Day 27 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

A seat in the classroom is a mini-home for many of our students. Some of them spend more time in that seat than any other seat in their own homes. Have you ever taken notice of the condition of the chairs in your room or the arrangement of your classroom or office area? A place of learning needs to be a place of high quality and cleanliness – a place of honor. The position of the seat is just as important. Take a look around the room today with the eyes of goodness. You may need to rearrange or clean for the good of the class.

A verse to ponder

Luke 14:7-10 - When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Do you have a special chair in your room that can be used as the place of honor? If you do not have one designated as the “Seat of Honor,” use your teacher chair for today. Identify the shyest student who would never think of asking to be in the place of honor and bestow this intentional act of goodness by placing them in the “Seat of Honor,” for the day. Place it in a area that will bestow that sense of importance.

A focus of reflection

What happens when the rest of the students want to be in the “Seat of Honor”? This random selection is a gift of goodness from the teacher’s heart and cannot be earned which is very hard for children to understand. However, it is a great idea to devise a way for every child to feel that sense of importance at some time during the year, “just because” and not because they deserve it.

Day 28

(School wide compliment day that was student-led)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

Day 28 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

Do you like to receive compliments? Of course, if they are genuine. Do you think your students and colleagues enjoy receiving compliments also? Genuine compliments come from the heart.  They usually are spontaneous when you are suddenly impressed with something or someone.  Today, we will go out of our way to give genuine compliments with a conviction from the Holy Spirit.

A verse to ponder

Gal. 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Set out today to make someone’s day.  Today is the day of intentional compliments. Try to find a student or colleague that you have never complimented before. If you had to give them an award, what would it be? Frame the award idea into a spoken compliment. Be genuine and enjoy being the giver of good news.

A focus of reflection

Can you display the fruit of the Spirit in your classroom? Is it legal? Of course! (Notice the last sentence of that verse!) Be sure that when you give compliments today that they are not forced or overdone. We don’t want to cross that fine line of heartfelt compliments and flattery. Pray today for the perfect person who needs a compliment. I have no doubt that perfect person will receive the perfect compliment from you at the perfect time today. Give God the thanks when it happens.

 Day 29

(A classroom poster of the Golden Rule)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

Tales from the Teachers in the Trenches

Dear Christian friends in the public schools,

I used to have a podcast called "Tales from the Teachers in the Trenches," in which I interviewed teachers' creative use of technology. I am VERY interested in reviving it, but this time I would like to include the tales of creative ways to be a Christian in the public schools in a legal and graceful way.

The format for "Tales from the Teachers in the Trenches" will be multi-modal: text, audio and/or video and will be hosted online.  

The most comforting conversations I have with Christians in the public schools is that they are so blessed by having other Christian colleagues who share their same worldview. Too often we think we are alone, but the good news is that there are thousands of us.

Would you consider helping me with a "tale" you have about God's goodness in your classroom and any creative ways you live out your faith gracefully and legally in the public schools? You'll never know how many others you will bless by sharing your story.

I look forward to hearing from you.

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,
K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Floridakseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

 

Day 29 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

If you are testing today (or when you inevitably will administer or proctor), your schedule will most likely be changed. Those days can be trying because the students are out of their routine, but makes for the perfect time to do something a little different.  Let’s talk about the Golden Rule and its universality.

A verse to ponder

Matt. 7:12-  “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them...”

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Have you ever introduced the Golden Rule in your classroom? This profound statement has a version in all world religions and is the basis for all human interactions. Open a discussion about the Golden Rule and how it can be applied in the classroom. Guide the students in its positive aspect and show them the many ways it has been translated through world cultures.

A focus of reflection

Can you talk about the Golden Rule in school? Is it legal? Of course! Can you imagine if everyone just followed the Golden Rule? It would eliminate our bullying problems in schools and violence across our nation.  There are many websites with great information on the Golden Rule and even a TED Talk by Karen Armstrong, but I recommend Teaching Values for you today to show your students how universal the Golden Rule is in all nations.

Day 30

(This poster of yesterday's verse is hanging in Ohio classrooms because it is the state motto.)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.  

Day 30 - Intentional Goodness for the Classroom

For those of us who teach in Florida, tomorrow is Florida Writes. Our students need our intentional goodness in great measure more than normal. To prepare for the first of the state’s standardized tests, let focus on being the encourager.

A verse to ponder

Mark 10:27 – Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Some children get very nervous before standardized tests. Today, you are the encourager, the cheerleader, the coach, and the one who gives the pep talk before the big game. Go out of your way to truly reassure the students in your sphere of influence that they are well prepared and success on the writing test is now just like playing the big game. Have fun, be creative and be purposeful in your admonition.

A focus of reflection

I love today’s verse because it is actually the state motto of Ohio! Have you prayed for your students’ success on the standardized tests? Before you leave your classroom or school today and tomorrow morning before you pick up the tests, walk around your room and then sit in some of the students’ desk and ask God to give them the ability to succeed. “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Day 31

(My children's children)

As always, I am
Prayerfully dependent,

K

Karen C. Seddon
CEAI, State Director, Florida
kseddon@ceai.org

Note: To more fully understand the 16-9 Movement, please read the first blog entry by  clicking here.

Christian Educators Association International (CEAI) is the only professional association in the United States specifically for Christian educators in public schools.  CEAI protects our members first in prayer, next with excellent professional liability insurance and other benefits while helping them live out their high calling as a Christian in the public school.