Monthly Myrrh
September 2023
Change the World This School-Year
We are in a battle, battle for our minds, battle for our children, and battle for truth. In battle there are usually wounds. God said in this world you will have trouble but our HOPE is in a higher power. As the battles rage what is your war strategy for this school year?
- In a world void of truth and hope INFILTRATE God’s light and word into your encounters. "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it." John 1:5 NLT
- In a discouraged world seek to INSPIRE action. “We’ve all heard, you can bring a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink. True, but as a parent-teacher-coach, you can make him thirsty.” Michael Altshuler Hebrews 10:24-25
- Be INTENTIONAL about self-care. You can not give or model what you do not possess. Start each day with your heart on God’s chest. Breathe deeply and welcome the day knowing that nothing is beyond the arms of God’s reach. 2 Corinthians 9:8
Now go out and change the world this year, one child at a time!
The Friendship Factor
Feeling a sense of love and belonging is essential to positive child development. Making friends and learning to play cooperatively are skills we must help children foster.
The dividends include increased self-esteem and the development of important social skills. All this adds up to a positive home and learning environment for children to thrive and grow.
How do we foster these life skills? Pray and help children:
- Recognize and regulate their own emotions
- Find common ground with each other
- Discern body language and social cues
- Value forgiveness and empathy by demonstrating it yourself
Make kindness and respect the standard of each interaction every day and watch the friendships bloom and peace abound.
"The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense." Proverbs 27:9 NLT
Balance
More hours of screen time is associated with lower well-being in children ages 2 to 17. High users show less curiosity and self-control.
The evidence is clear but striking a realistic balance with your child can be a point of contention. This is usually because we as adults struggle with this as well! Check out these great ideas from Common Sense Media:
- Notice when you're distracted by your own device.
- Do a mindfulness scroll: Together, browse an app they use and ask them what they notice, and/or how they feel when they see different posts.
- Invite kids to suggest new family habits that will support their digital well-being.
"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity." Titus 2:7 ESV
Build Your Day at the Beginning
Morning Moments Matter! The way you start your day can lead to a day of peace or one filled with frustrations.
If you hit the snooze multiple times, you end up in a rush and start your day in a whirlwind. On the other hand, if you simply give yourself an extra 15 minutes you can ease into the day and be intentional about your attitude and focus. Each day is a gift!
Build a better day from the beginning:
- Breathe deeply and intentionally as you wake
- Stretch, waking your body up gently
- Focus on positive thoughts right away
- Plan and pray, asking God to order your steps for the day
- Listen to uplifting sounds as you get ready
- Build in time for one enjoyable thing such as your favorite morning beverage, or a hot shower. Refuse to let the concerns of the day steal that moment.
Now, you are ready to MAKE a great day! Read more...
"For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church," Ephesians 5:29 ESV
Connect in a Disconnected World
In an ever increasing artificially intelligent world it is more important than ever to make deep personal connections with our children. The human factor can’t be replicated. There is no replacement for human connection and the human touch.
The number one factor impacting youth mental health is relationships with trusted adults. Our number one job as educators is to forge these important developmental relationships with our students. It is only through this connection that we may impart the knowledge and wisdom that our children so desperately need.
Building these relationships takes time. This school year don’t rush into content until you have taken time to get to know your students personally. Follow this development framework by Search Institute.
- Express Care: Start each day with a designated sharing activity. Ease into the day by demonstrating that they matter more than anything else. End the day with a “take away” by asking each student to ponder and recount the best thing that happened or the most valuable thing they learned.
- Challenge Student Growth: Children want to rise to the expectations of adults they know and trust. Set the bar high.
- Provide Support: Help children by showing them how to attain their goals and new expectations.
- Share Power: Demonstrate that you believe in them by giving them the opportunity to discuss classroom and/or family standards and make decisions.
- Expand Possibilities: Share and connect students with opportunities and ideas that broaden their mindset.
Childhood is so important. The late Frederick Douglas said it best, "It is easier to build strong children than to fix a broken man.”
Cultivate the connections that build a child. As technology expands, stay grounded in the knowledge that as God's children we are all the irreplaceable masterpiece of the universe, made in the very image of the great creator God who made it all! Read more…
God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 NIV
Texoma Christian School Guidance Counselor
© Kathy Pierce Howard
Email: kathy@prep4successacademy.com
Website: www.prep4successacademy.com
Location: 3500 West Houston Street, Sherman, TX, USA
Phone: 903-957-8223
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prep4successacademy
Twitter: @prep4successnow