TfT Bulletin #3 | October 9, 2024

October is the month when we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (United States) and Latin American Heritage Month (Canada).

Teaching for Transformation continues to grow in many Christian Schools throughout Latin America, and many of our TfT schools in the U.S. have Spanish immersion programs. This growing diversity has enriched and strengthened Teaching for Transformation, for which I am grateful. Not to mention, it has been a fun challenge to grapple with translations for TfT language like Throughlines and Formational Learning Experiences!

Within the context of this month, Rev Jacilyn Perez Goodwin, one of our TfT School Designers, explores and shares her identity and fullness as an image bearer of our Creator God in this article she wrote for the Anglican Diocese of Churches. Jacilyn offers this invitation:

Honor the true celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month by honoring the many people this moniker represents—including their individual histories and cultures. Let this month be a reminder to intentionally learn not only about their Hispanic identity, but how they identify themselves. Be open to learning about their amazing contributions in art, food, literature, faith, dance, and advocacy work.

TfT Instructional Coaching Intensive – Waiting List

While the Instructional Coaching Intensive registration is currently at capacity, we encourage you to join the waiting list if you still desire to attend. We have already moved people from the waiting list and anticipate being able to add more people in the coming weeks.

For those of you registered, you will receive details in the coming weeks.

Join the Waitlist

Save the Date: TfT Site Seminar in Minneapolis

As you may recall, last March we hosted a TfT site seminar at Surrey Christian School. This event was an opportunity to experience TfT in action, participate in a Celebration of Learning, and talk to both students and teachers about their experiences.

We are excited to host the next TfT site seminar in Minneapolis on March 6 and 7, 2025. This time, it will be co-hosted by Southwest Christian High School and Avail Academy.

Details can be found here on the website, and registration is open.

Leadership Commit to Try: Fremont Christian School

In a previous TfT Bulletin, we shared how TfT Designer Jessica DeWit was using a digital format for her Storyboard in her role as a Director of Learning. Inspired by Jessica, Nick Donkersloot, Principal of Fremont Christian School, has launched his own digital Storyboard (centered on the Storyline of Shining Light) this year. At this point, his audience is the staff of Fremont Christian; however, as it progresses, Nick plans to share it with the greater school community. He says, “I am eager to do more, but I don't want to put too much wood on the fire and snuff out the flame.” Words to live by within a “commit to try.”

Side note: Jessica continues to use a Digital Storyboard as Director of Learning at Central Valley Christian.

TfT Masterclasses: Planning with Learning Targets

We continue to highlight work that stems from the TfT Masterclasses. This Bulletin highlights the K-12 Learning Target Masterclass led by Rachel Vanden Hull of Sioux Center Christian School.

Part of the masterclass centered around creating a unit plan that included both long-term and supporting learning targets within the context of the teacher’s Deep Hope/Storyline and the required learning standards.

We are grateful to Cassandra Fulton of Beacon Christian and Natalie Sax of Sioux Falls Christian for sharing examples of their developing unit plans.

Inviting Students into FLEx: The Use of Throughlines

We continue the series Inviting Students into FLEx created by Elizabeth Benscoter, Instructional Coach at Grace Community and TfT Masterclass facilitator.

This week, Elizabeth shares seven FLEx examples that illustrate how students’ curiosity can translate into a FLEx when they are asked to consider the following two questions:

“What could we do about this/with this?” or “What would this look like outside of our classroom?”

The TfT Tips Trio: Deep Hope

You have launched the year with a Deep Hope and Storyline, inviting students into these practices. The work of sustaining and living meaningfully into Storyline and Deep Hope has begun!

In TfT training, we have begun incorporating liturgies to ground our work in Scripture. Our TfT liturgies have three parts: an anchoring Scripture, an invocation, and a prayer.

This week’s tips offer an outline for developing a Deep Hope liturgy for your classroom.

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