As both a former child and now a teacher, I have come to believe that you cannot fully address student misbehavior without viewing it from a spiritual lens. For many years of my life, I found myself caught in family patterns which I gradually learned to change as an adult. As a child, I frequentlyContinue reading “Going After Heart Change: Addressing the Spiritual Root of Student Misbehavior”
Category Archives: Curriculum and Instruction
Christian Approaches to Civil Disobedience, Political Disagreement, and Communication
With my 3rd and 4th graders last week, students and I examined popular ways Bible scriptures were used to endorse racism, segregation, and integration during the Civil Rights movement. In our studies, we analyzed many quotes and primary sources, including one letter exchange between 8 prominent Alabama clergy and Dr. Martin Luther King (Dr. King’sContinue reading “Christian Approaches to Civil Disobedience, Political Disagreement, and Communication”
Using Biblical Anti-racism to teach Civil Rights
Over the past several weeks, my 3rd and 4th grade students have embarked on a study of the U.S. Civil Rights movement, largely guided by student interests. In this unit, students have examined racism as a heart issue that has the power to affect systems. In discussions, I have explicitly framed racism as a sinContinue reading “Using Biblical Anti-racism to teach Civil Rights”
Leading Students into the Desert
With the Lenten season officially underway, the Lord set the scene for a powerful conversation this morning with my 3rd graders about waiting, setting aside distractions, and allowing God to meet us in the wilderness. The Lord wove together our Literacy focus for the day (comparing and contrasting through text structure on desert nations) with Christ’s temptations in the wilderness. The conversation landed on ways that we as individuals of all ages can set aside distractions to meet with God during a time of coronavirus and Lent.
Relating Faith to Research: January Inquiry Projects
In the month of January, I challenged 10 fourth graders to relate their faith to their research! Students who received As and Bs in quarter 2 were invited to participate, and we had three new students join our team this month! In order to facilitate discussions, I divided students into 2 groups in Breakout Rooms.Continue reading “Relating Faith to Research: January Inquiry Projects”
Age of the Unexpected 