This school year, I want to make sure my students have the books they need to succeed. So I've created a classroom project request on a 501(c)3 charity website called DonorsChoose.org.
I'm writing to ask for any donations possible for my students - no matter the size, it will help my kids. This week only, any donation you make to my project will be doubled! If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this along. Your tax-deductible donation will have a direct impact on at least 30 students (and many more in the future), and you'll hear back from our class about your impact on our learning!
To learn more or donate:
1. Visit my Teacher Page, www.donorschoose.org/alyssa.nobles
2. Choose one of my projects, enter the amount of your donation, and click "Give"
3. During check-out, enter the word INSPIRE where it says "Match or gift code", and your donation will be matched dollar for dollar.
The INSPIRE match code will double your donation for the next 7 days.
Please feel free to send me any questions you may have, and know that my students and I greatly appreciate your support.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Peace
This morning at church, our pastor spoke about the peace that Jesus provides. The peace of knowing Him as our Lord and Savior and then a second peace that he gives us in all situations through knowing Him. I am so grateful for peace and it is one thing I constantly feel. Even on the days when I feel like I don't have the strength to get up and go another day. And those days when my patience runs out and love is not obvious in my actions or words. There are other days when preparing lesson plans feels hopeless because it never goes the way I want it or they just don't get it. But amidst all these other feelings, I have peace. And not just a peace that everything is going to be okay but that everything is already okay because it is all HIS hands. He gives me peace about my decision to move to Mississippi. He gives me peace about my finances. He gives me peace about what the next year and a half will hold. He gives me peace about all those other bad feelings I get because He has it all under control. I never really have been much of a worrier and I know it is because of that peace that can only come from the Lord Almighty. With the tragedy that happened in Connecticut, we have to trust in His will while clinging to His promises and His peace.
"And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:7
This week will be filled with holiday fun as we take 9 weeks tests and prepare for the 3rd/4th grade holiday concert on Thursday. I am especially looking forward to doing some "Holidays around the World" activities throughout the week. I cannot wait to be home next weekend though!
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| Best of friends! We went to several holiday parties this weekend to help us get in the holiday spirit before heading to our families next week. Me to Georgia, Jenna to Ohio, Angie to Texas, and Amber to Tennessee! |
Saturday, November 24, 2012
10 things I am thankful for...
1. my Heavenly Father because without Him, who would I be and what purpose would I have? Everything comes from Him and to Him alone belongs the glory and praise!
2. family! I realize now how much I took advantage of living at home during college. I have never been more homesick but am SO thankful for the encouragement and support of my family.
3. Christian home...after experiencing life outside of Rome and the Berry bubble, I am even more grateful for parents who raised me in the strength and love of Christ and holding me to biblical expectations.
4. friends...church friends, Berry friends, high school friends, TFA friends...I have been SO blessed by an abundance of friends no matter what stage of life. And what is even better is that we have been able to keep in touch and stay close even with those that I do not see on a regular basis any more. I still spend time with my church and high school friends when I'm at home and catch up on the phone or skype with my Berry friends!
5. church...I currently attend First Baptist Hazlehurst and am constantly amazed by their love and hospitality. I am also overwhelmed by the continual support of CBC.
6. my job...although teaching 3rd graders in rural Mississippi is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life, I am so grateful for a job with a salary that I can live off of. I have met so many incredible people through it as well.
7. my third graders...all 23 of them! I have to remind myself and my students often that the reason I teach in Hazlehurst, MS is for each and every one of them and the tiny bit of difference I hope to make in their lives.
8. opportunities...to travel, to spread the love of Christ, to enjoy other's company, to meet new people, to see beautiful wonders, to make new memories, to learn new things, to remember old times...we are all constantly blessed by a myriad of opportunities but often times miss them because we are too caught up with other less important things.
9. Berry College...not only did I meet some of my best friends and make some of my favorite memories there, I also learned A TON about teaching, friendships, leadership, and other random things that have made me into who I am today. Experiencing it firsthand is not just a saying!
10. the holidays...it was so wonderful to be at home this week for Thanksgiving and it was very hard to say goodbye this morning when I pulled out of the driveway. But, with it being the holiday season, less than a month and I will be back in Rome! Four weeks of teaching and difference making here I come! :)
2. family! I realize now how much I took advantage of living at home during college. I have never been more homesick but am SO thankful for the encouragement and support of my family.
3. Christian home...after experiencing life outside of Rome and the Berry bubble, I am even more grateful for parents who raised me in the strength and love of Christ and holding me to biblical expectations.
