Another Great Read

It’s really cool how we connect with other Christians today. I am always excited to find other Christians in my field and love to connect them.  It always tickles me when they say, “I didn’t know she was a Christian. I didn’t know he was a Christian.”  It happens in every school and every marketplace. Why? There are so many reasons, but the biggest, of course, is fear of losing our jobs.  This is a real fear, but I think we need to start looking at how we can be vehicles of Christianity in the marketplace and how we can be that sweet fragrance of our Lord everywhere we go. Last time I wrote about, “Making a Difference” by Donovan Graham because really grabbed me as a must read.  In fact, I am happy to say that I was able to give 3 copies to teachers at a middle school near me who are going to do their own book study with it.  I know it will transform the way the look at themselves, their colleagues and especially their students. This time I would like to recommend another great book by Angela Watson, “Awakened.” This was one of those amazing connections of our times.  I don’t know Angela at all, but I hooked up with her on her Facebook page – The Cornerstone Devotions for Teachers. As I dug a little deeper, I noticed that she had written a book for teachers also and I found a great review on the Education ReThink blog by a John T. Spencer, a teacher she met at ISTE.  Of course, as I began to look at John’s blog, I noticed that he had a few books too!  I immediately downloaded, “Teaching Unmasked: A Humble Answer to Waiting for A Superhero.” Looks very interesting and I’ll report back after I’ve read it.

In the meantime, I would highly recommend both Angela’s Facebook page and her book.  She has masterfully blended the psychology of teaching and Christianity.  Her subtitle is, “Change Your Mindset to Transform Your Teaching.” I love how she describes her bent to be one of the negative nannies in the teacher’s lounge to a transformation of her own personality with practical and spiritual principles.  She has a gift for being a real teacher and this is a most unique book because it helps the teachers in the trenches relate to the day-to-day difficulties of our profession and to be lifted above the mess.  I would love to meet Angela someday and bring her to one of our Christian Educator events or webinars.  She may be just the gift you need today.

Prayerfully yours,

K

Making a Difference

It has always been my heartfelt desire to explain our high calling as a teacher and I often come up short for lack of clarity, but I no longer need to be concerned.  Donovan L. Graham has eloquently simplified this most important topic – Being a Christian Educator in our public schools.  I know I don’t have to tell you how difficult it is to live out our faith while our society is increasingly antagonistic to the mention of God or religion in the public arena.  However, we still need to be the best educators because we work for the Lord. I was immediately drawn to the book because in his dedication he mentioned his wife, Wilma “and all teachers who sacrifice themselves to be a picture of Jesus to their students.” Mr. Graham fully understands the immensity of the topic and gives us tangible and clear guidelines for implementation of our call in life.  He even has a section by our very own Finn Laursen, who recently made a short video after he completed the book and I was so inspired that I began reading right away. (The video is on the front page of the CEAI website as of today.)

Without giving away too much of Mr. Graham’s content, I love how he has five themes running throughout the book: Relationships, Grace, Bearing the image of God, Intimacy with God – care of the teacher’s soul and “We Can’t Go It Alone.” These five themes go hand-in-hand with the 16-9 Movement (please read the first post for details) because it teachers us to know the law and live a life of grace.  What I love is his call for community.  “We Can’t Go It Alone!” You are not alone and I will do my best to gather us together and give us opportunities to communicate, share, encourage and uplift each other.

One of the ways I would love to begin community building with Christian Educators is to do a book study with “Making a Difference” by Donovan L. Graham.  This is how I picture it happening.  Purchase a copy of “Making a Difference” and then join our PLN – Professional Learning Netwok (I’ll send you the details if you are really interested).  In our private social network, we will set a schedule for reading the book together in a Book Club format.  We will have posts in our PLN that will work as a discussion board and then we will meet by webinar once a month until we complete the book.  Can you imagine the encouragement of like minds digging deeper into this most excellent book?  I bet we could even get Donovan to agree to meet with us in one of our webinars!

Finally, for those of you that are really interested, the first three people who post a comment to this blog entry, I will purchase a copy for you!  Even if you don’t have time to read it with us in Book Club style, please consider it as a must read before the school year is over.  It will change the way you teach!

