How committed are you to meeting your students’ learning needs?
11/05/11 20:23 Filed in: Commitment
If you see someone recycling paper and
plastic, riding her bike instead of driving
her car, and writing blog entries about taking care of
the environment, you think, “Wow! She’s really
committed to going green.” If you see someone who isn’t
recycling, isn’t riding her bike, and isn’t writing
blog entries on the environment, you don’t think, “Wow!
She’s really committed to going green.” Why?
Because you know that people who are committed take
action, and you know that people who aren’t really
committed don’t take action.
In Christian education, we're committed to helping our students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. We know that meeting learning needs helps students make connections. So, we're committed to meeting learning needs to help our students make these connections.
What’s your real level of commitment to meeting your students’ learning needs regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches? To determine your response, reflect on the following questions:
Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Meet their learning needs. Today.
In Christian education, we're committed to helping our students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. We know that meeting learning needs helps students make connections. So, we're committed to meeting learning needs to help our students make these connections.
What’s your real level of commitment to meeting your students’ learning needs regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches? To determine your response, reflect on the following questions:
- What are your students’ learning needs regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- What are you doing to meet your students’ learning needs?
- How consistently do you take action to meet your students’ learning needs?
- How committed are you really?
Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Meet their learning needs. Today.
What will you do to better connect what you teach and what the Bible teaches?
Want to help your students to better connect
what they study and what the Bible teaches? If
so, make sure you can make better connections.
Question: How can you do this?
By identifying your own learning needs. And then by developing an action plan to meet 1 of your own learning needs.
To develop your action plan, ask yourself the following 7 questions. Better yet, invite a colleague to ask you:
Question: How can you do this?
By identifying your own learning needs. And then by developing an action plan to meet 1 of your own learning needs.
To develop your action plan, ask yourself the following 7 questions. Better yet, invite a colleague to ask you:
- What subjects do you teach?
- What excites/concerns you about connecting what you teach and what the Bible teaches?
- Which learning needs do you have?
- Which learning need would you like to meet?
- What are some ways you could meet this learning need?
- What action step will you take to meet this learning need?
- When will you take this action step?
How can you better connect what you teach and what the Bible teaches?
20/01/11 08:15 Filed in: Basics
| Teacher
learning needs
“I’ve got to find ways to help them.”
You’re sitting at your desk, thinking: “I’ve got find
ways to help my students connect what they study and
what the Bible teaches. But how can I help when I don’t
really get how what I teach is connected to what the
Bible teaches?”
Question: What can you do to better connect what you teach and what the Bibles teaches?
Start by identifying your own learning needs. To help get you started on identifying your own learning needs, ask yourself, “Which of the following 10 items describe how I feel about helping students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches?”
(1) Speaking practically, this doesn’t seem to be a real priority. I mean, teachers model Christlike behavior, talk with students about Christ, and do devotions, Bible class, and chapel. Students get this part of a Biblical perspective—they encourage each other, help lead devotions and chapel, and participate in Bible class. And parents like what we do—seems pretty good as is. Is increasing student understanding and use of a Biblical perspective of course content a real priority?
I’m not asked to grade my students on this. It’s not part of ITBS, PSAT, SAT, or AP tests. It’s not on college applications. If my students don’t master a certain skill, parents are concerned—no parent has ever talked to me about how well their child understands a Biblical perspective of my course content. When my students don’t master certain content or skills, I hear about it from the teacher above me—I don’t think I really teach a Biblical perspective of my subject, and no teacher above has talked to me about this.
Neither has my principal. And my principal has not asked to see sample assignments in which my students demonstrate their understanding and use of a Biblical perspective. I think I could get this if someone would work with me and if I was held accountable to do this.
(2) This doesn’t come up at my church or at home. My family and my church talk about being a Christian. We talk about living for Jesus, doing devotions, and telling others about Jesus. I’m not sure how my faith is related to my subject area. I’m not sure I could explain a Biblical perspective of my course content. I think other teachers might get this, so I don’t want to bring it up.
(3) I’m not sure what it looks like. I know what telling others about Jesus looks like—I read missionary biographies and I go on mission trips with my church. What does teaching a Biblical perspective look like? How do you assess student understanding and use of a Biblical perspective? And what does quality student work look like when a student is demonstrating that she understands a Biblical perspective?
(4) My colleagues say they teach from a Biblical perspective, but I don’t understand how that works. I believe them, but I don’t get it. They have their students work in groups and learn muscle names, but I don’t understand how this is part of Christian education. They seem to mostly do the same things that my non-Christian friends who teach do. What’s the difference?
