Teaching someone how to read and enjoy great literature is one of the great opportunities we have as teachers. This class gives you tools to be an effective reading teacher.

Observe a class of children who are taught a shortened lesson from the Early Church unit. The last half of the class will be tips and solutions to obstacles you may face in teaching LHT such as review and tests. Also, we will have a discussion on how to teach difficult subjects such as persecution and war to children in third and fourth grade.

While learning to read is quite natural for some children, others struggle to keep up and seem to be missing something critically important. We will explore the different threads of teaching a child to read and how to determine which ones are missing when students struggle. This workshop is geared to first through third grade general classrooms.

As a head teacher of a small school, you wear many hats. This session is designed to help you wear them effectively. We'll explore the foundational routines that are crucial for successful leadership, offering practical tips for your routine schedules. Learn how to prioritize, organize, and execute, to create a thriving learning environment without burning out.

What is the purpose of the school board? What is their mission? Do board meetings have to go till midnight? How can you have an effective board meeting? Join us as we delve into some of these question in a practical way.

Jacob Peters urges educators to see students as God’s image bearers, fostering a classroom of love and inclusion. He discusses:

• Divine Image

• Christ-Like Love

• Challenging Students

• Redemptive Discipline

• Inclusion Strategies

Listen to more keynote sessions from the 2025 Midwest Teachers Week

1. The Teacher Who Models Care and Humility

2. The Classroom that Cultivates Peacemaking

3. The Students Valued as Image-bearers

4. The Mission of Kingdom Impact

We’ve already discussed the pitfalls that result in harried teachers. Now the hopeful part: we’ll explore remedies and discuss ways to stay cool, calm, and collected – even in the hairiest situations.

What is Phonics Foundations? Why was it developed? How does it work? We will dig into to these questions, and more. If you've used PF, come prepared to share about your experience.

How do I “catch” my student’s attention? What do I do once they are “on the hook”? What is the purpose of a presentation at the class table?

Some things we do are not worth doing. Sometimes the little things we do today can transform the future world. What are you doing today that will echo through eternity?

What is the purpose of the school board? What is their mission? Do board meetings have to go till midnight? How can you have an effective board meeting? Join us as we delve into some of these questions in a practical way.

Do first year teachers have preexisting sources of experience that can be useful in the classroom? Where should teachers go for ideas? inspiration? advice?

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 If our students become like their teachers, what will they become?

Is this student with failing grades just lazy? Why is Lynette always uptight on test day? How do I know how much to push George? Is Trevor's hair trigger temper a sign of ADHD? Or is it just ADAM's disease? We will look at the some of the common situations we face with difficult students.

The connection between who people are and where they live is stronger than what is superficially apparent. The purpose of these workshops is to stimulate an interest in other people and their environments, provide some content for what geographical data should be taught, and offer a compass of sorts on how to bring a geographical awareness into the classroom.

This practical, interactive workshop offers tips, tools, and demonstrations to help you teach upper-grade music with confidence and creativity. We’ll explore ways to build musical skills that students can use in church, school, and family settings. Bring your questions and leave with ready-to-use strategies for teaching music effectively and engagingly.

As board members what is your vision for the school? How will we pass on that vision to new board members and new teachers? Do you really know how your teachers are handling the challenges they face? We will discuss ways to to enhance communication and relationships between board members, teachers and parents.

What is the difference between a procedure and a rule? How do procedures help me have a disciplined classroom? What are procedures that can help me teach in a multi-grade classroom? Come to this workshop that helps us understand how procedures are foundational to learning.

We’ll brainstorm ways to both pique student interest and help them thrive in language arts. “Quoth the maven, ‘Never bore!’” -William Safire