Curiosity Driven Learning Environment (YouTube Video)

Polls show that the longer students stay in school, the less engaged they become in their learning journeys.  Elementary students are more engaged than high school students. Approximately 3 million students drop out of school each year in the United States.  Change needs to happen in the learning environment.  Today's world is very technological.  Therefore, students should use technology in the classroom to communicate, research, and complete assignments.    A curiosity environment will use technology as a "real world observation tool".  After a lesson, the students will use their technology devices to complete independent research to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the lesson content.  Also, students can use the cameras of their smartphones to capture elements of nature.  They can then bring these images to class, and the teacher can discuss the discoveries of the students with the rest of the class.

 

Cultivating Curiosity in Your Classroom (Webinar)

Wendy Ostroff conducted a webinar titled Cultivating Curiosity in Your Classroom which discussed students’ innate curiosity and how to use that curiosity to enhance their learning journeys.  The webinar began by stating that all persons are natural learners.  Personal discovery begins at birth and continues all throughout life.  Therefore, personal discovery and curiosity should be used in the classroom.  Curiosity provides motivation and enhances cognitive skills.  Therefore, teachers need to take students’ curiosity and transform it into inquiry and learning.  To encourage the usage of student curiosity in the classroom, the teachers need to share their personal curiosity with their classes about learning and lesson content.  The following is a list of elements that are needed to facilitate curiosity: exploration/experimentation, autonomous/effortless learning, intrinsic motivation, imagination/creativity, questioning, and time.     

Internet Safety: Christian Services

Because of the sinful world we live in, wickedness is lurking all around.  The internet is a venue that Satan uses to tempt and snare young children and teens.  Christian parents and teachers need to have gospel-based conversations that provide interest safety tips and strategies that will protect the younger generation.  Below is a list of Christian internet services that can provide assistance to schools and families in order to provide protection and guidance to teens and children.

• Christian Broad Band
• American Family Online 
• True Vine Online
• Clean Internet
• Covenant Eyes 

Differentiated Instruction: Needed and Necessary!

As Christian educators, we are to follow in the footsteps of the Master Teacher, Jesus Christ.  As you read the Gospels, you will notice that Jesus uses various techniques to teach biblical truths.  Jesus used modeling (John 13:1-20), lecturing (Matt. 5), question/answering (Luke 9:18-20), storytelling (Matt. 7:24-27), and objects (Luke 9:23) while he taught this disciple and the multitudes.  Therefore, all of those methods should be implemented into the classroom instruction and setting.  Differentiated instruction is needed in order to execute the usage of various learning styles and teaching styles to effectively reach all students.  Below are YouTube videos of scenarios and examples which use differentiated teaching and learning.  

Article Analysis: "Kingdom Education"

