Celebrating Mini-Rescues
Dear Teacher,
No doubt this past Thursday, you brought students' attention to 9/11. You likely shared videos or images of the Twin Towers. Certainly you conveyed stories of hope and loss, heroines and heroes. Maybe you read Fireboat by Maira Salman, or 30,00 Stitches by Amanda Davis. And while you shared, you hoped to gift your students with a powerful take-away.
So here's your 9/11 takeaway:
After September 11, 2001, search and rescue dogs worked day and night at Ground Zero. They were trained to find survivors in disasters. However, in the rubble of the World Trade Center, there were very few survivors to find. As the days went on, the dogs started to look confused. Some got depressed. They were used to finding people, and now they weren't. Handlers noticed this and decided to help.
The solution? They staged miniature rescues. A firefighter or handler would hide in the debris so the dogs could find them. They'd act like it was a real rescue. This gave the dog a sense of success. It lifted their spirits.
Because these dogs were not just working hard. They were emotionally affected, too. They were part of the team, and they needed support like everyone else. They needed to celebrate the mini-victories.
And you, Teacher, there in your classroom, may sometimes feel that you've hit ground zero. You've been trained for this job -- to bring life to those around you -- but it's heart-heavy work. Sometimes you are confused. Sometimes you get depressed. You're emotionally affected and need support.
The solution? Celebrate your miniature victories! Sure, your behavior-problem student is still having meltdowns, but celebrate that he made it through one class period with only minor outbursts! Yep, your drama-filled seventh-grade girl group is stronger than ever, but celebrate a week where they're trying to talk it out. You betcha! The we-know-better-than-you parents are always critical, but celebrate an incident-free pick-up line when they smile and are civil.
And those students that you're working so hard to rescue? Nope, those rescues aren't fake. Your Handler has got the rescues covered, so trust that He's right there in the rubble, urging, coaxing, encouraging. "Be strong, and let your heart take courage; Wait for the Lord!" [Psalm 27:14]
In the debris with you,
Christian Educator & School Counselor