by Marcia Davis-Dawkins | Dec 1, 2025 | Education, Kids, Parents, Teachers, Teens
It Only Takes a Spark
By Dr. Marci D
When I was a little girl, I learned a simple, yet powerful song written by Kurt Kaiser. The opening line still lingers in my memory:
“It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
And soon all those around can warm up in its glowing;
That’s how it is with God’s love, once you’ve experienced it,
You spread His love to everyone; you want to pass it on.”
Even as a child, I didn’t fully grasp the depth of those words. Yet now, as I reflect on the life of a remarkable woman who touched me deeply, I see how true they are.
From the age of four, she was part of my life. She was the one who taught me letters of the alphabet and my very first Bible verse—Ruth 1:16:
“Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge.”
At the time, I had no idea what loyalty, faithfulness, or sacrifice really meant. But as I grew older, her example gave that verse life. She embodied it. Her kindness was infectious, her faith unwavering, and her love for God poured out into everyone she met.
She and I shared countless moments together—singing hymns, lifting prayers, laughing through the hard times, and even shopping side by side. When illness came, I stayed close, singing her favorite songs and reminding her that she was not alone. My faithfulness to her was born in childhood but carried through to her final days.
Her heart was like her garden—always blooming with beauty, always giving life. Even when she was unwell, she longed to plant flowers, to see color and growth flourish around her. She often reminded me, “Prayer changes things,” and she lived by those words. She was my prayer partner, my encourager, my friend.
Because of her, I understand what it means to “pass it on.” God’s love, shining so brightly in her, lit a spark in me that still burns today. Her life was a song of faithfulness, joy, and devotion—and I will forever carry her melody in my heart.
Rest well, my dear friend. I will miss being able to sit at your feet and learn some more of your wise teachings.
You have run your race with grace. Your spark still glows in me, and I will pass it on.
by Marcia Davis-Dawkins | Mar 24, 2025 | Education, Kids, Parents, Teachers
Unsung Heroes in the Classrooms as Teachers and Students
By Dr. Marci
In classrooms, there are countless unsung heroes – teachers and students whose contributions often to unnoticed but are vital to the fabric of learning. Teachers who work tirelessly behind the scenes, fostering creativity, offering encouragement, and adapting to every student’s needs, shaping futures with patience and passion. Likewise, students who quietly support their peers, overcome personal struggles, or go above and beyond to create a positive, inclusive environment, all play crucial roles. These unsung heroes may not always be in the spotlight, but their impact is felt every day, as they help cultivate a space of growth, compassion, and resilience.
It seems as if people are always being left out and or ignored and for one reason or other. For Women’s History Month, I had my students research Women Scientists who were forgotten or ignored at some point or other. We even got a chance to watch and discuss, the movie, “Hidden Figures”. An article was written about the project that the students did.
The link is below:-
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/rahway/sections/education/articles/rahway-s-roosevelt-elementary-5th-grade-students-round-up-history-s-hidden-heroes-female-scientists-take-center-stage-in-wild-west-wanted-posters
by Marcia Davis-Dawkins | Mar 10, 2025 | Education, Parents, Teachers
It’s the Little Thing
By Dr. Marci D
March 6, 2025
Recently our school celebrated Music In Our School Week and we dressed up each day just to show our musical spirits. One of the days we dressed to represent various genres of music, so some people (staff and students) represented pop, hip hop, classical, country and I of course represented reggae music. During my class, I decided to use the idea as a Social Emotional Learning activity and included questions like “What’s your favorite type of music and why? Why do you listen to music? I was surprised to hear students respond that they didn’t listen to music. I went on to explain that music is a way of life and can relieve stress as listening to music can put us in a better mood. It can also help to put us in a better mood. We had a healthy discussion about the benefits of listening to music and the positive impact it can have on our brain depending on the type of music we listen to. 
