“Now, friends, is that how we want to act?” I cringed when I heard a teacher say this to her misbehaving students recently in the local public library. A current trend in education has relaxed the respectful line between teachers and students, placing them on the same level.

Nottawa Christian School in Sturgis, Michigan is seeking a teacher/principal for the 2027–2028 school year. NCS is a small conservative Anabaptist school operated in connection with the Amish-Mennonite Pilgrim Church. We serve families from the local congregation and area churches.

We who work in Christian education—whether teachers, counselors, coaches, aides, or leaders—are engaged in “God-work.” I hadn’t previously thought of my teaching and work in education as being sacred, but I think this is a worthy consideration.

When we’re in the grind of teaching day after day, it can be easy to get stuck in ruts. Here are a few ways you could consider adding variety to the ways you check for student understanding.

I am always on the lookout for teacher tips and tools that help to make a challenging job a little easier. Sometimes these are somewhat unconventional things that even make me chuckle a little at the fact that I use them.

August is here and with it comes a wonderful sense of anticipation, and perhaps a touch or two of fear and dread. All of these feelings are completely normal and can be used constructively if they are channeled and directed to profit our preparations.

Thrive Online Academy is dedicated to providing personalized, high-quality educational experiences for students. As online Christian teachers, we empower learners to grow academically and in faith through tailored learning pathways, engaging lessons, and meaningful support. We believe every student has unique strengths and learning needs, and our mission is to help them reach their full potential.

Passionate educators wanted! Discover meaningful career opportunities in personalized academic support. Make a difference while growing professionally with Family Focused Tutors. If you have the desire to serve families and help students thrive academically, we would love to have you on the team! We require that our tutors have a background in education or experience teaching children. We are looking for educators who can teach elementary, middle school, or high school students! We are a Christian company and value hiring individuals who are able to teach through a Christian worldview.

The orbits of celestial objects point us to the great wisdom and understanding of our Creator. This document shows how algebra, geometry, and trigonometry can help us to see beautiful patterns in orbits. The patterns seen in orbits around the sun also apply to orbits of satellites around the earth.

The effectiveness of our schools depends significantly on the vision and experience of our teachers. At Teachers Conference, teachers take a step back from the day-to-day practices of school and focus on personal, spiritual, and professional development and refreshment. We offer the event to strengthen their vision and long-term commitments to building God honoring, Kingdom-oriented schools. Our annual themes focus on practices and enrichment for long-term teachers*. Teachers Conference features main sessions, breakout sessions, and space for reflection or networking with other teachers.

Students and teachers alike anticipate the first day of school. It is a day of excitement, nervousness, newness, uncertainty, and expectation. The first day will set the tone for the year. As teachers we want to use this to our advantage and start things off well. We want to be ready for a productive term ahead.

“Welcome to first grade! I’m glad you are in my class!” I look around at the bright-eyed students sitting expectantly at their desks. Most of them are happy to be at school; one or two children may feel a bit apprehensive. I am looking forward to the new year!

This is a reflective form for academic excellence for classroom use. Student reflection forms are a tool used for self assessment and can help increase accountability, allow students to take ownership of academic progress, help develop a positive growth mindset, and provide teachers insight on classroom environment and instruction.

This is a reflective form for classroom use. Student reflection forms are a tool used for self assessment and can help increase accountability, allow students to take ownership of academic progress, help develop a positive growth mindset, and provide teachers insight on classroom environment and instruction.

Student reflection forms are a tool used for self assessment and can help increase accountability, allow students to take ownership of academic progress, help develop a positive growth mindset, and provide teachers insight on classroom environment and instruction.

Brian Warner address the history and fallout of the modern parenting method known as gentle parenting. He provides four ways churches, schools, and families can work to overcome this, including practicing Biblical disciple, creating boudaries, and choosing to trust truth over feelings.

Kenneth Hostetter describes the church school as an arm of the church and shows how each part of the school community plays a different role. He gives church leaders eight practical ways to work alongside the school, including participation in hiring, visiting, and policy setting.

Murrey Wideman challenges that if they want to have career teachers, they must pay them what they are worth. He considers practical ways to do this, including making it easy for teachers to turn in expenses, and stresses that teaching is not voluntary service and should not be seen in that way.

Laverne Martin urges church and school leaders to lead schools with the end in mind by having clear mission, vision, and values to keep them on track. Ultimately, a school’s identity must be grounded in Jesus, and boards should intentionally shape their schools so that graduates emerge ready to advance God’s purposes.

In this talk, Kevin Sensenig shows, from personal experience, how children from difficult backgrounds can thrive. He grounds his talk in Biblical principles like compassion and understanding, and offers practical resources for teachers and parents, including Kathryn Purvis' IDEAL framework.

In this panel discussion, three men (Peter Claussen, Matt Fry, and Brian Warner) discuss the complexities and questions of college education in Anabaptist circles. They speak to issues of degree seeking, learning and pride, and cultivating talents.

Brian Warner evaluates ten threats to Anabaptist schools, including the need for qualified teachers, technology, and apathy. He warns against being "at ease in Zion" and calls leaders to faithfully invest in Kingdom work.

