Entries by Becky Hunsberger

Recognizing Different Ways Boys Learn

March 5, 2014 in /by

Boys and girls are different. They play differently, relate differently, even develop differently. While little girls are practicing their newly found language skills, chattering away to whomever will listen, little boys are busy climbing on things and racing cars—delighting when there is a big crash with a lot of noise. Anyone who has ever worked […]

How Do Our Embedded Biases Affect Our Classrooms?

February 19, 2014 in /by

In their book A Vision with A Task: Christian Schooling for Responsive Discipleship,[1]Gloria Stronks and Doug Blomberg make the following observation about the hidden curriculum of North American schools: “Schools in our society feel the persuasive and pervasive effects of individualism. Students want to choose their own courses, decide their own amount of effort, and […]

A Framework for Connecting Faith to Life

January 22, 2014 in /by

In his book, A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good, theologian Miroslav Volf argues that Christianity is a prophetic religion—that is, it is characterized by a personal encounter with the divine (receptive ascent) followed by an active response advocating transformation of the surrounding culture (creative return).[1] In other words, we […]

Making Biblical Connections

December 18, 2013 in /by

A great resource for thinking about Biblical integration in your classroom is the work of Dr. Christian Overman and his colleagues at the Biblical Worldview Institute. Dr. Overman has put together several great teachings through the “Making the Connections” series that offer practical suggestions for how teachers can implement Biblical integration into their academic lessons […]

Time for Review

December 4, 2013 in /by

In many school settings, the end of December and/or beginning of January are characterized by a review of the learning that has been done throughout the semester. There are many fun ways to review material ranging from simple to complex in nature. Here are some suggestions for review games and resources that can be adapted […]

Taking Transformation Seriously

November 20, 2013 in /by

Book Feature Teaching and Christian Practices: Reshaping Faith and Learning. David I. Smith, James K. A. Smith, eds.  New York: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishers, 2011. What would happen if educators decided to allow Christian practices to shape the way they approached classroom pedagogy? That is the premise of a collection of essays, Teaching and Christian […]

The Great Debate

November 5, 2013 in /by

As teachers, we desire more for our students than to simply move through the curriculum.  We want to instill in our students the skills necessary to engage real world issues with discernment.  We hope to impart critical thinking skills that will allow our students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the information and ideas that they […]

Assessing Redemptively

October 16, 2013 in /by

Evaluation, grading, and assessment are an integral part of our vocation as teachers. So much of what we do revolves around, or is influenced by, our assessment and evaluation practices. I that it makes sense for us to examine these practices in light of a Biblical view of teaching and learning. In their book, A […]

Transform-Ed: Risk-y Prayers

September 23, 2013 in /by

From a teacher in Europe: We who are safe forget the risks some take to bring Christ to the nations. Some of my boarding students were recounting stories of how their parents are working in difficult and, in some cases, dangerous situations. They are facing political turmoil, the aftermath of natural disasters, and/or religious persecution […]

Developing Community

September 17, 2013 in /by

I’ve been thinking a lot about community lately. It’s something we all need — something for which we were created. It’s one of the many ways we reflect the image of our Creator. As John Donne said, “No man is an island unto himself.” And yet, as one of my mentors told me years ago, […]