Day 38 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

Friday! In the classroom, Friday is huge. (I wonder if the students ever realize that teachers are happier for Friday then students are.  Hmmm….).  As we consider the weekend, let’s take a moment to talk to our students about goodness at home with a random act of kindness.

A verse to ponder

Hebrews 10:24-25 - And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Let’s face it. Some of our students’ home lives are not the greatest. Take a few minutes at the end of the day and put out a challenge for your students.  Ask them to do one random act of kindness this weekend and report back to you on Monday. Ask them to do it “just because” and see what the ripple effect may be.  If you have no students, throw the idea out to a colleague “just because.”  And of course, do a “random act of kindness” for the first person you see today. Be creative. (If you can’t do the act right away, make note of who you see first this morning and make a plan of a random act of kindness for them.)

A focus of reflection

Can you do random acts of kindness in the classroom? Is it legal? Of course! I love the verse for today (thank you, Jannita) because it stirs us up to do good works, but not in isolation. Spreading the word about goodness to others is just as important as doing good for others sometimes. How much do you get a chance to “gather” with others who love the Lord at school? Be on the lookout for opportunities to give Him thanks with others who love Him too.

Day 39

(I gave two roses to one of my teachers yesterday for Valentine's Day.)

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 39 - Intentional Goodness in the Classroom

Today is Valentine’s Day. In a classroom, it can be a very exciting time for children, but it can also be one of the loneliest days if no one gives you a Valentine.

A verse to ponder

What could be more perfect on Valentine’s Day?

1^st Corinthians 13 - If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Be on special alert today. Look around for a student or a colleague who has not received a Valentine. If you have Valentine candy or treats available, find one VERY special person to intentionally bless.  If you don’t have any treats, get some red construction paper, cut out a heart, fold it and write a cute message to that one student and/or colleague who seemed to have no Valentine today.

A focus of reflection

How can I express love in the classroom? Is that legal? Of course! Love is the kindness you show to your students. Love is the patience you show when there’s no patience left. Love is the greatest gift you can give your students. Happy Valentine’s Day.

Day 40 - sticky

(Please send pictures of your "goodness" adventure and I'll post them)

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 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.  

40 Days of Intentional Goodness

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Consider joining me for 40 Days of intentional goodness during Lent here on the 16-9 Movement blog or by email newsletter. (If you prefer an email, just let me know by writing to me at kseddon@ceai.org and simply say, “I want to be a blessing!”

Lent is the season of 40 days (not counting Sundays) which begins today on Ash Wednesday (2/13/13) and ends on Easter Eve (3/30/13). Lent comes from the Anglo-Saxon word lencten, which means spring. The season is a preparation for celebrating Easter. Historically, Lent began as a period of fasting and preparation for baptism by converts and then became a time of penance by all Christians. (from the United Methodist Book of Worship)

This year I will be hosting a proactive view of living an educators' life during Lent. Although, I will be "giving up" one of my favorite yummies, my neighbor inspired me a few years ago to purposely and intentionally do something good each day during Lent.  Would you like to join me in this 40 days of intentional goodness?  It will be a short and sweet daily message in this pattern:

•   A verse to ponder

•   A suggestion of intentional blessing in the classroom

•   A focus of reflection

Day 40

As we begin our 40-day Lenten journey to Easter, let's be intentional about doing something "good" each day. These suggestions are personal and my heartfelt desire to implement with you.  Please do not hesitate to send ideas as we grow in His goodness this Easter season.

A verse to ponder

Let's begin in the Beatitudes:

Matt. 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

An intentional blessing for the classroom

Do you have a student (or colleague) who has seemed down lately? Be intentional in your search today for someone who seems sad, down on their luck or poor in spirit.

Grab a sticky note and write a quick encouraging comment. Be intentional about making his/her day.

A focus of reflection

Am I able to bless my students with a sticky note of encouragement? Is it legal? Of course! What's more important is that is an act of goodness from your heart.  Jesus loved the unlovable. It's not easy to do, but just a sweet little note to a student that has been a problem may just turn things around.

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 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.  

Encourage

Who encourages the encourager?  All educators are encouragers, or at least we hope for the sake of the students. When the day doesn’t go as planned or the environment at school is not as great as it should be, who encourages the encourager? The one true Encourager is always available through prayer. His Word gives us truths and wisdom to be all He has made us to be. We also need other Christians who understand our worldview and desire to be an ambassador for Him. Too often it seems like we are alone in our schools, but the good news is that there are thousands of us!  

How do you find out what you can and cannot do as a Christian in the public schools? Did you know that there is only one professional association totally dedicated to encouraging, equipping and empowering adminstrators, teachers and paraprofessionals in our public schools? CEAI – Christian Educators Association, Int. serves the encouragers.  CEAI is devoted to uniting and empowering the encouragers with prayer, resources, information, understanding and so much more.  As a reader of the 16-9 Movement, you know how important it is to know the first 16 words of the Constitution and to live out the 9 Fruits of the Spirit in our school life.  CEAI helps us to be legal and graceful at school and empowers us to be like Jesus to our students, colleagues and administration. If you are not already a member, please consider joining us as an educator on a mission.  If you are already a member, please tell your other Christian friends/educators about this great organization.

These are three First Amendment Center Guides for you. Please share these excellent equipping resources with educators and parents you know.

Teachers Guide to Religion in Public Schools

http://ceai.org/pdf/facteachers.pdf

Parents Guide to Religion in Public Schools 

http://ceai.org/pdf/facparents.pdf

The Bible and Public Schools

http://ceai.org/pdf/facbible.pdf

I love this organization and have been blessed by telling others about CEAI.  In almost every situation, I hear, “Wow, we didn’t know there was such an organization out there.” We are the best kept secret in America and do not want to stay that way.  Will you please help us not longer be a secret, but a blessing to our school communities?

Prayerfully dependent,

K

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

Christian Educators Association International 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.