new school year - Jeannie Waters, Writer & Speaker

Incorporate Four P’s into a New Season of Learning with God

August 9, 2022Jeannie Waters24 Comments

Although I chuckled at my kindergarten students’ responses, I counted their eagerness to listen as a predictor of learner success.

Years ago, I’d designed a lesson on evaporation. The five-year-olds noticed the water level in our uncovered classroom aquarium was lower than usual. I asked, “What do you think happened to the water?”

Stacey guessed I’d scooped some out, and Adrian asked if the aquarium had leaked. Then Brian bounced up and down and yelled, “I know, I know. The fish drank it.”

Stephanie folded her arms and said, “No, they didn’t, Brian. Mrs. Waters, tell us what really happened to the water.” Twenty-five little wiggly bodies paused, tilted their faces toward mine, and waited for an answer.

What if we began each day, hearts tilted toward Jesus, our Teacher, with the enthusiasm of my kindergarten students?

At this time of year, students and teachers prepare to meet new challenges. Each season of learning requires an eager mind set and determination to discover truth.

You and I may not enroll in a class this month, but when the sun rises each morning, new opportunities unfurl to delight in God’s presence and marvel at His lessons. Filled with enthusiasm for learning, we can ask God to transform our hearts as we study the Bible.

When the sun rises each morning, new opportunities unfurl to delight in God’s presence and marvel at His lessons. Share on X

Let’s pray each morning with the psalmist,

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18 NKJV*

Are you ready for a new season of learning with God? Sharpen your pencils and note any verses or ideas below that resonate with you.

Four P’s for Eager Students of God’s Word

1. Pray.

We can ask God to teach us what we need to learn. He may remind us of a lesson we’ve forgotten, lead us into deeper study of a familiar passage, or show us verses we haven’t studied before. I like to pray words of Scripture like these:

Show me Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation. On You I wait all the day.
Psalm 25:4-5

Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You.
Psalm 143:8

2. Prepare your heart.

Receptive students who understand the relevance of a lesson learn best. When we humble ourselves and admit our need for God’s daily guidance, our hearts open to His teaching. He promises to forgive confessed sin and instruct us.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
Psalm 32:8

3. Position yourself to listen.

Jesus’ followers and curious bystanders gathered to listen when He taught on the hillsides. Surely, their homes and occupations held numerous tasks, but they paused and positioned themselves to hear Jesus speak.

When Jesus visited the home of Lazarus, Martha complained about Mary’s failure to help with meal preparation. Jesus honored Mary’s choice to sit at His feet and listen to His teaching (Luke 10:38-42).

Mary, the disciples, and the hillside crowd shouldered daily responsibilities like we do. The stance or location matters not, but we each need time to meet with God. What’s the best time and place for you?

4. Ponder biblical lessons you learn.

Meditate on the verses or passages you study and record in a journal what God teaches you. Ask Him to transform your heart with His Word.

James 1:22 reminds us, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”

Ponder these questions:

How will I obey His words and honor Him today?
How will my walk with Jesus change because of this passage?
In what ways will my study lead to a more victorious life with Christ?
Armed with Truth, how will the Light of Jesus shine from my life this week?
How will the sword of the Spirit, God’s Word, help me fight spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:11-17)?

Are you ready for a new season of learning with God?

Let us hear from you

Won’t you contribute to our “class discussion?” The Bible says, “Iron sharpens iron,” to remind us we need each other.

What makes you eager to learn from God? How do you tune your ears and position yourself to hear from Him each day? We’re eager to hear your answers.

*All verses are taken from the NKJV.

Would you like to pray for students and teachers as they begin a new school year? Here’s a former blog post on the topic: https://jeanniewaters.com/blog/three-ways-you-can-influence-the-lives-of-hundreds-pray-for-schools-in-your-community/

Three Ways YOU Can Influence the Lives of Hundreds: Pray for Schools in Your Community

July 28, 2021Jeannie Waters35 Comments

My friend Jodi posted a prayer request this morning. She’s not ill, nor has she lost a loved one. She desires prayer for herself, her students, and co-workers as she launches her twenty-fifth year of teaching. Each of us can influence the lives of others in three ways by praying and showing support for the schools in our community.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.
I Timothy 2:1 ESV

Students and Staff Members in Schools Near You Need You.

Instead of complaining and shaking our heads about the woes of our country’s schools, let’s lift the needs of educators and learners in each building to God.

Instead of complaining and shaking our heads about the woes of our country’s schools, let’s lift the needs of educators and learners in each building to God. Share on X

Children need joy and laughter along with academics and the discipline of hard work. I’m praying that joy and academic excellence will fill halls and classrooms this year.

Memories of Joyful School Days

I remember with fondness the happiness in my own children’s hearts when they started to school.

From the moment our son played on the school playground and noticed the bright yellow doors, he was ready to start school. Chocolate brown eyes danced with excitement as he entered Mrs. Tippett’s kindergarten class.

Memories of his second-grade homework assignment make me smile. Not understanding that his teacher meant essay, he wrote a summary of his summer activities and titled the paper “My S. A.” (I didn’t say a word knowing it would give his teacher a smile.) During his college years, he earned an award for one of his essays.

Our daughter—never one for the ordinary—chose sparkly silver pencils and those with a Strawberry Shortcake motif for her school debut. Ponytail bouncing, she skipped in daily with enthusiasm.

My favorite school memory of her is the day she insisted on “taking” her brother for Show-and-Tell. (He obliged her and she beamed proudly.) Another proud and joy-filled moment was when she read her first book independently and shouted, “I can read by myself!”

