Caring for a garden requires a lot of hard work, some trial and error, and tons of patience. As you work with your students throughout the year, various needs will present themselves to you. Pray that God helps you to see those needs and guides you in ways that will help those needs to be met so that your student will continue to grow.
- Some needs will be academic. In what ways can you provide differentiation for your learners? Speak to your Student Support Services within your school staff in order to receive advice and guidance.
- Other needs will be more on the social-emotional level. Work to provide a “safe-to” space in your classroom – safe to try, safe to fail, safe to make a mistake, safe to try again. Responsive classroom protocols go a long way to developing a classroom culture where students feel heard and seen. Morning circles, talking pieces, question-of-the-day, and a closing circle are just a few examples of protocols that will begin to build a healthy social-emotional atmosphere in your classroom. If you have students that seem to be struggling socially-emotionally, don’t hesitate to reach out to your school’s Guidance Counselor. It is important that we use the available resources that we have for the betterment of our students.
- Spiritual needs and faith formation is the need of each one of our students. Every plant needs sun and water to grow and thrive. Jesus is the light of the world and we are His reflectors. Reflect God’s love to your students in all things, help them to see God’s light. Pour into your students God’s love. Extend mercy and grace, a gentle touch and a word spoken out of God’s love and forgiveness. Show them the beauty of God that surrounds us in His creation. How blessed are we as Christian educators to be able to enfold all that we say and do in the classroom with God’s love!
Ensure that the Christian education your students are receiving goes far beyond Bible class and devotions. Help your students see God in all things and in every aspect of their lives. Continue to water, prune, weed, and trim the beautiful “plants” in your garden and pray that God will bless the work of your hands.
Colossians 3:23 (NIV) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
