loves it.  And I love that she would rather read it five times in one day than read five books she doesn’t love.  And I love that she’s always true to herself, even when I say, “again?”

I could go on forever.  The lessons my students teach me about love, loyalty, trust, and hope are innumerable.  Every day, they teach me something new.

As I learn from them and teach them, I pray that I am teaching them more than just numbers and letters, shapes and colors, Bible stories and history lessons.  I pray that I am teaching them to be strong, to have faith, and to live with joy.  Wouldn’t we all do well to learn more about these things?