I Am A Planner
“It is not enough for the teacher to love the child. She must first love and understand the universe. She must prepare herself, and truly work at it.” ~ Maria Montessori
Our faith is one of conviction, passion, and courage. Choosing to follow God’s calling into education is not for the faint of heart. As we have reflected, it requires us to be relational, loving, and rooted in our identity. I believe God is calling us to be experts, learning and rehearsing academic content and pedagogy. We are knowledgeable about child development, social and emotional risk factors, and positive communication methods.
We are also intentional planners. This is an aspect of our calling designed by God, our omnipotent Planner. An expert educator seeks to create an atmosphere of safety, where boundaries are understood and consistent. When we plan lessons, we proactively anticipate where students may have misconceptions, or where the energy and engagement may lag. We look for exciting ways to make learning fascinating and personal because that is truly what all learning should be.
Teaching and learning is our craft, and we are invited to embrace our professionalism in it. However, raising the expectations of how and what we teach is not simple! To live out our teaching practice in this way means we are almost always swimming upstream. Who is swimming with us? Family, friends, colleagues, or leadership? If someone who mirrors this dedication does not come to mind, consider how we might widen our circle. Furthermore, we remember Jesus’ example as a teacher. He loves and understands the universe. He prepared Himself for His calling and truly worked at it! We are not alone.
May the Lord Bless You and Keep You:
May you intentionally look ahead at what you can control.
In these areas, may the Holy Spirit give you discernment and creativity in planning.
May you take a courageous step forward and stand out from the crowd for the sake of your calling.
May you not fear others’ perceptions of you, but keep your eyes focused on your Savior.
You are called to purposeful tasks today.
Honor them with your energy.
(From “Called to the Classroom: Daily Reflections for Educators” - Day 15: I Am A Planner)
