Keep Calm and Shoot Straight

A Blog for Teachers
by Mary Jean Powers

Lord, You are a Teacher of teachers. I need You to teach me how to teach! I come today with requests,
knowing that I can be a better teacher with You than without You. My list is not long, but it is specific. I know that You will hear and answer my prayer because my heart is humble. I want to learn; I am teachable. I know You can help me.

Please give me the ability to always point my students toward wisdom. I understand that knowledge precedes wisdom, so grace me to teach knowledge clearly so that they can then be trained in the way of wisdom.
I ask, Lord, for an increased measure of creativity. You are the Creator; I am creation. And yet, I am made in Your image. Please give me ideas outside the tiny box of my own limited thinking:

• ways to arouse curiosity
• strategies that will enlarge the scope of understanding
• lessons that result in more questions than answers
• memorable exercises that students can revisit and from which they will continue to learn
• techniques that penetrate

And grant me the sensitivity to know which ideas to employ, and when. You use such a variety of approaches and circumstances to challenge, convict and change me. Please, may my teaching be a catalyst for change in others’ lives.

To actualize these changes, I confess that I will need more motivation, vision, inspiration, hope. I know I can change, so help me ignite hope for change in my students by providing opportunities for joy and for confidence-building. You have given me hope and vision, and for that, I am thankful. I am now asking for ability to effectively communicate hope and vision to all of my students. Lord God, please give this teacher increasing knowledge, revelation and understanding so that I have more to give away each day. Teach me to love, help me to teach creatively, and enable me to inspire.

Credit: Photo by Ty Williams on Unsplash

About Keep Calm and Shoot Straight

I am a teacher. You, too? I hope you love the profession as much as I do! I was 16 when I got my first teaching gigs – I had 20 private piano students and a Sunday School class of 4 and 5-year olds! At that point in my “career,” my definition of teacher was very limited. But now – after 45+ years of experience – I have come to realize that teacher can mean many different things. I’d like to share some of those insights with you! My posts will range from quotes to prayers, from cartoons to words of wisdom. Much of my teaching experience has been international, so you'll get to watch some video stories from around the globe. Jesus is the best Teacher I know, so I will be including Him in this blog, as well. I hope my thoughts and my story will encourage, provoke, and inspire you to become the teacher you’ve been created to be!

For comments, email maryjean@getthewordout.cc
 

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