New school years for me as a teacher involved long days of planning before the official start date, numerous hours of creating an attractive classroom filled with plants and color, and several sleepless nights. I loved the blessing of working as an educator, but only God’s strength and grace yielded success. He filled my heart with joy and the hope of serving Him better each year. Here’s a verse to encourage our educator friends:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 ESV

Let’s pray for restoration of joy in learning and academic excellence. We can influence the lives of children and teachers in public, private, church, and home schools by our prayer and support.

We can influence the lives of children and teachers in public, private, church, and home schools by our prayer and support. Share on X

Consider the suggestions below:

Three Ways YOU Can Influence the Lives of Others: Effective Prayer Support for Schools in Your Community

1. Ask God to burden your heart for the school staffs and students in your community and pray regularly for them.

Pray as you drive past area schools or when you see school zone signs.
Search for the school names in your city and pray for a few each day.
Ask God to encourage Christian teachers and pray for the salvation of those who don’t know Christ as Savior.
Reach out to educators you know and assure them of prayer support. Ask about specific needs.
Talk with students and parents you know and note their concerns in a prayer notebook.

2. Pray for specific groups in public, private, church, and home schools.

Hopes and dreams, and a few tummy butterflies, dance in minds and hearts as a new year begins . . . for children AND educators.

Pray for:

new teachers overwhelmed by class sizes, demands, and unmotivated students
little ones who are afraid to leave Mama for the first time
bus drivers who must concentrate on road safety with a busload of restless riders
legislators who pass education laws
students with disabilities
students whose native language is other than English
students who couldn’t or wouldn’t access technology when schools were closed. (The further behind students become in academics, the more likely they will drop-out of school.)
those who need school supplies and adequate clothing to feel comfortable with peers (This one breaks my heart.)
parents who need to support their children and their children’s teachers
teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, counselors, clerical staff, custodians, cafeteria workers, substitute teachers, board members, volunteers and others. All these adults impact the school environment as they interact with students. (I’ve known some Christian custodians and volunteers who encouraged students and teachers daily.)

3. Put feet on your prayers—show you care.

Already in her seventies, my mom welcomed the opening of a new school down the road from her country home. Southern lady that she was, she planned to bake cookies for the teachers and attach a “Welcome to the Neighborhood” card.

Putting feet on our prayers can result in blessings to others. Here are some suggestions:

Volunteer to read to a class, check in library books, or tutor students. (Most districts require a background check for volunteers who work with children.)
A simple card written to administrators and teachers pledging to pray for them the first few weeks or regularly throughout the year will be a blessing. (Hint: A tray of cookies or a fruit basket to accompany the card will add an energy boost and a smile.) Trust this retired educator. It will mean a lot.
Adopt a teacher or grade level to support—pray and send notes.
For teachers in your church or neighborhood, provide a restaurant gift card or home-cooked meal or basket of fruit and snacks for a quick breakfast or after school refreshments.
Check with nearby schools to ask if you can provide supplies, a backpack, or school clothing for children who cannot afford these items.

Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
Proverbs 14:21 ESV

Join me in praying for a joy-filled, productive year for educators and students, won’t you?

Please share your prayer commitment and your ideas in the Comments section.

Extra inspiration:

Click the link for a former post about blessing teachers with gifts, acts of kindness, and volunteer efforts.

Three Ways to Bless Teachers

Back-to-School Teacher Support

August 1, 2018Jeannie Waters

From the moment our son played on the playground and noticed the bright yellow doors, he was ready to start school. Chocolate brown eyes danced with excitement as he entered Mrs. Tippett’s kindergarten class.

Memories of a second-grade homework assignment make me smile. Not understanding that his teacher meant essay, he wrote a summary of his summer activities and titled the paper “My S. A.” (I didn’t say a word knowing it would give his teacher a smile.)

Our daughter, never one for the ordinary, chose either sparkly silver pencils or those with a Strawberry Shortcake motif for her school debut. Ponytail bouncing, she skipped in daily with enthusiasm.

My favorite school memory of her was the day she insisted on “taking” her brother for Show-and-Tell! (He obliged her.)

Like all parents, we wanted the best for our children. Hopes and dreams, and a few tummy butterflies dance in minds and hearts as a new year begins . . .

Wax-shined hallways abuzz with teacher prep and Open House questions

“Welcome Back” bulletin boards

Fresh-from-summer children and teens meeting friends

Parents with high hopes

Nervous newbies (students AND teachers)

Many factors contribute to a new school year ending successfully, but one of the most significant is the teacher-student relationship. Students know when teachers care.

How can we show local educators that we care about them and want to encourage them as they set out once again to foster a love of learning in students?

As a retired educator, I believe our first responsibility is to pray for students, parents, and school system employees including:

teachers
paraprofessionals
counselors
clerical staff
bus drivers
custodians
administrators
substitute teachers
board members

Let’s include public, private, church, and home schools. Whether you have children or grandchildren in school or not, teachers in your community will benefit from prayer support.

Here are suggestions for prayer topics:

home and family responsibilities at an incredibly busy time of year
physical health and safety for staff and students
relationships with students, parents, and colleagues
insight into individual differences
planning for instruction and meeting standards
flexibility and creativity

A simple card pledging to pray for them the first few weeks or regularly throughout the year will be a blessing. (Hint: A tray of cookies to accompany the card will add an energy boost and a smile.)

Tag: new school year