When thinking about the mind, an image that I often think of is a light bulb.

When a

person has an idea or a concept clicks with someone, I just imagine a cartoon light bulb lighting

up above their head. But, light doesnt just reflect how well the brain functions, it, also, is a

symbol for Christianity. God calls us to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). To be a part of

the world and to shine in it. Light also, is a very amazing concept in science. Without light, there

wouldnt be any photons and without photons we could not see. Therefore, in order to see we

must have light. Physically, we need light, spiritually, we need light, God is calling us to be the

light of the world in order for the world to see salvation, and academically, we need light.

Our God created the world and said that it was good, it was excellent. Looking

throughout creation, we can see how amazing and creative our God is by seeing patterns. God

is systematic, if he wasnt we could not study science. Science is the study of creation and

seeing the unique sequences of the world. When we actually get down to learning about all of

these amazing different aspects of creation it evokes wonder and mystery of how God created

everything. Stronks and Stronks (1999) say it this way God also made us curious so that we

will wonder about God and in our wondering we will praise God more, even when we dont find

the answers to our questions (p. 48). When humans look into themselves they see God, one

from a scientific systematic way; God created us with amazing functional systems and patterns

of structure. But, two God created humans in his likeness (Genesis 1:27).

Since all humans are created in Gods likeness, we all bear his image. Therefore, not

one image is more reflective of God, we are all equal in the sight of the Lord. God has carefully

created each and every person. For you know my inmost being, you knit me together in my

mothers womb (Psalm 139:13). I doubt that God spent any more time on one person than he

did on another. Therefore, why should we be treating each other then anything less than equal?

We are all the image of God, everyone deserves to be treated like it.

Community comes with being a part of the likeness of God. God is a community, the

Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is a relational loving community, and humans
are created in the likeness of God, longing for community. Matthew 18: 20 says, for where two

or three gather in my name, there I am with them. Being able to live in a community allows us

to learn about Gods people in the most relational way. Within the community everyone is

learning from everyone. One example of community is the community of truth, where there isnt

an ultimate authority, but a group of people learning and teaching each other (Palmer, 2007). A

classroom should be the same way, the teacher may be someone who has learned more about

the subject, but they arent the ultimate authority. Students should be able to freely share what

they know about a subject, even if it differs from what the teacher is saying, this creates a strong

community of learners who can better from each other. One person cant know all things.

Living and learning among a community is one very beneficial way of learning

about Gods people, but in order to be global community members learning about

different types of people comes into play. Being a shining light for the world means

learning about all parts of it. This is where education is mandatory. Every subject can

point to God and his people: math and science show the patterns of God, language arts

and history teach about the people of God, art and music show the creativity of God and

his people, and physical education and health teach about how to care for the creative,

unique, patterned body the Lord has made.

Many schools hold the same mission emphasis, whether they are public or

private, it seems that most schools strive for excellence. In Hebrew, the word for

excellence can also be translated into virtue. Now, virtues or excellence is going to be

different depending on what you are striving for, being an excellent golfer will not make

you an excellent hockey player: they need different skills, a great golf swing wouldnt

help a hockey player, or vice versa. David Brooks (2015) of the New York Times says

that there are two different types of virtues.One of which is resume virtues, that being
the academic achievements and outstanding accomplishment one might want an

employer or college to know, and the other being eulogy virtues, things that people

remember you for such as being faithful and kind. Brooks (2015) says later in his article

that he believes that the educational system and our culture spends much more time

teaching resume virtues that eulogy virtues (this paragraph inspired by Mark

VanderWerfs sermon on May 7, 2017). Schools may strive for excellence but what

types of excellence are they striving for? Are they only aiming for academic excellence

and therefore only those skills follow or are they aiming for both types of excellence? In

my classroom, academics will be important, but not more important than striving more

excellence in love, kindness, gentleness, patience, humility, and compassion in order to

be a shining light of excellence, spiritually and academically. When Google searching

excellence and theme of light bulbs shows up. Perhaps showing that a person with

excellence is shining like a light bulb.

As a teacher, I will take these themes into my classroom. To build students

character and their academic knowledge, to focus on the whole person and not just the

brain. Teaching with patterns and using science often, to evoke wonder about our God,

including every student as an equal in their individual behavior and including each

student as a member of a learning community, realizing that everyone has an important

role to play in the classroom. All learners are unique, they all are interested in different

topics. Crossing subjects allows them to learn more about how Gods creation is

patterned together. We see the patterns of God throughout his creation, we learn about

the patterns in the classroom. Every subject reflects God, every subject can be woven

with another, embracing how God is woven into all parts of education and creation.
Seeing as a light bulb can be tied into so many different subjects and themes, other

content should be able to cross subject lines. right?

Below are the ideal policies and procedures of management using the ideas above:

Covenant:

The classroom will be a place where all types of students are accepted, a safe place for
each learner to engage with.

The classroom will be a place that encourages investigation and wonder with all
subjects.

The classroom will be a safe community in which all members can voice their opinion,
share their weaknesses, and find strengths.

Content:

The content will be taught with emphasis on cross-subject units and activities.

The content will include various subjects to provide opportunity to learn about God and
his people, to be good global community members.

Content allow everyone to foster new thoughts, it will not be teacher soly teaching
students, but everyone sharing what they have learned about the content.

Conduct:

Teacher and students will create an equal community. In major decisions the teacher
doesnt get more say than the students, all thought the teacher does have authority in
order to keep the classroom safe.

Participation is encouraged and highly recommended, a community cant form without

the help of every member.

Punishments and rewards will be decided by the whole classroom at the beginning of
the year, with the discretion of the teacher, in order for all members to be held
accountable for their behavior.

Attention will be given to whomever is teaching, whether that be the teacher or a

student.
 Procedures:
Covenant:

Teacher will...
Greet students every morning at the door
Allow time for students to share about their lives outside of school
Allow space and time for investigation
Provide breaks to keep students motivated to continue to learn
Listen to students
Help students with their situation in the best way she knows possible
Students are expected to...
Respect one another with words and actions
Listen to each other
Engage and participate
Give their best effort in all activities
Be honest
Content:

Teacher will
Provide cross-subject units
Allow students to discuss and share
Allow time and space for personal investigation in every unit
Provide time for all students to share their new information on a subject/ teach the class
Create opportunities to learn outside the classroom
Use a variety of strategies when teaching
Use variety of groups
Use partner works
Use small groups
Use large group
Students are expected to
Engage with material/group work
Provide their best work in personal investigation
Complete all homework
Work respectively with classmates
Conduct:

Teacher will
Create an expectations list/chart at the beginning of the year, with the help of the class,
for all students to see at all times
Hold students accountable for their actions
Be patient with students
Start over each day with every students behavior: behaviors from yesterday will not be
punished today unless they show up again
Be equitable when disciplining students
Warn students before punishing
Listen to all students equal in every situation: will not place blame based on past
offences
 Students are expected to
Help create a fair expectations list
Hold each other accountable using the expectations list
Be honest in every situation
Be respectful with words and actions to all students
Listen to whoever is teaching
Engage and participate

Sources:
Brooks, D. (2015, April 11). The Moral Bucket List. The New York Times. Retrieved May 8,
2017.
NIV Bible. (2007). London: Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.

Palmer, P. (2007). The courage to teach. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Stronks, J., & Stronks, G. (1999). Christian teachers in public schools. Grand Rapids: Baker.