Recently I enjoyed the opportunity to visit another school while classes were in session. I visited various classrooms and was able to observe a slice of the daily life of a school somewhat like my own. This school moved into a...

In a workshop for new teachers that I attended before my first year of teaching, I remember hearing this: “You will spend eighty percent of your time on twenty percent of your students.” I found that statement hard to believe at...

Before I give my third graders a test in science or history class, we usually take a class period to review together on the day before the test. Since games can be a fun and useful way to review information, I am always on the...

Quite frequently over the years, I have experienced what I call the “Teacher Nightmare.” It began in the weeks before I first started teaching school, and it tends to return a week or two before school starts each year. In my...

“So, I was thinking,” my student said to me with a serious look on his face. “How do we know that the Bible is true and that Christianity is the only right religion? How do we know that other religions like Islam aren’t the right...

Is today’s generation of children and young teenagers more anxious than previous generations? Is mental illness more common than it used to be in adolescents, or is it only that it is more acceptable to talk about it than it used...

It was language class. We were learning about possessive words, and to give the students some practice, I said, “Let’s see if you can make up a sentence with a possessive word in it. Think of something that belongs to you—maybe...

I love most things about my job as a teacher. I love interacting with my students and fellow staff members. I love planning and presenting lessons. I love the fulfillment that comes from doing meaningful work. But one part of my...

If you are a teacher, you know all about those hours and days when you question the value and impact of what you are doing. You know about times when you feel stuck in a rut, and nothing seems to be working the way it should. You...

When I was a new teacher, I was glad to hear the wisdom of seasoned teachers who could give me valuable guidance based on their years of experience in teaching. Having spent eighteen years in the classroom, I am now happy to...

Lord, we admit that sometimes we are terrified as we gaze into all those young faces gathered before us and see eternity written there. This world is a frightening place, fraught with danger; and here we are, entrusted with the...

In my classroom currently, we are working on filling the marble jar. Every time the students score one hundred percent on a test or on Bible Memory, they get to put a marble in the jar. When the marble jar is full, we will...

I will confess to you that I find it difficult to pay attention to a sermon or lecture. As a primarily visual learner, I would much rather read a book than listen to a podcast. I have had to learn ways to compensate for my lack...

It’s no secret that story time is one of my favorite parts of the school day. Every afternoon, I read to my students from a storybook for at least twenty minutes. Nothing compares to the joy of sharing great stories with a group...

We have just finished a math test, and students are engaged in various free-time activities that they began as they completed the test. Some are buried in books. Several are drawing or coloring pictures, and one is doing a...