(5) I don't always understand the vocabulary—integration of faith and learning, worldview, just war theory, year of Jubilee. Could I get a vocabulary list with definitions on it?
(6) Teaching what the Bible teaches is boring. I mean, it’s black and white, and I mostly lecture—that’s not fun for me or for my students. Sometimes I do object lessons. I want my students to experience engaging instructional strategies. Any ideas?
(7) I need to think through the answers for myself. I hear answers at meetings and workshops. But to really understand the answers, I need to think them through for myself. I probably need to write out what I think.
(8) I need time to think about what I’m teaching. I teach all day, am involved in after school activities, and mark papers at night. When am I supposed to find time to reflect on my teaching? Is there any way reflection time could be built into my schedule? Into the meetings I attend?
(9) To really get this, I need to connect the Bible with my life, not just with what I teach in class. If I could connect the Bible with my daily life, I think I could get a better handle on teaching from a Biblical perspective. I read about current events, and I’m not always sure how the Bible applies.
(10) I need more feedback. I like getting feedback about my teaching from my colleagues and principal. To get better at teaching from a Biblical perspective, I need more feedback on my content, assessment, and instruction. And I need a way to know how many of my students are at or above standard on understanding and using a Biblical perspective. I know that everyone is busy, but I could really use some help.
Question: So, what are your learning needs?
Bottom line: Meet your own learning needs. Start by identifying them. Today.
Question: What can you do to better connect what you teach and what the Bibles teaches?
Start by identifying your own learning needs. To help get you started on identifying your own learning needs, ask yourself, “Which of the following 10 items describe how I feel about helping students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches?”
(1) Speaking practically, this doesn’t seem to be a real priority. I mean, teachers model Christlike behavior, talk with students about Christ, and do devotions, Bible class, and chapel. Students get this part of a Biblical perspective—they encourage each other, help lead devotions and chapel, and participate in Bible class. And parents like what we do—seems pretty good as is. Is increasing student understanding and use of a Biblical perspective of course content a real priority?
I’m not asked to grade my students on this. It’s not part of ITBS, PSAT, SAT, or AP tests. It’s not on college applications. If my students don’t master a certain skill, parents are concerned—no parent has ever talked to me about how well their child understands a Biblical perspective of my course content. When my students don’t master certain content or skills, I hear about it from the teacher above me—I don’t think I really teach a Biblical perspective of my subject, and no teacher above has talked to me about this.
Neither has my principal. And my principal has not asked to see sample assignments in which my students demonstrate their understanding and use of a Biblical perspective. I think I could get this if someone would work with me and if I was held accountable to do this.
(2) This doesn’t come up at my church or at home. My family and my church talk about being a Christian. We talk about living for Jesus, doing devotions, and telling others about Jesus. I’m not sure how my faith is related to my subject area. I’m not sure I could explain a Biblical perspective of my course content. I think other teachers might get this, so I don’t want to bring it up.
(3) I’m not sure what it looks like. I know what telling others about Jesus looks like—I read missionary biographies and I go on mission trips with my church. What does teaching a Biblical perspective look like? How do you assess student understanding and use of a Biblical perspective? And what does quality student work look like when a student is demonstrating that she understands a Biblical perspective?
(4) My colleagues say they teach from a Biblical perspective, but I don’t understand how that works. I believe them, but I don’t get it. They have their students work in groups and learn muscle names, but I don’t understand how this is part of Christian education. They seem to mostly do the same things that my non-Christian friends who teach do. What’s the difference?
(5) I don't always understand the vocabulary—integration of faith and learning, worldview, just war theory, year of Jubilee. Could I get a vocabulary list with definitions on it?
(6) Teaching what the Bible teaches is boring. I mean, it’s black and white, and I mostly lecture—that’s not fun for me or for my students. Sometimes I do object lessons. I want my students to experience engaging instructional strategies. Any ideas?
(7) I need to think through the answers for myself. I hear answers at meetings and workshops. But to really understand the answers, I need to think them through for myself. I probably need to write out what I think.
(8) I need time to think about what I’m teaching. I teach all day, am involved in after school activities, and mark papers at night. When am I supposed to find time to reflect on my teaching? Is there any way reflection time could be built into my schedule? Into the meetings I attend?
(9) To really get this, I need to connect the Bible with my life, not just with what I teach in class. If I could connect the Bible with my daily life, I think I could get a better handle on teaching from a Biblical perspective. I read about current events, and I’m not always sure how the Bible applies.
