Category Archives: Healthy Schools

Newsletters That Really Deliver, Part 1

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Written by Laurie Gauger-Hested

Your newsletter is your public face. In fact, for prospective families and for families who don’t have much contact with teachers—because of work schedules or a strained relationship or simple shyness—it may be your only face.

That’s why the quality matters. In both content and format, your newsletter should send two fundamental messages to parents: that you’re professionals who are giving their children an excellent education, and that you’re strong Christians who love Jesus and their children.

How do you send those two messages? Here are a few tips. Continue reading →

Balancing Act in Kindergarten

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Written by Brandi Bivens

Kindergarten has been in existence for almost 200 years, but what children learn and how they have been taught has changed quite drastically. Kindergarten teachers have been put in the difficult position of balancing play and academics as a push for more academics has made its way into kindergarten. First we will look at several reasons why kindergarten has changed. Continue reading →

Creation Apologetics in the Science Classroom

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Written by Jenny Retzlaff

I love teaching physics! I love sharing the incredible order in God’s creation, the laws that govern the universe, and the amazing discoveries and innovations that come from the study of this gift. I absolutely love it! However, there was one topic that left me more anxious than excited: creation apologetics. Continue reading →

Classroom Discussion Is Important to Critical Thinking

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Written by Larry Czer

Classroom research tells us we (teachers) talk too much. Let that sink in for a moment. Immediately we defend our practice—aren’t we obligated to teach? Aren’t we called to educate the children in our care? Aren’t we trained to share knowledge? While all of these are true, researchers have discovered that we spend way too much time talking on less relevant issues. The word educate comes from the Latin educere, which means “to lead out.” Given that etymology, we should be doing more leading out and less pouring in. Continue reading →

Being a Lutheran Teacher Is Awesome!

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Written by Dr. John Meyer

Every teacher is special. Through them, children and young people develop full and productive lives. But Lutheran teachers are more, and being one is an awesome privilege and a tremendous responsibility.

An Awesome Privilege
Lutheran teachers are called. That’s not just a fancy way of saying hired. A call comes from God through a group of believers in Christ (Acts 1) to people whom he has appointed and gifted for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). Their contract is with God, and so the call is divine (Gerlach, 1977; Mueller, 1988). Since Lutheran teachers do not seek their positions by putting out résumés (Romans 10:15; Hebrews 5:4), they are confident that God himself has appointed them to serve where they are (Fehlauer, 1968; Gerlach, n.d.; Mueller, 1988). Continue reading →

What Does Effective Classroom Management Look Like?

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Written by Amanda Weinrich

What is meant by classroom management? It involves how students should behave in the classroom. A common misconception is that classroom management is a set of rules to address discipline problems. Rather, classroom management involves a well-planned set of procedures and routines for avoiding problems and having a plan for when misbehavior does occur (Lester, Allanson, & Notar, 2017). Continue reading →

There Must Be a Different Way

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Written by David Uhlhorn

It doesn’t take long for a new teacher in our WELS schools to realize that today’s schools are different from what they remember. Wanting what is best for their children, parents are looking for additional opportunities for their children to excel. To meet this need, schools are offering additional courses and activities, while the amount of time allowed for learning remains the same. Teacher schedules are limiting students’ course selections. Continue reading →

Most Important Things Parents Look for in a School

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Written by Elizabeth Johnson

Parents have more choices in the type of pasta sauce on their child’s spaghetti than they do in where their child receives their education. For decades, the public school system told families where they would attend school. In many places, voucher programs are giving some of that power back to parents. With the choice comes a responsibility to find out who can best serve them, along with a responsibility for administrators to know what parents want. While a school’s location and demographic can vary the order of preference, parents are most actively seeking private schools that offer . . .

1) A high quality of education

2) A safe learning environment

3) An exceptional school culture Continue reading →

Classroom Procedures Take You Where You Want to Go

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Written by Benjamin Clemons

Procedures in our classrooms provide the framework for operating our schools. Procedures answer a vital question of “How?” in our buildings. We may be more familiar with the questions of “Why?” (to provide high-quality Christian education) and “What?” (our curriculum) because they are highly visible. Procedures, on the other hand, can fade into the background, especially when they run well. Continue reading →

What Would Luther Say about 21st-Century Lutheran Schools?

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Written by Paul Koelpin

Does Lutheran education in the 21st century need a reformation? Lutherans often wonder just what Luther would say about the practice of the church that bears his name today. Would Luther approve of what they teach? Does the 21st-century church rightfully bear the name “Lutheran”? Does the mystical concept of “Luther’s spirit” live on? Continue reading →