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Letters to Lisa

Conversations with a Christian

Teacher

John Van Dyk

Dordt College Press: SiouxCenter, Iowa, 1997.

ISBN 0-932914-37-3

paperback, 210 pages.

Although this book is almost

fifteen years old it remains

fresh and relevant and is still in

print. It is an excellentintroduction to teaching

Christianly. It should be

compulsory reading for all

teachers who are Christian and

want to be Christian teachers.

The quote on the back page states that 'Teaching Christianly may

well be the hardest job in the universe'. If that is the case there is a

need for resources to help us do that. This book is a great place to

start.

It is a series of e-mail and letter conversations between John Van

Dyk and his daughter, Lisa - between a Christian college education

professor and a Christian teacher. In it Lisa raises the kinds of

questions that confront all of us at the chalkface (or should that now

be interactive whiteboard face). In response we get the wisdom and

insights of Van Dyk. The conversational format of the book means

that it is highly accessible. This means the book is a great primer.

Issues covered in the 22 chapters include: what is teaching

Christianly, learning objectives, academic excellence as a goal, the

role of worksheets, should we be subject or student focussed, the

role of questions, assessment, the role of competition, cooperative

and collaborative learning, curriculum and classroom devotions.

The book will be of value to all teachers irrespective of the level they

teach or where they teach.

I highly recommend the book.

http://www.dordt.edu/publications/dordt_press/john_van_dyk/letters/http://www.dordt.edu/publications/dordt_press/john_van_dyk/letters/

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Table of Contents

1. Teaching Christianly: what is it?

2. What learning objectives should I write in my lesson and unit plans?

3. How important is academic excellence as a goal of Christian teaching?4. What is this discipleship that I should aim for?

5. Do I teach subjects or students?

6. Is there too much teacher-talk and note-taking in the classroom?

7. Should I get rid of worksheets?

8. Is there a Christian way to ask questions in the classroom?

9. How important is the atmosphere in my classroom?

10. How well should I get to know my students?

11. Are my assessment and grading practices compatible with teaching Christianly?

12. What about competition in my classroom?

13. Is cooperative learning a Christian strategy?

14. What if cooperative learning doesn't work?15. How can I meet students' needs in my classroom?

16. When are students at risk in my classroom?

17. What are some key questions about curriculum?

18. What is a Christian perspective on curriculum?

19. What types of Christian perspectives will I encounter?

20. Can a Christian teach Christianly in a public school?

21. How important are classroom devotions?

22. Am I a professional Christian teacher?