The Christian EducatorA publication of North Valley Baptist Schools

Homeroom - Start the Morning Right

By Jim Carey

We all should remember our handprint in clay in kindergarten - our silhouette Christmas present for Mom. This along with a host of other special events that filled our lives during those formative years in school. School life should be filled with pleasant memories. Homeroom can be a warm part of those thoughts. Homeroom can be more than taking attendance and lunch count. It can be a wonderful time to introduce us to the Heavenly Father and Shepherd of our souls. Homeroom must have a pleasant, family atmosphere.

Control the environment of your classroom. Decorate for the seasons. I like to make my room look more like a professional living room. Yes, there are desks in orderly rows, but there are also pictures and posters on the walls. In the fall, we add autumn colors; in the winter, there is snow in the windows; spring should be full of life and color. I like to paint the room a warm, homey color, and I have even added a little academic wallpaper.

The most important part of the environment is a positive atmosphere. My students enter in the morning in all states of mind: sleepy, grumpy, silly, sometimes giddy on the eve of a special event, and sometimes somber in response to a disappointment or disaster. I gather them all together in 'whatsoever state' they are, and I do not fuss at them early in the morning. It is my purpose to lift their spirits and prepare them for the day to come. I stay upbeat and bring them a moment of sunshine from the Word of God. I love the Proverbs, Philippians, and the Gospels. Sometimes we read part of a chapter from devotionals such as a Hymn History, and Dr. Jack Hyles' Blue Denim and Lace, or Strength and Beauty. Sometimes we sing the Scriptures. Other times, I share what I received from my personal devotions that morning. I personally like a little variety; it brings spice to life. Most importantly I use lessons that move me. If it has not moved me, then it will surely not move my students.

I try to spend most of the time in Homeroom on Wednesdays singing. It takes a while for our voices to warm up, and the first song may be a little off-key, but it is just family in the room afterall. Singing is contagious by the time we have sung ten or fifteen choruses. As I said before, I like Scripture songs for Homeroom. I have learned about one hundred of them. Some are slow and meditative, others are fast and fun. Try to use different songs from the ones we sing in youth group; do not make it just a re-run. I use a variety to brighten up the day. I do believe every Christian should have a song in their heart for the day. On Wednesdays, I get to chose them.

Prayer time is a precious privilege. Try to pray at least for a moment -- no matter how busy the day. It takes a bit of time for your students to trust you enough to ask you to pray for their real prayer requests. You will have to protect their privacy and take these special needs to the Father alone. Once students are confident that you do care enough to advocate for them, they will bring you the special needs of Grandma, Mom and Dad, or even a special need of their own. I never trivialize anything they ask. If it is important to them, it is important to me. There is a very special bond that develops when 'two or three' share in the experience of answered prayer.

Most of my students have fond thoughts of Homeroom. They will take those memories with them, perhaps to their family devotions; some will take them to their own Homerooms and Sunday School classes as they choose to teach. When they do, they take a little of our school and a little of me with them.

About the Author: Jim Carey has taught various classes (grammar, literature, spelling, various sciences and computer sciences) at North Valley Baptist High School for over thirty years. He has been recognized in the Who's Who of Teaching several times. His motivation comes from the opportunity to help students discover some of the wondrous facets of God, and the satisfaction he receives from watching his students succeed. In addition to reading and writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, including gardening, hiking, camping, bike riding, photography, and computer-aided art and video.