LIVE
Session
Equipping Teachers To Boldly Fulfill Their God-Given Calling
Idea Swap Party 
with Heather Kohnen, Jonathan Jones, and Beki Jones
We all know that the best ideas come from fellow teachers, and hearing what's working for someone else can be invaluable! That's exactly what we did in this exciting Idea Swap Party. We shared share ideas, laughed together, enjoyed fun giveaways, and more! It was sort of like a party in the teachers' lounge - but without the drama!
Even if you missed this exciting Idea Swap Party, you can still check out the great ideas that were swapped...coming soon!
Note: This session was not recorded, but you can still see some of the great ideas that were shared by clicking above!
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About Heather Kohnen
Heather is a wife, mother, and former elementary teacher in Minnesota. She has a heart for Christian educators and looks for any opportunity she can to help them navigate their roles with joy, purpose, and excellence. She now serves as the director of the AWAKE Experience for Christian Educators.
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About Beki & Jonathan Jones
Beki and Jonathan both have over a decade of experience teaching kindergarten through 5th grade students in public schools with endorsements in early childhood education, elementary education, reading instruction, and English language development.
Married for 21 years (and doing nearly everything together!), the Joneses also serve as mentor teachers for Teach 4 the Heart.
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Teaching Resources from the Joneses:
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Thanks to everyone for sharing😊
Thanks for the ideas!
Great ideas! I like that we got to try one of them with ment.com!
So many great ideas shared by teachers. Jolly Ranchers do rule the day! I like the classroom check-ins. Could this work for 6th grade HR class?
I love how there is such a focus on Christ and teaching as a ministry. I am encouraged by how many other teachers are experiencing the same things I am and seeing how the Lord is pulling them through it practically. Thanks for all who shared!
Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful ideas! How encouraging to hear about the wonderful things God is doing around the world to impact students for Him!
I just got the tail end of this, but just in the few minutes present I saw and heard a bunch of fun ideas that I’m going to go back and listen to! Thank you for this session.
Great chat! Love the feeling of community and learning new ideas from you all. Thank you!
Students aren’t born difficult – it came from something
Always protecting, trusting, hoping and perserving.
Our prayers stop but at that double door we’ve gotta set that boundary
Community is such a wonderful blessing. Learning from other Christians who are educators is so uplifting and helpful!
So many great ideas on this share! It was really uplifting. My biggest take away was we are not alone in our jobs and we can all support each other with ideas.
I found it beneficial how Leslee described and made power- points on how we could apply 1Corinthians 13:4-8 in the classroom. Also, the emphasis on circle time at any grade level was a good point. Treating students as an employee, rather than our children is something I am interested in.
Thank you. Very good advice!
What a great reminder to love the students above all else. Love over plans!
I loved hearing different ideas and struggles and some of the same ones from so many different people. It’s encouraging to experience community that way.
My biggest takeaway is the importance of having class community circles. It is a good reminder that academics will follow after relationships and trust are built. Van
there were a ton of great ideas, I want to find some way to incorporate the b&b desk concept into my rewards system.
Wonderful session! So many wonderful ideas! I can’t wait for the list!
What a fun session! You ladies that are hosting this are precious.
So much technology, so little time!
My biggest takeaway was “hiring” my students. I’m so excited to try to implement something new. I also love the idea of doing a lesson planning date with myself as a form of self care
Get rid of emotion in teaching and instead in love. Love is not an emotion it is a choice.
Take away: Students don’t care about grades, but they can relate if you use the example of not being paid if they don’t do their job. Also, don’t compare your data to other teachers data because your students may not do well taking tests, but that doesn’t mean they are not learning. ( I really needed to here this today because I was comparing myself to my teammates and their students data. I felt really down because I knew I had taught the content on the test, but my students did not do so well.)
Leave each student better than you find them.
Treat students like staff. Respect can go a long way.
Leslie Rob’s Bridging the Gap between Teacher and Student
I really love the idea of treating students as employees – that was brilliant! My biggest take-away, though, was the whole section breaking down the scripture about love and applying it specifically and directly to the classroom and my students. Not only does this fit so well with last night’s session about forgiveness, but it speaks to me on a very personal level. This is my 29th year teaching and although I love it and still feel called to it, I really struggled last year and still find myself this year slipping into those patterns of insecurity and comparison as the demands keep getting piled on and I feel I can’t possibly measure up. Such great reminders here to keep my focus on God and help my students see their potential and successes.
I had a whole change of perspective after listening to Unoffendable author Brant Hansen. I went to work this morning feeling like I had a different purpose.
I enjoyed Leslie Rob’s presentation. The ADEPT approach is a good way to remember the different avenues a teacher can take to reach and connect with students. I always tell my students that we do not teach subjects, we teach students. So the authentic and meaningful relationships are what drives the success in the classroom.
Can’t join the idea swap because it has reached a maximum on zoom.
My biggest take away was how we can be authentically Adaptable teachers that bring a safe engaging place to the students no matter the environment we serve so that they can reach their potential in what ever becomes their call
I missed part of the presentation but the You’re Hired is what I do with my middle schoolers, I just didn’t have a name for it! Thank you for this validation and insight. I have the kids “clock in” each class period as well and I will be looking over this new to me version to see what I can incorporate as well.
Definitely need to start circle time
Might try the whole students as employees approach as well
Leslie Rob was amazing! She really gets it, I loved all of her ideas and ways to love on her students. I also use a lot of humor in the classroom, and I have a wonderful connection with my students. I feel God placed me in the classroom for a reason, and every day I understand that reason more and more. Now I have even more ways to share my love with my students, thanks to Leslie.
“Ask, Don’t Attack”. The child exhibiting difficulties has a background and a story. Get to know them.
Be open to doing things different with students. Teaching is not like it was.
I loved it! My biggest take away was to treat students like employees. I had never thought of that before. I teach elmentary but I see many ways I can implement it. Thank you!
Love, love, love the employee/hiring/PT/etc idea! Also, getting
to know your students is always the biggest gift!
Take away: Shift in thinking to teach differently
That was a wonderful session.