#1: Navigating Classroom Management: Answers to Your FAQs

from SERIES: Answers for Your Top Teaching Questions

Are you facing these common classroom management issues? 

• Constant classroom chatter
• Small group instruction
• Lack of support from admin
• Classroom rewards that won't break the bank
• A school that doesn't allow traditional consequences

In this episode of the Teach 4 the Heart podcast, you will learn that many teachers are facing these issues and you are not alone. Better yet, Linda will provide some powerful mindset shifts and solutions for whatever problem is plaguing you the most.

Tune in, and get answers to your classroom management issues today!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Reduce Disruptions Crash Course

Consequence Idea List

60+ Classroom Reward Ideas

Classroom Management 101

Teach4theHeart+

Answers for Your Top Teaching Questions
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES:

FREE TIME MANAGEMENT WEBINAR

Teachers, register for 5 Time-Saving Practices to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed to discover effective strategies for overcoming the challenges of teaching and reclaiming a sense of balance in your professional life. Gain valuable insights and practical tips to stop feeling overwhelmed! Sign up here.

BANISH STRESS & TEACH WITH JOY

We cannot afford to wait for our circumstance to change. Instead, we must learn to trust God in our challenges and experience His joy, peace, and rest despite them. Join us in Teach Uplifted- your six-week path to banish stress and teach with joy - even in a crazy school year!

LISTEN HERE:

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Blog: Please Pass the Mustard Seeds

Website: Fieldstone Counseling

Instagram: Crystal Kershaw

Session Notes: Truths, Lies, and Practical Strategies

#1: Fueling Your Mission as a Teacher

from SERIES: This Little Light of Mine: Shining for Christ in the Classroom

Most teachers feel discouraged at some point in their careers. Some teachers maybe even feel discouraged daily. Truth: our jobs are difficult and overwhelming. So, even though the idea of shining for Christ sounds good in theory, executing it in real life may feel impossible.

In the latest podcast episode, Linda invites us to make some mindset shifts concerning work, where our focus lies, and how we view discouragement. Plus, you'll learn how focusing on the reason we are here (and why we teach) can change EVERYTHING.

If you want to feel seen in your struggles, shine consistently for Christ, and make a difference in your school, then this podcast has the strategies you need. Listen in today!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Pray & Plan

This Little Light of Mine: Shining for Christ in the Classroom
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES:

FREE WEBINAR: 5 TIME-SAVING PRACTICES TO STOP FEELING OVERWHELMED

I firmly believe you can be an amazing teacher and do it in a reasonable amount of time. Let me show you HOW in this free training.

Watch the training now!

#1: Does Discontentment Mean I'm in the Wrong Place?

from SERIES: Teach Without Fear: Conquering our Anxieties with Fear and Wisdom

As the summer slips through our fingers, have you had moments of anxiety creep up about next year? Okay, let's be honest. Some of us have been filled with absolute dread. Does that dread and your unhappiness mean that you are not where God wants you to be?

Today's episode is the first part of a brand-new series dealing with fear. And let's face it, the thought of not being where God wants us can be terrifying.

No matter how you are feeling this summer, if you listen to this podcast, you will learn strategies to deduce whether your struggles are a sign to go or a way to grow in your faith.

When we are facing hard times, it can be tempting to think, "I need to get out of here." But, the Bible speaks of hard times as times that refine and grow us as well. 

Romans 5:3-5 says, "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

For more, listen to the full episode here. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Pray & Plan

Teach Without Fear: Conquering our Anxieties with Fear and Wisdom
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES:

JOIN US IN CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT 101

In Classroom Management 101, you'll implement a classroom management plan that works so you can stop being frustrated by student misbehavior & actually enjoy teaching again!

Sign up for CM 101 today!

JOIN US IN THE PRAYER CHALLENGE

The challenge is simple. We're committing to pray every day - for as little or as long as you'd like. 

Each day,  we will ask God to work in our students' lives, in our lives, and in our classrooms (no matter what form them take).

We will pray for strength, wisdom, and endurance.  We will pour out our hearts to God and find in Him a strong refuge.

The challenge starts Sunday. Click to join us.

Join us to discover anew the hope that is found in Christ as well as practical solutions to navigate specific challenges that occur when teaching in a confused world with our free online teaching conference! Whether you're in a public or Christian school, you will be encouraged to rise up and shine a light in your classroom. 