     All people live by one of these two worldviews: man-centered or God centered.  Kingdom education is use by those who have a God-centered worldview.  A man-centered worldview hold man and its achievements above God.  In contract, a God-centered worldview holds God and who He is high above the feebleness of man.  Considering the nature of God, one who hold to a man-centered worldview would say that man is the foundation of authority.  One who hold a God-centered worldview would proclaim that God is above all, including man.  The man-centered worldview would support the opinion that man is born innately good and that he has slowly evolved to the top of the chain of life.  However, the God-centered worldview would use the Bible to support the truth of man.  Man is born with sin already in his heart because of Adam’s decision to sin.  Therefore, Christian education is needed to show children their need for God and reveal how to become a child of God.   According to a man-centered worldview, knowledge is just a collection of facts.  Knowledge is neutral; it cannot be connected to any opinions and religions.  One who hold to a God-centered worldview would use God’s Word (John 14:6) to show that trust is a Person; Jesus is truth.  Man determines the standards of morality in a man-centered worldview.  Those who hold a God-centered worldview believe that God alone governs the standard of morality.  God’s standard of morality is absolute, unchanging and eternal.  The man-centered worldview has no desire to consider the future; this worldview is focused on the here and now.  The God-centered worldview has eternity in mind.  Heaven and hell are the only options where individuals will spend eternity.  Kingdom education has God in the center of all educational matters.  Kingdom education uses the Bible as the only source of truth.  God is the foundation of reality in kingdom education.  Teachers who hold a God-centered worldview need to implement every aspect of kingdom education in their classrooms.  Teachers, who have kingdom education in their classrooms, are concerned about what their students believe.
     The God-centered worldview and education need to be seamlessly intertwined in the Christian schools.  Esqueda (2014) expressed the danger of compartmentalizing religion and education.  If teachers separate education and Christian beliefs/worldview, then Christian schools will become void and unnecessary.  In Christian elementary schools, principals need to be on guard to ensure that the students are knowing the person and nature of God while learning the basic foundational skills of writing, reading, and math.  In reading class, the students can read simplified Bible stories that reveal the mighty acts of God.  In writing class, the students can copy Bible verses that reveal who God is and what He has done.  In math class, the students can complete word problems that represent Bible stories.  God must be found and magnified in all subject matters that are taught in elementary classrooms.
     For kingdom education to be successfully taught in Christian schools, the principals and school leadership need to write a Bible-based school worldview statement.  Schultz and Swezey (2013) expressed the need for Christian educators and school leadership to create a worldview statement that addresses the Christian worldview.  The God-centered worldview statement must be supported with Scripture.  After the worldview statement is written, the teachers can then take that statement and evaluate the elements of their classrooms.  If there is an element in the classroom that does not line up with the school’s God-centered worldview statement, then it should be altered so it is in sync with the statement, or it should be removed.  Everyone has a worldview that will affect the ones view of God, view of the nature of man, view of knowledge, a view of right and wrong, and view of the future. Christian educators must fervently seek after the Lord to ensure that He is being correctly presented and fused in all school matters.

References

Esqueda, O.J. (2014). Biblical worldview: The Christian higher education 

       foundation for learning. Christian Higher Education, 13(2), 91-100. 

Schultz, G. (2010). Kingdom education: God's plan for educating future 

       generations. Nashville, TN: LifeWay Press. 

Schultz, K. G., & Swezey, J. A. (2013). Theory development: A three-dimensional 

       concept of worldview. Journal of Research on Christian Education, 22, 
       227-243.

The Greatest Commandment

Matthew 22:36-39

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

As Christian educators, we are to fulfill the creation mandate (Genesis 1:28) in our classrooms by obeying and living out the greatest commandment.  Below is a list of ways Christian educators can implement the greatest commandment in their classrooms.  The list was taken from the book titled "Steppingstones to Curriculum" which was written by Harro Van Brummelen. 

• Teachers care and pray for their students and help them be and become what God wants them to be.
•  Teachers encourage students to use their minds to the best of their ability in service to and love for God and neighbor, and to develop the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
•  Teachers promote constructive and fair relationships. They implement strategies for conflict resolution based on repentance, recompense, forgiveness, and mutual respect.
• Rather than insisting on personal rights, teachers and students together observe personal and communal gratitude for God’s gift of grace.
•  Praise and thankfulness are built into the curriculum. The school celebrates students’ diverse gifts.
• Students engage in learning activities in which they help and support classmates.
•  Teachers set high but realistic expectations for all members of the school community. 
• Teachers trust their students with meaningful responsibilities while holding them accountable for agreed-upon commitments.
•  Curriculum content deals with issues in our society in which agape love can make a difference. It deals with the effects of sin in society, but it also proclaims hope in the future because God is faithful forever (Psalm 146).
• The school arranges for service projects through which students practice love for neighbor.

Reference

Brummelen, H. V. (2002). Steppingstones to curriculum. Colorado Springs, CO:
     Purposeful Design Publications. 