4. friends...church friends, Berry friends, high school friends, TFA friends...I have been SO blessed by an abundance of friends no matter what stage of life. And what is even better is that we have been able to keep in touch and stay close even with those that I do not see on a regular basis any more. I still spend time with my church and high school friends when I'm at home and catch up on the phone or skype with my Berry friends!
5. church...I currently attend First Baptist Hazlehurst and am constantly amazed by their love and hospitality. I am also overwhelmed by the continual support of CBC.
6. my job...although teaching 3rd graders in rural Mississippi is the hardest thing I have ever done in my entire life, I am so grateful for a job with a salary that I can live off of. I have met so many incredible people through it as well.
7. my third graders...all 23 of them! I have to remind myself and my students often that the reason I teach in Hazlehurst, MS is for each and every one of them and the tiny bit of difference I hope to make in their lives.
8. opportunities...to travel, to spread the love of Christ, to enjoy other's company, to meet new people, to see beautiful wonders, to make new memories, to learn new things, to remember old times...we are all constantly blessed by a myriad of opportunities but often times miss them because we are too caught up with other less important things.
9. Berry College...not only did I meet some of my best friends and make some of my favorite memories there, I also learned A TON about teaching, friendships, leadership, and other random things that have made me into who I am today. Experiencing it firsthand is not just a saying!
10. the holidays...it was so wonderful to be at home this week for Thanksgiving and it was very hard to say goodbye this morning when I pulled out of the driveway. But, with it being the holiday season, less than a month and I will be back in Rome! Four weeks of teaching and difference making here I come! :)
Sunday, October 28, 2012
A lesson about selfishness
It has been almost a month since my last post and I have been putting it off and putting it off because I have so much to do school wise. But today, something happened that I could not let pass without sharing with you all.
As I said, I have been so busy and incredibly overwhelmed with the amount of work that teaching at Hazlehurst requires. I am constantly being bombarded by something else to do and honestly I see no gain in most of the things people keep piling up for me to do. I hear myself saying to myself and other teachers, why don't they just let us teach! Or wouldn't they at least give us a heads up about things instead of just giving it to us and telling us it has to be done by tomorrow. Well, today was one of those days. I checked my email to find an email from our team leader about our lesson plans and basically how we needed to be teaching this instead of what our plans said. I was furious. Because not only does that throw off EVERYTHING that I was planning to do this week but there was no guidance or resources provided to do what she wanted us to do. I was going to make some copies but got so frustrated because I didn't even know what to copy for the week that I just left. And I was so tempted to get in my car and drive to Georgia. I was hit again with the doubt that me being in Hazlehurst, MS was actually accomplishing any good.
I then actually did come home to get away from school, make some dinner and try to sort through things before going back to school. I was starting to calm down a little bit by the time I got home and then I get a text message from one of my student's parents saying that her child would not be at school tomorrow because their house had burned down last night and they had lost everything. I immediately called her and she explained that she would go buy a uniform for her so she could come to school on Tuesday. I talked to her for a little while and then hung up the phone and absolutely lost it. I was sitting in my kitchen just weeping. I was weeping for this girl's family but more so I was weeping over my own selfishness.
How ridiculous that I was so concerned with myself and the things that I was having to do when a little girl in my class no longer has a house or any of her belongings?!?! I sought forgiveness, restoration, peace, and purpose that I had lost. I am not here for myself. I have been put here for the sole reason of bringing glory to the name of the ONE who can restore our broken and empty souls. Yes, it is hard. He never said it wouldn't be hard but it is NOT about me and He promises to be there the whole way. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to my own selfishness. Please pray for my student and her family.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
As I said, I have been so busy and incredibly overwhelmed with the amount of work that teaching at Hazlehurst requires. I am constantly being bombarded by something else to do and honestly I see no gain in most of the things people keep piling up for me to do. I hear myself saying to myself and other teachers, why don't they just let us teach! Or wouldn't they at least give us a heads up about things instead of just giving it to us and telling us it has to be done by tomorrow. Well, today was one of those days. I checked my email to find an email from our team leader about our lesson plans and basically how we needed to be teaching this instead of what our plans said. I was furious. Because not only does that throw off EVERYTHING that I was planning to do this week but there was no guidance or resources provided to do what she wanted us to do. I was going to make some copies but got so frustrated because I didn't even know what to copy for the week that I just left. And I was so tempted to get in my car and drive to Georgia. I was hit again with the doubt that me being in Hazlehurst, MS was actually accomplishing any good.