Register for free here.

Join us to discover anew the hope that is found in Christ as well as practical solutions to navigate specific challenges that occur when teaching in a confused world with our free online teaching conference! Whether you're in a public or Christian school, you will be encouraged to rise up and shine a light in your classroom. 

Register for free here.

Designed for teachers, Reclaim Your Time 101 is your step-by-step plan to reduce stress & establish balance. In this program, you will cut 3-10 hours off your workweek without sacrificing your effectiveness so you can stop feeling stressed and preserve time and energy for your family and personal life.

PLUS - We know your plate is already full, so we've designed this course to be fast & flexible - and to work with your schedule.

Learn More about Reclaim Your Time 101

Join us for a free online teaching conference for Christian educators! Whether you teach at a private or public school, this long weekend will uplift your heart & equip you to fulfill your mission by the power of God's grace. 

Register for free NOW

Join us for a free online teaching conference for Christian educators! Whether you teach at a private or public school, this long weekend will uplift your heart & equip you to fulfill your mission by the power of God's grace. 

Register for free NOW

#1: How to Finish Strong, Even if You Don't Think You Can

from SERIES: Finish Strong: Strategies for Making the Final Weeks Count

Congratulations on making it this far into the school year! I want to encourage you to finish strong and make these weeks count.

When I was 16 weeks pregnant, I ran a marathon. I didn’t discover I was pregnant until halfway through my training, but I got medical approval to run anyway. I had this idea that I was going to cross the finish line with my arms held high in victory! I wish I had a video of me crossing because the reality is I barely made it across that finish line and I collapsed in the grass at the end. My husband said I looked miserable. I was glad I accomplished it, but I barely made it.

Maybe you feel that way. Maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t know if I can cross that finish line. I feel like I’m barely surviving.” Do not feel guilty if you’re just putting one foot in front of the other, but I do want to give you some things to think about these last few weeks of school.

Why do these last weeks of school matter?

1. These last weeks are an opportunity to make a final impact on your students. You’ve spent so much time with them, you know them better now than ever. You have built a relationship. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to guide them, to leave them with those last few words of wisdom, to inspire them. They’ll listen better now because of your shared history.

2. This is a great time to reflect. What has gone right this year? What has gone wrong? Make some written notes about it, so you will remember them next year and can make any changes (and remember what you want to do again!).

3. Make a plan for how to use your summer wisely. Sometimes the summer flies by and you don’t know where the time went! You had things you wanted to accomplish, but didn’t get to them. Now is the time to really consider what you want to do before next school year, but also be sure to plan some time for rest and relaxation as well!

If this sounds overwhelming to you and you’re one of those teachers we talked to above who feels like they’re barely surviving, you’ll want to listen to the full episode above where Linda provides encouragement and truth from God’s Word to help you keep going!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Teacher Appreciation Bundle

Jesus, Strong and Kind Song

Finish Strong: Strategies for Making the Final Weeks Count
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES:

#2: Making a Final Impact on our Students

from SERIES: Finish Strong: Strategies for Making the Final Weeks Count

Here it comes, ready or not!

The end of the year is fast approaching and you have limited time left with your students, so let’s make the most of it!

Be intentional with how you spend your time, both academically and relationally.

Academics: Take a moment and see where you are in your scope and sequence.

- If you’re behind schedule, don’t just keep doing the next lesson because it’s the next lesson. At this point, you know you’re going to run out of time to teach everything, so intentionally think through what the most important lessons are and prioritize them.

- If you’ve done an amazing job staying on track, or even getting ahead of schedule, don’t let your students think you’ll be wrapping up early for the year. They’ll check out and you’ll have a mess on your hands! Have a plan with engaging academic activities so they’ll be excited to learn up till the end.

Relationships: Pray and keep your eyes open for how God wants to bless His children through you.

- God isn’t done using you in the lives of your students! In your last few weeks with them, intentionally speak love, truth, and encouragement into their lives. Ask God to help you shine His light to the students He’s given you this year.