Micah Stauffer and Nathaniel Gingrich give listeners a rationale and preview for a new software program (Candle) designed to lighten teachers' workloads. This program provides record keeping and report card generation, among other things, to help teachers have more energy to spend on students instead of administrative tasks.

Joel Sensenig outlines the essential roles, practices, and principles for effective Anabaptist school boards. These include having board roles (with specific responsibilities) as well as clear guiding documents and healthy meeting habits.

Kendra Klassen encourages mothers to help with special events at school--whether hot lunch, birthday parties, field trips, or homework. Contributing to school events is a way to be hospitable, bless teachers, build community, and show children that school is important.

A is for Apple. Of course. Although do you know where the association of teachers and apples comes from?

You’ve said yes. You’ve been handed a key. You have a list of names and a starting date. Now what?

Students who step into your classroom this fall have several basic desires and fears. They want to learn; can this teacher teach them? They want to be safe; can they trust this teacher? They want to be appreciated; can this teacher see below their exterior and know who they really are?

Imagination plays a huge part in shaping a child’s mind. Children don't have to learn to use their imagination.

As I write this, it is one week since the close of my twentieth year as a teacher. I look at this milestone with astonishment, puzzling over where the years have gone. And I wonder how I could possibly write anything to encapsulate twenty years of lesson plans, chalk dust, math facts, storybooks, band aids, and an entire generation of energetic youngsters. It’s not that I consider myself a hero for sticking to this job for twenty years. As with any vocation, a great deal of it is simply putting one foot in front of the other. Sometimes this has involved a level pathway flooded with sunshine, while at other times it has been a rugged mountain trail and a wild stumbling in the darkness.

Christian Light's 46th annual Fall Workshop program and itinerary

Mixing literature with art and drama can be a powerful way for students to remember and apply both the content and underlying meaning of what they have read.

The last song sung. The last good-bye said. The last dismissal bell rung. The last student departed. The teacher returns to the classroom, surveys the emptiness, and listens to the silence. The silence is deeper and lonelier than the normal after school quietness. There is no lingering echo of childish voices. There are no lessons to plan for the next day. It is the silence of waiting, an emptiness that won’t be filled until children enter the door again in a few months.

It’s eleven o’clock on an ordinary Tuesday. You’re teaching history class; but as you look across your classroom, you’re not sure how much of what you’re saying is sinking in. Sally is staring out the window. Michael is doodling in his notebook. Billy seems to be systematically destroying his eraser

Getting students who don’t like to write to do just that can actually be an incredibly easy thing to do—just give them suggestions of topics they enjoy and a few leading sentences to get the gears in their brains moving. First of all, you’ve got to know your students well enough to know what they

You don’t just teach. You inspire. You explain the economics of supply and demand to the fascinated face of a boy who grows up to start a business that flourishes and brings life to his community. You teach the songs and explain the music theory that ignites the spark of a young composer who g

While some teachers feel that it should not be part of our jobs to keep our students’ attention, it certainly is annoying to be teaching and to have students disengaged.  I loved school and usually didn’t find it too hard to pay attention, with one exception. I clearly remember an afternoon bio

In January of 2025, we were gliding into the second half of the year with strong momentum. Our daughters were doing well, getting good grades, and learning a lot. However, toward the end of January, our lives came to a screeching halt when my dad passed away suddenly from complications related to hi

John Dewey, known for his influential education reforms in the early 1900s, once said, “We do not learn from experience . . . We learn from reflecting on experience.” Dewey raises an important point. We can miss prime opportunities to grow if we do not put in the hard work of reflection. Inten

IMPAC Communicatin Conference is an event for preachers, professionals, and, most importantly, teachers who want to improve their public speaking skills and communications ability. We teach five simple, foundational principles of public speaking, then teach you how to apply those to your teaching an

There was once an apple tree who spent her days helping things grow. It wasn’t always an easy endeavor, or a pleasant one. Some days, the sun beat down with relentless heat, and it didn’t feel like she was going to have what it took to keep the apples alive. Some days, the wind tore through her br

With proper instruction, pre-test procedures, a good pre-test spiel, and vigilance, teachers can prevent most of the cheating from ever happening. With prayer and grace, God will help us to deal with it properly if and when it does happen.

The request has been made. The deadline is approaching. And still, you are wrestling with a decision. Do I go or do I stay? For some of you the question is, “I love my job. Do I really need to quit teaching?” For others, it is, “I like what I’m doing. I see the need, but the possibilities of next

Realizing our place and nature is important in our ministry. Edwin reminds us of what God calls us to. Courtesy CASBI.

I must admit that when I first began reading and hearing about the long term effects of the internet and screen time on students (as well as students using the internet and AI to cheat on assignments) I largely dismissed it because I thought (naively), “This isn’t affecting our Anabaptist schools be

Games like these can help to make learning spelling words competitive, creative, and fun. Of course, good, old-fashioned copying the list is still the simplest and most efficient way to practice spelling words. But this can so quickly become tedious and dull, causing students to turn their brains of