I then actually did come home to get away from school, make some dinner and try to sort through things before going back to school. I was starting to calm down a little bit by the time I got home and then I get a text message from one of my student's parents saying that her child would not be at school tomorrow because their house had burned down last night and they had lost everything. I immediately called her and she explained that she would go buy a uniform for her so she could come to school on Tuesday. I talked to her for a little while and then hung up the phone and absolutely lost it. I was sitting in my kitchen just weeping. I was weeping for this girl's family but more so I was weeping over my own selfishness.
How ridiculous that I was so concerned with myself and the things that I was having to do when a little girl in my class no longer has a house or any of her belongings?!?! I sought forgiveness, restoration, peace, and purpose that I had lost. I am not here for myself. I have been put here for the sole reason of bringing glory to the name of the ONE who can restore our broken and empty souls. Yes, it is hard. He never said it wouldn't be hard but it is NOT about me and He promises to be there the whole way. Thank you Lord for opening my eyes to my own selfishness. Please pray for my student and her family.
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others,that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Wedding post...finally!
Yes, I know it has been three weeks but I figured it was time to finally post about my weekend in Birmingham/Rome! The bridesmaid lunch, rehearsal, dinner, all the prep. before the wedding, pictures, ceremony, and reception all seem like a fantasy now! It could not have been more perfect and I am SO blessed to have gotten to spend time with all of these beautiful people! Thank you Taylor and Josh for letting me be a part of your special day! Love you guys!
After we sent them off to Hawaii with a shower of rose pedals, I booked it to Rome to spend a little over 12 hours at home. Hung out with Carrie on the mountain for a while, went to church and had lunch with the family, and then even got to enjoy some Berry College soccer! Cannot wait to be back for Mountain Day and actually get to talk to people and catch up! Only a few more days!!! This week we have 9 weeks testing. Pray for my kids as they take these tests and that they would use the test taking strategies and things they have learned in class. I am very nervous that they are going to take these tests and show that they haven't learned a thing since August 6! :/ Should be an interesting week since our schedules are thrown off with the testing but I'm glad it is a short one! Hope to see most of you next weekend!!
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| Some of the bridesmaids at the super cute bridesmaid lunch Mackenzie and Taylor's aunt did. Mackenzie even surprised Taylor with by playing/singing a song from Wicked on her guitar! So precious! |
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| Don't know where'd I'd be without these lovely ladies! Fab Four since 4th grade! |
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| Beautiful ceremony centered around the love of Christ. |
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| Love this of everyone! Brittany did great with the signs! |
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| Another favorite of the entire wedding party with the barns behind us! |
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| One of my favorites with the girls. |
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| The bride and I!!! |
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| With our boots! |
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| Absolutely stunning bride! |
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| Love this family SO much! |
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| Not only was the wedding a blast but I got to see another best friend and the family as well! |
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| Pinterest perfect reception. |
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Routines and blessings
Life in Mississippi is slowly but surely getting into a routine. And if you know me, I am a huge fan of routines! Every day still brings a new struggle at school but love has been so much more evident in my classroom and we are working on bringing in a sense of urgency as we learn everyday. There is SO much to learn this year and we don't have a minute to waste. When my kids really understand this concept, we will truly be on our way to achieving incredible things academically!
Last weekend I was blessed to be able to be apart of Taylor and Josh's wedding and it was hands down the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen! Everything was absolutely perfect and it was so wonderful to see friends and celebrate with them. I hope to share some pictures with you all soon! I also spent a little time (barely 12 hours) at home and at Berry. As fantastic as my weekend was, I did miss Hazlehurst and worshipping at FBC. Although First Baptist is very traditional and definitely not what I have been used to over the past 10 or so years, I really enjoy it. The people at FBC are so welcoming, the worship is sincere and takes me back to old school Calvary (singing "No Other Name" today brought back SO many memories), and I love the pastor. He is no Steve Andrews but I am always challenged and encouraged by the message. The message today was so meaningful as he spoke on the feeding of the five thousand in Mark. Incredibly applicable as I think about the Lord using me just as he did the disciples to work relentlessly for those who need Him most. It can be such a tiring and overwhelming task but He has called each of us to work for His glory and all things are possible through Him. First Baptist has definitely contributed to the sense of routine and consistency as I am finally getting settled and feeling at home in Hazlehurst. I am continually amazed by the blessings the Lord has given me!
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Hurricane, Paycheck, and more!!