Want some specific ideas for projects (both academic and relational) that you can do during the last few weeks of school? Listen to the full podcast now!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

End-of-the-Year Project Ideas

Finish Strong: Strategies for Making the Final Weeks Count
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS SERIES:

#3: How to Close Down Your Classroom Like a Pro

from SERIES: Finish Strong: Strategies for Making the Final Weeks Count

When you think of closing out your classroom at the end of the year, do you immediately have visions of total chaos? Loose papers flying everywhere, trash cans overflowing with ripped-up bulletin board displays, stubby pencils on the floor, and students attempting to shove the entire contents of their desks into their backpacks to take home… what a mess!

The good news is that cleaning up your classroom doesn’t have to be chaotic if you take the right approach! Here's some advice to help you with these tasks:

1. DON’T pack up the visible parts of your classroom too early! If you start taking down your bulletin boards a month before school ends, it will signal to your students that the year is over and they will start to lose focus.

2. DO start cleaning out your desk, cabinets, and computer files ahead of time so that you can discreetly get some things accomplished without derailing your class.

3. DO enlist your students to help. On one of the last days of school, try giving your class some engaging independent work and having pairs of students work on cleaning tasks one at a time to avoid chaos. (Thanks to Angela Watson for this great advice!)

You don’t need to be overwhelmed by all that needs to be done. Just try your best to do what you can and every little bit will help you get off on the right foot next year. Here's some advice from Kelly Jackson from The Simply Organized Teacher on organizing as you pack up:

1. DO your cleaning and organizing a little at a time, as you have time. Try tackling one drawer at lunch time and another the next day.

2. DO find some bins that you can label “donate” or “trash” etc. so that you have a spot for everything you need to organize or get rid of. (You may find it motivating to give yourself a goal of how many items you will get rid of!)

3. DON'T forget about the unseen parts of your classroom, like cabinets and drawers. Neglecting those spots will cause you to come back in the fall to an unexpected mess!

4. DO create zones in your classroom and put “like” things together in the same zone. For example, put all of your teaching reading materials in one location rather than all over the classroom.

If you’re interested in hearing more about closing out and organizing your classroom you can listen to the entire podcast episode here.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Teach4theHeart+

A Simple System for Deconstructing your Classroom in Just One Day

#4: A Simple Key to Future Success

from SERIES: Finish Strong: Strategies for Making the Final Weeks Count

Do you want to start your summer break with clarity and the freedom to enjoy the sand and sunshine from day one? Then, schedule a small block of time to reflect on this school year.

Reflection will allow you to clear your mind from all the details you would otherwise try to hold onto until next fall.

Reflection can be simple, inspiring, and be the catalyst you need to improve your classroom.

Use these 4 easy steps.

STEP ONE: Let's start by celebrating the things that went really well this year!
-Did you connect well with certain students?
-Did you master the art of a clean desk?
-Were you on time more than 90% of the days?
Write these things down. Thank God for these wins! And use them to help plan for next year.

STEP TWO: Now, let's make some notes of things you want to change.
-Is there a new procedure you want to implement?                                                                         -Was there a daily struggle in your classroom?                                                                                   -What inspiring ideas do you have?

STEP THREE: Identify the root cause of last year's biggest pain point. Try asking:       -Why this was an issue?                                                                                                                                Ask why a couple times if needed. Some themes that come to mind are: organization, classroom management, time management, personal attitude, anxiety, or student behavior.

STEP FOUR: Make a plan for what needs to change.
Remember: This is about reflecting and not solving your issues right away. So, while step four can involve naming the solution, it will then involve planning time in the future where you implement the solution. On the other hand, this step could also mean planning time to brainstorm solutions themselves. This is not about fixing everything now! Instead, it's about assuring there is time on your calendar designated to handling the problem.

These four steps will not solve all your problems for next year within the 20-30 minute reflection time.

But, following this process allows you peace of mind as you begin your summer.
You have identified your issues, and made time and space to deal with them in the future.

Plus, you have recorded several things that worked well to keep you motivated AND to draw inspiration from as you brainstorm solutions for next year.

Listen to today's podcast to get more clarity on these reflection steps and their benefits. Then, when you are done, clear your mind for summer vacation by using this in-depth reflection template. Click here to get yours.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Your Smooth-Running Classroom

All-New Classroom Management 101

Reclaim Your Time 101

Teach Uplifted

Beyond Classroom Management

Teach4theHeart+

In-Depth Reflection Questions

JOIN YOUR SMOOTH-RUNNING CLASS

Are you tired of all the distractions? If you've ever stood in front of your class desperately trying to regain your students' attention while they talk, run around, get in fights, and generally ignore you, you know it is not fun.