Prayerfully yours,

K

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule

Much has been written on ethics for business and education. All educators are held to a higher standard (and rightfully so) because we touch the next generation. My favorite book on ethics is by John Maxwell, “There’s No Such Thing as Business Ethics.”  His subtitle is, “There’s Only One Rule For Making Decisions.” That rule is the Golden Rule. What if we could take that simple, yet profound concept and apply it to our schools?

The Golden Rule has roots in all cultures and religions. Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This ethic of reciprocity covers all human relations in the classroom. If we could use a video camera to record everything we said and did in the classroom and then watch ourselves, what would we see?  Would we be a teacher, administrators or paraprofessional who chooses their words with care? Would we see acts of goodness, kindness and gentleness? The spirit is willing, but unfortunately, the flesh is weak. Replaying a video recording of our lessons is often an eye-opener. Have you ever recorded yourself teaching? Most of us avoid it because we don’t like the way we look or don’t like the sound of our own voice, but I challenge you to videotape part of your day for two reasons.  One, professionally, video recording (with permission from the students and parents) is the best self-evaluative tool for reflective improvement. What we think we are getting across is often not as clear when we look at our video recording and see ourselves as our students see us. This is particularly true when we are very good at our subject because we forget that the material is brand new to those receiving it.  Two, and most importantly, I would like to challenge you to record yourself (even if it’s just the audio) to listen for the Golden Rule.

As Christian educators in the classroom, the Golden Rule helps us define our worldview. If we are going to “do to others as you would have them do to you,” the 9 fruits of the Spirit will mold everything we say. Did our words display love, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, kindness, patience, self-control and faithfulness? Did the replay of our recording exhibit acts of kindness that we would love others to do for us? Are we treating our unlovable students as fearfully and wonderfully made like we are? It’s not easy, but it’s the right thing to do. As you consider this challenge to record yourself, please know that I fall far short of being a 16-9 educator, but it is my desire, with the Lord’s help to exemplify His ways and His steps each day I walk into a school.

Find a dear Christian friend and discuss this challenge. Make a commitment to coach each other through the process of being a better teacher by focusing first on the Golden Rule. Record and share your lessons with the lens of “iron sharpens iron” and this will be the most valuable PLC (Professional Learning Community) you form.  Not only are we held to a higher standard because we are an educator, but as Christian educators we are held to the highest standards, those of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  The best news is that we have His help.

Prayerfully yours,

K

Mission in Motion

We are on a mission. Can you tell? Being on a mission and being focused is very important.  That’s why 16-9 is appealing. Big ideas can often become clouded with big explanations, but what helps all of us get on board a mission is when the big idea can be expounded in a phrase. 16-9 is the trigger to remember how to be a gracious and legal Christian in the public school. Memorize the first 16 words of the First Amendment and the 9 fruits of the Spirit. (Please read the first post for more information). With any big idea, the next step is, “What do we do about it?”  CEAI, Christian Educators Assoc. Int. has been encouraging, equipping and empowering public and private school educators since 1953, but we need help because we are still the best kept secret in America.  One of our members has been inspired to reach educators through Mission in Motion.

Gail was inspired to go to her church leadership and ask for their permission and seek their vision to empower teachers in the public school as the missionaries that they are. Her church caught the vision and has begun the ministry of Mission in Motion.  The elders of the church have added teachers as missionaries to the educational division of the church and have set goals (see image above).  Teachers in Gail’s church are meeting once and month to understand their role as a missionaries in the public school and encouraging each other to be equipped. They are establishing or joining prayer groups in their schools to pray for their administrators, colleagues, students and school community.  Some are partnering with FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship) to establish student groups at their schools. Teachers from this church alone represent 11 schools in the local area alone. Can you imagine the impact that just one denomination can make as they replicate this ministry?  As we partner with Mission in Motion, our goal in the 16-9 movement is to help Christian educators everywhere to be balanced, well-informed, graceful Christians who know the law and love the Lord. We want to be contagious, appealing, but never overbearing as we seek to serve others on our campuses. Thank you so much to the members of Gail’s church for being visionaries and pioneers in the development of this teacher missionary model.

