You’re sitting in your classroom thinking: “How can I help them get this? I’m supposed to teach them a biblical perspective. Maybe I should talk with Tom. Michele mentioned a good book and a workshop next month. I wonder if we should work as a department to develop some curriculum for this. What would be the best thing to do?”

Stop.

Don’t start by talking to a colleague. Don’t start by a reading book or attending a workshop. Don’t start by writing curriculum. These are solutions. Instead, begin by defining your students’ learning needs by looking at your students’ work and talking with them.

Remember, the goal is for your students to increase their understanding and use of a biblical perspective, not for you to be the master at teaching from a biblical perspective.

What’s an IDEAL way to help your students? IDEAL is a five-step process you can use to help your students understand and use a biblical perspective:

• Identify the problem and ask God for help.
  
• Define your students’ learning needs. Look at your students’ work. Talk with your students or give them a survey. As necessary, talk with parents and colleagues. Do this in order to select one student learning need you will address.
  
• Explore ways to address the student learning need you selected. Pick one and make a plan to address it. Now get the training and support you need.
  
• Act. Just do it! And be sure to tell your students what you are doing and why.
  
• Look at the results. Discuss them with your students and colleagues.

Use the IDEAL process to meet your students’ learning needs. Today.