But it doesn't have to be this way! We'll help you design a plan that works so you can create a smooth-running class where students respect each other - and you! 

Join Your Smooth-Running Class this summer!

JOIN YOUR SMOOTH-RUNNING CLASS

Are you tired of all the distractions? If you've ever stood in front of your class desperately trying to regain your students' attention while they talk, run around, get in fights, and generally ignore you, you know it is not fun.

But it doesn't have to be this way! We'll help you design a plan that works so you can create a smooth-running class where students respect each other - and you! 

Join Your Smooth-Running Class this summer!

What is identity? Identity is a sense of who we are, how we got here, and what we are made for. Everything that we do comes out of that identity. When we understand what someone's identity is and how they've formed it, it helps us to better understand those around us , including our students.

There are three different ways to view our identity: the traditional view, the modern view, and a Gospel-shaped view. This chart outlines the differences between them:

As you can see, what your identity is rooted in can make a big difference in the way you live and view the world. And while we might notice a lot of tension between a traditional and modern view of identity, as believers we must transcend both of these common viewpoints and instead root our identity in the truths of the Gospel.

As Christians, we know what's most important about us: who God says we are. How are you living to show that's your identity?

In the conversation, Jonathan Holmes of Fieldstone Counseling explains these different identities, what they mean for us, and takeaways for Christian teachers. Be sure to listen to the full episode above!

does your heart crave even more?

Consider signing up for the Teach 4 the Heart Podcast. This free resource is one additional way you can receive Gospel encouragement and practical teaching tips grounded in a Biblical worldview. Oh, and it's totally FREE! 

Make sure you never miss an episode: Click here to learn how.

When you’re sick, do you “push through” to avoid having to write sub plans?

If so, you’re not alone. A lot of teachers think it’s just easier to “work sick” than try to prep for someone else.

The bottom line is: You have worked to earn your days off and you deserve to take them. Working “through it” can often prolong your sickness and make you less effective at your job, so it is often better for you AND your students if you take the time you need to recover.

But when you have a sinus headache, a stuffed up nose, and a scratchy throat, it’s hard to sit down and write sub plans.

We talked with Wife Teacher Mommy, Kelsey Sorenson, about all things sub planning. Her solution? A sub tub.

How it works:

1. A sub tub is an actual container you can keep under your desk for a substitute teacher. You can put hanging file folders in it for each subject or class that you teach. Fill the tub with a week’s worth of emergency lesson plans, including copies of assignments for every student in the class.

2. These lesson plans need to fit into any time in the school year. Don’t worry about updating them according to what you’re working on; pick activities and lessons that will be valuable any time of the year.

3. Remember that substitute teachers are not glorified babysitters- they are teachers! You can include some actual teaching in the lessons.

4. A sub tub should include a binder with all of your routines and procedures to try to keep things consistent with a normal school day. Include a seating chart, a daily schedule, and your attention-getters. Your Classroom Management 101 plan is perfect for acting as a sub binder because it will outline your procedures, rules, and consequences.

5. You can also prepare a whole-class reward system ahead of time for the sub. An easy whole-class reward system is picking an 8-10 letter “word of the day.” When the whole class is meeting expectations, the substitute teacher writes a letter on the board. When the whole word is spelled out, the students get a pre-determined reward.

6. An individual reward system is another great idea. Sometimes, students aren’t motivated by a whole-class reward system because they think that difficult students will ruin it for everyone. Your sub plans can include individual punch cards for each student that the sub can punch when the students are meeting expectations and when their cards are full, they can receive a prize. You can get these punch cards and more in the FREE Sub Planning Starter Kit.

For more on preparing the students for a substitute teacher and changing your mindset so that you feel comfortable to take the time off you deserve, listen to the podcast episode above.

If you're a member of Teach4theHeart+, in April you will be able to join a live training with Kelsey where she will go into more detail on sub planning and take your Q&As (this is on top of unlimited access to our four most popular courses!). Sign up now at: Teach4theHeart+

And be sure to sign up for Wife Teacher Mommy's annual Educate and Rejuvenate virtual event! 

