Let them feel your passion!

Hello!

Recently, I have spent some time re-evaluating how I am spending my time!  I have been feeling overwhelmed of late, with all of my various committments.  You see, I volunteer.  A lot!  I'm what you might call an educational advocate.  I've been volunteering in schools for the last 12 years!  This year, due to my increasing visibility in several groups and increasing comfort level in speaking my mind, I was approached by two new individuals; both no more an acquaintances, about aiding a cause for which they were fighting.  I have to say that it was hard, but I turned them both down.  

This led me analyze exactly how much time I do dedicate to volunteering.   Are you ready?  It totals about 30 hours a month!  While that might not seem like much, it truly does not reflect the whole of what I contribute.  I lead two groups for our school district and both require planning and preparation!  I did not include the planning or preparation or communicating I do, monthly, to keep those groups running smoothly!  I also have a family with school age children, a husband, a home, a jewelry business, a large garden, and the usual activities that go with all of those roles.

Today, I told a friend that I need to re-evaluate what I am doing and why I am doing it, so that next year I don't feel so frazzled!  It got me to thinking about passion.  While conversing with this friend, who has become a friend having had all three of my children at some point in her teaching career, I let on that I was re-evaluating.  Unfortunately, because one of my volunteer activities is for her students, I felt compelled to explain myself.  For the last two years, I have facilitated a writer's circle for young elementary aged writers.  I've enjoyed this immensely.  Yes, it takes some lesson preparation (which I also did not count in the thirty hours).  Yes, it takes my time to be with them and to correct their work.  Yes, it takes my time to go in to the computer lab to print off their work and submit it to a poetry contest.  It is ALL worth it!  All six of my young writer's will have their poems published this year.  Three of my students had their work published last year!  They are proud of their work and so am I.  

So, as I re-evaluate what I am involved with next year, I will be looking at my passions.   I have a passion to teach.  I have a passion for writing.  I have a passion for young, highly capable students who are committed to working hard and learning.  In a nutshell, I know I will not be giving up Writer's Circle.  

It fulfills my passions to be working with these young, talented students.  In turn, I believe they feel my passion for teaching, for my passion high quality work, for my passion for a high level of commitment to school and learning, for my passion for them as individuals doing their best to go above and beyond!  

Over the coming weeks, as the school year winds down, I will be further examining my passion for education.  My current roles are widely varied.  I will be examining my level of passion for each activity I provide voluntarily, some that I've been providing for many, many years.  I think it is time for a change.  But be assured, I will continue what I am passionate about!

Thanks for stopping by!  

Carol 

http://carolsjewelryorchard.etsy.com

Volunteer....It is good for the soul.

Well, it is already November 4th!!! How can that be? Time is moving so quickly, these days!

Today ends the first quarter of the school year here! And this week, I can tell you that I have all my volunteer activities in full swing! Do you volunteer? If not, you should find something you love to do and do it.....for free! Yes, give of yourself and your talents! It will help others and make you feel good, all at the same time.

I started my volunteer efforts long ago. When my eldest child, now 17, was in pre-school, I helped with the elementary school Chicken Barbecue Fundraiser. Meeting neighbors and teachers in the school district got me involved in the PTO. I served as secretary for two years.

My time on PTO was not my most favorite volunteer experience. However, I did learn that I liked being at school with the kids from volunteering in kindergarten. That was 12 years ago!

In 2002, I began hosting a Craft Time for Kids at our local Children's Museum. Once a week, I would prepare a craft and take it to help those children visiting the museum make it to take home. Sometimes, I would read a story, too. I did that for five years!

In 2004, after taking a course to become certified as a Master Gardener, I founded a Garden Club for elementary students at our school. This is our 8th year! Facilitating and teaching the after school lessons on Horticulture is one of my most favorite volunteer activities. It amazes me how year after year, the club attracts about 30 students as members! We do many cool activities. I am sure that's part of the draw!

Through the years, as my children have grown, I've been in the classroom, as a volunteer anywhere from 1-3 days a week! I've found that I really love to teach and my heart lies with the students! I love to enrich. There have been some teachers that I've really clicked with. Over the years, I have felt the need to return to assist these teachers in their efforts to meet student needs. I have a passion for this!

So, this year I am leading Garden Club. We meet once a month. It takes a little time to prepare my lesson, but the satisfaction I receive from doing it is worth it! As far as classroom volunteering;

I am hosting a writer's circle for third graders. I have 6 students in that . They are above grade level writers! I had a group like this last year and we had some of the student's poetry published in a book selected by the Young America Poetry contest! We meet once a week for that.

Reading is another passion. For the last 3 years, I've been privileged to work with a teacher of great experience (40 years) and expertise. She has allowed me to work with her higher level readers in first grade. This year, I have 7 students! We met for the first time yesterday, but now will meet weekly! This teacher paid me the upmost compliment when she recently introduced me to her student teacher telling him that I was a mom but also an "expert" teacher! Wow! I was so flattered!

Over the years, I've also been able to help children having academic difficulty. This year, I am also assisting with children that need more oral reading experience and practice in 4th grade. I do that twice a week!

So what am I telling you? I am telling you to find something you are passionate about and volunteer to do it. Even if you can only do it once a month, you'll find the rewards are much greater than the sacrifice you make to do it! Sometimes, it is hard to get started but once you do; it'll be hard to stop!

Have a Fabulous Friday and Find your Passion!

Carol

I am daily adding new pieces to my Etsy shop for the holidays!

Please stop by and visit!

http://carolsjewelryorchard.etsy.com

http://www.carolsjewelryorchard.com

and you can find me on facebook at;

Carol's Jewelry Orchard

I'm a weirdo.....I know!

Okay, now I'm going to admit being a weirdo! I love to volunteer!

This week, I resumed volunteering where my sons have gone to school. It is something I have done for the last 11 years! Yeah, that is a long time. However, it is something that I truly enjoy!

I think I'm lucky to be able to volunteer. I love working with children and helping, in some small way, to "plant a seed" in their minds. The "seed" could be knowledge, curiosity, caring, encouragement, creativity, or any number of other things!

I have tried, this year, to consolidate my volunteering. Instead of running back and forth several times a week to school, I am going in on one day. In the morning, on my day of volunteering, I am leading a book club for first graders! It is the third year I have done this activity for the same teacher! I love it! The first graders are the "higher level readers" in this particular classroom, so I just get to work on fluency and comprehension. Most of them do a really good job reading, already. As I said, I feel really fortunate to be able to lead this book club! I enjoy picking out the book for each week and seeing the students enjoy the story, as well as the time we spend together.

Then, in the afternoon, I will be facilitating a writer's circle for a third grade classroom. This is new for me! It will be a welcome challenge. I like to write! Unfortunately, I've started a number of articles, stories, lesson plans, and few are continued to their end. It will be a challenge to guide some "budding" writers, especially when they are still learning writing conventions and finding their voice. Yet, I am still very much looking forward to this!

It may be that my love of reading ignites my interest in writing. I do know that the more I read, the more I am stimulated to write. In the first week of my writers circle, that is the one thing I tried to impress upon my group of third graders, great writers read a lot!

So, I came home late last week exhilarated!!! I am fortunate to be a volunteer and fortunate to be able to volunteer to do something I love! Thank you to my childrens' teachers, past and present, for allowing me to contribute! I encourage you all to try and volunteer. Pick an activity you love or a cause your are passionate about; you're sure to love being a volunteer, too!

Thanks for visiting my blog today! Have a great week!

~Carol~