I have a special guest author here on my blog today: Julie Sanders. She has a new book out that is perfect for the back-to-school season. (Make sure and read to the end of this post to find out about it and about some free conversation starters she has available!) Without further ado…here’s Julie!

5 Simple Ways to Encourage Your Child’s Teacher by Julie Sanders

Teachers pour themselves into students, spending  hours in education, preparation, evaluation, and communication. They interface with administrators, resource staff, and parents, trying to understand the gifts, needs, and learning styles of constantly growing and changing students. They partner with families from different homes while trying to satisfy requirements usually made by people who haven’t been teachers.

Finally, when their hearts are full and they begin to see the growth they’ve agonized over, prayed for, and diligently worked for, their students move on and they get a new group of students who need to be understood, loved, reached, and taught.

Teaching is a sacred work, and teachers need encouragement. 

Whether your child has a teacher in public school or private school, a seasoned teacher or student teacher, or a co-op teacher or parent teacher, every teacher needs encouragement to press on in the work of educating students for learning and life.

The beginning of a new school year is one of those times when teachers need a lifeline. They’ve just finished organizing curriculum, learning their list of students, possibly creating a learning environment, answering questions from parents and kids, meeting with administrators, training with peers, and probably taking a turn in car line purgatory. If they also planned a Back to School night, the teacher is probably counting the days until fall break. Home school teachers are working with challenges unique to their own structure, turning the schedule around to put productivity in learning back in its before-summer rightful place. 

Before questions, lists for volunteering, or extra information about our child, teachers need encouragement. It lays the foundation for your child’s learning and your ministry in the life of your student’s teacher.

A teacher’s job is to teach children in their care. A parent’s job is to minister to the teacher who teaches the children.

Here are some ideas for this divine task:

5 Ways to Encourage Your Child’s Teacher 

• Talk to the teacher when it’s convenient.

Keep it short and kind. It’s the “welcome” God would have us extend to the person willing to care for and educate children. Politely remind them of your name and the student who is  yours. They are on information overload, but they do want to know you. Give them grace as they absorb the important details of you and your child.

• Help the teacher when there’s a need.

If you see a simple need, jump in and help without taking over. Right away, send in requested supplies you can afford. If your budget allows, send extras of what no one wants to send. Once things settle, send a note asking if there’s anything else the teacher needs. That’s the time to ask for more details about how to help.

• Thank the teacher at the end of the first week.

Words of affirmation are rare at school. Your note or email with specific words of thanks will go a long way towards blessing your teacher and helping your child. “Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land,” (Proverbs 25:25 ). Your words will be welcome. 

• Respect the teacher to your children.

Your words, facial expressions, and tone of voice give away your opinions about the teacher and classroom. Even if there are problems or concerns, children need to hear willingness from the heart and mouth of their parents. When we model willingness to help, ask questions, listen, support, and believe, we keep the heart of our child soft towards the space where they learn academics and lessons for life. 

• Appreciate the teacher with other adults.

When you talk to the principal or PTA leader at a school gathering, speak well of your teacher’s efforts. If you are the teacher, speak well of your teaching to help others hear the excitement and enthusiasm you have for teaching. We can always find something to be positive about in talking about the journey of learning. 

So much of encouraging the teacher comes from our words and our willingness to help.

The greatest way to encourage an educator comes from willingness to talk to God on their behalf.

Depending on the setting and the relationship, the educator may never know you do the divine work of lifting their name and their classroom to the Heavenly Father. Then again, you may have the pleasure of letting the teacher know you offer something they didn’t include on the class supply list — prayers for their life and work. 

The greatest teachers usually have a great parent encouraging them.

In The ABCs of Praying for Students, you’ll find inspiration to think outside the curriculum. The combination of scripture, inspirational thoughts, real stories, and tips for application will help prepare your thoughts and prayers to partner with the educators in your child’s life.

Teachers are getting ready to do their divine work when school starts. Let’s get ready to do ours! 

The ABC’s of Praying for Students is available for purchase, just in time to wrap your prayers around your student’s new school year. 

About The ABC’s of Praying for Students:

If you’re a mom who does so much because she cares so much, The ABC’s of Praying for Students will help you give your student what they need most – your prayers. “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working,” (James 5:16b). 

Each devotion focuses on a single Bible passage, with a clear illustration of how it connects to what a student needs to know and grow. Practical applications follow, along with ideas for Table Talk starters to use with your learner.

The most powerful thing we can do for our students will never be found on a school supply list.

The ABC’s of Praying for Students will help you engage what your child’s education needs most. The great power of a parent’s prayers at work.

Thank you, Julie, for sharing on my blog today!

One final note: To celebrate the release of Julie’s new book, she is giving away free Table Talk Conversation Cards. You can grab your copy when you subscribe at http://www.christenprice.com/the-abcs-of-praying-for-students