This week I finished 32 weeks of teaching Latin & Hands-On Geography to 23 of the most wonderful children. It was worth it to get involved!
Over the years I’ve attended great conferences, met “famous” speakers, hosted & lead breakout sessions at conferences, and reviewed enough free curriculum to go blind.
I’ve run large twitter parties, earned money writing featured posts, and even earned money for ‘ad space’.
I’ve gotten ‘sponsored’ for conferences (when a company pays your way & you rep them). I have worked for BIG bloggers planning their monthly themes and running their Pinterest accounts. (Yes, other people do that for them!) I’ve started social media accounts for others. I’ve been paid as a contributing writer on big homeschool blogs. I became a homeschool magazine columnist! (my words in print has been one of my greatest joys!)
As fun as all that was … teaching these students was better. Teaching was far more rewarding.
Get Involved
I can’t tell you how many posts, ideas, and activities I have published online throughout the years hoping someone – anyone – would try it. Waiting to hear if it even worked.
Y’all, I got to see it every single Thursday and those ‘ah ha’ moments … they are the best!
I’ve taught almost every grade of Sunday School for a full year. K- 3rd and 5th & 6th. Some classes over 20 students. But Geography – Mrs. Layton’s Class – it was better. And I hate to say that about church & Sunday school but I did not create or plan most of those classes. Often I was a warm body, line leader, snack provider. M’kay, serve in your local church it’s easy.
I planned my own Geography classes and incorporated activities into the Latin class. Thankfully the students loved it. The parents loved it. I loved it! I loved them.
I can not encourage you enough to get involved at the local level. If it’s serving, volunteering, part time work, or whatever. It can be stressful, frustrating, or even exhausting … but it’s worth it!
Join the PTA, be a teacher’s assistant, lead that co-op, organize those field trips, be available. And that right there is really what holds us back.
The too busy of life that keeps us captive from doing great things. I am easily replaceable online. Our blog posts have been copied. My son’s Lego creations recreated and shared as an original.
But in that class – that’s where good things happened! I am crazy thankful to have been part of it!
