Fire Up Conference: Take Home Nuggets

All the student teachers in the Grand Rapids and surrounding districts attended lectures intended to prepare us to be better teachers. There were 11 different colleges represented. It was a pretty awesome networking experience! I was really impressed with a lot of what I heard. Some points that were of the biggest impact are listed below:

Can I Take My Christian Faith Into A  Public School
"Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words."

"When will people care what you know? When they know you care."

Question for self : Will my school be more or less likely to hire a christian after hiring me?

"If you portray the fruits of the spirit and display a Christlike character, who can say anything negative about you. Instead, people will be drawn to you. Always live your life as a reflection of Him."

I Peter 3:15-16 says..."always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander."

Effective Strategies for Managing Difficult People
Don't put yourself on an island.

We must learn to change our vision. Not worry about the riches of our wallets but reflect on the riches of the heart. Teaching deposits riches beyond imagination.

Don't allow others to distort your view or smother your enthusiasm.

Attitude is contagious. Is yours worth catching?

Kids need to make mistakes so that we can equip them with the tools to create a positive outcome. Not allowing kids to face their fears, to cry, or to fall only handicaps them as adults. The real world is full of let downs and better is the individual that can walk through difficult times and see how it has made them a better person.

Earn the right to be listened to by listening first.

Don't live a lie; Be who you are!

Setting the Table for Success: Strategies for Building a Winning Team
In 1965, on average parents interacted with their child 30 hrs. per week. By 2000, kids were lucky to get 38 min. a week.

Kids are craving to belong; to be a part of something bigger than themselves.

In a team, you win together, but even if you lose at least you lose together.

Leaders develop a vision and enlist others. Create, lead, and be a part of a winning team. You can't pick your students but you can build them.

Hold in high esteem passion, purpose, and integrity, and always protect your enthusiasm.

Make this year, their best year ever, so far...

Guerrilla Tactics in Job Interviewing
The initial hand shake is the number one indicator of self confidence.
     Girls should not turn their hand which stems from olden days when the gentlemen would kiss it. And guys should not do a turned hand approach either as it implies having the upper hand.

After the first 30 seconds ,in which you are completely evaluated on your non-verbal signals, you should follow with 2 minutes covering four things:
1. A brief personal history. Typically where you are from. Avoid marital status, religion, and age.
2. Education. Throw in teaser statements that tell them when experience you've had without giving away too much detail.
3. Experiences in the field. What else have you done to get involved.
4. Personal qualities. This should not be a list at the end but rather woven into earlier statements such as, "While studying at Western, I was very detail oriented during research analysis."

The rest was self explanatory, although in the heat of the moment they become so hard to attend to.

2+2 is greater than 4
By working together the result is always more.

Find ways to ensure that nobody goes unnoticed.

"For students and adults from poverty, the primary motivation for their success will be in their relationships." -Ruby Payne

"Every young person has a deep need to belong. Children with the greatest unmet needs for relationships are often those most alienated from adults and peers. Schools and youth work programs must make a planned and concerted effort to nourish inviting relationships in a culture of belonging..."-Bendtro, Brokenleg, Van Bockern

The human brain has developed to function at its best in social interaction than in isolation.


In summary, pursuing a career in teaching without enthusiasm, integrity, and a vision is only setting yourself and the students up for failure. You must be willing to do whatever it takes to build them up- it means long hours, it means sacrificing your lunch break some days, it means opening your home for christian students to meet, it means finding someway to connect with them. Do what it takes and more and you'll have the best year over and over again because you will have taken the kids and yourself on a journey that has strengthened, challenged, and created a better person than before.