Remember. Memory. Memorial. We have a memorial service to remember someone, and come away from it thinking of that person and their impact on us. Joshua built a pile of stones to remember how God had led the Israelites across the Jordan...

Image by congerdesign from Pixabay Today was our first day of kindergarten. In a normal school year, we hold a two-week kindergarten in April. This year in April, the twelve children who were eagerly counting days until they could go to...

Those of you who have unloaded hay on hot day know that there is one thing that absolutely must be done before calling it a day. Every old farmer knows what I’m talking about. As the summer sun slips behind the loafing pen, every true...

O to be like thee… full of compassion!* As we looked at this hymn in staff devotions and thought of areas in which we wanted to be like Jesus, this phrase stuck out to me. I want to be full of compassion for my students. For the student...

The adage says, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” As conservative Anabaptists, we have traditionally avoided using the sword. But unfortunately, we have often avoided using the pen as well. The following observations are very likely...

If you put a monkey in front of a typewriter and let him type for a very long time, would he eventually produce the works of Shakespeare? This question, or a version similar to it, has been floating around the world of mathematical...

Children love building, from their first wobbly stack of blocks all the way up to 3D puzzles and erector sets. Building is intensely satisfying. Connecting small pieces into a cohesive whole grows motor skills, develops hand-to-eye...

Photo by CDC on Unsplash Schools around the globe have been scrambling to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. In his letter to patrons, Kendall calls us to live in light of the enduring, sustaining presence of God. March 19, 2020 Dear Parents:...

In my blog post about the evaluation process for exceptional learners, I briefly mentioned that students who qualify for special education within the public school system receive an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Here in...

Photo by Jessica Lewis on Unsplash Can we predict if students will succeed or struggle before they begin their school journey? Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of screening students before they come into kindergarten...

The outside classroom door stood propped open to invite the fresh morning air. Just beyond the open door, our school garden flourished and we wanted as much contact as we could with the fresh air and colors. We now sat in back of the room...

I love teaching. I find Jesus there. I watch rude students become gentle and stumbling readers become book lovers. We set goals and celebrate victories. I relish those split second incidents that thrill: the moment of wonder that crosses...

Everyone learns, all the time. Some of the learning is controlled; other learning simply happens. For the teacher, a periodical consideration of philosophical aspects of this teaching/learning process is beneficial. Who do I teach?...

After two consecutive days of apologizing to several students for my sharp words, I began pondering the meaning of repentance. Why do I keep failing? Shouldn’t I be able to repent – and if I do it just right—have clear sailing from there?...

We named our teacher team "Little People." We chose this name because we teach the little people and because we want to be little people in our humility, in our attitudes, and in our perspectives. Jesus said we must become like little...

Written prayers are a way to come to God when our own hearts feel reflective, silent, confused, overwhelmed, or exhausted. They allow us to speak true things that help to align our hearts and minds with what God is doing and what He wants...

After I read an article in which a teacher discussed relating to different groups of students, I commented to a friend that I think “my kind” of students are the ADHD children. My friend agreed, “Yes, you do well with them.” This is not...

My last blog post was about the importance of reading. In this post, I’ll suggest some books that you might profitably read this summer. But first I have a few rules for reading. Prioritize books over other reading material. Periodicals,...

I know you scarcely have time to even think about reading. Start thinking about reading anyhow. Summer’s coming, and maybe you can make some time then. You need to, and here’s why. 1. You can’t teach unless you know stuff. As John Milton...

You can get more out of your students by presenting thought-provoking, inspiring examples and additional ideas. One of the most effective strategies that can be used in the classroom is to give students creative examples and additional...