OnPractice
a TeachBeyond teacher resource
The condition of our own hearts can enhance our classroom discipline, or it can impede it.
Being a shepherd-teacher begins with cultivating relationship, being attentive, and developing trust.
May God raise up a generation of students whose hearts are set on loving Him and pursuing the vision of the abundant life that He offers.
When students embrace a biblical worldview, their lives shine with a transformative impact far beyond the classroom.
By applying safeguarding intentionally and consistently, a school fosters a worldview marked by dignity, responsibility, justice, and compassion.
This next mini-series shares tips and ideas related to specific subject areas, sent to us from TeachBeyond educators. This article focuses on...
This mini-series shares tips and ideas related to specific subject areas, sent to us from TeachBeyond educators. This article focuses on Language...
This next mini-series shares tips and ideas related to specific subject areas, sent to us from TeachBeyond educators. This article focuses on Math...
In these "General Strategies" articles, we share tips and ideas sent to us by TeachBeyond educators.
In these "General Strategies" articles, we share tips and ideas sent to us by TeachBeyond educators.
In these "General Strategies" articles, we share tips and ideas sent to us by TeachBeyond educators.
In planning, the goal is to teach biblically in a way that points hearts, minds, and hands to see the truth, beauty, and goodness of all things.
Let’s lean into the wonder and awe of God, seeking the evidence of His glory in the footprints He leaves behind, and letting His glory radiate from...
There are practices we can implement in our classrooms to shape learners’ hearts toward the content and skills that we are teaching and to the Lord...
The classroom provides us with a beautiful opportunity to live out our call to go, teach, and make disciples.
It is God’s Word that helps us sift through our preexisting worldviews and to rightly evaluate, or discern, them.
Developing a Christian worldview is the process of aligning our belief system with God’s word.
Our faith is not a separate compartment we check at the classroom door but a living lens through which we see every aspect of our educational work.
Understanding worldview will energize how we can teach in ways that stimulate others to examine and transform their own worldview.
As we embrace the classroom as a sacred space, we begin to see every moment of every day as Holy Ground to experience, know, and love more deeply...
A worldview is not optional—it’s an inescapable lens through which we interpret life, whether we are conscious of it or not.
Real education focuses on changing how you live even when you forget to think.
Jesus’ great command means that “all of me” is learning to love God as the Holy Spirit is “re-integrating” us into whole and holy lives in the...
When we commit to loving God with all our strength, even in our tiredness, our classrooms become spaces where God’s love and grace are tangible.
Loving God with all one's mind is a long journey and task of developing Christian convictions holistically.
This ‘loving the Lord God’ is always only a response to God’s lavish love for me.
Imagine the tremendous significance of a teacher who is personally transformed by Jesus before he or she enters a classroom.
May our learning contexts be spaces and places where wise ones are developed, who “hear and respond” and say, “yes, Lord…” for all of their lives.
A transformational classroom is the result of transformed educators whose impact cascades into the lives of students and the community through...
God’s grace is amazing. May this be visible in the context of your classroom and through your life as the classroom’s leader.
The gospel is a mirror that shows me who I was, who I am, and who I can become.
What an amazing gift that we have God’s Word accessible to us!
The Trinity informs the very essence of who we are, as well as undergirding some of the best pedagogical practices for the classroom.
Maybe the Incarnation is an invitation for us to put on the body of Christ and re-enact His story for all the world to see.
We are not simply preparing students for the challenges of today, but for their role in God's redemptive plan.
Embrace your purpose and watch how it enriches not just your own life but the lives of those you teach.
As we become part of students’ lives and engage with them actively in the teaching-learning process, we can encourage their transformation in action.
The incarnation of Christ is the perfect model for those who want to teach the Word of God to someone.
Helping our students understand the source of evil can equip them to face disappointment and to choose a path that leads to life.
When Jesus is in the details of our lives, we can be confident that He is in the classroom.
