Watch D.O.G.S.

One proud daddy with his elementary girls.

Every morning Chris goes to school with our oldest.  He sees her in the hallways, sometimes embarrassing her but always enjoying the fact they are in the same building.  Once a year Chris takes a day off from teaching 7th graders to go hang out with a bunch of kiddos ranging from 5-11 years of age.  (It reminds him why he teaches 7th graders.)  The girls love seeing him in class, at lunch and "high fiving" kids in the hallways.
Our school, along with many others across the nation have adopted a program called Watch D.O.G.S.  (Dads Of Great Students).  Go HERE to read more about the program.  If your school does not currently have Watch DOGS I encourage you to bring it to their attention.  So often you see moms running around the building with their students but seldom dads.  Last year this program came to our school right after a neighborhood high school had a student go on a shooting rampage in the office and hallways later to end his own life.  The parents at our school are so great, we have every day covered with at least one dad and sometimes two.  Children NEED to see their parents take an active role in their lives, this is another important way to meet that need.

Now to piggy back off of that...today was my first day volunteering in Olivia's classroom.  What a joy!  I love seeing her interact in a completely different environment.  Soon I'll be in alternating between her class and Reagan's class.  Kindergarten might be one of the hardest classes to teach.  The kids come in at such different levels. 
*Some kids have learned how to sit and work at a desk and what it means to share...some have not.
*Some kids have been read to and encouraged to discover and learn...some have not.
*Some kids have are 5 and some are 4...that's a HUGE difference at this age.
*Some kids still cry when they come to school...some don't care if mom or dad ever come back.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. 

Truly, teachers take children of all backgrounds, races, behaviors, disabilities and intellectual levels and teach them.  HOW DO THEY DO IT?   I thank God that He has gifted these very special people to come along side my children and share knowledge that will shape them for years to come.  There are few professions that pour so much time into other people; teachers are under appreciated and certainly under paid.

Let me challenge you 

If you know a teacher, do something special for them.  They aren't use to big fanfare or fancy things but they do like to know someone notices their hard work.  For instance, my husband is thrilled when he gets a note of encourgagement, especially when it's connected to a Diet Coke or Reese Peanut Buttercup.  See, he doesn't need much.  (I love it when his encouragement comes in the form of a Starbucks card...then I get it.)  Don't over think this, just let a teacher know you appreicate them.