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- Know Scripture: The Old and New Testament need to be read over and over again. As well, teachers need to take courses in Biblical Scholarship. There has never been a better time to delight and immerse one-self into the teachings of Scripture. Regent, ACTS Seminary, Trinity Western and the Geneva Centre offer a wealth of insight, knowledge and understanding.
· Recommend: M. Goheen and C. Bartholomew: “The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story.” (Baker Academic, 2004)
- Know how to Apply Scripture to a Biblical World-view: In the early founding years of Christian Education in BC this garnered a lot of attention. There are a lot of good books on this topic; but a refresher course in World-view studies is a must every decade.
· Recommend: M. Goheen and C. Bartholomew: “Living at the Crossroads: An Introduction to Christian Worldview.”
- Biblical World-view, Creation and Culture: The teacher is the one who can open the creation and the culture to the latest insights given by the experts and the artists. The teacher can bring discernment, knowledge, understanding and wisdom to the student through example, practice and pedagogy. This dynamic continues and is always in need of new packaging, language and ritual.
· Attend the CTABC Conventions and Regional Conferences: Workshops provide a wide variety of options which address this topic.
· Select a specific course and become an expert in a topic.
· Read the Christian Educators Journal that comes to your school. One copy for every five teachers.
- Pedagogy and Curriculum: New teaching theories and practices abound as well. What worked in 1995 does not necessarily work in 2010. The documentation of curriculum has also undergone a huge change, a teacher with over ten years experience needs to revisit these areas every decade.
· Recommend: H. Van Brummellen: “Stepping Stones to Curriculum: A Biblical Path.” (2002)
· Recommend: Bob Koole teaches an On-line Course at TWU titled: “EDU 623 “Developing Educational programs.” September 14 to December 5, 2009.
· Recommend: Encourage your school to become a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (www.ASCD.org) and subscribe to “Educational Leadership.” This periodical provides well written and researched articles on pedagogy and curriculum.
- Follow “your passion” in teaching: Identify areas in your life where you can be really good at and improve in and take your students along for the adventure. For me that is my love for history and more recently African education. Take life experiences and courses that build up your repertoire of skills and knowledge.
· Recommend: Think up something that takes you out of your comfort zone and discuss it with your principal. Make a formal proposal that provides a strong educational rationale.
- Partner with a School in the global Village: At least once in your career, better early than later; live, serve, learn and grow within the hospitality of another culture. Your “World-view” understanding will multiply geometrically. Take at least ten weeks, at a minimum three weeks and seriously consider a year. The CTABC-SCSBC contracts have a wonderful “sabbatical” provision for an opportunity of a life time.
· Recommend: Take three weeks of your summer and join the “Bridging Cultures” team in Honduras.
- Take “rest” seriously and consider the “Contemplative” model: Each year take a significant break and reflect on the following question: “How do I present Jesus to my students?” Journalize your thoughts. My Mission and Vision as a Christian teacher is based on Colossions 1:14-20. What is yours? I have a Little retreat in the woods somewhere that gives me “pause” from the hurly burly of life. Where is your “retreat?”
- Check the CTABC website regularly to see what is the latest in Professional Development opportunities: www.christianteachers.ca
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