(10) I need more feedback. I like getting feedback about my teaching from my colleagues and principal. To get better at teaching from a Biblical perspective, I need more feedback on my content, assessment, and instruction. And I need a way to know how many of my students are at or above standard on understanding and using a Biblical perspective. I know that everyone is busy, but I could really use some help.
Question: So, what are your learning needs?
Bottom line: Meet your own learning needs. Start by identifying them. Today.
How will you meet your students’ learning needs?
19/11/10 09:11 Filed in: Basics
Here are 8 ways to meet your students’ learning
needs:
Bottom line: Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Take action to meet their learning needs. Today.
- To help your students see the importance of Biblical perspective, give them an assessment that requires them to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches.
- To help your students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to course content, show them an example.
- To help your students understand how you teach from a Biblical perspective, explain how you use a Biblical perspective to choose instructional strategies.
- To help your students learn key vocabulary words, do a vocabulary lesson.
- To help your students experience engaging instructional strategies, use case studies and questions.
- To provide time during class for reflection, have your student journal during class.
- To help your students connect what they study, what the Bible teaches, and life, give an assessment requiring students to connect all 3.
- To give your students more practice connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches, give more assessments
Bottom line: Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Take action to meet their learning needs. Today.
Meet student learning needs
23/10/10 14:11 Filed in: Video
| Training
Kit |
Understanding
the importance | Engaging
instruction | Time to
think |
Background
knowledge | What it looks
like
If you want to help your students to better
connect God’s world and Word, meet their learning
needs. “Learning needs” are anything your
students need in order for learning to happen. Watch
this video about meeting 5 learning needs students
have:
Want to work with your colleagues to better meet student learning needs? If so, then purchase Meet Your Students’ Learning Needs (US$25), a discussion-based kit with 7 sessions. As a result of completing these 7 sessions, you will…
Download a sample session.
Purchase Meet Your Students’ Learning Needs (US$25). This kit is 1 of a 4-part series:
Want to work with your colleagues to better meet student learning needs? If so, then purchase Meet Your Students’ Learning Needs (US$25), a discussion-based kit with 7 sessions. As a result of completing these 7 sessions, you will…
- Define and meet your students’ learning needs.
- Help your students better understand the importance of connecting God’s world and Word.
- Help your students better understand that God’s Word can be connected to the part of God’s world they are studying.
- Help your students understand more biblical principles that connect to what they study.
- Provide the engaging instruction your students need in order to connect God’s world and Word.
- Provide time during class for your students to reflect on how God’s world and Word are connected.
- Demonstrate your commitment to meeting your students’ learning needs.
Download a sample session.
Purchase Meet Your Students’ Learning Needs (US$25). This kit is 1 of a 4-part series:
- Help Your Students Connect God’s World and Word
- Use Assessment
- Use Questions
- Meet Student Learning Needs
What are your students’ learning needs?
16/09/10 20:09 Filed in: Basics
You want to help your middle school students
better connect what they study and what the Bible
teaches. You know that meeting their learning
needs is a good place to start. And you know that in
order to meet your students’ learning needs, you have
to know what they are.
Question: What are your students’ learning needs?
To help get you get started on identifying your students’ learning needs, ask yourself, “Which of the following 10 items might I hear my kids say?”
Question: So, what are your students’ learning needs?
Bottom line: Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Identify their learning needs. Today.
Question: What are your students’ learning needs?
To help get you get started on identifying your students’ learning needs, ask yourself, “Which of the following 10 items might I hear my kids say?”
- This doesn’t seem important. My teachers don’t grade me on this. When I wasn’t doing well in science, my teacher talked to me—I don’t think I understand a Biblical perspective, and no teacher has talked to me about this. Do teachers really think this is important?
- This doesn’t come up at my church or at home. My family and my church talk about being a Christian. We talk about living for Jesus, doing devotions, and telling others about Jesus. I don’t get what my faith has to do with the Greeks or Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The teacher did mention this in the beginning of the year, but that was a long time ago, and I kind of forgot how it all connects. I think other students might get this, so I don’t want to ask.
- I don't know what it looks like. I know what telling others about Jesus looks like—we read missionary biographies at school and I go on mission trips with my church. What does doing a good job on using a Biblical perspective look like in an essay? And what does this look like in the computer world? I want to work for Apple.
- My teachers say they teach from a Biblical perspective, but I don’t understand how that works. I believe them, but I don’t get it. They have us work in groups and learn parts of speech, but they don’t explain how this is part of Christian education. We seem to mostly do the same things my friends do at schools that aren’t Christian. What’s the difference?
