Does Spirituality Belong in the Classroom? How Prayer and Worship Impact a Student's Experience

What happens when spirituality becomes a big part of what takes place at school? Does it disturb the child’s learning process or make it more dynamic? Some may send their kids to a Christian school more so to get out of the public education system than to have their child involved in the spiritual practices a Christian school offers. If that is the case, then what they don’t realize is how those spiritual practices actually shape these schools into the wonderful places of holistic education they are trying to be. Spirituality is not a hindrance to one’s mental capacities, but instead encourages the building up of the mind as a part of one’s overall development as a person. So let’s take a look at how spiritual elements such as Bible reading, prayer, and worship actually work in favor of a child's education. 

People who think that spiritual things could prevent students from learning facts often forget to consider how useless learning facts are if not applied in a way that is beneficial to a society. Without God’s word guiding us, how could we effectively apply the knowledge we gain? Learning the Bible develops wisdom, allowing students to put to good use what they learn in their classes. Even the brightest students may not know how to produce much with their lives if they are void of the ethical guidance from Scripture. This requires students to develop their critical thinking skills in order to figure out how to exercise the information they are absorbing in a way that aligns with God’s will. This turns students into future leaders because they have direction and know how to utilize the knowledge and skills they possess to get there. 

Each week, all K-12 students participate in chapel worship and bible teaching. This intentional time of focus on spiritual development is a guiding exercise for students to implement throughout other parts of their week.

Alongside learning the Bible, prayer is another essential component. It is not just the regurgitation of dead, religious words, but a connection to a living God. This is why prayer should be our first response when encountering problems, because without asking God for a heavenly perspective of how to solve the issue at hand, our solutions are going to be inadequate. By encouraging students to connect with the God who created the universe, it teaches them to step back, look at the bigger picture, and approach the issue with creativity. This gives them confidence to overcome the obstacles life will throw at them, in whatever form they may be, allowing them to be innovative thinkers as they move out of schooling and into the workforce.  

Worship through song is a method to connect with God, and focus one’s mind and energies on him. Worship and prayer can lead to better emotional stability by providing an outlet as they share their struggles with the Lord. Spiritually healthy individuals will not be overcome by the distractions life lets in, but will be able to maintain focus on their times of education, knowing it is an essential step in the journey God has planned for their life. These spiritual activities of Bible reading, prayer and worship create focused, ingenuitive students who can critically think and who have direction. These are the types of students we want to develop, and spirituality in the classroom is how to get there. 

Sources: 

Garner, Gregg. Entrepreneurial Skills. The Institute for G.O.D. International. Old Hickory, TN. March 2022. 

Parent Testimony Regarding the Dismissal of Case Against Garners

A personal reflection by Tim Jester, Academy and GOD Int’l Parents’ Day Out Parent 

It’s taken me a minute to decide how to handle this but here goes.

I’ll start by saying, Marissa and I are proud to send both of our boys to The Academy for G.O.D. which is part of the parent organization, Global Outreach Developments International, just up Old Hickory Boulevard in the Hopewell neighborhood.

The parent organization, the school, and everyone we know personally associated with G.O.D. International are God-fearing lovers of Jesus and others, and they have our full-throated support.

Unfortunately, over the last couple of years, Marissa and I found ourselves having to defend our choice and the community surrounding the school. This was in light of a salacious website and a largely one-sided article that appeared in The Tennessean after Global Outreach Development’s founders, Gregg & Tara Garner, were arrested on charges of TennCare fraud in March of 2021.

I must admit that, after hearing about the arrest and discovering the website, I too was gravely concerned about our choice. Should we continue to send our son to a school which claimed its mission was to, “holistically educate children to become responsible, kind and ethical neighbors,” while being run by a man arrested for fraud? If the allegations were true, we were not ok with that.

We had done our due diligence. For several years before sending our eldest son to The Academy, we became friends with people in the community and spent time thoroughly learning about the school and how they view education. Although not members of the organization (we still are not), we were welcomed with open arms and felt comfortable, accepted, and even loved.

When time came for us to put Callen in school, it wasn’t even really a choice.

But the events of March 2021 caused us to second guess our decision and dive back into more due diligence. I scheduled a meeting with Gregg, and Marissa and I spoke personally with him and other administrators about the fraud charges, the website, and the whole scenario.

We felt assured after that conversation, but it wasn’t enough. I had lunch with Davidson County District Attorney Glenn Funk a few weeks later and weaseled questions into our conversation. Funk put me in touch with his ADA in charge of financial crimes and I sent more questions to his direction.

Ultimately, we decided that we would trust Gregg, continue to believe the Academy was truly in the business of raising ethical neighbors, and continue sending Callen to school there. And in the time since, we have defended the school and the community at every opportunity.

