Teaching Redemptively: Bringing Grace and Truth Into Your Classroom [Paperback]

Donovan L. Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2003

As God's image bearers, Christian teachers are called to reflect the character of our creative, redemptive God. Teaching Redemptively challenges teachers to incorporate biblical principles into all areas of education, reflecting God's character in both process and content.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Teaching Redemptively is one of those rare books that leaves a lasting impact. In a thought provoking and creative way, Dr. Graham captures the very essence of what it means to teach Christianly. This is not just another book on pedagogy; it is food for the soul. Ron Carter, Executive Director, Restoration Academy, Birmingham, Alabama --back cover

Foundational and immediately useful, Teaching Redemptively transformed my view of the teacher, the learner, the learning process, and the purpose of education. Dr. Graham applies Christ's work of redemption to all parts of the educational process. Noelle Martell, Junior High Teacher, Lenawee Christian School, Adrian, Michigan --back cover

About the Author

Donovan L. Graham has spent nearly his entire life in schools. He completed his doctoral studies in counseling and educational psychology at New Mexico State University. He has spent the past thirty-one years attempting to bring biblical truth to bear on the educational process while serving as dean, professor, and now chaplain at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 291 pages
• Publisher: Purposeful Design Publications; 1st edition (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583310584
• ISBN-13: 978-1583310588
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,249 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Teaching the ideal way, in an ideal school, with ideal students, June 10, 2009

By 

B. K. Anderson "book, music, & aquaria lover" (AL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Teaching Redemptively: Bringing Grace and Truth Into Your Classroom (Paperback)

First off, I'm reading this book from the perspective of a MS / HS teacher that works at a christian school and holds a degree in education.

Let's start with the "good" points:
1. It does give you a different theological perspective on "education" in terms of what education is from a christian standpoint. The author does a good job in relating education throughout to God, Jesus in particular, and references those relationships with scripture numerous times.

2. The author does a good job of making you think about what your viewpoint on christian education and its purpose by asking questions of the reader, posing situations and policies, etc.

3. The author gives you a good example of what would not be a good christian school environment (in his opinion) and also an example of how a school purpose / goal statement can be troublesome and /or twisted to be a hinderence in achieving the schools real goals. Also, he brings up the question of "what should a christian school place emphasis on"?

The not-so-good:
1. The majority of the book is based on the "teacher as shepherd" concept and although this works, the concept is used far too often (by the end of the book I was thinking "not the sheep yet again!". Also, another concept that is used throughout (to the point of exhaustion) is that students are "fallen image bearers of God", although I agree, it is used way too much (about 1-2 times per page on average).

2. Although the author gives good concepts / ideas / theological points of view, he does not give ANY real world application... If you're looking for practical "in the class" advice, look elsewhere.

3. The author puts forth concepts about how things would run in the "ideal" christian school and then suggests that we should put these concepts in place in our "not-so-ideal" schools. At times, I wondered if the author has had any actual teaching experience in a k-12 school (long term) christian or not... because I'd say that many of the concepts he puts forth would not work (of would only work with a very few students) in most classroom situations. With college kids (which the author apparently teaches) sure, but not with adolescents. An example...in his ideal school, there would be little emphasis on grades and teachers would not grade many of the students assignments, students would do work only for teacher comments and suggestions on how they could improve and continue to develop their skills... Although this is a lofty goal, many, if not most students want to see some kind of reward / worth in their work...if they do not see that, then they will not do the work. Although I agree with the author that sometimes too much emphasis is placed on the "carrot" the student receives for the work, taking away all tangible signs of progress / rewards would not work in most situations, nor do I believe it would be a good thing.

4. Where are the parents?! The book mentions parents only one time that I can remember and that was in a bulleted statement in which they were included in a list of people... The author places no emphasis on the role of parents in the child's education and /or spiritual development. He also does not mention your role (as the teacher) in relation to student-parent interaction nor how parents can affect the behavior of students in or out of the classroom.

In closing, if you want the authors perspective on bringing grace, forgiveness, and mercy into your classroom, this would be a good book for you, BUT keep in mind that he addresses these topics in a very general manner and does not go into any real life application or "how to". Overall, this was a good book to "contrast" with some of the other books I have read on christian education, but it is by no means my top pick for practicality or realistic advice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A challenging must-read for all serious Christian teachers., January 14, 2010

By 

J A Welsh "Jim" (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teaching Redemptively: Bringing Grace and Truth Into Your Classroom (Paperback)

Donovan Graham presents a scholarly and in-depth assessment of the challenges we face as redeemed people acting in the calling to be teachers. It is a call to take up the teaching style that would be most characteristic of a Christian teacher and that would produce children capable of assessing their own situations and responding in appropriate ways. He clearly enunciates the differences between "principles-based" and "systems-based" approaches to education, and why the principles approach is a better style than the behaviorally-focused systems approach, we have been predominantly dedicated to in American education.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Primary Resource For Writing My Christian Philosophy of Education Paper, December 8, 2009

By 

Mark K. Wickersham "Wick" (Tianjin, China) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Teaching Redemptively: Bringing Grace and Truth Into Your Classroom (Paperback)

I was given this book a few years ago by my school administrators, but I was not motivated to read it until last year when I decided to pursue my ACSI teacher certification. Teaching Redemptively was one of five books I was required to read in order to help me better understand and write about the crucial elements of a Christian philosophy of education. The book challenges Christian teachers to totally embrace a Biblical worldview in all aspects of the teaching profession. Dr. Graham challenges Christian educators to reflect the character of the creative-redemptive God. Biblical ideas are identified, and their implications are discussed. We are reminded to live and teach by the Truth and to show God's grace to our students and colleagues.