I would invite you as we think about "Teachers are Mentors" to turn in your songbooks to number 585. We have a very common song. The words of this song, I think, are very meaningful in this talk. It's the song "Follow the Path of...

Juggling two or more grades in a classroom definitely has its challenges. This session covers four ways you can work toward an efficient, organized classroom with motivated and happy students. This may be especially helpful for...

To fulfill your commitment to be the leader in your classroom, you need to prepare for the year, manage, and teach in a way that controls the leaning and calls them to follow, and then reflect and reshoot. This is a general...

Younger grades. Note names. Sight singing. Vocal training. What age? When? How high should they sing? MONOTONES !!! What is Kodaly? Jeff, who has taught music for more than 15 years, answers lots of questions about starting and...

The atmosphere and attitudes in our classrooms can largely determine whether or not we will have an enjoyable year or a challenging one. In this talk, Deanna discusses six specific ways you can make your classroom an enjoyable...

Too many students stop reading when reading class ends. How we can (re)ignite within our students a love for reading? In this talk, Bethany explores ways to incorporate books and book-based activities and projects into our...

"Mentoring is taking your life experience and giving it away for free." In this final installment of Metaphors for Teachers, Stephan calls us to guide students personally, and personably.

What do Steven King, William Shakespeare, and Claire Schnupp have in common? In the third message of a four part series on metaphors for teachers, Stephan urges teaches to maintain their own appetite for learning.

Teachers expend hours of effort, but the payback for this work is not instantly evident. The time and emotional energy you invest today do not come with guaranteed returns. Still, says Stephan, investing in students is a risk...

Have you reckoned with the power that comes with your position as a teacher? You choose, decide, and judge the affairs of your classroom. Dodging this responsibility is not an option: Like it or not, you will rule. How can you...

Are you tired and fatigued while you teach? Does your voice hurt after school? Does your back hurt? Your feet? Do you lose your voice every year? Are you a stressed mess? Do you find yourself thinking more negatively than...

You as a teacher are given the authority to structure your classroom for a successful school year. Anthony considers principles and practices for establishing positive disciplines in the classroom.

While the terms we use to describe our schools can be empty slogans, they can also help us understand what we do. In this talk, Kyle examines key mottoes in Christian education.

What does Christian school do for a child that secular school does not? Perhaps the difference is often less important than we think, says Kyle. Although Christian schools avoid particular problems--for instance, Anabaptist...

Which does your school emphasize: The word of God or mathematics? Personal moments with students or a disciplined schedule? The knowledge of Jesus or the ability to sing? Rather than set up dichotomies like this, Kyle offers the...

With long experience can come great weariness. What if you could teach so efficiently as to say goodbye to all the agony of your first years in the role? Improvements in technique are important, but Kyle reminds us of one reality...

Will my students like me and enjoy school? This question can bring some nagging fear as you face a new school year. Anthony discusses common mistakes teachers make that generate problems.

We are surrounded by the noise of a dysfunctional world. How do we not only survive but serve others in this world? Joey reminds us that the world not only produces noise; it influences our motivations. Are your habits making you...

How would you rate your personal organization? Whether you are a 1 or a 10, says Joey, there are likely ways you can better manage your time, tasks, and information flow. Why does this matter? Because disorganization has a direct...

Teachers know things their students need to learn. But teaching is not merely about imparting a static body of knowledge. Do you model for your students a life of growth in understanding and wisdom? Joey offers seven principles...