- I don't understand the vocabulary—Biblical perspective, integrate faith and learning, image bearer, temple of the Holy Spirit, worldview. Teachers talk, but I don’t always understand the words. Could I get vocabulary list with definitions on it?
- Learning what the Bible teaches is boring. Well, Bible class isn’t boring, but the way teachers teach about the Bible in other classes is boring. Mostly lecture–this doesn’t really help me understand a Biblical perspective of what I’m studying. I like discussing things. So do my friends.
- I need to think through answers for myself. I listen to teachers talk. They give good answers. But to really understand the answers, I need to think them through for myself. Maybe the teachers could ask more questions. Questions that have more than one right answer. One of my teachers asks us “Where do you belong?” all the time.
- I need time to think about what I’m learning. We don’t really do this in class, and I’ve got sports after school and homework at night. When am I supposed to find time to reflect? Could we do some journaling during class?
- To really get this, I need to connect the Bible with my life, not just with what I study in class. If my teachers would give me chances to connect the Bible with my life–my music, my relationships, my problems—I think I could get it. One of my homeschooler friends got to analyze a CD from a Biblical perspective. That sounds pretty cool.
- I need more chances to practice. It’s hard for me to get good at using a Biblical perspective when I don’t get enough practice. Using a Biblical perspective takes skill. I get repeated skill practice in math, and I’m good at it. Can I get more skill practice?
Question: So, what are your students’ learning needs?
Bottom line: Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Identify their learning needs. Today.
How can you more effectively meet student learning needs?
11/07/10 00:08 Filed in: Self-assessment
To get an idea of how you can more effectively
meet student learning needs to help your students
connect what they study and what the Bible
teaches, complete the following
self-assessment for 1 class you teach:
___________________ (name of class). Next, use your
self-assessment data to develop action plans.
Rate each statement below. Use the following scale: 4 Strongly Agree • 3 Agree • 2 Disagree • 1 Strongly Disagree
___ I know what my students’ learning needs are regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches.
___ I meet my students’ learning needs regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches.
___ I know what my own learning needs are regarding connecting what I teach and what the Bible teaches.
___ I meet my own learning needs regarding connecting what I teach and what the Bible teaches.
___ I am committed to meeting my students’ learning needs in order to help students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches.
Now, ask yourself 4 questions about the data:
Bottom line: Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Meet their learning needs. Today.
*Here are additional resources that can help you target Biblical perspective:
Tutorials
Videos
Self-assessments
Rate each statement below. Use the following scale: 4 Strongly Agree • 3 Agree • 2 Disagree • 1 Strongly Disagree
___ I know what my students’ learning needs are regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches.
___ I meet my students’ learning needs regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches.
___ I know what my own learning needs are regarding connecting what I teach and what the Bible teaches.
___ I meet my own learning needs regarding connecting what I teach and what the Bible teaches.
___ I am committed to meeting my students’ learning needs in order to help students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches.
Now, ask yourself 4 questions about the data:
- How many 4s, 3s, 2s, and 1s do I have?
- What excites/concerns me about the data?
- What can I do to more effectively meet my students’ learning needs regarding connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- What will I do?
Bottom line: Help your students better connect what they study and what the Bible teaches. Meet their learning needs. Today.
*Here are additional resources that can help you target Biblical perspective:
Tutorials
Videos
Self-assessments
Empower teachers to help students understand how teachers teach from a Biblical perspective
18/05/10 07:39 Filed in: Protocols
|
How you teach Biblical perspective
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you help your students understand how you teach
from a Biblical
perspective?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
What will you do to help your students understand how you teach from a Biblical perspective?
Define: Get the facts defined.
- How do you teach from a Biblical perspective?
- What do you do to help your students understand how you teach from a Biblical perspective?
- What satisfies/concerns you about how you teach from a Biblical perspective?
- What satisfies/concerns you about your students’ understanding of how you teach from a Biblical perspective?
- What happens when your students understand how you teach from a Biblical perspective?
- What helps them understand this?
What will you do to help your students understand how you teach from a Biblical perspective?
Empower others to help students understand what effective application of a Biblical perspective looks like
17/03/10 07:44 Filed in: Protocols
| What it looks
like
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you help your students understand what effective
application of a Biblical perspective looks like on
a classroom
assessment?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
What do your students think effective application of a Biblical perspective looks like?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
Define: Get the facts defined.
What do your students think effective application of a Biblical perspective looks like?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
- What’s encouraging/discouraging about your students’ understanding of what effective application of a Biblical perspective looks like?