Another thing that we did was that we discussed the quote from Bob Marley’s “Trench Town Rock” – “One good thing about music when it hits you, you feel no pain.” I told them that Bob Marley was from Jamaica and that I was representing reggae music genre of music. I even played the Trench Town Rock song for them. This set the mood for our class for the day. As we got into our lesson and the project that we were working on, one of the students who is from Peru and an English Language Learner came to me with his chromebook in his hand. I thought he was coming to clarify the assignment he was working on. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when he came to show me that he had done a Google translate statement which read “mi papa es muy fan de Bob Marley y le puso a mi hermana Marley por el”. Which was translated as, “My dad is a big Bob Marley fan and named my sister Marley after him.” I grinned as if I had just won a lump sum of money. I was so excited that I had connected with him just because of my discussion of the genre of music that I was representing. I felt proud and so did he. In fact, he too was grinning! I knew that we had both struck gold for the day. Soon three other students were saying that their mom, aunt, and uncle loved to listen to Bob Marley’s music. It was also a game changer for the day.
A day later, a student bought me a snack from the cafeteria because he said that I looked sad and needed cheering up and his way of cheering me up was to treat me with a snack! I am grateful that another “little thing” came into my space to encourage me and let me know that I am still valuable as a teacher and a person. I will not take any of it for granted. It is simply the little things that can make a big difference. With so many issues that I may face during a school day, what are some of the little things that have helped to make the day bearable or even to put a smile on my face? I must count it as joy when they come.
by Marcia Davis-Dawkins | Apr 4, 2024 | Education, Kids, Parents, Teachers
Don’t Let Your Light Go Out
By Dr. Marci
April 2, 2024
“This little light of mine, I’m gonna to let it shine”. Those are the words of a little song I learned as a young girl, and it has been coming to me every day recently. It hit me even more a few days ago when I shared with a friend (or who I thought was a friend), how I was observed by a supervisor and that she gave me such a beautiful. I was overly excited about the wonderful words I had read about me that I wanted to share with everyone. The written words gave me added light and confidence, I wanted to shine even more in my capacity of a teacher.
My bubble burst, my bulb blew when the person, after reading the feedback, said “Is that all she had to say?” “What right does she have to observe you?” My light was beginning to dim as he went on and on, just demeaning me and I felt weak and less than my real value. My only response was to ask if that was all he had to say. I wasn’t expecting a response, but I took my feedback paper and sheepishly put it in my binder and closed it. My tears were close, but I held it together and somehow, I perked up and thought about how close he came to bury me but then I realized that it was my light that he was trying to dim instead of trying to celebrate my accomplishment and my win. Then I started celebrating me, I picked myself up and dust me off – my light won’t go out. This one person shouldn’t put out my light, he is just one dimmer, and I can think of many people who will help and have helped to radiate my light. I will surround myself with like minded people and those who will celebrate my light. My light is important even when others can’t see. Praise is so much more important rather than criticism. Criticism can only deflate and yes, dim lights. How can we help to radiate others and create goodness and mercy? I know that I won’t abandon me, but I will continue to grow since there is no growth without pain. It is important to encourage myself and think positively about myself. There will definitely be people who want me to shine. I cannot let someone else’s opinion of me, determine who I am. I will learn to grow even from the light dimmers. Some people will never value my light.
The song goes on to say, “Everywhere I go, I’m gonna to let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.” That will be my advice to me, and I will encourage you to do the same.
Let your light shine so others can see!
by Marcia Davis-Dawkins | Mar 10, 2024 | Education, Kids, Parents, Teachers
Our Past, Helps to Weave Our Future!
By Dr. Marci
As a Social Studies teacher, who might I add does not really like History, I always look for ways to encourage students to want to study History. That being said, for Black History I wanted to make it fun and not do the same thing over and over. I was talking to a fellow educator and telling her how I felt and she quickly suggested that I consider the novel, The 1619 Project, Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith. I quickly considered the idea and ordered the book on Amazon and even decided that I wanted to be observed by my principal as I taught this novel! I was nervous but excited! I had great expectations too!
As I started to introduce the book, we discussed where each person was from, where each family originated. This went far greater than I anticipated as the students were delved into talking about themselves as well as their families. Soon we were able to write poems about where they were from. The poems were amazingly done and typed including and organized in a binder for all to see. Soon the news of the poems spread among some faculty members like wild fire – they wanted to read the poems and they did!! They were really revealing and we gathered more information about each student.
