I believe that the classroom environment plays a huge role in captivating a child’s attention. After all, a child spends five days a week and seven plus hours a day in a classroom, so why not make that space inviting as well as using it to integrate a teachable theme each year? I get very excited about themes and ideas and envision how I can integrate spiritual lessons with each one. For me, it’s not just about making the classroom look inviting and cohesive, it’s about being able to forge a connection with what they see and what we will discuss throughout the year, with the spiritual lessons that will last a lifetime in their memory of the time spent in my classroom. If I only focus on teaching my students the basics of reading, writing, and math, but don’t bring Jesus into the equation, I would feel I have failed them and short changed their education as a whole. After all, that is why parents sacrifice greatly to send their children to get an Adventist education.
One theme I developed was a construction theme. I decorated the classroom and each center with the “construction zones” we need to “build our brains” such as reading, math, etc. However, the most important part of the construction zones was the “Building Character” wall, where we added “bricks” that build our character to be like Jesus. Each week, we would learn about a character trait that Jesus wants us to build on, like kindness, compassion, honesty, responsibility, humbleness, etc. Each brick on our wall included a short definition of each character trait that the children would memorize along with their weekly memory verse. We discussed each trait at length during worship time on how it’s important in our lives as Christians and members of our community.
Another year, I developed a space theme for my classroom. I used the opportunity to teach the children about our Creator, creation, and how God knows each star by name. Just knowing that proves how important and loved we must be if even the stars are known by name! We talked about space missions and how we have a “mission” on our own planet to bring others to Jesus as part of His mission crew. We also talked about reaching for the stars and always striving to do our best.
My favorite year of all has been my superhero theme. We all need superheroes to look up to! We talk about superheroes in our community like nurses, firemen, doctors, police officers, etc. and how we can all fit in to serve in our community with the “superpowers” that Jesus gives each of us to develop. The motto I used was “not all superheroes wear capes, ours wore a cross.” I want to teach my students about how they can use their God-given gifts or “superpowers” to serve and bless others as they build on learning about Jesus, the greatest Super hero of them all!
There is no limit to being creative in making a classroom a place a child can feel valued, cherished, and loved. Parents especially appreciate a well thought-out classroom that is organized and lends itself to learning in a Christ-centered environment. Does this take a lot of work? Absolutely! However, all that hard work is so worth it once you see those smiling faces and hear the wows and thank-yous from children and parents as they walk into a new year filled with learning, faith, and values at the center of every theme.
By Amy Gil
Amy teachers grades 2-4 at Tulsa Adventist Academy in Tulsa, OK.
