Day 24 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

If you’ve read Harry Wong’s, “First Days of School,” you know that he is an advocate of being good to the children through dignity, hard work and classroom management.  One of his most powerful forms of goodness to the children is to meet them at the door when they first arrive and greet them individually.  One of my favorite teachers is intentional at making their day before it begins with him by saying, “Welcome home,” and giving them a fist bump as they enter the room.

A verse to ponder

1st Peter 1:5-8

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Let’s practice basic Harry Wong on this Monday morning. Be intentional about making every student feel welcome before they even enter your room. As each student arrives, greet personally them by welcoming them in your own person style, looking them right in the eye and speaking words of goodness into them before their day even begins. The power of a personal greeting can make someone’s day.

A focus of reflection

We all have good intentions but often get off track with a simple strategy like greeting our students at the door.  I know it often felt impossible because I had something to check off or an email to check or papers to get ready for the next class or, or, or. I could make up a hundred excuses, but the impact of an intentional greeting at the door is so priceless that I encourage you to reinstate it or try it out today as an act of intentional goodness that will sow a seed of care into your students.

Day 25

(The girls and I were able to visit Gigi in the hospital and bring her favorite flowers and a talking card.)

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.