God will complete the transforming work that He has begun in each of His children, using teachers immersed in His word and continually talking to Him.
Positive transformation is crucial for those who influence others.
What if we viewed the summer between school years as a mini-sabbatical?
Joy and celebration are within reach, we just have to refocus our hearts and minds to embrace them.
Educators have the chance to shape the future through the classroom.
We should help students develop a sense of purpose and be successful even when things are hard.
If a child is afraid to try, learning and becoming what God intends does not happen.
Collaboration is the inevitable outflow of God’s image in us.
“Collaborate –to work jointly with others or together especially in an intellectual endeavor”. For a school focused on transformational education,...
The way we relate to students may change with the seasons but there are also some timeless truths for discipleship that always apply.
"Have you prayed yet?"
When the teacher sees prayer as essential and central to his or her own life, students will not see it simply as the act...
As students learn to trust their teacher, the teacher can learn better how to encourage students in their growth.
The way you conduct yourself as a teacher can make life-altering differences.
We can be assured that rest is part of God’s good plan for us.
Be intentional about how you can create space for reflection routines.
The development of a culture of thinking takes time, practice, and intentional planning.
What you put into your classroom culture should be genuinely driven by the influence of Scripture.
We have a tremendous responsibility and privilege to be proactive in capturing our children's imagination.
By God’s grace, we can create a classroom where wonder is part of daily life.
In cultivating a love for learning, we are striving to become the best that we can be to become all God has designed for us.
Love and respect among teachers and students are powerful tools that can transform the entire educational process.
We must serve as models of love for God to all those who surround us and share space with us, to the children that God has put in our charge for...
Wrapping up a busy season of teaching? Getting ready to “face-plant” into summer? Set aside a little time to plan your rhythm of rest. Being...
One of the more common challenges faced by our students is that of disappointment, and we want to equip you in helping your students through this.
Science is our process to learn more about the world that God made, which He considered good. Analyzing God’s creations can also be inspiring to...
As humans created by God to be in relationship with Him and others, it is a vitally important developmental milestone that our students have the...
The story time concept is a reading discussion and engagement strategy that changes up the routine in the class and accesses different kinds of...
Even before preparing lessons to increase skills or understanding, we need to consider the internal state of our students.
God has created us for community. By harnessing that need for community in an English class, students can develop their creativity and experience...
Investigating barriers that hinder each student, harnessing students' motivations, and remembering their developmental stages all help us to...
Let's cultivate in our classrooms a holy curiosity that points our students to Christ.
Serving is not something that we do, it is who we are.
It has to do with our nature as disciples of Christ.
Appreciating the beauty of math is no different than appreciating the beauty of music. So, study math because it’s beautiful!
As we seek to create an excellent, enjoyable learning environment where God does His transforming work, let’s not forget to help our students care...
There are things that we can do on a regular basis to make the necessary (but not so fun) lessons easier to get through and the fun lessons even...
The experience and impact of bullying do not contribute to an environment in which transformational education can be facilitated and can hinder a...
If our goal is to help every learner become all God intends, we must acknowledge that our gifted students are also fragile learners with...
An excellent educational environment includes ensuring that our classrooms are places where students feel a sense of belonging and understand what...
As teachers it is our job to teach and support the broad range of learning abilities in our classrooms, so how do we do that realistically?
Welcoming a new class at the beginning of the school year can be both exciting and overwhelming. One big question teachers think about is who their...
God has entrusted us with our students for one year of their lives on their journey to become all He intends. So how do we best steward our time to...
Our students may be walking in nervous, excited, or somewhere in between. They are coming from many different circumstances, experiences, and...
Consider 4 options for renewal that can escort you into the flourishing God intends.
As students are transformed, they can have an immediate impact on their families and friends. Then, as they take up their calling in life, they can...
As we teach, we are a part of this God's mission to transform individuals and communities into all that He intends. We do not simply teach reading...
