School Subjects
Board & Administration
Teaching & Learning
★★★★★
Lucas Hilty January 5, 2019In this fifth and final installment of survey results, we consider how educators think about their calling, how they use their non-teaching time, and what they do for refreshment.
Those who serve our schools face serious challenges. More than 30 responses note the difficulty of reaching around as a teacher, principal, or other educator: we often feel we don’t have enough time. Other common challenges include a lack of career teachers, lack of commitment from parents, and pedagogical and classroom discipline issues.
The list of rewards, however, is as inspiring as the previous list is daunting. Can you count the number of references to light bulb moments? Teachers love to share knowledge with students, and look forward to seeing their students make wise life choices as results of their training.
As noted above, many of us struggle to find time for everything that seems important. We asked educators how they spend their out-of-class time each week. Below are the averages.
When responses are separated by teachers’ experience, it appears that teachers with more than five years’ experience spend more time in lesson prep and checking than newer teachers. In fact, they spend more time in all these areas except for continuing education.
Note that the chart above includes all respondents, while the chart below includes only teachers.
On a less serious but still important note: What do educators enjoy outside school? We’re glad to see you like to read.
Coffee and chocolate are also popular, though it’s worth noting the decline in consumption as teachers gain more experience. Or perhaps experienced teachers enjoy more of their coffee while at school rather than outside school.
The options offered in the survey clearly missed many important activities. Respondents listed dozens of other activities. Music leads the list:
We asked educators to finish this sentence:
academically train children for God’s work.
aid parents by teaching academic skills to the children they’ve entrusted to us, and come alongside the parents in the character development of their children.
aid the church in shaping young people’s lives in a social and educational environment.
assist the parent in bringing the child up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord in the academic setting.
cause my students to learn and grow, and discover the joy of learning.
cause them to learn!
cause to learn (and what that includes).
communicate: all the time and every day. Take care of details no one else has time for. Be all things to all men. ?
connect with my students and develop a love for learning.
continue the training program the parents have set in place while I do my best to teach them foundational concepts for learning.
develop young people focused on serving Christ and empowered with skills to do so.
do all I can to help each child be successful in their learning journey, to make it interesting, enriching and nurturing.
emulate Christ in teaching, learning, and dealing with my fellowman.
enable learning for productive living.
encourage and equip children to serve God.
energize the next generation for beneficial service to the world and church.
equip children to be better able to serve in God’s kingdom.
equip my students with the things they need to know in the future, most importantly teaching them about the importance of God and showing them the love of God each and every day.
equip students to be prosperous Kingdom servants.
equip students to pursue wisdom.
equip workers for the Kingdom of God.
foster a comfortable, yet challenging, Christian education environment.
give my students the tools for kingdom work by providing hard work, developing critical thinking skills and a compassionate spirit in a secure classroom environment.
give my student tools they will need for life, be an example for their social lives, and a spiritual stepping stone.
give students a foundation from which they can serve God and others throughout life.
give students the necessary tools (skill and knowledge) go be successful in the home, workplace, community, and church.
give students the tools they need to serve God.
guide my students in the way of truth.
help equip my students with knowledge and character traits that will make them better for service in God’s kingdom.
help in shaping the hearts and minds of young people by giving them the tools they need to be effective workers in God’s kingdom.
help kids further the kingdom of God by teaching academics well.
help make learning a fun and safe and adventure.
help my students learn.
help prepare my students for life after school.
help students become more like Jesus while learning how to be creative along with learning the basic skills needed to succeed in life.
help the students, patrons, and teachers understand how God is at work in the world.
ignite students’ appetite for learning, guide their social interactions, and point them to Jesus.
influence children to prepare them for life.
influence students to build their character
inspire.
instill godly values in the consciences of the students.
instill in children a love for learning truth.
lead my students well academically and spiritually, modeling Christ to them and modeling life-long learning.
love, serve, and teach children both academics and Kingdom building concepts.
make disciples that impact the world for Christ.
make sure learning happens and that the needs of the school are met.
make sure the needs and responsibilities of the school are fulfilled and to educate my class in an excellent way!
make sure the others can do their work well.
meet my students where they are and take them forward.
motivate students to learn.
nurture a love for God and provide a quality education that will aid in developing student’s skills and talents so that they can use them in effective service to God.
nurture and train lovers of God.
nurture lovers of God.
nurture souls to be lovers of God.
organize school administration and teach the older students.
partner with the church/community/parents in raising children who choose to be lovers of God and active participants in His Kingdom. Though specifically responsible for students’ academic development, I am also an influencer and nourisher of loves.
prepare children for a life of service in the church and community
prepare my students to be effective in the kingdom of God through instructing, loving, and nurturing them.
prepare my students to serve well in their communities and churches.
prepare the next generation.
prepare useful servants for God.
realize I am called by God, and commit to serving to the best of my abilities in meeting my students academic, emotional, and spiritual needs.
serve and love the students who have been placed in my care.
serve and love the students who have been placed in my care.
serve my children’s needs to the best of my abilities; to make learning fun.
serve the parents by teaching their children academics and character.
set an educational and godly standard, and live it out personally. Be available/attentive to all students’needs, especially those struggling emotionally. Teach outside the box.
shape the loves of my students in positive ways and provide an excellent environment for learning.
steward faithfully the opportunity to shape and equip our students for eager and skillful participation in God’s work in the world.
teach academics, and use opportunities to teach life lessons and good character.
teach and guide, both by my words and by my life.
teach children life skills for service in the kingdom of God.
teach classes and oversee lunch and recess for grades 1-3.
teach essential life skills and shape the character of my students.
teach for the kingdom of God.
teach the classes, answer questions, oversee recess, and inspire students to love God and learning.
teach students about God.
teach students information and skills they will need in life.
teach students to think the way Christ thinks and to do things the way He does.
teach my students.
teach, Jesus and His ways first, information next.
To each person who invested time in reflecting on the work of Anabaptist education: your response is a testament to the work you are pouring into God’s kingdom. May his grace lift you above your challenges and give you success.
To every person who reads these reflections: your interest in Anabaptist education encourages many people. May we all be faithful in the work we are given.
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