To be notified via email when the next podcast episode is released, sign up here.

You can also subscribe to the Teach 4 the Heart podcast in Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your favorite podcast app.

Make sure your students are good while you're gone!

Check out our free class: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing.

Get the free training here.

#1: What Kind of Classroom Management Does God Call Us To?

from SERIES: Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers

You know, as Christian teachers it would be really helpful if there were a verse in the Bible about how classroom management should look…right?!

Ok, God might not have given us a specific chapter and verse about modern classroom management, but in His word He’s shared a ton of wisdom about how He wants us to serve Him in our classrooms.

1) Our Father’s desire is that our classrooms would be filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As a spirit-filled teacher, those fruits of the spirit should play a crucial (and increasing) role in how you manage your classroom… and when you pray for and rely on the Spirit’s strength, they will!

Think for a moment about which one or two of those areas God is seeking to grow you in, and pause to pray and ask for His strength.

2) Our students need to be more than their behaviors (or their brains, for that matter) to us. We are called to love all of God’s children and see them as He sees them.

God placed you in your students’ lives so that you can be a light that points to Him.

If your students think you only want them to be good because it makes your job easier, not only will your classroom management suffer, but more importantly, the eternal impact you have will be stifled.

To allow Christ’s light to shine in your classroom, you need to show that you desire to know your students as the precious children of God they are, and that you care for them as individuals.

3) As teachers, we are called to help shape our students’ brains AND their characters. Teaching students right and wrong, and holding them accountable for wrong, is part of our calling, and it ISN’T something you should shy away from in your classroom.

In our culture, this idea can be quite controversial, but it is so important for our students to know there is a standard of right and wrong and that there are consequences for their actions.

There’s so much more to this discussion, so be sure to listen to the full episode here.

You’ll also want to dive into some practical aspects of classroom management by signing up for Teach 4 the Heart’s FREE training: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing!

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Free Webinar: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing

Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:

#2: 3 Common Mistakes in Classroom Management

from SERIES: Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers

Have you ever been told you're "too nice" of a teacher? Or have you worried that you have to be mean in order to get students to behave?

Sometimes we get caught in this conundrum, thinking we have to choose between being kind or being strict. But that's not true at all.

In reality, we need to be both kind AND strict.

We should be nice, personable, understanding, and fun to be around. But at the exact same time, we need to have high expectations, deal with issues, and not be pushovers.

When we hold students accountable - but do it with empathy and kindness - our students start to respect us and respond to our leadership.

And our classes become much more calm and focused.

Another way to look at this mindset shift is switching from the goal of getting your students to like you to responding in ways that will cause your students to respect you.

Respected teachers will not need to be mean, simply clear
about their expectations and firm about upholding them.

This is just the first of the three most common mistakes in Classroom Management. Do you want to learn about the other two mistakes so you can stop making them and starting moving towards a calmer & more focused classroom?

Listen to episode 2 of our podcast series called Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Free Webinar: How to Reduce Disruptions without Yelling, Begging, or Bribing

Classroom Management 101: Get Step-by-Step Help to Create Your Classroom Management Plan

#3: 4 Steps to a Well-Managed Classroom

from SERIES: Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers

If you are tempted to skip over classroom management this time of year, DON'T!

In episode 3 of our podcast series Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers, Linda walks you through 4 steps to create a smooth-running class.

It can be human nature to want to brush classroom management off until next year. After all, here are common thoughts teachers have:

1. My class is already settled in to their ways. They will not deal with these changes well.

2. I have a year-end review, testing, and reports to do that deserve my attention. I don't have time for this.

3. It's so much better to start next year with a clean slate and a fresh group of kids.

Here's the thing---all three of these ideas are true. But, none of these ideas are serving you or your classroom.

Here are 3 key reasons you MUST WORK ON CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT NOW, even if it feels like the timing is off.

1. Your current students deserve a well run classroom just as much as the ones who are coming next school year. You may not be able to solve all the issues in your class, but if you pick a few key ones to focus on, your students will have a classroom that will be running better than when they arrived!

2. You know all those things you have going on at the end of the year? The testing, reports, room closing, and more? If you have your students on board with some key procedures, they can actually HELP you instead of working against you! You don't have the time to skip over this!

