I am the Lord, I have called You in righteousness,
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You
I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You
Isaiah 42:6 (NASB)
Prayer and Meditation
God will never abandon me. When I fail to feel His presence, He sings out my name with love. When my morale sinks to new depths, He watches over me and lifts me up. He forever holds my hand with a gentle and fatherly grasp. It is God who has entrusted me with my calling and it is God who counsels, encourages, and supports, me through my day. Rather than wasting time counting my faults, let me move closer to God and seek to please Him through my love and dedication in teaching His children.
The Actions of
Prayerful Teaching
- Teachers are often vilified in
the media and made scapegoats for what is wrong in society today. It is impossible not to be affected by this
negativity. It is during these times that
we must step closer to God, firmly plant our hand in His, and never let
go. We must not be ashamed to look back
and count our achievements. It is
through our achievements that we glorify the Lord, refresh our souls, and
embrace our calling with new-found strength, not out of pride, but as humble
servants of God.
- Lift your spirits at least once a
day. Determine what exists in your
classroom that lifts your spirits. Take
advantage of it. Are certain students
always smiling? Take a second to find
joy in their smiles and do not forget to smile back. Do students relax and laugh at funny stories
or silly jokes? Build them into the day. Appoint a joke teller of the day.
- Write a student a thank you note
when the occasion calls for it. Be
specific in stating the purpose of the note.
Capture in your mind the smile of gratitude that will spread over the
receiver. Even though you may not
observe the recipient reading the note, this works just as well if you
personally write a note (no e-mail) to parents praising their child with
specific examples of conduct or achievements.
- Post pictures of students
engaging in learning activities in a place in your room reserved for just such
pictures. If you need a morale boost you
need only glance at the collection of pictures.
Be sure to “catch” all students at their “learning best.” If someone is having a bad day, you will
have a visible reminder for them of what they can accomplish. Be sure to rotate and update the pictures.
- Keep a diary of positives. Before you leave school, jot down 3 – 5
accomplishments of the day in your diary.
If a student got out of his seat one less time than the day before, that
is an accomplishment. If a shy student
volunteered to answer a question in class, that is an accomplishment. God notices all the little things and so must
we.
- Expect to encounter challenges and
obstacles in your day. Listen, love,
laugh, and celebrate your calling anyway.
Remember, God is holding your hand
Challenge of the Week
Build into your classroom agenda
at least one fun activity each day. It
should be something both you and your students enjoy. It can be as simple as telling a joke,
writing a quick positive note and placing it on student’s desk, or beginning
work on designing a classroom logo and motto.
Blessings and Prayerful Teaching,
Elizabeth A. Wink
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