Using My Mutant Powers As A Teacher For Good
My name is Holley. My students call me Miss Holley. You can call me friend. I love Jesus, my family, teaching, COFFEE, playing in the dirt, science/nature , reading, COFFEE, creating, imagining, and playing. Did I mention coffee? My favorite scent is a new jar of playdough. Hmmmm. I smell it now.
So, my new friend, what is it that you wanted to be when you were a child?
What was the one thing that you couldn’t wait for when you grew up? For me, there were so many avenues I wanted to explore, but my favorites were:
- I wanted to be the first girl to be an MLB pitcher, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, and a point guard for the Harlem Globetrotters because my philosophy was “anything boys can do girls can do better”
- an astronaut in space cause it’s just cool
- a paleontologist who discovered a rare species of dinosaur in my backyard. I love science and digging in the dirt, remember?
- a clown, before they were scary (CLARIFICATION-because I love to laugh and I wanted to learn to ride a unicycle and juggle, not terrorize people.)
- a Pediatrician, because I was always sick as a kid. I even designed my own hospital complete with ice cream dispensers in every room and bumper cars to get around
None of that happened.
Instead, as a preschool teacher, I get to be everything I ever wanted to be.
I get paid to pretend and live out my childhood dreams and share that excitement with the kids in my class. There’s nothing like building a rocket in your classroom and blasting off into space or digging up dinosaur bones at a “dig site”. Just saying. Or even scoring a touchdown on the playground and teaching the kids how to do a happy dance, juggling on circus day and making kids laugh, or fixing skinned knees and drying up tears. It’s all relevant.
If you take the time to remember how you felt and the wonder that the future held when you were a child, you are going to be an awesome preschool teacher! You probably already are, which is why you are searching for something to help your students.
You ARE NOT just a preschool teacher.
You are ESSENTIAL. You may lead a child down a path to do something amazing in the future because you took the time to help them dream. I may not have cured cancer, but I have instilled the love of learning to 100’s of kids who might grow up to do just that. You can too. They need someone just like you.
Dr. Seuss said it so well, “To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.”
Don’t give up on your dreams. I didn’t. Like mine, they just might look a little different and be covered in playdough.
You’re probably wondering what credentials I have and how I can help you. Well, I have taught, laughed, and played with preschoolers for over 30 years.
During that time, I have been a:
- Preschool Teacher
- Preschool Director
- Children’s Minister
- Curriculum Coordinator
- Mentor
- Consultant
I am a graduate of Dallas Christian College in addition to holding a Child Development Associates Degree. I’m a mom of 3 grown children. I know none of that means diddly squat to you except that I have A LOT of experience.
In reality, I have been the:
- resident bug catcher
- lesson planner
- throw up cleaner
- playground builder
- “fixer”
- janitor
- cook
- painter
- carpet cleaner
- gardener
- landscaper
- music teacher
- crowd/riot control
- party/event planner
- game lady
- and A WHOLE LOT MORE
Not really what I expected when I graduated from college.
How about you? If you have worked in childcare for very long, you know how many hats you have to wear. That’s what sets us apart. We can adapt. Kind of like mutants. (Sorry. Comic book- geek side slipping out.)
Teaching is a tough business.
That’s why I am here. To help. The fact that you are reading this suggests you want more for your students.
After all, we aren’t in it for the income, we are in it for the outcome. Right?
The one thing that kept me going all these years was this Bible Verse:
“Do not grow tired in doing good.”- Galatians 6:9.
I encourage you to not give up, too.
If you don’t know where to start, I will be your guide. I have been deep in the trenches and have seen the good and the bad of being a preschool teacher. Believe me, when it’s all said and done, the good most definitely wins.
Knowing that you made a child feel special and valued, that you gave them the courage to try hard things and succeed, when you see them reach out and help others as you have helped them, it is the best feeling in the world. It makes me teary.
I have had former students, some already grown, come up to me, give me a hug, and say, “Miss Holley! You were my favorite teacher. I remember laughing in your class. You always made me feel special.” Sniff. Sniff. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard that and it NEVER gets old.
They may not remember exactly what you taught them, but I can guarantee they will remember exactly how you made them feel.
For anyone sharing the love of Jesus by working with these precious children, I am here to help. Whether it’s your own child or an entire classroom, I have tons of tried and true ideas for helping you navigate these learning years in a fun way. I’m here to answer your SOS call!
(p.s. If you want someone with a Ph.D. and all of the latest scientific mumbo-jumbo, you will be disappointed. I am not that person. I do believe in trying new things, but I also know what works in the real world :-). I hope you will stay and get in on all of the fun. You might just find that this is the place for you after all. If not, thanks for stopping by. I will be here when you come back.)