Article Analysis: "5 Telltale Signs You’re Becoming a Teacher Leader"

            One may think that a teacher’s job is to provide knowledge and information to young minds in order to prepare them for their future journeys.  That thought it true, but it is not the only job a teacher has to fulfill.  Teachers are to be leaders in their schools, learning communities, and districts.  Teachers must go beyond the responsibilities of their own classes and become actively involved in their schools.  The article titled "5 Telltale Signs You’re Becoming a Teacher Leader" provided 5 indicators that teachers can use to evaluate themselves to see if they are on the right road to becoming a teacher leader. 
            First, a teacher leader desires to have a positive impact beyond the walls of their own classroom.  Becoming involved in educational communities, whether that are online or within the school district, is a small step where teachers can brainstorm and share their ideas.  Having an educational blog where a teacher could share thoughts and experiences that will inspire and assist the educational community.  Secondly, a teacher leader will be available to share educational advice with fellow teachers.  Teacher leaders will invest in the school’s staff and facility by providing ideas, assistance, guidance, and suggestions.  A teacher leader will become a “go-to” teacher.  Thirdly, a teacher leader will think of solutions that will benefit students and fellow teachers.  Teacher leaders think outside the box to analysis and consider opinions that will solve problems within a school, district, or classroom.  If need be, teacher leaders will present their ideas to their principals and suggest for change to happen.  Fourthly, a teacher leader will assist a new teacher who has just entered the school setting.  Personal time and effort will be invested by teacher leaders to college students who need to complete their in-class student teaching or to those who just completed their college education and entered into a teaching position.  Teacher leaders will provide advice and suggestions to the new teachers.  Also, teacher leaders will come alongside the new teachers to encourage and assist.  Lastly, teacher leaders are lifelong learners.  They are constantly reading research articles, educational blogs, and instructional magazines.  Teacher leaders will continue their personal educational journeys by getting a master’s degree or doctorate degree.  Ratzel (2012) provided a list of traits that will be found in a teacher leader: advising, listening, collaborating, networking, seeking knowledge, and reflecting (p. 40).  According to Warren (2016),  “The skills that define leaders are the following; the ability to inspire and motivate others, displaying high degree of honesty and integrity, the capacity to solve problems, to be driven by results, the ability to communicate prolifically and powerfully, ability to create pleasant relationships, develop other people and the ability to be innovative” (p. 510).  Warren also stated that both skills and traits are needed in teacher leaders.  
            In an elementary school setting, there are many opportunities for teachers to take leadership and ownership.  Program committees often need teachers to guide the parents as they prepare for school plays.  Elementary teachers are in constant need of new ideas on how to present lesson content.  An elementary teacher leader could partner up with another elementary teacher to brainstorm ideas and suggestions to encourage fresh teaching skills.  If new teachers feel uneasy stepping out of their comfort zone to take leadership, an individualized leadership plan can be created. “A plan should be developed for each teacher leader, offering guidance for professional development programming and collaborative learning opportunities.  Since teachers have limited time to engage in professional development programs, individualized leadership development plans may ultimately allow them to develop more quickly and efficiently” (Luft, Dubois, Kaufmann, & Plank, 2016).  Many elementary teachers do not know how to effectively use technology in their classrooms.  Teacher leaders can attend workshops on how to implement technology in the classroom.  Then the teacher leaders can then take the knowledge they learned and share it with their fellow teachers.  For schools to be successful, teacher leaders are needed! 

                                                                     References

Luft, J. A., Dubois, S. L., Kaufmann, J., & Plank, L. (2016). Science teacher leadership:

            Learning from a three-year leadership program. Science Educator, 25 (1), 1-9. 

Ratzel, M. (2012). 5 Telltale Signs You’re Becoming a Teacher Leader. Education Week

            Teacher. 

Warren, L. L. (2016). Viewing teachers as leaders without being administrators. 

            Education, 136 (4), 508-514. 

Humans of New York: Who's Influenced You the Most in Your Life?

There is a photographer who has a Facebook page called Humans of New York.  The photographer takes photos of people from all different backgrounds, races, ages, and societies.  In January 2015, the photographer ask "Who's influenced you the most in your life?" to a 13 year old boy while taking a photo of him.  The boy replied, " My principal, Ms. Lopez."  "How has she influenced you?" asked the photographer.  The boy replied, "When we get in trouble, she doesn't suspend us. She calls us to her office and explains to us how society has built down around us.  And she tells us that each time somebody fails out of school, a new jail cell gets built.  And one time she made every student stand up, one at a time, and she told each one of is that we matter."  
Kids need to know that they matter and that they are loved.  Children need to know that the principals of their schools are individuals who enforce rules while giving love, protection, and safety.  People all across American read the boy's response, and a fundraising campaign was started.  Around one million dollars was raised to assist Mott Hill Bridges Academy, which is located in Brooklyn.          

