Throughout Teaching for Transformation, we repeatedly invite one another
Throughout Teaching for Transformation, we repeatedly invite one another

TfT Bulletin #5  |   November 8, 2023
Throughout Teaching for Transformation, we repeatedly invite one another to play our part in God’s redemptive story through the teaching and learning in our classrooms.
This invitation is integral to the TfT Bulletin itself: we want every Bulletin to share stories of teachers and students responding to this invitation—stories of partnering with God in the making of all things new. These stories challenge us to design learning that invites us over and over into this story of restoration and renewal.
What does this restoration and renewal look like? I appreciate South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s (1931–2021) vision of what it means to partner with God in fulfilling God’s dream for the world:
Dear Child of God, before we can become God’s partners, we must know what God wants for us. “I have a dream,” God says. “Please help Me to realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, its war and hostility, its greed and harsh competitiveness, its alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts, when there will be more laughter, joy, and peace, where there will be justice and goodness and compassion and love and caring and sharing. I have a dream that swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, that My children will know that they are members of one family, the human family, God’s family, My family.” 
Tutu’s words make a compelling case for practicing TfT Throughlines both locally and globally as we partner with God in pursuing shalom.
May God’s kingdom come. May it become so.

School Leaders and Storyboards
It has been a delight to watch the growth of Storyboards over the last couple years. As teachers grow in their skillset of designing Storyboards that illustrate the learning journey into Deep Hope, both students and teachers deepen their conviction around this practice.
While most Storyboards share classroom stories, a significant area of growth this year is the use of Storyboards by school leaders. School leaders are recognizing that Storyboards effectively communicate the school’s journey to both teachers and parents. I am excited to share these examples of Storyboards designed by four TfT school leaders.
Elementary TfT: 8th Grade Bible at Fremont Christian School
Students have a knack for getting to the point:
At the beginning of the year, I had no interest in doing any of this. I thought it would just be a waste of time. But . . . it’s not that at all.
Do you hear the echo of transformation? Joel DeHaan’s student couldn’t help himself. Joel’s 8th Grade Bible and Language Arts Storyline is Loved by God, Loving Others. He uses it to invite his students into his Deep Hope that his students would know they are Children of God, recognize this truth in others, and together celebrate who God made each of them to be.
With this Deep Hope guiding the learning journey, Joel invited the students into an ongoing relationship with Wellspring Adult Day Services. The students spent time at Wellspring, and their “grandfriends” spent time at Fremont Christian School.  An overview of this learning story was published in the Banner while a collection of student reflections and photos can be found here.
Secondary TfT: 9th Grade Science at Surrey Christian School
Hannah Munnalall, first-year teacher at Surrey Christian School, invited her students into habitat restoration field work to take what they have been learning about plants, natural habitats, and ecosystems, and positively impact their local ecosystem and habitat. Hannah’s Deep Hope is that we will cultivate God’s Garden City as his representatives by exploring God’s creation in the way He intended. Images and reflections from this learning journey reveal Hannah’s sincere desire for her students: “I hope they see how a simple action, like pulling out an invasive blackberry bush, can show Jesus to the world.”
Getting to know our TfT Network: Harding Academy of Memphis
TfT Lead Scott Frizzell of Harding Academy of Memphis shares, “We want everyone coming in our building to get an immediate visual into our hearts and dreams.” So the school created displays of their staff’s Deep Hopes in the entrance areas of both their Lower and Upper School “so that no matter where parents and visitors enter, they are able to encounter our Deep Hopes quickly.”  It has become a great discussion point with parents and visitors.
The TfT Tips Trio 
The TfT Overview says the practice of formative assessment “offers specific feedback to guide the learning journey.” This week’s tips offer ideas for self-assessment and formative assessments that guide students and teachers together on the learning journey toward Deep Hope.
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