3. This last point is my favorite---Even if you don't master classroom management by the end of this year, you will have improved!

Improvement leads to confidence.

That confidence is the secret sauce that makes everything run more smoothly - the intangible that students can sense and that makes them take you more seriously.

The first step? Listen to episode episode 3 where you'll discover the 4 steps you need to take to reduce disruption and create a classroom you actually enjoy teaching in!

NEED HELP CREATING A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN?

In Classroom Management 101, you'll implement a classroom management plan that works so you can stop being frustrated by student misbehavior & actually enjoy teaching again!

Find out more about Classroom Management 101.

Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:

#4: True Teaching Tales: How a Classroom Management Plan Built Laura’s Confidence

from SERIES: Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers

Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a classroom management plan that reduces your stress and boosts your confidence? What if other teachers were coming to YOU because your students were talking about how effective your methods were? That’s right, your STUDENTS were talking about your classroom management to other teachers!

Believe it or not, that’s what happened to science teacher Laura Lucas after she created a classroom management plan!

Laura teaches science to multiple grade levels and is a traveling teacher, so instead of having her own classroom, she travels to different teachers’ rooms. At first, Laura tried to run her class according to the classroom teachers’ rules, but it was difficult for Laura to keep track of how different teachers did things.

When Laura joined the All-New Classroom Management 101, she went through the process of creating a classroom management plan. Here is the advice she would give to other teachers:

1. Start right where you are- You don’t have to create a perfect plan right away. Your plan will be a living document and you can improve it as you go along. Creating a plan just gives you a place to start.

2. Evaluate what’s going RIGHT- What is currently working well? When you begin with this question in writing your classroom management plan, it will boost your confidence to see that you’re already doing a lot of things right.

3. Evaluate what you’re already doing- Start by defining what you’re already doing and ask yourself these questions:

• Is it effective?
• Is it sometimes effective? If so, when does it work and when does it not?
• Do you need to change things up? Is there someone you need advice from?

4. It’s worth the time- Having a concrete manual to go back to each year reduces stress and gives you less to remember since it’s written down. It’s as important as your long-range teaching plan or your curriculum map. If things get off track, you can come back to it to see what’s working, what needs to be tweaked, and what areas you need to tighten up.

After Laura created her plan, she was able to collaborate with other teachers to help their classrooms run more efficiently. The noise level chart she created was so successful the students mentioned it to other teachers and the art teacher asked for a copy to use herself! To hear what else has changed for Laura since she implemented a classroom management plan, listen to the full episode above.

NEED HELP CREATING A CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT PLAN?

In Classroom Management 101, you'll implement a classroom management plan that works so you can stop being frustrated by student misbehavior & actually enjoy teaching again!

Find out more about Classroom Management 101.

Effective Classroom Management for Christian Teachers
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:

#1: When You're Not Sure You Can Keep Teaching

from SERIES: Banish Discouragement & Love Teaching Again

February's always a challenging month for teachers - but for many of you, the frustration & discouragement goes even beyond that.

You may be seriously questioning if you should keep being a teacher or if you should look for another career. You might even be wondering if you can make it to May!

What do you do when you feel so discouraged? Pastor & author David Platt shares this advice (and much more) in this week's podcast:

1. Press into God:

Know you're not alone. He is with you and He's called you here. You couldn’t do life without Christ before these challenges, now that they’ve come, you need Him more than ever! Press into Christ's joy and His strength. You can’t do it without him.

2. Be in relationship with other educators:

Other Christian educators remind you you’re not alone. When tough issues come up and you’re not sure how to navigate them according to your faith, Christian educators can provide wisdom.

3. Know it’s not easy:

God has not called us to be comfortable, so what does faithfulness look like? It looks like walking into hard things. It looks like perseverance. God is better than being comfortable. He is better than anything in the world, so use these challenges to drive you closer to Jesus. He doesn’t promise it will be easy, but He DOES promise we can do all things through Him.

So what if you’ve considered the advice above and are not sure if you should continue teaching or not?

There are 3 things we should do when trying to discern the will of God in making that decision. To hear the three steps, listen to the full podcast episode above.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

David Platt's Website: Radical

David Platt's Book: Radical

Love Teaching Again Challenge

#2: How to Be a Problem Solver

from SERIES: Banish Discouragement & Love Teaching Again

If we want to improve our situation, we must be willing to seek out solutions.

