The truth is, as Christian educators, we don't shine on our own. Christ shines through us and despite us, and that is a gift for our students, colleagues, and even us.

And we can share this gift by purposefully creating classroom atmospheres that reflect Christ’s character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. When we successfully do this, students will feel the joy of being in His presence by simply walking into our classrooms, even though most will never quite put their finger on what makes our classrooms so attractive. 

If you want to create a classroom atmosphere that shines for Christ, consider the following ideas: 

PRAY OFTEN 

Spend time in God’s presence in your room before school, during your planning periods, or after the school day ends. Pray over your rosters and desks frequently. Invite student-led or staff-led prayer groups to use your room when they need a gathering space. If the Holy Spirit leads, offer to pray with colleagues who have stopped by to share a need.

REMOVE CLASSROOM CLUTTER 

Make your classroom an oasis from overwhelm by reducing what is on the walls, shelves, and counters. Store unused items out of sight when possible. An uncluttered space prompts calm hearts and clear minds that are ready to focus. Moreover, an organized teacher’s desk allows you to focus fully on the sweet souls who approach you moment by moment for encouragement and direction. 

ENGAGE ALL FIVE SENSES 

Captivate your students by delighting their senses with carefully constructed experiences and surroundings. Research indicates that they store information better when it’s attached to more than one sense. Furthermore, God created your students with five distinct senses ready to be engaged. 

PLAN FOR NOVELTY 

Pique your students’ curiosity by creatively displaying lesson objectives rather than simply writing them on a whiteboard. Students crave and remember novelty. Starting a new book? Hang a main character’s costume on the coat rack. Learning about the muscular system? Place assorted free weights on a table without explanation. Make students wonder. 

CELEBRATE STUDENTS 

Each of our students is made in the image of God, bearing praiseworthy characteristics of our heavenly Father. Actively seek to recognize these unique gifts. When you notice a student exhibiting a positive characteristic, be quick to point it out. Written down or written on their hearts, these words of life can become treasures for students to carry with them years down the road.

Kristi Shanenko is a Christian Educators member who teaches ELA in North Dakota. She loves her teenagers at school and at home and feels grateful that God chooses to work through His children in small but eternal ways.