The animal kingdom reveals the extraordinary creativity of our Creator. Given the right assignment, students, too, are able to demonstrate incredible levels of creativity when reflecting on animals.
Welcome to the Teaching and Learning Lab: Classroom-based Professional Development
Observing good models of teaching can be helpful, but the whole idea of demonstration lessons is problematic. On the one hand, you do want to learn new ideas that might help you become a better teacher. On the other hand, “Who is this person? Who does this ‘expert’ think he or she is coming into my room and showing me up with some fancy lesson?”
What Can Biblical Integration Look Like?
What we need to consider as we plan our lessons is whether or not our Biblical connections enhance our understanding and appreciation of the topic and deepen our awe and love for God. If not, what’s the point?
See the Story, Live the Story
Much of my work with CACE involves Christian Deeper Learning in one form or another. I have had the opportunity to facilitate workshops with EL Education , Project Based Learning, Redemptive Education, and most recently, Teaching for Transformation (TfT). TfT teachers at Mt. Zion Christian School in Manchester, New Hampshire and New Covenant School in Arlington, Massachusetts wanted to complete … Read More
Confessions of an Armchair Teacher
I didn’t learn all the tech stuff you know because I didn’t have to. But you did, and I want to thank you. Not only have you served your students well: you have renewed my faith that we can rise to meet any challenge.
A Lenten Practice: Engagement
During this Lenten season, I have been . . . trying to pay attention to the divine presence and what my role is in God’s plan to bring all things together in Christ. How do we actually experience God’s presence beyond an intellectual affirmation?
Sacred Spaces
Last year I was visiting a beautiful new school building (that’s you, Minnehaha), a facility rebuilt after a horrific explosion that destroyed much of the former campus. The staff spent countless hours with architects and builders to imagine the new space. Walking into a place that has been so thoughtfully imagined, so intentionally designed, so intimately prepared felt like a … Read More
Nurturing the Caterpillar: Ten Characteristics of Young Learners
We wouldn’t feed the caterpillar the same food as the butterfly. Similarly, we shouldn’t assume young children learn the same way adults do. Recognizing the unique way that young learners engage and learn can shape the way we educate, and ultimately invite young children into God’s story.
Lessons for Teachers From the Sons of Sceva
All the best methods, procedures, techniques, and curriculum won’t make the difference in your classroom if you don’t have love for your students and an desire to connect them with the material.
Lessons from a Taxi Driver
A taxi ride to the airport turned into an intuitive discovery for understanding the process of professional development. If you are an experienced teacher, you understand that when students walk into your classroom, you never really know what you are going to get, and that, “the success of our teaching depends on those moment-by-moment decisions as much as any lesson or project plan.”