And now, finally, it was made public a few weeks ago that on July 28, 2022, the court dismissed the case with prejudice and the District Attorney’s office declared nolle prosequi. (FULL STORY HERE.)

Without prejudice means the court reviewed the merits of the case and decided to not move forward.

Nolle prosequi is a legal Latin term that means the district attorney’s office is declaring that charges either could not be proved, that evidence demonstrated innocence or that there was found to be a fatal flaw in the prosecution's claim and the district attorney became convinced the accused was innocent.

Tim Jester, and his wife, Marissa, offer to make parents coffee at a morning fellowship for Academy families. The Jesters are participation and support of their student’s education at the Academy is a blessing to our faculty and staff.

Along with the news of dismissal, it also came to light through the process of legal discovery that a group of people disgruntled with Global Outreach Development presented false accusations of wrongdoing to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in 2017 which began a five-year journey that ultimately ended in complete dismissal.

So, why write all of this?

There are a few reasons.

We want you to know we support Global Outreach Developments International, their leadership, their mission, and the school where we send both our sons.

If you trust us, you can trust them.

But also, because The Tennessean probably isn’t going to run a retraction, we want all the people we know and care about to also know this organization is good and the people running it and serving it are amazing people.

If you have any questions or thoughts, please feel free to pick up the phone and call me.

If you read this from beginning to end, thank you.

And if you’re interested in a school that raises ethical neighbors while focusing on early childhood emotional and social development, let’s talk.

You’re not going to find a better school for your kids.

How to Keep Children Busy and Mentally Sharp During Summer

List of Fun Summer Educational Activities for Elementary-aged Kids:

Writing 

Writing comes in many fun forms. Whether it's updating a pen-pal, composing a song, penning a short story, or writing a script for a short play, there’s an array of avenues to pursue when trying to get your kids to write. List blogs are another great way to get kids to write, and because it typically has to do with things they like, they may find it more enjoyable than other forms of writing; this could be as simple as them writing down their top ten favorite movie characters, bible verses, pokemon, etc. and then they must explain why each one is worth liking. Or, if they and some friends share a passion for writing, they could start a writers club. Even if they prefer making videos for their youtube channel, having them practice writing out an outline for their script. Keeping them writing during summer months will help ease the transition from the summer break back to the classroom.  

Reading 

Books are great, and if you have time to make library runs or have reading apps on your digital device, then those are fantastic. Age appropriate reading is beneficial for a growing mind. While there are some bookworms who you may have to pry a book from just to get them to eat, others may run away screaming at the sight of a book. If that’s the case, don’t forget that reading doesn’t have to be limited to books. If you have parental controls on their devices, you could have your kids research topics they are interested in. There are many kid-friendly websites with information on a wide variety of topics, and there are even blogs for kids.  If so, may be difficult to get some kids to sit down and read

Math Projects

While it would be useful to keep their minds sharp, it’ll likely be hard to convince most kids to work on math sheets during the summer. However, there are other ways to get your kids to do math without resorting to worksheets. Having them plan out simple projects that involve numbers can help them show how practical math really is. Whether they help count up the cost of a meal, measure the garden bed to approximate how many stones they’ll need to line it, rework a recipe to feed the entire family, measuring out how much wood is needed to build a doghouse, or start a summer business with something as simple as a lemonade stand. Even having them calculate how long it will take to save their allowance to purchase something they’ve had their eye on could be an activity that gets their mind in the mood for math. 

Presentations

Getting kids used to giving presentations can be a big help for their future in academics, but they don’t have to start practicing in front of strangers. Getting them comfortable performing in front of family and friends can build their confidence and prepare them for the times they must do it in front of peers and teachers. By starting with simple topics like a family night presentations of their summer plans, a bible memory verse competition or joke contest they perform in front of their friends, or standing in front of relatives and explaining all the awesome things they learned and did at school that year. Getting kids familiar with having the spotlight on them, can ease the stress in future years by making it a common activity.

Strategy 

Games are great for children, not only because they are a lot of fun, but also because they teach strategy. Every game has its own unique methods of play which help children learn to think of efficient strategies to win. Whether it is one of the classics like checkers or chess, throwback games like Mastermind or Monopoly, or some modern favorites like Catan or Codenames, there exists a wide variety of games that kids are sure to fall in love with, while at the same time exercising their brain.

Review

There are plenty of educational apps which can keep your kids working with numbers, playing with words, or developing their problem solving skills throughout the summer months. While they may not be your kid’s favorite apps, you could try implementing rules such as before playing their favorite game they must first play the one you pick, or they have to play an educational game for an equal amount of time as their choice of game. Kids are a lot more likely to engage an app than a worksheet, thus if you are trying to get your kids to participate in educational activities during the summer months, check out what the app store has to offer. 

