How can you help your students understand that a Biblical perspective can be applied to course content?
06/12/06 07:30 Filed in: Background
knowledge
You (at a coaching session): They
don’t seem to get it—that there’s a biblical
perspective of what they are learning. My students
get Bible class, devotions, chapel, and proper
behavior. I know that a home and at church they talk
about living for Jesus and telling others about
Jesus. But they don’t get that the Bible can be
applied to what they learn. And I did talk with them
about using a biblical perspective at the start of
the year.
Me: Tell me more about this.
You: Well, on assignments, they show their thinking, but without referring the Bible. Or they come up with object lessons (which are interesting), instead of applying a biblical perspective to the learning.
Me: Anything else?
You: Sometimes I feel like they don’t think a biblical perspective can or should be applied to course content. Like I’m trying to do something that’s not really possible, and they’ll just wait me out. Sometimes it’s discouraging.
Me: So you think your students think the Bible applies at home, church, and the “spiritual” parts of school?
You: Yes, I guess so. I mean, they’re good kids, but they just don’t seem to get it. I’ve been praying about this, and I want my students to get this. During this coaching session, I’d like to develop a doable action plan to help my students understand that a biblical perspective can be applied to course content.
Me: OK, you’ve identified your goal and you’ve been praying about it. Would you like to explore options?
You: Yes.
Me: How could you help your students understand that the Bible applies to what they are learning in your class?
You: I could tell them how I use a biblical perspective. I could put posters up that have biblical perspective statements on them, have them apply biblical principles to a case study, memorize and apply a verse during our next unit. And I could teach them a biblical perspective of wealth.
Me: What else?
You: I could teach them a biblical perspective of social studies. Well, I could have guest speakers talk about how they use a biblical perspective in their jobs. And I could ask my students questions like, “How can I be a wise steward?”
Me: What else?
You: I could have them read articles written by Christians who are applying a biblical perspective.
Me: Anything else?
You: No. I think that’s good.
Me: OK, you’ve identified 9 things you could do. And you said you want to come up with a doable action plan.
You: That’s right. I think I’d like to start with 1 thing and go from there.
Me: What action step would you like to take?
You: I think I’d like to start by getting them to just do it—just get them using a biblical perspective. I’d like to start with having them apply biblical teaching to a case study related to content in our next unit.
Me: On a scale of 1-10, how committed are you to using a case study?
You: About at a 7.
Me: What would it take for you to move to a 9 or 10?
You: I’ll share my goal with my principal as soon as we close. That’ll move my commitment level to a 9. Hey, I just figured out that we used the IDEAL process. I identified and defined the problem, explored options, and got ready to act. Now I need to act and look at the results, right?
Me: Right. What insights did you have during our session?
You: I discovered that there are quite a few things I can do to help my students understand that the Bible applies to course content. Quite encouraging. See you next week.
Teachers, to what extent does this describe your thinking? Principals, to what extent does this describe your teachers’ thinking?
If the above describes your thinking or the thinking of your staff, what are 5 things you could do to increase your understanding of a biblical perspective of your subject area? Pick one and implement it. Today.
Me: Tell me more about this.
You: Well, on assignments, they show their thinking, but without referring the Bible. Or they come up with object lessons (which are interesting), instead of applying a biblical perspective to the learning.
Me: Anything else?
You: Sometimes I feel like they don’t think a biblical perspective can or should be applied to course content. Like I’m trying to do something that’s not really possible, and they’ll just wait me out. Sometimes it’s discouraging.
Me: So you think your students think the Bible applies at home, church, and the “spiritual” parts of school?
You: Yes, I guess so. I mean, they’re good kids, but they just don’t seem to get it. I’ve been praying about this, and I want my students to get this. During this coaching session, I’d like to develop a doable action plan to help my students understand that a biblical perspective can be applied to course content.
Me: OK, you’ve identified your goal and you’ve been praying about it. Would you like to explore options?
You: Yes.
Me: How could you help your students understand that the Bible applies to what they are learning in your class?
You: I could tell them how I use a biblical perspective. I could put posters up that have biblical perspective statements on them, have them apply biblical principles to a case study, memorize and apply a verse during our next unit. And I could teach them a biblical perspective of wealth.
Me: What else?
You: I could teach them a biblical perspective of social studies. Well, I could have guest speakers talk about how they use a biblical perspective in their jobs. And I could ask my students questions like, “How can I be a wise steward?”
Me: What else?
You: I could have them read articles written by Christians who are applying a biblical perspective.
Me: Anything else?
You: No. I think that’s good.
Me: OK, you’ve identified 9 things you could do. And you said you want to come up with a doable action plan.
You: That’s right. I think I’d like to start with 1 thing and go from there.
Me: What action step would you like to take?
You: I think I’d like to start by getting them to just do it—just get them using a biblical perspective. I’d like to start with having them apply biblical teaching to a case study related to content in our next unit.
Me: On a scale of 1-10, how committed are you to using a case study?
You: About at a 7.
Me: What would it take for you to move to a 9 or 10?
You: I’ll share my goal with my principal as soon as we close. That’ll move my commitment level to a 9. Hey, I just figured out that we used the IDEAL process. I identified and defined the problem, explored options, and got ready to act. Now I need to act and look at the results, right?
Me: Right. What insights did you have during our session?
You: I discovered that there are quite a few things I can do to help my students understand that the Bible applies to course content. Quite encouraging. See you next week.
Teachers, to what extent does this describe your thinking? Principals, to what extent does this describe your teachers’ thinking?
I’m not sure how my faith is related to my subject area. My family and my church talk about being a Christian, living for Jesus, doing devotions, and telling others about Jesus. But 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.
If the above describes your thinking or the thinking of your staff, what are 5 things you could do to increase your understanding of a biblical perspective of your subject area? Pick one and implement it. Today.
