My Words

Safety, Day 3

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)

              My elementary math professor in college gave us an assignment that required us to teach a fifteen-minute elementary math lesson to our class of future educators. We had to incorporate higher order thinking, hands-on instruction, and include other class members in the lesson.

              Completely out of character, I volunteered to go first. My lesson involved the whole class sitting on the floor in a circle. We passed a ball of yarn across the circle and made a web. The lesson was about identifying angles. I felt like the lesson went well, so I cleaned up, and found my way back to my seat on the front row.

              My professor unexpectedly asked, “Christy, are you okay with being an example for the class? I want to give you some feedback that could help others, but only if you are okay hearing it in front of the class instead of privately.”

              I considered the question briefly and then gave her the go-ahead. What did I have to lose? Whatever she had to say could only make me a better teacher. And maybe even help someone else along the way.

              The feedback was all encouraging and then she paused. “My final part of the critique is this: I counted the phrase ‘ya know’ twenty-nine times during your lesson.” She let the reality of that acknowledgment sink in. “That’s almost twice a minute.”

              “I think I might need to work on that,” I responded with a grin.

              She thanked me for my willingness to be an example, and I thanked her for pointing it out. How annoying that phrase must have been. And honestly, I had no idea that I had said it even one time, much less twenty-nine.

              I could not have received the feedback from just anyone, but my professor was kind, consistent, and encouraging. She pushed me to be the best version of myself I could be and held me to a high standard. It was in her class I finally had to learn to study or I would have failed the class. There was no lollygagging or doing work halfway; we either did it well, or our grades reflected it. I wanted to perform well for her because I knew she had my best at heart. Her words were always careful, but true. She was fair in her grading and consistent in her whole class comments. There was not a sense of being wishy-washy or treating any student better or worse than another. Because of her words and consistency, I was able to receive correction. Her criticism wasn’t meant to tear me down, but instead it was constructive.       

               How we interact with our students matters. Empty threats, whole group punishments, and inconsistent rewards do not equal trust. Constantly changing our minds or vacillating on our yeses and noes creates chaos inside our classrooms. Like my professor, we should be respected by our students and trusted to speak kind, encouraging, and productive words. Our students need to know that we mean what we say and never question that reality. Consistency in our words leads to feelings of safety in the classroom.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Who are the people who you receive constructive criticism from willingly? What characteristics make you able to do so?

2.      How do your students perceive you? Are they able to rely on your words and consistency?

3.      Do your words consistently point others to the truths of Christ? Explain.

Digging Deeper            

When I think of people who were consistent, I always think about Daniel. Read this story about Daniel being thrown into the lion’s den and see how God rescued him and impacted the unbelieving ruler, all because of his devotion to God.

                  Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.”

So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”

A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep.

At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den. When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”

Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.”

The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones.

Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth:

“May you prosper greatly!

“I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel.

“For he is the living God and he endures forever, his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Daniel 6:13-28 (NIV)

If You Get Spare Time 

              Spend time in prayer or writing in your journal. Ask God to show you any areas where your words can improve in order to match your actions. Then make a plan for implementing the needed changes.