March Madness in the Classroom! (Article)

The basketball tournament March Madness is an exciting event that gets students and teachers alike excited.  In my school, all students (from kindergarten to 12th grade) and teachers fill out a basketball bracket.  The brackets are then added to the school's private group.  In morning assemblies, the administrator will announce which brackets are doing well.  Prizes are passed out occasionally. At times, the basketball games are shown in the classrooms at the end of the school days.  The article titled "How to Incorporate March Madness into Your Classroom" provides creative ways to implement the March Madness tournament in the classroom setting.

• Figure the Winner: Math (mean, median, and percentage) can used to predict the winning team.
• The Team at Home:  The students can locate the teams' hometowns on a map.  The class can research the teams' mascots and how they could be related to the geography of the hometown.
• Book Madness (A Tournament of Books):  "Ask your school librarian to run a list of the top 16 books most commonly checked-out. Place the books into a bracket starting at the sweet 16 and ask kids to vote. As part of the voting, students are only allowed to participate in the vote if they’ve read the two books facing off. To make sure everyone has access to the books, put any copies of the books on your shelves. As students finish these favorites, they’ll return them to the stands for others to read. In addition to voting for the best books, students will also fill out their own bracket predicting the winners."
• Nothing but Net (The Science of Shooting Hoops): "The goal of this project is to determine if the ball’s starting position for shooting a basketball affects a player’s shooting percentage. In this project, you’ll measure shooting percentage when players shoot baskets from chest height, chin height and over the head."
• Basketball Printables:  Teachers can Google or Pinterest word searches, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, and various mazes that feature the sport of basketball.

What Do Teachers Teach? (Images)

When teaching comes to mind, one will visualize a teacher standing in the front of a classroom reading from a teacher manual while occasionally writing information on a board.  When the bell rings and class is dismissed, the teacher passively moves on to another set of students.  But this is not an accurate picture of a successful teacher who is attempting to teach the hearts and minds of young people.  Teachers who provide scaffold-learning teach students to think critically and independently.  Educators who teach with passion and excitement cause students to become creative and enthusiastic about learning.  Students should be moving and getting their hands on what they are learning.    Below are images that describe what teachers do, besides actually teaching.

Virtual Field Trips (YouTube Videos)

Children learn through experiences!  Therefore, field trips need to be implemented in children's education journeys.  But at times, organizing, planning, and executing field trips can be exhausting.  Keeping track of 18 second-graders can be overwhelming.  Virtual field trips provide experiences to children without leaving the school premises.  YouTube and educational sites provide many different kinds of virtual field trips.  Below are some examples of virtual field trips.    

Virtual Field Trip: Washington D.C.

Virtual Field Trip: Amazon Rainforest

Virtual Field Trip: African Safari

Virtual Field Trip: Statue of Liberty

Virtual Field Trip: Paris, France

Noah Webster's View of Education

Noah Webster (1758-1843) was known as the "Father of American Scholarship and Education". Earlier in Webster’s teaching career, he believed that the Bible shouldn’t be a textbook in the classroom.  In April 1808, Noah Webster received Christ has his personal Savior.  As a result of his conversion, his philosophy of education changed drastically.  He was working on the composition of the American dictionary during this time.   His relationship with the Lord is evident in his dictionary.   Some definitions were grounded on God’s Word.  Below is a quote that Mr. Webster stated concerning the Bible and its relation to education.

“Education is useless without the Bible. The Bible was America’s first basic text books in all fields.  God's Word, contained in the Bible, has furnished all necessary rules to direct our conduct.”  Noah Webster

How to be a Christian Teacher in a Public School (Article)

The article titled How to Share Your Faith in the Public School, which was written by Linda Kardamis, shares practical (and legal) methods to use while being a strong, Christian teacher in the secular, public school setting.  The author provided five effective ways to be a light in the darkness.