We survived the hurricane! Isaac definitely made an appearance in Hazlehurst. One that caused a 2-day hurrication from school, power outages across town, several downed trees, huge puddles, and one sleepless night for this girl. I think the April 27th tornadoes/wind that knocked down trees all over Berry made me paranoid of trees falling. I didn't sleep but like 45 minutes on Wednesday evening (on the bathroom floor none-the-less) due to all of the debris hitting the house from every direction! Praise the Lord we had no leaks or fallen trees. Just lots of branches and limbs around the yard that we will eventually pick up if it ever stops raining! As scary as the whole hurricane experience was, it was SO nice to have a little weekend in the middle of the week! And it was even nicer to go back for Friday and then have a three day weekend!
But wait, it gets even better! Not only do we have a three day weekend for Labor Day, we also got paid on Thursday! Again, PRAISE THE LORD! Angie and I went grocery shopping today and it was so nice to be able to buy real food instead of whatever $20 would buy us. We are looking forward to a day of shopping on Monday to hit up all the big Labor Day sales and reward ourselves for a challenging first month of teaching. Don't worry, I already made my budget so nothing too extreme for me! Many of the things I plan on purchasing this weekend are for the wedding next weekend! I am thrilled to get to be apart of Taylor Andrews and Josh Hines big day in just 7 days! Not only will I only have a three day week because of it but I also get to see my best friends that I grew up with. Since we started college, the time that Taylor, Becky, Chelcie, and I have had together has been very limited so I am super excited to spend two days with them! (One more reason to celebrate next weekend- Becky just got engaged this weekend as well! Three down...I'm the only one to go!! HA) Since I'm already going to be in Birmingham, might as well drive the extra two hours home for some much needed family and Berry time. If you cannot tell, I am VERY excited about next weekend and all of the tiresome fun that it will entail.
Before then though, I have three days of teaching and giving my all to my students. During the hurricane, I was able to get ahead on some lesson planning and I am finally getting to the point where I actually feel like I know what I am doing. We are getting into a regular schedule now that we have our reading curriculum and I have already seen improvements both in the quality of my students work as well as in their behaviors. I'll finish this very excited and joyous post with something one of my students wrote on her science test this week:
Question: If you have a seed, what do you need to do to turn it into a plant?
Student's Answer: "I will have to give it soil, sunlight, water and air. And I will give it some plant food to make it grow into a beautiful flower and people will take pictures and ask me how to plant a flower!"
Some days, I want to come home and cry or pack up and get out of here but then I am reminded of precious things like this that my students do and say and am reminded of the reason I am here. Happy Labor Day everyone! Can't wait to update you on the exciting wedding/Rome weekend!
But wait, it gets even better! Not only do we have a three day weekend for Labor Day, we also got paid on Thursday! Again, PRAISE THE LORD! Angie and I went grocery shopping today and it was so nice to be able to buy real food instead of whatever $20 would buy us. We are looking forward to a day of shopping on Monday to hit up all the big Labor Day sales and reward ourselves for a challenging first month of teaching. Don't worry, I already made my budget so nothing too extreme for me! Many of the things I plan on purchasing this weekend are for the wedding next weekend! I am thrilled to get to be apart of Taylor Andrews and Josh Hines big day in just 7 days! Not only will I only have a three day week because of it but I also get to see my best friends that I grew up with. Since we started college, the time that Taylor, Becky, Chelcie, and I have had together has been very limited so I am super excited to spend two days with them! (One more reason to celebrate next weekend- Becky just got engaged this weekend as well! Three down...I'm the only one to go!! HA) Since I'm already going to be in Birmingham, might as well drive the extra two hours home for some much needed family and Berry time. If you cannot tell, I am VERY excited about next weekend and all of the tiresome fun that it will entail.
Before then though, I have three days of teaching and giving my all to my students. During the hurricane, I was able to get ahead on some lesson planning and I am finally getting to the point where I actually feel like I know what I am doing. We are getting into a regular schedule now that we have our reading curriculum and I have already seen improvements both in the quality of my students work as well as in their behaviors. I'll finish this very excited and joyous post with something one of my students wrote on her science test this week:
Question: If you have a seed, what do you need to do to turn it into a plant?
Student's Answer: "I will have to give it soil, sunlight, water and air. And I will give it some plant food to make it grow into a beautiful flower and people will take pictures and ask me how to plant a flower!"
Some days, I want to come home and cry or pack up and get out of here but then I am reminded of precious things like this that my students do and say and am reminded of the reason I am here. Happy Labor Day everyone! Can't wait to update you on the exciting wedding/Rome weekend!
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