In the second podcast episode of this series, we learn 3 key steps to seeking out solutions:

1. Identify the problem. (We need to know what problem we are solving!)
2. Pray about it. (God truly is the best problem solver. Truly.)
3. Seek out solutions.

Many times, God allows the wisdom of other people to guide us to answers. Yet, when people suggest solutions to us, it can be very difficult to accept their recommendations. Why?

Well, we assume they don't know how hard our situation is.
Sometimes we wish their suggestion was easier to implement.
Other times, we just don't like the advice we have received.

Here are two ways you can make the most of advice when it is given to you:

First: Allow yourself only one "Yeah, but."

How many times have you responded to advice with a "yeah, but..."?
Yeah, but my class is bigger than yours.
Yeah, but my admin does things differently.
Yeah but we don't use that curriculum.
Yeah, but that will not work in my situation...

Don't miss out on a workable solution by dismissing great advice with a "yeah, but..."

Second: Instead of saying, "This will never work for me," switch your focus to "HOW can this work for me?"

When people share their experiences, not everything will line up exactly. (That is where we often start to "Yeah, but...").

Instead of automatically dismissing the entire piece of advice, get creative and see if you can find a way to apply part of the idea to your problem.

Solutions are key to improving our situation. Our mindset about solutions and advice are pivotal too.

When we pray about our issues, we can expect the Lord to show up with help.

And when we have people willing to stand beside us and offer us advice and encouragement, it is our job to be thankful for them and then to find what's workable for us in the advice that was given.

For more ideas on seeking solutions in the classroom (and to learn how our new program Teach 4 the Heart + can help you with that!) listen to episode 2 of the podcast series Banish Discouragement & Love Teaching Again.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Teach4theHeart +

Christian Teachers' Lounge Facebook Group

Banish Discouragement & Love Teaching Again
CHECK OUT THE FULL SERIES:

#1: The Gospel Gives Us Rest & Balance

from SERIES: How to Reduce Teacher Stress & Create Work/Life Balance

Teachers everywhere will tell you that their careers have overtaken their lives. Has teaching consumed yours?

If it has, you are not alone. But, I know you are also deeply in need of rest.

When God first gave us work and rest, BOTH of these were beautiful gifts (Genesis 2).

But, when sin entered the world, our balance of work and rest was thrown off, with many people overworking, and others underperforming and prone to laziness. It's quite challenging to create the optimal balance, especially when you add in the other responsibilities of life.

Thankfully, Jesus has given us a beautiful model to follow as he sanctifies us here on earth until the glory of God is restored. Let's take a look at the life of Jesus and see what teachers can learn about work and rest from the life of Christ.

1. Jesus did not wait until all the work was done to rest.

Jesus exemplified limits and boundaries. He often left large crowds to get away. Yes, there were more people to heal and more needs to be met, but Jesus knew he needed to rest to do His work well. (One example is in Mark 4:36.)

2. Jesus also showed us that the best self-care is spiritual care.

Pratia Jordan pointed out that when Jesus got alone, He was not sneaking away to take a bubble bath, or to get a pedicure for his dusty toes. He was prayerfully connecting with God (Luke 5:16).

WOW. I guess that means the best self-care is prayer, Bible reading, worship, speaking biblical truths over someone, and other things that root us in Christian truth. (That doesn't mean that a bubble bath or a pedicure isn't helpful every now and then though!)

If you want to embrace a life with more rest and balance, gain deeper insights and learn to apply more biblical wisdom to your own life, listen to the first episode of our podcast series How to Reduce Teacher Stress & Create Work/Life Balance.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Free Training: 5 Time-Saving Practices to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

#3: The Two Keys to Time Management

from SERIES: How to Reduce Teacher Stress & Create Work/Life Balance

How full is your to-do list right now?

Even though we know we can’t do everything, there’s still a LOT to do. Like, seriously… a lot! How can we possibly get this all done in a reasonable amount of time? The answer isn’t skipping showers and losing sleep.

Here’s how: Intentionality

We must recognize our time and energy is limited. Choose the BEST things to do by asking yourself, “Which of these tasks will have the most impact?” For example, an engaging lesson will have a bigger impact on your students than getting their graded essays back to them within the week.