- What’s easy/hard about helping your students understand what effective application of a Biblical perspective looks like?
- To what do you attribute your students’ current level of understanding?
- On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), how clear are you on what effective application of a Biblical perspective on a classroom assessment looks like?
- What are 3-5 ways you could help your students understand what effective application of a Biblical perspective on a classroom assessment looks like?
- What will you do?
Empower others to consider how to get students to understand that there’s a Biblical perspective of course content
11/01/10 08:45 Filed in: Protocols
| Background
knowledge
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you help your students understand that a
Biblical perspective can be applied to course
content?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
What do your students think a Biblical perspective applies to? doesn’t apply to?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
What’s satisfying/unsatisfying about your students’ recognition that a Biblical perspective applies to what they study?
Analyze: Get the facts, feelings, and experiences analyzed.
Define: Get the facts defined.
What do your students think a Biblical perspective applies to? doesn’t apply to?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
What’s satisfying/unsatisfying about your students’ recognition that a Biblical perspective applies to what they study?
Analyze: Get the facts, feelings, and experiences analyzed.
- On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), how well do your students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to what they study?
- How would it help your students if they better understood that a Biblical perspective can be applied to what they study?
- What are 5 things you can do to help your students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to what they study?
- What will you do?
Ask questions to DRAW others out
Your fellow teachers want to help their
students better connect what they study and what the
Bible teaches. You can help your fellow teachers by
asking questions to DRAW them out.
Empower others to help students see the importance of Biblical perspective
14/11/09 08:39 Filed in: Protocols
| Understanding
the importance
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you help your students see the importance of
Biblical perspective?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
In your last unit or during the last week of instruction in 1 class, what was the fraction?
Define: Get the facts defined.
In your last unit or during the last week of instruction in 1 class, what was the fraction?
- # of lessons in which you taught a Biblical perspective of course content / total # of lessons
- # of class minutes students learned about Biblical perspective of course content / total # of class minutes
- # of Biblical perspective assessments / total # of assessments (including homework, in-class assignments, quizzes, and tests)
- What excites/frustrates your students about Biblical perspective?
- What excites/frustrates you about how your students see Biblical perspective?
- What excites/frustrates you about teaching from a Biblical perspective?
- What helps your students see the importance of Biblical perspective? What hinders?
- On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), what value do your students think you put on connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), what value do your students put on connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- On a scale of 1-10 (10 being high), what value do you want your students to put on connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- To get your students to see the importance of Biblical perspective, what do you need to keep doing? start doing? stop doing?
- What will you do?
Empower others to give students more practice in applying a Biblical perspective
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you give your students more
practice?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the last week or unit, how many times did you ask your students to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the last week or unit, how many times did you ask your students to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
- What’s satisfying/unsatisfying about having your students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches? about the amount of practice you give your students in connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- How do your students feel about connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches? about the amount of practice you give them in connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- How does practice/repetition impact learning?
- What might happen if you increased the amount of practice you give students in connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- What can you do to increase the amount of practice you give students in connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- What will you do?
Empower others to give students opportunities to think through answers for themselves
14/09/09 08:29 Filed in: Protocols
| Thinking
through answers
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you give your students opportunities to think
through answers for
themselves?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
During the last week or unit, what opportunities did students have to think through answers for themselves?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
Define: Get the facts defined.
During the last week or unit, what opportunities did students have to think through answers for themselves?
Respond: Get the facts responded to in terms of feelings/experiences.
- When you were a student, what excited/concerned you about thinking through answers for yourself?
- What excites/concerns your students about thinking through answers for themselves?
- What excites/concerns you about your students thinking through answers for themselves?
- How does thinking through answers for yourself impact your learning?
- How does thinking through answers for themselves impact students’ learning?
- How does thinking through answers for themselves impact students connecting what they study and what the Bible teaches?
- How can you provide opportunities for your students to think through answers for themselves?
- How will you provide opportunities for your students to think through answers for themselves?
Empower others to help students connect course content, the Bible, and life
14/08/09 07:22 Filed in: Protocols
| Life
connections
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you design assessments so that your students
connect a Biblical perspective with their
lives?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the past week or unit, what connections did your student make between…
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the past week or unit, what connections did your student make between…
- Course content and life?
- Course content and the Bible?
- What’s comfortable/uncomfortable about having your students connect course content and life? course content and the Bible? course content, the Bible, and life?
- What’s comfortable/uncomfortable for your students in terms of connecting course content and life? course content and the Bible? course content, the Bible, and life?