Student behaviour must be more than outward conformity. We tend to focus on correcting behaviour, but the real problem lies deeper than that. As...
The key to thinking correctly is aligning the mind with truth. This involves more than just knowing whether something is true or false or right or...
Differentiation starts by acknowledging that you have a variety of learners in your classroom with a variety of strengths and weaknesses, and then...
God does not want to make individuals into a better version of their old self … He wants to transform them. He wants to make them into an entirely...
Robotics has been a hobby of mine for many years, and I have enjoyed teaching it in the classroom. STEAM is now a greater part of most school...
It is easy to imagine that a teacher’s professional routine does not pose any risk to his or her physical health. Unfortunately, it is a known and...
Reading is a gift from God that connects us to people around the globe and throughout history, opening up worlds of ideas and the power of story in...
The invitation to think about the teacher's psycho-emotional development leads me to think about love — a broad feeling, a decision made in each...
You do not need to be a musician to incorporate music into your classroom, and your students do not need to be musicians to enjoy the benefits!
We believe in a personal God who still communicates with his creation today and, in a special way, with those made in His image and likeness....
Working as a school nurse in a cross-cultural setting is providing opportunities to teach and speak into the lives of children and staff about...
More and more is expected from teachers, but the necessary means and resources to accomplish these expectations are not always offered....
Throughout this past year and a half, so much teaching has moved to platforms like Zoom or Google Classroom. Even this year, many schools are...
What makes a science teacher with a Biblical worldview different from a secular science teacher? As a Christian, what are the things I want my high...
Every teacher is different. Every class is different. There is no one way to teach. And certainly no one way to create an excellent educational...
Yesterday someone wanted to know why I try to ask questions when I talk with friends. We are on home assignment and meeting lots of people. When I...
As teachers, we are concerned about our students' well-being and look for ways to make their learning experience better. We often have assignments...
Transitions are a regular part of life for everyone: changing grades at the end of each year, moving houses, or having a pet die. However, they are...
Transitioning to online lessons has been hard for all students and teachers, but even more so for ESL students. They don’t always have the language...
The planning involved in creating concept-based interdisciplinary units is intense, so why would you bother? It may sound great in theory, but in...
Students learn better in context, and they take what they are learning more seriously when they can clearly see the value in the skill you are...
There are three different aspects to the biblical view of this transformation, and all of them are a work of grace, unleashing the power of God to...
There are three spiritual disciplines that are foundational to our spiritual life: Bible reading, prayer, and fellowship. Whatever your context you...
Time and process can be frustrating, can’t they? We know clarity and purity, or muck and potential toxicity, when we see them. We know what the end...
I am not sure how e-learning has been going for you or what your teaching situation looks like today, but I think we can all agree that this past...
Transformational education is about life. It is about changed, transformed lives. It is about bringing together you, the learner, the Holy Spirit,...
Transformational education – from a Christian perspective. That's what we’re about in TeachBeyond. Seeing God work through education to transform...
By providing opportunities and routines for students to develop these habits of mind, schools prepare them to be problem solvers and innovators. As...
Teacher practices have a huge impact on students’ mindsets. Let’s build students’ confidence by encouraging a growth mindset in our classrooms....
Education is an essential sphere of human life. Through it, we prepare for the marketplace, become better citizens, develop skills and competences,...
Planning is very important to learners’ developing and growing in the knowledge and skills they need. An effective teacher thoughtfully plans...
When God calls, He invites us to join in, and joyfully participate in, what God is up to in redeeming and restoring our brokenness.
For many years, educators have been testing the waters of technological integration and teaching. The 2020 pandemic has accelerated this process....
How can we help our students to learn? According to educational research, two of the strongest factors in student learning relate back to the...
“You should look into online teaching, Christine. I think that’s going to be the future of education!” My mom exclaimed as I was gearing up for...
Welcome to the world of distance--or social distanced--learning. You may not appreciate such welcome but in part or in whole your teaching and...
