Step

 "Research, Reflect, Renew and  Push" are some of the words I have tried to live by and focus on in the past few years. When thinking about what word I would choose not only for this assignment but for my life this year,  I actually struggled. 

How can I have time to pick a word with everything else going on in my life right now? I'm enrolled in two graduate level classes, it's now STAAR season, I have more responsibility at work, I need to lose weight and get healthy, I'm getting married in 5 months,  and my fiancé and I just decided to start the process of buying a home. Saying I'm busy or stressed at the moment is an understatement. 

I found myself wasting more and more time complaining and stressing over what I needed to do and what needed to be done, instead of actually doing anything at all. I finally told myself just to take it one STEP at a time. Even if my steps are small, it is still one step closer to the finish line. 

Our students juggle a lot more in life than we give them credit for. One of our major roles as an educator is to give them the skills and resources so they need to become successful adults. One thing overlooked is the ability to prioritize and organize things going on in their lives. Multiple classes, a part time job, relationships, and trouble at home can affect how they perform in your classroom. If we can teach our students to take things step by step and celebrate successes along the way, they can become more productive adults. 

There are steps in the writing process, steps needed to create blogs, steps to doing projects. Even when Randy Boomer talked about small groups, and partnerships students need to be tasked with what they need to get accomplished that day (or what steps they need to take). If we only look at the big picture, what needs to be done can get pretty overwhelming. But by taking the first step and doing what you can in that moment soon you will see the finish line and the start line will be barley visible. ~Randi

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand (Psalm 37: 23-24).