- How does making connections impact student learning?
- How does connecting course content and the Bible help students apply a Biblical perspective?
- How might connecting course content, the Bible, and life help students apply a Biblical perspective?
- What questions can you ask your students?
- How can you use questions to help your students love God?
To better meet your students' learning needs, take this self-assessment
28/07/09 08:36 Filed in: Self-assessment
| Basics
You want your students to increase their
understanding and application of a Biblical
perspective. You know that 1 way to do this is
by meeting your students’ learning needs.
Question: How can you get started?
Answer: By taking the following self-assessment. Rate each item, using the following scale:
4: Strongly agree • 3: Agree • 2: Disagree • 1: Strongly disagree
___ I know what learning needs are. (Read)
___ I use an effective process for addressing my students’ learning needs. (Watch, Read, Discuss)
___ My students understand the importance of Biblical perspective. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to course content. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students know what applying a Biblical perspective looks like. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students can explain how I teach from a Biblical perspective. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students understand the vocabulary words necessary for understanding and applying a Biblical perspective. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students experience engaging instructional strategies. (Read, Discuss 1, Discuss 2)
___ My students have opportunities to think through answers for themselves. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students have time in class to reflect. (Read, Discuss)
___ My assessments require my students to connect a Biblical perspective with their lives. (Read)
___ My students get regular practice in applying a Biblical perspective to what they study. (Read, Discuss)
___ To help my students increase their understanding and application of a Biblical perspective, I meet their learning needs.
___ I want to learn more about meeting my students’ learning needs.
___ I am committed to helping my students increase their understanding and application of a Biblical perspective.
Now, ask yourself 4 questions about the data:
Additional resources:
Question: How can you get started?
Answer: By taking the following self-assessment. Rate each item, using the following scale:
4: Strongly agree • 3: Agree • 2: Disagree • 1: Strongly disagree
___ I know what learning needs are. (Read)
___ I use an effective process for addressing my students’ learning needs. (Watch, Read, Discuss)
___ My students understand the importance of Biblical perspective. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to course content. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students know what applying a Biblical perspective looks like. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students can explain how I teach from a Biblical perspective. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students understand the vocabulary words necessary for understanding and applying a Biblical perspective. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students experience engaging instructional strategies. (Read, Discuss 1, Discuss 2)
___ My students have opportunities to think through answers for themselves. (Read, Discuss)
___ My students have time in class to reflect. (Read, Discuss)
___ My assessments require my students to connect a Biblical perspective with their lives. (Read)
___ My students get regular practice in applying a Biblical perspective to what they study. (Read, Discuss)
___ To help my students increase their understanding and application of a Biblical perspective, I meet their learning needs.
___ I want to learn more about meeting my students’ learning needs.
___ I am committed to helping my students increase their understanding and application of a Biblical perspective.
Now, ask yourself 4 questions about the data:
- How many 4s, 3s, 2s, and 1s do I have?
- What excites/frutrates me about the data?
- Which items do I want to learn more about?
- What will I do?
Additional resources:
- Tutorial: Meet your students’ learning needs
- Use the IDEAL process to help your students internalize a Biblical perspective
- Action plan bank for meeting student learning needs
- To meet your students' learning needs, explore 12 questions
To learn more about meeting your students' learning needs, explore 12 questions
28/07/09 08:19 Filed in: Basics
You want your students to develop a
Christ-centered worldview. So, you want your
students to increase their understanding and
application of a Biblical perspective. To help them,
you know you’ll need to meet their learning
needs.
Question: How can you learn more about meeting your students’ learning needs?
Answer: By exploring the following list of 12 questions. The list comes with readings and discussion guides:
Remember: The real question isn't "How can you learn more about meeting your students’ learning needs?" The real question is, "How will you help your students increase their understanding and application of a Biblical perspective?"
Additional resources:
Question: How can you learn more about meeting your students’ learning needs?
Answer: By exploring the following list of 12 questions. The list comes with readings and discussion guides:
- What are sample learning needs? (Read)
- How can you meet your students’ learning needs? (Watch, Read, Discuss)
- How can you help your students see the importance of Biblical perspective? (Read, Discuss)
- How can you help your students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to course content? (Read, Discuss)
- How can you show your students what applying a Biblical perspective looks like? (Read, Discuss)
- How can you help your students understand how you teach from a Biblical perspective? (Read, Discuss)
- What vocabulary words do your students need to learn? (Read, Discuss)
- What engaging instructional strategies will help
your students? (Read,
Discuss 1,
Discuss 2)
- How can you give your students opportunities to think through answers for themselves? (Read, Discuss)
- How can you provide time during class for reflection? (Read, Discuss)
- How can you design assessments so that your students connect a Biblical perspective with their lives? (Read, Discuss)
- How can you give your students more practice? (Read, Discuss)
Remember: The real question isn't "How can you learn more about meeting your students’ learning needs?" The real question is, "How will you help your students increase their understanding and application of a Biblical perspective?"