• Show Christ through your actions.
• Embrace the truth.
• "But God’s truths – His universal truths that apply to every aspect of our lives – should be such a part of you that they impact everything you do and naturally weave themselves into your teachings and interactions."
• Objectively discuss faith when it applies to the curriculum.
• "According to the Liberty Counsel, you are absolutely free to discuss faith as it applies to your curriculum."
• Honestly answer questions about your faith.
• "So when students ask you a question that relates to your faith, answer it as openly and honestly as you can."
• Pray for your students and for opportunities to speak.

Christian Curriculum and Publishers (Links)

Below is a list of Christian publishers who provide Bible-based resources and curriculum to Christian schools and home-school families all across the United States.

• Christian Light Publication
• Christian Liberty Press
• BJU Press
• A Beka Book
• A.C.E Curriculum
• Alpha Omega Publications 
• Milestone Books
• Pearson Homeschool Curriculum
• Apologia

Back to School: A Biblical Perspective (Online Article)

John Piper wrote an article titled "Back to School: A Biblical Perspective" which shares the Christians' duty and responsibly to use our god-given brains to think and learn.  Below are the highlights of the article:

1. We are commanded to love the Lord with our minds.
2. Without God as the highest value of education all thinking becomes futile and dark and sordid.
3. We are commanded to be mature in our thinking.
4. The failure to love truth will lead to destruction.  
5. Wise people see to grow in knowledge. 

Building A Strong School Culture (YouTube Video)

The school principal is not the only individual who is responsible for building a strong school culture.  Secretaries, guidance counselors, custodians, and teachers share the responsible of cultivating a school culture that is safe and comfortable.  All faculty and staff need to encourage hard work, kindness among students, and academic excellence in classrooms. 

Be A Life-Long Learner! (Images)

Principals, administration, and teachers must be life-long learners!  When students see that their school's staff and facility are learned individuals who desire to continue learning, the students will in turn desire to discover new ideas, information, and knowledge.

The Principal 50: Critical Leadership Questions for Inspiring Schoolwide Excellence (Image)

Here is a list of questions a school principal, or anyone who is in a leadership position in a school, should ask themselves occasionally in order to assess their own methods, attitude, relationships, perspective, and interactions with others.  In order for a school to be successful, the leadership must be strong and firm.  The leadership must also know and care for each and every student.  The leadership should also be servant leaders who  come alongside teachers who need advice, assistance, affirmation, and encouragement.

Forces Affecting Education in the Twenty-First Century (Online Article)

Social forces surround the all children as they enter into their classrooms each morning. The online article titled "Forces Affecting Education in the Twenty-First Century" clearly defines the main social forces that are found in the educational system.  Religious and spiritual variables,  population diversity, globalization, and technology are the large terms used in social forces to categorize the smaller terms.

Assessing and Developing Principal Instructional Leadership (Online Article)

Educational leadership should be constantly assessing themselves in order to seek ways they can improve their methods, which would, in turn, benefit the school.  The article titled "Assessing and Developing Principal Instructional Leadership"  clearly defines instructional leadership, shares four effective ways to assess school leadership, and provides practical ways for principals to strengthen their leadership.

The Dos and Don'ts of Educational Leadership (YouTube Video)

The YouTube video titled "The Dos and Don'ts of Educational Leadership" shares the basic qualities that must be found in the leadership of a school in order for learning to be successful.  The leadership of a school must the support and encourage teachers.  The administration and principal must ensure the students that the atmosphere of the school is safe and comfortable.  The leadership of the school must keep the students as well as the teachers on task.  There are many more qualities shared in the video.

Educational Leadership® Magazine (ASCD's flagship publication)

Educational Leadership is a magazine that provides tangible examples of how to be a positive leader in your classroom, school, and community.  This magazine will benefit teachers, co-teachers, classroom helpers, and administrators.  Below are links for the website, a magazine excerpt, and information about the app where you can have the magazine on-the-go.

Website: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership.aspx

Magazine excerpt: http://www.educationalleadership-digital.com/educationalleadership/201703?pg=2#pg2

App: http://www.ascd.org/about-ascd/ascd-apps.aspx