Life is different for teachers during the summer. It is a sort of forced procrastination. All of your teaching is put off until school starts again in a couple months. And this forced procrastination can be a great and powerful gift to the Christian educator.
In a TED Talk, Adam Grant, a Wharton Business School professor, shared, “Procrastination gives you time to consider divergent ideas, to think in non-linear ways, to make unexpected leaps.” This summer you have time before you start to teach your classes again. I hope that you are taking a restful break from the daily grind of teaching. However, I hope you are not turning off your brain. The year might be over, but you are still a teacher. Therefore, it is a good idea to take the time you have to allow your course (especially concerning biblical integration) to float around in your brain.
When you read that novel at the beach or watch that blockbuster movie, see if any of the themes connect or illustrate God’s work or ways. When you go to the doctor with your child, notice things about the situation that teach us about ourselves, our world, our God. When you are pushing your lawn mower each week, use the isolation that the droning motor offers to think about what you can do to help you students better see how your class content is from and toward the glory of God.
Dr. Grant says, “Procrastination can be a vice when it comes to productivity, but it can be a virtue for creativity.” Since school is out, the summer months have forced you to slow down as a teacher. You might be very busy with other responsibilities, so you are not necessarily going to sit down for long hours with your curriculum and lesson plans. But as you go through this busy time, keep your course on the back-burner—simmering over summer. You might be surprised at how sermons, VBS concepts, vacation plans, family time, and any number of other elements can offer ideas for excellent integration.
