When I was in my elementary years, the arrival of Spring always anticipated
When I was in my elementary years, the arrival of Spring always anticipated

TfT Bulletin #17  |  April 23, 2025
When I was in my elementary years, the arrival of spring always anticipated the end-of-the-year class trip! 
Some of my best class-trip memories include visiting African Lion Safari, taking a train to our third-grade teacher’s home, and spending a day at the beach.
Great days with great memories. You probably have your own school excursion memories, and many of you create these year-end experiences for your students. 
When I was a science teacher, a conference speaker prompted me to think differently about class/field trips. Her point was simple: “Scientists do field work. Provide field work opportunities for your young scientists.” That day changed my language and my practice around field trips.
This language of field work lives within the TfT framework—and it doesn’t apply only to science classes. This past year, Stacey Hicklin, teacher and Director of Curriculum and Learning at Delaware County Christian School and Middle School Masterclass facilitator, created this resource that supports teachers in their movement from field trips to field work. 
As you imagine and plan for these memory-making, year-end experiences, I encourage you to consider this guide.

Summer 2025 TfT Masterclasses
We are encouraged by the early enrolment numbers! Check out this summer’s options on the registration page.
Please contact Amanda Albright if you have further questions.
Register Here

Preschool TfT: The power of song
It is common for preschool teachers to sing . . . about nearly anything! This pedagogical tool can even be used to teach Teaching for Transformation concepts to three-, four-, and five-year-olds.  
Allison Westra, Early Childhood Director at Muskegon Christian School, created songs of the Throughlines and songs of the Habits of Learning as a way for students to think about the ways God calls us to live. Allison has laminated the songs and made them into classroom books. You will be delighted by the many tunes you recognize from your early years.

FLEx Cards: East Linn Christian Academy
For this Bulletin, both FLEx card examples come from East Linn Christian Schools as they invite their students to intentionally practice Community Building.
The elementary story stems from Kenzie Reece’s Deep Hope that her elementary Spanish students will embrace diversity as something to celebrate. The story highlights her students celebrating cultural traditions during Las Posadas.
The secondary example is from Elliott Dixon’s Leadership class. As they strive to build community and belonging for their student body, the leadership class has developed the practice of publicly celebrating a student by sharing words of encouragement every Friday. 

The TfT Tips Trio
This week we continue our series on blending Celebrations of Learning with the Hierarchy of People. How can we cultivate celebrations of students’ learning in ongoing ways with parents and families? Each tip pairs a Celebration of Learning idea with an essential TfT practice.
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