As summer approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, TeachBeyond’s Educational Services team would like to share some of our recommendations for “must...
What a year this has been! My guess is that when you started school you didn’t foresee weeks of school closures, a global pandemic, the evacuation...
These last few months for teachers have been very difficult, but you have all risen to the challenge to continue to provide a top-quality education...
Thirty-one of Nashville’s Studio Singers pulled together a cell phone choir to record the hymn It Is Well With My Soul. Their powerful performance...
Everyone is craving boundaries and clear expectations right now. There has been an upheaval in our lives, our schedules don’t exist as they once...
We desire to help our learners through their transformation into who God has created them to be. When dealing with anxiety and trauma, our role in...
I take the train often in our new home country. I enjoy hearing many of iconic statements—like the famous “Mind the gap.”— that are part of the...
Sometimes people are like trees. We can look good outside but won’t hold up over time or in a storm. As much as we adjust and shape outside...
Teaching is hard work. There is no such thing as a magic pill that can suddenly remove all obstacles and help students to easily and fluidly begin...
As we teach our students, what is the thing that will make the most transformative difference in their lives? Will it be the spiritual formation...
There is a Filipino word that beautifully describes how being unified and working together helps accomplish great things. Bayanihan, which...
How many of your students have mastered the art of school? They know all the tricks for being a good student—where to sit, when to take notes, how...
As we pursue God’s intentions for each learner, how can we create excellent educational environments that bring transformational education? What...
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. That kid over there says weird stuff. This kid always needs the teacher's help. The kid in the corner...
At the core of what we do in the classroom is the desire to love our students and point them towards Jesus. This looks different for each of us...
Why did you go into teaching? I can guess that it was not because you like to grade papers, clean your classroom or make phone calls home to...
Christian educators often talk about biblical integration. Sometimes the discussion focuses on what we teach: ensuring that content points students...
One of the distinctive values of TeachBeyond is “our commitment to the idea of “teaching beyond.” We want our students—and our schools—to be...
The first of four TeachBeyond principles for Transformational Education helps us know where to go and how to get there: “We pursue transformation...
Curriculum planning--whether for a full year or simply a unit--doesn't need to be scary. Here are a few key principles to keep in mind as you...
Teachers are beauty creators. Creating beauty can mean decorating a room or painting a picture, but it can also mean resolving conflicts so there...
Language skills can fade with time, but if we can help students cultivate a welcoming heart of love for the stranger, it will have a lifelong impact.
Boys and girls are different. They play differently, relate differently, even develop differently. While little girls are practicing their newly...
As Christian teachers, we’ve thought carefully about how biblical worldview shapes our interactions with our students and colleagues. But we may...
As believers we seek to live a fully integrated life, weaving our understanding of the scriptures and the doctrines of the faith into every nook...
The number of students with special needs seems to be growing. So what are we to do in our classrooms? How do we effectively address this growing...
Is there a role that we can take as transformational educators to prepare our students with a theology of suffering? Could we be more intentional...
As teachers, one of the most common ways to assess your class quickly and informally is through questions. So I ask, are some questions better than...
At the heart of being God’s image is choice, without which love cannot exist. Right choosing means choosing to love, obey, trust, and serve God....
Since the pacing of even our most well-planned lessons can be so easily interrupted, what can we do? Exit slips allow teachers the flexibility to...
We are modern, technologically-advanced people, yet we are still religious beings. We need guidance, a centre around which we can organize our...
As teachers, we can empower our learners to become active agents in their own learning by providing opportunities for students to grapple with...
Justice is close to God’s heart, thus making things right in a broken world should be central to our classroom life. Here are five principles from...
When was the last time you approached life as a learner? Can you remember the feeling of curiosity that drove you to press deeper into some topic,...
Since every school is unique, there is not a one-size-fits-all plan that will effectively work for everyone. I have learned this to be especially...
