BIG IDEAS for LITTLE SCHOLARS is the result of my enthusiasm for sharing.
I have always loved to write, but publicly sharing what has worked for me in my classroom has taken me a little out of my comfort zone. Most of my sharing involves the use of others’ ideas, products, or materials, so I try to give credit where credit is due. I can share how I’ve used resources and, occasionally, I can offer something original I’ve created.
So, as long as I’m sharing, I’ll go a step further and say I really can’t take credit for anything. If anything good has happened in my classroom, it has been the result of divine inspiration and intervention. Prayer has played a tremendous role in my years of teaching. Teaching has been described as a “work of heart” and, in my case, God used it to work on my heart. I made many mistakes, and there were so many times I wanted to quit. If it were not for prayer, I may have. I share this sampling of my prayers as an encouragement to all educators.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” (Proverbs 16:3)
Dear Lord, as I sit down to work on lesson plans, I commit them to You. I usually love planning, but today it’s not in me. Please inspire me. Help me find the resources and ideas I need to create learning experiences that will excite these students about learning, that will help them feel safe and comfortable in my classroom, and that will bless them and help them grow in knowledge, wisdom, and confidence!
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…” (Colossians 3:23)
Today, Lord, help me to put my whole heart into my work. Open my eyes and ears to what I might be missing. Give me the energy and strength to keep at this. It’s hard sometimes, Lord.
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient…” (2 Timothy 2:24)
Oh, God, give me patience with these students. Help me respond to them gently and with kindness and not in anger with impatience. Lord, help me especially with ‘you-know-who” today…
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. (John 13:34)
Love these children through me today, Lord. Give me the kind of love for them that You had for me when You gave Your Son. Today, I’m not feeling very loving. Help me see these students through Your eyes and love them the way You do.
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Ephesians 4:29)
Lord, please stop me today from saying anything but what is good and helpful to others. Let my words not be too many or too few. Give me words to encourage and build these students up.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Lord, Your Word says we “have not because we ask not” and it says that You give strength. I ask for an extra dose of strength today, Father. It’s Monday, it’s rainy and cold, and I don’t want to face a classroom full of kids. Give me strength!
INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” ~ Albert Einstein
Lord, show me how to AWAKEN JOY IN CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND KNOWLEDGE!
“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” ~ Henry Brooks Adams
I know, Father, that what I do today can affect- for good or bad- the future of these children. Help me to be a positive influence and role model. Protect me from harming these students in any way- by a word, a glance, a failure to listen, anything…
“What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.” ~ Karl Menninger
Let me be a lover of learning and a light.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION
In The Sacredness of Secular Work, Jordan Raynor shares an inspiring message about why and how your work matters for eternity. Your efforts bring God delight, especially when you partner with Him in doing the work He prepared in advance for you to do (Ephesians 2:10). Called to Create, also by Jordan Raynor, connects Our Creator to the creative process and explores the role of creativity in our work through a Biblical lens. I loved both of these books and can also recommend the Mere Christians, Jordan’s weekly podcast.