After we’ve identified the best things, we must eliminate or reduce things that are less vital. (For more on how to do that with the 4T method, listen to the full podcast episode.)

Next, ask yourself one key question: “How do I get this done in a reasonable amount of time?” Look for creative solutions to accomplish the same goal while taking less time.

Think of an area that's taking you way too much time.

Can you trim it by doing it less often? Can you set a time limit for yourself to get it done?

If neither of those work, look for a better way to get it done. Don’t settle for the way you’ve “always done it.” For example, do you have to write individual comments on each student’s essay? They definitely need that feedback, but can you accomplish the same thing with a separate grading sheet that has frequently used pre-written comments on it that you circle?

To find out how you can use the 4T method to be intentional, and for more examples of creative solutions that save you time, listen to the full third episode of the podcast series above: How to Reduce Teacher Stress & Create Work/Life Balance. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

4 Powerful Ways to Tame Your To-Do List

Free Training: 5 Time-Saving Practices to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

#4: Should We Do our Best on Everything?

from SERIES: How to Reduce Teacher Stress & Create Work/Life Balance

Should we do our best on everything?

I bet your gut reaction is, “Of course!”

After all, Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.”

BUT - Does that mean we should give our best effort to EVERY task that comes across our plate? EVERY little piece of our job?

I don't think so.

This is an extreme example, but it’s real. I remember my professor saying we should tape corners in perfect squares on the back of the overhead frame, explaining that we want to do our best on even the little details because we're serving God.

Does the thought of taping perfect little squares on an overhead, in the midst of all your teaching responsibilities, seem laughable? Do you think that’s what God wants you spending your time on?

Um, no.

We know that time is finite. If we are saying “yes” to taping perfect corners on the overhead, we are saying “no” to something else that probably matters more.

"Doing our best" in something that doesn't matter might actually result in our overall job being done to LESS than our best ability - because we've wasted our time & effort on things that don't matter.

So - NO, we should NOT do our best on everything.

Instead, we should:
Do our BEST on what matters MOST
Do the BARE minimum on things that do NOT matter
Do what we CAN on the tasks that fall in-between

Are you not sure how to differentiate between what matters and what doesn’t matter? Listen to this week’s podcast episode for the key questions you need to ask yourself when seeking to save your best effort for the things that MATTER.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Course: Reclaim Your Time 101

Free Training: 5 Time-Saving Practices to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

#5: Using Boundaries & Schedules to Create Better Work/Life Balance

from SERIES: How to Reduce Teacher Stress & Create Work/Life Balance

If you want to create more balance in your life, one of the most powerful things you can do is to BE INTENTIONAL.

You want to be an exceptional teacher, so you spend every free second planning engaging lessons, grading papers, and communicating with families. But if you spend too much time scrolling Pinterest for ideas and prepping materials, your relationships and personal well-being will suffer.

The Lord has more for you than that. Besides working, He created you to do things like rest, nurture your relationships, and accomplish other important tasks.

If you can carve out a few minutes each weekend to plan your schedule intentionally for the week ahead, you will reap the rewards at home and at school.

Here are three things you can do:

1. First, write down the times you WILL work and WON’T work during the week. Knowing when you'll be working and not working sets a framework for the rest of your schedule and keeps you accountable so you don't work too much.

Here's an example:

2. Next, specify the times when you will do teaching-related work at home during the evenings and on the weekend. Writing down your at-home work time will allow you to communicate your plans with your family and it will also help you to set a stopping point so that you can move on to other things you need or want to do.

3. Finally, plan out your family, friend, and rest time in advance. This goes beyond putting obligations like appointments or activities on your schedule - you want to include the things that bring you LIFE. Try putting a date night on the calendar or choosing a specific time over the weekend to practice Sabbath rest.

Intentionality with your schedule will not only result in more work/life balance and help you to prioritize the things that matter - it will also help you to glorify God as you trust Him to provide for all your needs while you rest.

Do you want to learn more about how to use your schedule to glorify God and bring more balance to your life? Listen to this podcast episode for a more in-depth look.

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Course: Reclaim Your Time 101

Free Training: 5 Time-Saving Practices to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed

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