God doesn’t have to be in my curriculum in order to be in my classroom. After all, if He is in me, He is in everything I do, and I never even have to say his name. Times have changed when it comes to how religion is handled in classrooms. When I first began teaching, the teachers would pray over the classroom every day, now it was a moment of silence. But what are students doing during that time? Squirming trying not to make a noise, and looking at their peers unknowingly because they aren’t sure what they are supposed to be doing. Having God in the classroom means making that time specific. Having the students reflect on their days and what they are thankful for pulls God into the classroom without the students knowing. There are other ways in which we can show God in the classroom. I will share a few ways of how I keep Him in my classroom daily.

Love our students. Yes, even the ones that drive us crazy! It’s also not enough to just say it but actually show it. God is love, and if we want to show God to our students we have to also love them.

Be kind and understanding. Not to be confused with a pushover, but kind and understanding especially to our students' struggles. When we are tired and grumpy-like, we aren’t showing Christ-like behavior to our students. We have to show them our best selves just as Christ would. There is a way to be kind and firm with the students.

Care more about our students than the policies. A lot of times (guilty) we get so caught up in policies, that teachers tend to miss the point: to help our students grow. Sometimes what a student needs most, doesn’t line up with policy. The student just needs some mercy. Praying for wisdom and always remembering that the growth and maturity of our students are the main goals. 

Have high expectations and hold the students to them. Christ shows authority and leadership all the time in our lives. Our students need to see that from teachers. Having high expectations lets students know how to set boundaries and strive for the excellence that is within them.

Don’t just hand out punishments; advise students. It is so easy to hand out lunch detention with no questions asked. However, when we do that, we’re not making the impact that we want with the students. Taking time to talk with students about their behavior shows that you as the teacher care about them and want to see them succeed. Being approachable helps out, as students will come to you often with more than homework help.

These are just a few of the ways that I (and anyone else) can show God in the classroom. Children pick up on behaviors quicker than you may think. They can sense the teachers who have something special in them, as they exhibit some of the behaviors mentioned above. As I go in my classroom on the daily basis, I pray over my students, I pray for patience, peace, and understanding; not only for myself but for my students and their parents.