“This must have God’s hands in it,” says grade 4 teacher, Measha Thompson, who, overcoming many challenges, moved from teaching kindergarten for the past three years to teaching grade 4 for the 2023-24 school year.
Finding Her Home
When Measha visited ACS for the first time, she knew this would be her home. Although her transition from The King’s University to ACS came with its challenges, not only as a new teacher, but also in working with a new curriculum and trying to adjust to post-COVID life, she confidently knew, “this is where God is placing me.”
Karin Riemer, ACS Elementary principal, remembers when she first met Measha. “I knew that Measha would be a person with great capacity for resilience when we interviewed her for the kindergarten position a few years ago,” says Karin. “She had received her Bachelor of Science and was completing her teaching degree at The King’s University. Now, anyone who grows up in Jamaica and chooses to attend university in Edmonton, Alberta—moving from sun to snow and adapting to cold and culture—that’s resilience with a tropical twist!”
Less Dancing and Ice Packs
After teaching three years of kindergarten, starting over in a new grade wasn’t without surprises.
Measha recalls her first day teaching grade 4. She set up the classroom in the way she wanted and put instructions on the board. When that first morning came, the students came into the classroom, and she watched them with amazement because of one small thing she hadn’t really considered: “They could read,” she laughs. Until then, she hadn’t made the connection that these students, who were four years older than her previous kindergarten students, could already read and follow her written instructions.
As the year went along, Measha noticed other differences between her new students and the kindergartners: the five-year-olds were easier to comfort. “Sometimes, in kindergarten, an ice pack is the solution to heal all the owies,” says Measha. She also realized that kindergarten students asked for help more quickly than her grade 4s…even if they didn’t need it.
Along with a new grade came new challenges. “My new students’ first years of school were at the end of the pandemic,” explains Measha, “and a lot of the social awareness skills were missing.” She, therefore, focused on finding ways to strengthen these skills in her students, building resilience and community in her classroom.
Unlike her kindergarten students, who eagerly sang and danced every morning, Measha knew she needed to create different ways of building community within the classroom. She began with creating a comfortable place for her students to learn and belong. They voted on a class name. “We are the 4C Dinos,” grins Measha.
She also began a morning discussion time with her students. “We can have really deep conversations about the Bible—that’s been one of my favourite things so far.” When the class has questions, they know Miss Thompson’s query back to them: “Where do we go for truth?” to which they answer in unison, “The Bible!” Together, they open their Bibles and find answers to their questions.
Change, Adapt, Modify
The change in grade levels required Measha to re-evaluate and grow personally as well. “It taught me to push through the hard times each day. I can enjoy it all the same, because these are God’s children, and they’re in my class for a reason.”
Measha enjoys teaching her students and for her that means, “twenty-four kids with 24 different needs and 24 different emotions.” She mentions that sometimes “we have to just change and adapt and modify our classroom day, just to make sure that we’re all able to learn.”
As Measha dedicates her focus to these fourth graders, she sees God working within her own capacity. “I go to my Bible as I am withstanding the hard times.”
She keeps her eyes on her class, seeing their resilience and growth as image bearers. “It is a privilege to see students grow into their faith, and it is a humble honour to know that the Lord is using me as a vessel to facilitate those things,” explains Measha. “That’s the true reward of being a teacher.”
WHAT DO YOU THINK?