Imagine this…

You have envisioned this lesson plan for weeks. As you begin to teach it, you see nodding…your students are tracking with you and comprehending…they are engaged and appreciate what you are sharing with them…all of your teaching and classroom management skills are aligning…everything is going perfectly!

Have you ever experienced a lesson like this?

For educators, these scenarios are beautiful. It’s in these moments that we undoubtedly know we are called to be teachers. 

But you and I know very well that teaching does not always include appreciative, engaged students and perfect lessons.

Sometimes, our classrooms are filled with chaos, everyone is chatting, and attention is long gone. Other times, we lack passion and feel frustrated. And I bet, if we are honest, every single one of us has felt apathetic at times.  

However, no matter how often our circumstances fluctuate and our fervor waxes and wanes, our mission remains steadfast—we want to bring hope to our students' lives as we educate them with excellence. 

So, how do we continue to reach this goal as we face challenges, externally and from within?

1. Acknowledge God's unconditional love for us and our students. Understanding this fundamental truth allows us to approach each day with renewed purpose and compassion.
2. Open the pages of God's Word. This may seem like overused Sunday school advice, but it's not! The truth found in the Bible gives us the wisdom and hope to get through every day. It helps us see the world through a different lens. It gives us the power to make a difference as we live the gospel, even in places where it can not be preached.
3. Lean into the frustration. Leaning in closer to those who are hard to love is countercultural. But, when we decide to get to know the difficult students and find ways to relate to them, we are not only refining our teaching practices but also our resilience and empathy. And those who challenge us will not just be limited to students—there will be colleagues, administrators, and parents who will be difficult to interact with. How we respond will speak volumes about our character to our students.

Educators, treasure those moments when everything goes right; they are fleeting. But also remember that the hard times in education often give us the chance to point others to the hope we find in the love of Jesus—these opportunities are truly beautiful.

Linda Kardamis taught middle school math before founding Teach 4 the Heart. She is the author of Create Your Dream Classroom and Take Heart and Teach and the creator of Classroom Management 101. She and her husband are raising their four kids in Northeast Ohio.

Frustrated with the chaos in your classroom? Find practical help in Teach 4 the Heart’s FREE 28-minute training: How to Reduce Disruptions so You Can Actually Teach. Sign up at teach4theheart.com/free. 

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