Additional resources:
- Self-assessment: To better meet your students' learning needs, take this self-assessment
- Tutorial: Meet your students’ learning needs
- Use the IDEAL process to help your students internalize a Biblical perspective
- Action plan bank for meeting student learning needs
What are your students' learning needs?
28/07/09 07:30 Filed in: Basics
| Self-assessment
You want your students to connect what they
study and what the Bible teaches. One way you
can help your students is by meeting their learning
needs.
Question: What are your students’ learning needs?
Suggestion: To determine what your students’ learning needs are...
(1) This doesn’t seem important. My teachers don’t grade me on this. When I wasn’t doing well in science, my teacher talked to me—I don’t think I understand a Biblical perspective, and no teacher has talked to me about this. Do teachers really think this is important?
(2) This doesn’t come up at my church or at home. My family and my church talk about being a Christian. We talk about living for Jesus, doing devotions, and telling others about Jesus. I don’t get what my faith has to do with the Greeks or Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The teacher did mention this in the beginning of the year, but that was a long time ago, and I kind of forgot how it all connects. I think other students might get this, so I don’t want to ask.
(3) I don't know what it looks like. I know what telling others about Jesus looks like—we read missionary biographies at school and I go on mission trips with my church. What does doing a good job on using a Biblical perspective look like in an essay? And what does this look like in the computer world? I want to work for Apple.
(4) My teachers say they teach from a Biblical perspective, but I don’t understand how that works. I believe them, but I don’t get it. They have us work in groups and learn parts of speech, but they don’t explain how this is part of Christian education. We seem to mostly do the same things my friends do at schools that aren’t Christian. What’s the difference?
(5) I don't understand the vocabulary—Biblical perspective, integrate faith and learning, image bearer, temple of the Holy Spirit, worldview. Teachers talk, but I don’t always understand the words. Could I get vocabulary list with definitions on it?
(6) Learning what the Bible teaches is boring. Well, Bible class isn’t boring, but the way teachers teach about the Bible in other classes is boring. Mostly lecture–this doesn’t really help me understand a Biblical perspective of what I’m studying. I like discussing things. So do my friends.
(7) I need to think through answers for myself. I listen to teachers talk. They give good answers. But to really understand the answers, I need to think them through for myself. Maybe the teachers could ask more questions. Questions that have more than one right answer. One of my teachers asks us “Where do you belong?” all the time.
(8) I need time to think about what I’m learning. We don’t really do this in class, and I’ve got sports after school and homework at night. When am I supposed to find time to reflect? Could we do some journaling during class?
(9) To really get this, I need to connect the Bible with my life, not just with what I study in class. If my teachers would give me chances to connect the Bible with my life–my music, my relationships, my problems—I think I could get it. One of my homeschooler friends got to analyze a CD from a Biblical perspective. That sounds pretty cool.
(10) I need more chances to practice. It’s hard for me to get good at using a Biblical perspective when I don’t get enough practice. Using a Biblical perspective takes skill. I get repeated skill practice in math, and I’m good at it. Can I get more skill practice?
Question: What are your students’ learning needs?
Suggestion: To determine what your students’ learning needs are...
- Read the list of 10 learning needs (below), considering which needs your students have. (The needs have been phrased in student language.)
- Do something to meet 1 of the needs you identified.
(1) This doesn’t seem important. My teachers don’t grade me on this. When I wasn’t doing well in science, my teacher talked to me—I don’t think I understand a Biblical perspective, and no teacher has talked to me about this. Do teachers really think this is important?
(2) This doesn’t come up at my church or at home. My family and my church talk about being a Christian. We talk about living for Jesus, doing devotions, and telling others about Jesus. I don’t get what my faith has to do with the Greeks or Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. The teacher did mention this in the beginning of the year, but that was a long time ago, and I kind of forgot how it all connects. I think other students might get this, so I don’t want to ask.
(3) I don't know what it looks like. I know what telling others about Jesus looks like—we read missionary biographies at school and I go on mission trips with my church. What does doing a good job on using a Biblical perspective look like in an essay? And what does this look like in the computer world? I want to work for Apple.