Prayerfully yours,

K

Networking

Networking is nothing new.  We have always sought ways to gather with like minds. Christians are particularly good at meeting on a regular basis in church, Sunday school classes, mid-week services, Bible studies, prayer groups and more. However, as Christian educators in the public and private schools we are trying to make it on our own.  One of the most important aspects of the 16-9 movements is to bring us together socially.  We need to know and feel that we are not alone.  Will you help me find a great platform for our own social networking?  I am presently at the FETC (Florida Educational Technology Conference) and there are vibrant social networking activities all around – some you can physically attend while many others are virtual settings. Where is that perfect place for us to gather both virtually and physically? Wouldn’t it be great to find out that you have other Christian educators in your district and even in your own school?  Believe it or not, the #1 misconceptions of Christians in the public school is that they are the only one who is trying to live out their faith at their school.  9 times out of 10 when we begin networking virtually and in face-to-face events, we realize that there ARE other Christians at the same school! I’ve heard time and time again, “I didn’t know Bobby was a Christian. I didn’t know Patti was Christian either.” Before you know it, two or more Christians gathering together on one campus begins to change the way we act. Encouragement in difficult settings now finds comfort in prayer with and for others.

Please consider thinking about ways that would be best for us to gather virtually and then pull us together locally also.  At FETC, we have those who are in FaceBook, Edmodo, NIng, Moodle, on Twitter, text messaging and more.  I see our own social network as much more interactive than a FaceBook page where we could “talk” to other Christians across districts, state and even the nation.  I would love to see the platform as a private place we merely set up for you and then it just blossoms into multiple groups of interest. I would love to see an area in our social network for prayer groups, devotionals and Bible Studies.  The best part of any social network is that you are not getting inundated with emails and other annoying contacts that you don’t want, but that you come to the group “ubiquitously” – at anytime, from any place and at any pace.  Dreaming……..

Prayerfully yours,

K

The First Sixteen Words

The First Sixteen Words

Becoming a part of the 16-9 Movement means that we are seeking to understand our role in education both legally and gracefully.  We need to always begin in prayer because it is the foundation of all that we do in the classroom.  We pray for our students. We pray for our colleagues and we pray for our administrators, parents and school community in general.  We are prayerfully dependent.  Next, we are committing to learn the first sixteen words of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and the 9 Fruits of the Spirit. Why have we chosen these two challenges? The First Amendment is the basis of being a legal American Christian in the public school and the Fruits of the Spirit help us to be gracious Christians loving our students, colleagues, administrators and school family.

There are actually 45 words in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution that are as alive and important today as they were over 200 years ago. It provides five basic freedoms to all Americans.  Can you name them? If so, write your answer in the comments below and I will send you a prize! The only reason I am offering this is because most Americans do not know their basic freedoms so beautifully preserved for us.  In the 16-9 movement, we will be concerned mostly about the freedom of speech and religious liberty, but we respect and honor the whole First Amendment also.   The first 16 words of the First Amendment read: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; the remaining 29 we will leave for another study.  The First Amendment applies to all Americans. These inalienable rights make these ideals reality in the lives of all Americans and were added to the Constitution based on the concept that all humans were endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.  As Christians in the public schools, we must know when we are “Congress” and when we are an individual American.  Educators in the public schools are government employees and are subject to the laws of the United States.  We can never establish a religion nor prohibit the free exercise, thereof. In other words, we can neither encourage nor discourage the freedom of religious expression. When we are on paid time, we are “Congress.” When we are not being paid we are First Amendment Americans. We must be wise as a serpent, and as innocent as a dove. (Matthew 10:16). 

The 16-9 Movement blog is designed to help Christian educators understand their high calling as a teacher, administrator or support personnel as we touch the lives of the next generation.  We seek to be legal and to walk our walk in a way that is appealing, contagious and respectful of all. 

We are available for events, seminars, professional development, conferences and other venues that help unite us with Christian educators with this worldview.  May I invite you to join us?  Feel free to contact me anytime through email at ceai.karen@gmail.com.

Prayerfully yours,

K

Image is in the public domain provided by the National Archives