Fruitful Harvest

   Back when the United States was more of an agrarian society, this time of year would have been especially significant. And for many farmers around the country, it still is. Harvest is finishing, and the bounty of the season is being safely stored away for the upcoming year. Cooler temperatures, shorter days, and autumn leaves are in abundance. Abundance. The word derives from Latin and means â€Å"overflowing.† Understanding that the season of abundance and thankfulness coincides with the harvest adds context, but now that our agrarian roots are no longer so ubiquitous, Americans have expanded our concept of thankfulness into areas that reach beyond the harvest. As a teacher what are you thankful for? It is a perfect time to be mindful of the blessings we encounter daily in our students as well as in our families. These blessings may be as small as enjoying a savory cup of tea while doing some early morning grading or as big as seeing a student’s face light up with sudden understanding after struggling with a difficult concept. Be mindful of them. These precious moments are some of the best parts of being a teacher. Because these moments are often fleeting and easy to miss, watch for them. Hold onto them when they come. They can be sustaining in the inevitable dry and dusty times in our teaching. For some people, keeping a journal to record those little triumphs and trials along the way helps when discouragement threatens. When that happens, take some time to read about and reflect on past joys and accomplishments, and look to the future encouraged that blessings are just around the corner. For a unique and seasonal way of marking your blessings visually, select a pumpkin and place it in a prominent spot in your classroom, home, or office. Put a permanent marker nearby, and when you think of a blessing, note it down on the pumpkin. Throughout this season of thanksgiving, you will enjoy watching your blessings multiply and grow. Encourage your colleagues or family members to take part and add their own blessings. We have been doing this at our IEW Bixby campus, and it’s been a beautiful encouragement. May your pumpkins abound with blessings! From all of us at IEW, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving season and a year of fruitful harvest of student successes.    Jennifer Mauser  has always loved reading and writing and received a B.A. in English from the University of Kansas in 1991. Once she and her husband had children, they decided to homeschool, and she put all her training to use in the home. In addition to homeschooling her children, Jennifer teaches IEW classes out of her home, coaches budding writers via  email,  and tutors students who struggle with dyslexia.