Midwest Teachers Week

Our schools teach many things, and character development weaves throughout our curriculum and activities. We will talk about ways and areas to focus our energies, including the most important element.

A school that does not produce knowledgeable students is like a chef who does not produce edible food: a misnomer. Yet we may feel hesitant about the pursuit of knowledge. Is it a noble goal? We’ll explore this question, and we’ll discuss ways to create a culture of curiosity and knowledgeability in your classroom.

It has been said there are no "bad" students only unmotivated ones. How does that apply to teachers. In this workshop we want to discuss the importance of high motivation, how it comes "naturally" and how to gain it when it doesn't. We also want to discuss some of the dangers that accompany high motivation and the connection between low motivation and "burnout."

Novice Teacher Track

Everyone makes mistakes. But we don’t need to repeat all the mistakes of our predecessors. Come to learn about the common pitfalls that teachers can fall into and how we can avoid them. The first step in avoiding a pitfall is seeing it before you fall in!

Novice Teacher Track

How do I “catch” my student’s attention? What do I do once they are “on the hook”? What is the purpose of a presentation at the class table?

Novice Teacher Track 

What is the difference between a procedure and a rule? How do procedures help me have a disciplined classroom? What are procedures that can help me teach in a multi-grade classroom? Come to this workshop that helps us understand how procedures are foundational to learning.

Novice Teacher Track:

Do first year teachers have preexisting sources of experience that can be useful in the classroom? Where should teachers go for ideas? inspiration? advice?

Why are successful teachers successful? Whether they have read these principles of the art of teaching or not, they are practicing them. Don’t let the title mislead you; this class goes beyond teaching theory and gets so practical that you can use what you learn here on your first day of school.

Am I prepared to teach school? Where do I start? What is most important? If you feel like an elephant that has been dropped into the ocean, this class will give you some techniques and strategies to help keep your head above water!

What does the Bible say about teachers? How can we follow the Master Teacher?