Amy Scott's Thoughts

My class with their favorite stuffed animals!

If there was one day that really defined my week, it would be Wednesday. It seems like my life revolves around Wednesday. Coming in a short second would be Friday – because it’s my day off with my hubby. But back to Wednesday… It’s a big deal for me. I usually spend Wednesday during the day at home – quietly cleaning my house, reading books, skimming Facebook, blogging, and generally resting my introverted spirit. I do this so I can pour myself entirely into Wednesday night.

I get the privilege of teaching at class of 5th/6th grade girls at my church. Normally I have about a dozen girls in the class and I absolutely love this time of ministry. I try not to be a stuffy, boring teacher. I always want my class environment to be one of fun and learning. I want the girls to feel safe to be themselves and find that they can ask questions about God and life. It’s a honor to get to be a part of these lives. I have been blessed to remain friends with my students through the years and now the first class of girls that I taught are seniors in high school. One of them has regularly been helping in my class for the last two years. It’s a joy to have this kind of a relationship with such lovely ladies.

This time of year is by far my favorite. My love for the autumn months flows right into my classroom. I try to do things that highlight the season. We have a fall color-scheme for our bulletin board. I had the girls decorate picture frames that are in the shape of leaves and each girl has a photo around the outside of our board. It’s just so cheerful to see their smiling faces in the fall colored leaves.

Tonight’s snack!

Snack time also draws a lot of creativity from the seasons. Jeremy jokes that I spoil my girls, but I just can’t help it! I love to bake and there is something so friendly about homemade goodies. I hope each treat shows the girls that I was thinking about them through the week and I took time before class to prepare something. It shows that I want to share with them. I think that each homemade snack conveys a message about their importance and value. Kind of like those people who have childhood memories of their grandma always having fresh made goodies when they come over. I want my girls to get that feeling from me.  Today’s snack is chocolate cupcakes in cute purple baking cups with autumn themed sprinkles topped with a pumpkin spice marshmallow. I can’t wait to share these with the girls tonight!

Right now we’re in the midst of a Whoonu tournament! This a great game for getting to know everyone since it focuses on what each girl likes the most. Now it would take forever to play the whole game at one time, so each week I pick three or four girls to be “it” and we learn a lot about her likes and dislikes. I keep track of the point totals each week and once everyone has had a chance to be “it”, I’ll do the math and see who has reigned supreme over the weeks of playing.

We’re in the midst of one my favorite units – it’s all about the Bible! How was it was assembled, who wrote what, what it’s overall purpose and meaning is, what is the difference between the Old and New Testament. These are some of my favorite things to discuss and the girls really are learning this stuff for the first time. It’s the Bible beyond the stories. I want them to see that the Bible really isn’t a bunch of unrelated stories. The Bible is God’s plan for redemption from the very beginning to the very end.

Wednesday is a great day for ministry. In just a few hours I’ll be at a mentoring dinner with a student then I’ll head to church and make photocopies! We’ll start class off with a few rounds of Whoonu and move into our lesson time. We’ll makes cards for Pastor Appreciation Month and do a fun pumpkin place mat craft that involves weaving. It’s going to be a good night! I’m ready and excited!

I only have a couple weeks left to make a snack for my class of Wednesday night girls. I know that a new class will move up in September and I’ll still have weekly reasons to bake, but once August hits I start to get a little sad. I’m not a huge fan of change, so even the change of a new class makes me a little blue. I love these girls dearly! I’ve been building a relationship with them for the last year and for some of them, it’s been two years. Being a teacher means being invested and learning to let go. I’m still friends with a lot of past students, but it will never be exactly the same. They won’t return those seats and sit ready to learn, looking up at me. It’s been a great year. This current class has been a delight to teach. So for the next few weeks, I’ll do my best to keep spoiling them with goodies. For some of the girls, growing up means moving into Fusion and that means no snack! I hope they enjoy it while they can! I know I’m making the most of the moments I have with them!

Lemon Cupcakes!

Summer Colors!

Matching baking cups and sprinkles!