(4) My teachers say they teach from a Biblical perspective, but I don’t understand how that works. I believe them, but I don’t get it. They have us work in groups and learn parts of speech, but they don’t explain how this is part of Christian education. We seem to mostly do the same things my friends do at schools that aren’t Christian. What’s the difference?
(5) I don't understand the vocabulary—Biblical perspective, integrate faith and learning, image bearer, temple of the Holy Spirit, worldview. Teachers talk, but I don’t always understand the words. Could I get vocabulary list with definitions on it?
(6) Learning what the Bible teaches is boring. Well, Bible class isn’t boring, but the way teachers teach about the Bible in other classes is boring. Mostly lecture–this doesn’t really help me understand a Biblical perspective of what I’m studying. I like discussing things. So do my friends.
(7) I need to think through answers for myself. I listen to teachers talk. They give good answers. But to really understand the answers, I need to think them through for myself. Maybe the teachers could ask more questions. Questions that have more than one right answer. One of my teachers asks us “Where do you belong?” all the time.
(8) I need time to think about what I’m learning. We don’t really do this in class, and I’ve got sports after school and homework at night. When am I supposed to find time to reflect? Could we do some journaling during class?
(9) To really get this, I need to connect the Bible with my life, not just with what I study in class. If my teachers would give me chances to connect the Bible with my life–my music, my relationships, my problems—I think I could get it. One of my homeschooler friends got to analyze a CD from a Biblical perspective. That sounds pretty cool.
(10) I need more chances to practice. It’s hard for me to get good at using a Biblical perspective when I don’t get enough practice. Using a Biblical perspective takes skill. I get repeated skill practice in math, and I’m good at it. Can I get more skill practice?
Empower others to give students time to reflect
08/07/09 07:34 Filed in: Protocols
| Time to
think
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion of
“How
can you provide time during class for
reflection?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
During the last week or unit, how much time did you provide students to reflect? to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches? Read More...
Define: Get the facts defined.
During the last week or unit, how much time did you provide students to reflect? to connect what they study and what the Bible teaches? Read More...
Engage your students by telling stories and asking questions
02/07/09 10:28 Filed in: Engaging
instruction
Question: What are engaging
instructional strategies you can use to help your
students connect what they study and what the Bible
teaches?
Answer: Storytelling and asking questions. Theses are a time-tested, user-friendly strategies that students find engaging.
Question: How can you use storytelling and asking questions to help your students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches? Read More...
Answer: Storytelling and asking questions. Theses are a time-tested, user-friendly strategies that students find engaging.
Question: How can you use storytelling and asking questions to help your students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches? Read More...
Meet your students' learning needs regarding creation-fall-redemption-restoration
30/05/09 08:05 Filed in: Background
knowledge | Engaging
instruction | What it looks
like |
Creation-Fall-Redemption-Restoration
| Understanding
the importance |
How you teach Biblical perspective
| Life
connections | Practice
| Time to
think |
Thinking
through answers
Your students’ objective is to better connect
what they study and God’s story of
creation-fall-redemption-restoration. You want
to help your students achieve their objective. Good.
Now what? Help your students achieve their objective by meeting 1 of their learning needs.
Question: What are you students’ learning needs? Read More...
Now what? Help your students achieve their objective by meeting 1 of their learning needs.
Question: What are you students’ learning needs? Read More...
To empower others to provide engaging instruction, DRAW them out (2)
14/05/09 08:16 Filed in: Engaging
instruction | Protocols
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion
of “What
engaging instructional strategies will help your
students?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the last week or unit, what instructional strategies did you use? Read More...
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the last week or unit, what instructional strategies did you use? Read More...
To empower others to help students learn key vocabulary terms, DRAW them out
11/03/09 15:22 Filed in: Protocols
| Vocabulary
Here's a set of DRAW
questions you can use for a discussion
of “What
vocabulary words do your students need to
learn?”
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the past week or unit, what vocabulary words have you taught your students? Read More...
Define: Get the facts defined.
In the past week or unit, what vocabulary words have you taught your students? Read More...
Use the 1-2-3-2-1 lesson model
05/03/09 12:06 Filed in: Engaging
instruction | Video
Here's lesson model that uses best practice to
point students to God.
Use best practice to help your students connect what they study and what the Bible teaches
05/03/09 08:37 Filed in: Engaging
instruction
Question: How can you help your
students connect what they study and what the Bible
teaches?
Answer: By using best practice, including engaging instructional strategies like asking questions. Read More...
Answer: By using best practice, including engaging instructional strategies like asking questions. Read More...