TfT Special Resource – Deep Hope - Edmonton Christian Schools

Special Resource – Deep Hope

WHAT IS A “DEEP HOPE”?

In Teaching for Transformation, when we refer to a “Deep Hope,” we’re referring to statements that summarize our most important desires for our students. What is it that we would want our students to remember 25 years from now about their experiences in our classrooms? Writing a “Deep Hope” is an exercise that many of our teachers are using to ensure that they prioritize the things that should matter most in their classrooms. In our Christian schools, we ask teachers to ensure that their “Deep Hopes” are rooted in God’s story, align with their school’s mission/vision and are inspired by their own story (should be something that they are passionate about).

Check out some of the examples Edmonton Christian School teachers have created here.

As you find yourself grappling with helping your family navigate this unique chapter in God’s story, it can be beneficial to think about crafting a Deep Hope for your family. This exercise can help prioritize your time together and maybe allow you to let go of some of the “stuff” that may be causing unnecessary stress at this time.

THINKING ABOUT YOUR DEEP HOPE

Spend some time in prayer (either alone or with your family):

What do we want our child(ren) to remember 25 years from now about this time together?
How do we want to spend our time together?
How might God be using this time to refocus our family?
What could this chapter in God’s story be teaching us about God, His world and our place in it?

Write down some of your initial thoughts. What came to mind right away when you thought of your deepest hopes for your child(ren)? What words/phrases did you find yourself reflecting on during your prayer time? What stood out to you as you read through the examples from Edmonton Christian or your own child(ren)’s teacher(s)?

Spend some time this week going through the resources below with the goal of having a “Deep Hope” written by the end of the week. Invite your family into the process.

EXPLORING DEEP HOPE

Here is a collection of words & phrases that you could use as inspiration for writing your “Deep Hope.” Choose 5-10 words/phrases that resonate with you and use those as inspiration for your “Deep Hope.”
Have a family discussion about the meaning of life. Watch this video that summarizes the book of Ecclesiastes and/or read the book of Ecclesiastes for devotions.
- What is the meaning of life?
- What is “Hevel” in your life?
- What is the purpose of learning/school?
Reflect on this quote from James K. A. Smith (Desiring the Kingdom): “The primary goal of Christian education is the formation of a peculiar people – a people who desire the kingdom of God and thus undertake their life’s expression of that desire.”
- What do you agree with in this text?
- What do you want to argue with in this text?
- What do you want to aspire to in this text?
Read Brian Doornenbal’s blog post, “Curbside Hopes.”

Bonus Activity

Read A Million Miles in A Thousand Years by Donald Miller (Audio Version)

- If not anything else, read chapter 9. Here is a short recap/blog response to Chapter 9: “How Jason Saved His Family.”
  - What story are you inviting your child(ren) into?

WRITING YOUR DEEP HOPE

Here’s your chance! On a piece of paper, express your Deep Hope for your child(ren) or family.

I HAVE A DEEP HOPE…NOW WHAT?

Share your Deep Hope with your family
Encourage your child(ren) to write a Deep Hope. If they already wrote one in school this year, has it changed in light of today’s situation?
Share your Deep Hope on social media and invite others into this exercise. #edmchristianathome
Display it in your home.
Use it to make decisions about how you spend your time together
- How can you ensure your Deep Hope is realized?
- What should you stop, start and continue doing?

TEACHING FOR TRANSFORMATION (TFT)

RESOURCES FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS – Provided by Prairie Centre for Christian Education

Introduction: Continuing Christian Education at Homealiciaw2020-04-24T10:15:41-06:00

Introduction: Continuing Christian Education at Home

Teaching for Transformation is a model for how to integrate Christian faith and learning. For several years Edmonton Christian has been using this model to guide teachers and students through what it means to play our roles in God’s story. Some of what we do can get a bit technical but essentially it means that we are asking each other to see God’s story and then to live that story. Teachers have been using deep hopes and storyline and something called Formational Learning Experiences to help students play their role in God’s unfolding story.

TFT offers 10 ways to think about how we play our roles in God’s story. These 10 things are called Throughlines. You have probably heard about them already. There are lots of ways to be on the lookout for these throughlines but it’s not enough to simply list them or just talk about them. We are invited to BE those throughlines.

The Prairie Centre for Christian Education, an organization that supports our schools, has put together some resources that will help to integrate the throughlines into this new online learning journey that you are going through.

As we go through the weeks we will attempt to provide you with some of these resources that will help your family dive into a throughline. There will be an overview of the throughline, scripture connections, related songs, activities and digital resources. There will then be suggestions for how you and your family can BE the throughline. As you engage in the activities we invite you to post pictures to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter using the hashtag #edmchristianathome of your family engaging in the throughline.

Hopefully, this resource will be helpful for you and your family. Feel free to pick and choose activities as you see fit. Perhaps, as families, you can find creative ways to integrate some of these activities into a lesson that was presented by a teacher. Perhaps teachers have already been using some of these resources and suggested this already. This resource is only a suggestion but it can be a great part of the learning.

Previous Weeks

Week 1 – Community Building

Week 2 – Beauty Creating

Week 3 – God Worshipping

Week 4 – Servant Working