The beginning of the year is an exciting time! It marks new beginnings and, for most teachers, a classroom to create as a home away from home....
I can still recount the first time I worshiped God in class. It was Biology 101. We were learning about the human body, and as I learned how this...
Words are a gift from God. Words allow us to communicate with God and with one another. They are a means of growing in grace and in knowledge....
Genesis 1:26 teaches us that mankind was created in the image of God. This truth becomes the basis of our service to students, honoring that image...
Here at TeachBeyond, our mission is to provide transformational education to the students and communities in which we serve. We have compiled a...
Change is God’s ultimate goal for each of us. We are to become like Christ for the sake of others. In the classroom, the Messenger often becomes...
With the rapid advance of technology, teachers are being encouraged to use educational apps and devices to supplement their instruction. This may...
God has called you and placed you where you are now serving, and He challenges you not to dwell on the problems but to look to Him in faith and see...
When the teacher introduces a learning task, she focuses on the process, and not only on the product. Students are often given choices on how to...
While this “Rubric for Excellence” is a tongue-in-cheek effort and not intended for use with students or teachers, it captures some of the major...
As teachers, we often find ourselves feeling pressured to convey a lot of information to our students in a short amount of time. We have curriculum...
Educational partnerships are an excellent way to model a humble spirit that acknowledges that God has designed people to work in dependence on Him...
When you intentionally make students wait before allowing anyone to answer, you are signaling to your class that you do expect everyone to take...
A congenial classroom is one where all are welcomed, all are seen, and all are known. The teacher takes the time to see the students as more than...
All students benefit from techniques teachers implement to support English language learners (ELL), and vice versa, many of the techniques good...
This year we have been examining TeachBeyond’s core values as they relate to our mission of Transformational Education. This month we’ve come to...
Proverbs 18:21a says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” What we say (and do) as teachers matters. If we believe that a child can be...
Holiness is one of TeachBeyond’s Core Values. We are called to be set apart, and to disciple our students to the same. But what does that mean for...
“Struggling in mathematics is not the enemy, any more than sweating is the enemy in basketball; it is part of the process, and a clear sign of...
Creativity is not just about the arts. It is clever problem-solving. What do you do when you run out of sugar? How do you reorganize a lesson when...
One particularly effective way to help students deeply internalize learning is to teach through a learning simulation. In a simulation the teacher...
Love, God's way, is powerful. It breaks down barriers in lives and cultures and countries. Nothing can stop it as it seeps into hearts that are...
When we minister through education it is a wonderful opportunity for us as teachers to inspire, encourage, and guide our charges. We reach out to...
As teachers, our influence extends far beyond our handling of the taught curriculum. In fact, often the most enduring impact that we make comes...
As the school year draws to an end, we want to encourage you to engage in some reflection of your own. Here are some questions to prime the pump.
A closed campus can easily become a castle with a moat and a raised drawbridge, where unwanted ideas are barred and learning stifled. An open...
Some think that children are like empty vessels waiting to be filled with knowledge given them by adults. However, this view ignores the truth that...
We believe that we can integrate God’s Word and God’s values, even at a very young age (3, 4,and 5 year olds) and that’s what makes a difference.
Have you ever used a PowerPoint, Prezi, or other slideshow presentation in your classroom? Chances are that the answer is yes—particularly if you...
As Christians, we should allow the Bible to shape our identity, relationships, priorities, etc. If scripture changes us, then the way we teach...
Teachers use a variety of routines in their classrooms to establish clear expectations that help keep things running smoothly. The same process...
“TeachBeyond teachers are ‘born again’ teachers – that is, teachers who themselves have been transformed and filled with God’s Holy Spirit to...
What’s a child’s favorite thing to do? PLAY! Here are four questions I ask myself while planning activities that use play to teach in early...
Christian education fosters maturity in Christ, preparing students for both life beyond school and eternity, for honouring and glorifying God.
