Ignite Christian Academy cares about helping its teachers be the best they can be for the benefit of every ICA distance learning student. Recently, the entire ICA teaching staff was encouraged and inspired toward new steps in excellence while attending a training in-service at the Heartland Christian Educators' Convention from October 7-8 on the campus of Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa.
This year's keynote address was given by Dr. Bob Stouffer who currently serves as the superintendent of Des Moines Christian School. He challenged Christian educators to implement active listening, effective questioning, and paraphrasing in all interactions with students and parents to promote effective and meaningful communication. He also encouraged teachers to remain committed to Christian education.
ICA faculty left the convention excited to apply the new things they learned to their interaction with students at ICA. Teachers shared the following comments about their experience at this year's convention.
"My soul really resonated with Dr. Bob Stouffer when he said, 'Promote Christian education MORE than your own school,' and 'Pursue relationships with the other Christian schools in your city or region,' and 'Pray for the public schools.' The calling to educate out of and toward a Christ-centered worldview is not limited to 'our own Christian school' for 'our own covenant children.' When Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these' (Mark 10:14), I am certain that he was remembering the children of Nineveh spared by Jonah's message and the repentance of their leaders; and the children of Rome and the world, as well as the cluster of Jewish children gathered at his feet. Would that our vision for children and Christian education would follow His."
– Roger Bouwman, Bible Teacher
"I learned about some great online resources that can be used to increase student understanding of mathematics. My favorite was the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives website. This site contains interactive, visual illustrations of math concepts organized by grade level and subject area."
– Jill Pulkrabek, Math Teacher
"I heard this quote at the convention that stuck with me and makes me think as teachers interact with students: 'Kids think with their feelings and hear with their eyes.' What I took away from that I need to be careful how I deal day to day with students to make sure they understand that I care so that they will, in turn, be motivated to learn."
– Kimberly Smith, Assistant to the Dean
"I was interested to learn that they have a diagnosis for the disability that many people have with math. It was a new word for me, and I can see where dyscalculia may be a developmental or an acquired disability to do math and is related to the problem people have with reading, called dyslexia."
– Marianne Cole, Math Teacher