We responded to several writing prompts including How did the girl’s family make America their home? What does it mean that the girl’s ancestors were “born on the water?” What does the author want the readers to learn from this story? Explain using evidence from the text. In a sense, we were practicing to respond to NJSLA questions so students could think outside the box and at the same time learn about Black History. So there are cross curricula (Social Studies and Language Arts) woven together whilst being departmentalized. This also means that the expectations are the same for both academic classes. 
In the story, the author wanted to show that Black Americans have their own proud story of origin and it did not begin with slavery. The Black Americans adjusted to their new lifestyle after being captured from Africa. Even though they struggled they made the best of what they had and became proud of who they were.
The final part of the lesson was to demonstrate their understanding of the themes in the novel by creating a three-dimensional diorama. The students’ creativity shone through their artwork by bringing the scenes to life where they used their tactile learning skills. It was a joy to behold. It was obvious that the students were engaged and enjoyed the learning especially since we infused Project Based Learning!
Here’s that was written about the the lesson. Please feel free to read and enjoy.
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/rahway/sections/education/articles/rahway-s-roosevelt-elementary-school-celebrates-black-history-month-with-award-winning-book
by Marcia Davis-Dawkins | Aug 28, 2023 | Education, Kids, Parents, Teachers, Teens
Make the Best of Life
By Marci D
We started high school together many, many years ago and most of us lacked confidence and were unsure of where life would take us, as we embarked on our journey. Ironically, our yearbook had a heading for the school year: We’ve Only Just Begun” – as sung by the Carpenters. I have no idea who the yearbook committee members were and why they chose that song for us. All I know is that it was so fitting for a group of 10- and 11-year-olds, as we got ‘the kiss of luck’ and we were on our way. 
Lyrics
We’ve only just begun to live
White lace and promises
A kiss for luck and we’re on our way
(We’ve only begun)
Before the risin’ sun, we fly
So many roads to choose
We’ll start out walkin’ and learn to run
(And yes, we’ve just begun)
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watchin the signs along the way
Talkin’ it over, just the two of us
Workin’ together day to day
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
(And yes, we’ve just begun)
Sharing horizons that are new to us
Watchin’ the signs along the way
Talkin’ it over, just the two of us
Workin’ together day to day
Together
Together
And when the evening comes, we smile
So much of life ahead
We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow
And yes, we’ve just begun.
Five years later at our graduation, we were singing our chosen graduation song, “Do You Know Where You ‘re Going To? Sung by Diana Ross.
Lyrics
Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you’re hoping for?
When you look behind you, there’s no open doors
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?
Once we were standing still in time
Chasing the fantasies that filled our minds
You knew how I loved you, but my spirit was free
Laughing at the questions that you once asked of me
Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Now looking back at all we planned
We let so many dreams just slip through our hands
Why must we wait so long before we see
How sad the answers to those questions can be?
Do you know where you’re going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you’re hoping for?
When you look behind you, there’s no open doors
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?
Did we really understand the lyrics to both of those songs? Maybe not, but we certainly were singing. Years later, after graduation, we reunited and talked about our feelings and explained to each other the journey we took or the journey that had taken us and how we faired. We realized that we made some great decisions, had some rough or even traumatic experience and that we learned some valuable lessons over the years. Most of us kept in touch and started going to various trips together. We celebrated each other, we laughed with each with other, we supported each other, we grieved with each other and most importantly, we prayed with each other. Some of us even shared how we need to be intentional about how we enjoy life and each other’s company especially since life can be so fleeting. Our togetherness became special because we shared the same culture, similar childhood days and we shared the same values. We can laugh, and the laughter brings peace and joy. We also realized that we need each other, were able to care for each other, exhaled and the togetherness brought a bond of friendship that many can’t identify with. As we laughed, one of us said that there could be onlookers wondering why and what grown women could find to laugh about so much and that even made us laugh more.
I strongly believe that as we get older, we get joy from hanging out with good friends and we appreciate it more especially since we life in such a world of stress and pain.
The educator in me can’t help but wonder what kinds of memories and lessons my students are creating and how they will think after graduation and beyond. Will they like the things that life has shown them. Do they know where they are going?