In general, most schools separate the instruction of different fields of knowledge. In doing so they also separate the moral underpinning of that...
Some TeachBeyond members are in countries where it is illegal to evangelize, others of us teach in a place where it would be considered...
I asked several trusted adults from the community to guide small groups of students, and they became the trusted mentors and managers of the...
The transformative teacher builds up all students in an honest way, recognizing the God-given worth and value of each one.
Understanding how language is learned provides a foundation for instruction that is comprehensible and for creating assessments that accurately...
As you think about filling in the silence at your school, what questions would you ask in the cultural context of your educational setting to...
Rather than assuming that students know how to take notes in class, teachers can help students acquire this life-skill by overtly teaching them...
Paul reminds us that as members of the family of God, we are part of a unified whole. In our diversity, we see and understand different elements of...
When you moved overseas you left behind your store of resources and now you need ideas for your classroom. Where do you go? We are fortunate to...
How do we build lesson plans that honor God by using His Word professionally and in a way that exalts the Word of the Lord instead of making it...
To offer a Christian environment, we seek to understand the environment of our own classrooms, and how our own history and presence contributes to...
In the classroom, sometimes the greatest impediment to learning is not our students, but ourselves. A healthy awareness of our our strengths and...
Ever since the introduction of the use of a slate and chalk in the classroom, educators have been looking for new and different ways of engaging...
What is the difference between a Christian teacher and a secular teacher? Is it just that we tell the children stories from the Bible and pray with...
As teachers, we are always looking for instructional tools that can positively impact student engagement and comprehension across all grade levels...
I have found that unless I take the time to create an environment that values mutual respect and acceptance through class-building activities,...
In order to grow in your understanding of how faith and education intersect, look for a program that provides a biblical understanding of...
Whether we teach in an overtly Christian environment, a creative access environment, or somewhere in between, the reality is that our teaching can...
When working with ESL students in the classroom, getting them to use their English can sometimes be a challenge. Building conversation into classes...
What does the theory of transformational education look like in a class of 8-year-olds - or any grade? Here are some principles to help you.
Cooperative learning relies on students working together and utilizing their different strengths, knowledge bases, and abilities to achieve a...
Every year I look forward to the opportunity to celebrate the epic story of how the Almighty, Creator God chose to limit Himself and step into His...
Sometimes as an educator it feels as if the Professional Learning Community (PLC) ideal is unattainable. It is a nice thought, but executing a...
When we teach, do we know our students’ stories? More importantly, if we are teaching cross-culturally, as I was, do we know the culture our kids...
Many teachers understand what formative assessments are, but they struggle with how to implement them in their classrooms. Formative assessments...
We have a responsibility to understand and communicate the totality of the gospel message. All things were created good, but as a result of sin,...
One of the things that we can do to help our students break up the monotony of sitting is to find ways to incorporate movement into our classes....
As educators, we want to effectively communicate the Gospel message to our students, but do we do this by being a role model of goodness or by...
The first step of effective teaching comes before we even begin the actual teaching of the concept. We need to prepare our students’ brains for...
In addition to the routine reflections we engage in during the year, it is helpful for us to set aside some dedicated time to reflect, evaluate,...
What does it mean to practice our profession as devoted followers of Jesus Christ? We talk about ways to help ensure that our students are...
We know that good feedback can be one of the most powerful tools to incite student learning; however, most of us face the dual struggles of knowing...
Are you looking for a way to help your students better connect God’s world and Word? By responding yes or no to the following 5 statements, find...
From introducing new material to re-enforcing concepts that have already been covered in class, videos are a useful way to help students interact...
When we allow our imaginations to become anemic, we undermine our ability to see the wonder of world around us, and even worse, the ability to...
If teachers are being transformed by their understanding of God and His purposes, they will have a transforming impact on their students. As they...
In a perfect world, all of our classes would be comprised of students with similar abilities. However, we don’t live in a perfect world. One of the...
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