Puzzles and Brain Teasers 

Word searches, crossword puzzles, sudoku, rebus puzzles, and anagrams require brain power while also being fun. Add in a little competition, like word search races, and it can even become addictive. However, you don’t have to stop at just playing the games, challenge your kids to make them. Obviously this will be easier for some than others, but if the kids are familiar with simple typing programs, developing a word search or scrambled letters game can be done rather quickly. Have friends compete against each other by making simple crossword puzzle games to trade with each other or see who can complete a one month sudoku-a-day challenge. 

Sources: 

Shoemaker, John. “8 Types of Word Puzzles to Keep You Sharp.” Bar Games 101. July 31, 2020 (visited 27 May 2022)

https://bargames101.com/types-of-word-puzzles/ 

The Benefits of Summer Break & Retaining Information

How is a break beneficial? Should parents be doing anything so students don’t “lose” what they’ve learned during the school year? Or is that a myth?

With school curriculums often building on top of the knowledge students gained the previous year, it can be worrisome to think your child might forget in a couple months what they’ve spent all year learning. While we all would hope that summer learning loss is nothing but an urban legend, research seems to prove it is a situation which needs addressing. According to the Eric Resource Center, students' test scores and assessments are approximately one month lower upon returning than at the end of the previous school year. Other research published in the American Educational Research Journal revealed students forget anywhere between 17-34% of the information they learned over the previous year. With numbers like those, you definitely don’t want to ignore summer learning loss, but what can we do to prevent it?

Combating Summer Learning Loss

If we want to keep summer learning loss from eating away at the knowledge the students worked hard to gain, we have to be proactive. While year-long learning is a possible solution at the institutional level, we want to focus on practical methods parents can try at home. Continuing to review information they learned over the previous year is one way to help concretize it in their mind, as spaced repetition is an effective way to retain information. 

• Create a list of the topics they covered throughout the year, and then during the summer, have them read books, blogs, or even make presentations regarding those topics. This will re-familiarize them with the material during the summer months, keeping it in their mind when school starts back up.

• Start a summer Gameshow Club. With a group of your kids classmates, start a bi-weekly gameshow styled review quiz focused on a different subject each time. Each subject could be hosted by a different family, allowing for a fun review with friends all throughout the summer.

• Even though they may make your kids groan, getting a workbook full of review worksheets could help keep their mind in the rhythm of learning during the summer months. If you can find age-appropriate activity sheets, it could ensure their minds stay engaged even though they aren’t in the classroom. 

• Find educational apps which cover the material your child learned during the year. This will give them something to reinforce what they learned, without needing to rely on an actual person to teach them. If the educational app is a game-styled one which keeps score, they could compete against other classmates throughout the summer.

• Do some prep work. One way to ensure children are prepared for the next year is to start having them take the next step forward. For example, they could begin reading books aimed at the next grade level, or over the course of a few weeks, have them write a paper the length of which will be required of them the following school year. This way, they don’t feel overwhelmed when they are tasked with more difficult reading and writing assignments. 

• Visiting museums, science centers, or historical sites is another way of helping children keep their academic edge during the summer.
  
  

Also, don’t forget, after ten months of classes, letting children have a break can keep them from mental fatigue. While reviews are helpful during the summer, remember there are other things children can learn during the summer which they won’t learn in school so don’t lose sight of the learning possibilities which exist even outside of academics. 

SOURCES: 

Kuhfeld, Megan. “Summer learning loss: What we know and what we’re learning.”

NWEA.org. June 1, 2021 (visited 16 May 2022).

https://www.nwea.org/blog/2021/summer-learning-loss-what-we-know-what-were-learning/#:~:text=This%20study%20found%20that%20the,lose%20ground%20in%20subsequent%20summers. 

Atteberry, A., & McEachin, A. (in press, 2020). “School's out: The role of summers in understanding achievement disparities. American Educational Research Journal.”

https://edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/SchoolsOut_AtteberryMcEachin_2020_0520.pdf 

Cooper, Harris. “Summer Learning Loss: The Problem and Some Solutions.” ERIC Digest: ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. May 2003 (visited 18 May 2022.)

https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED475391 

https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED475391.pdf 

Academy for G.O.D. Ranks in 5 ‘Best of Nashville’ Categories

Since 1988, The Nashville Scene, a free "alternative newsweekly," gathers votes for the "Best of Nashville" contest. Prized certificates can be seen in frames in restaurant lobbies, food trucks, dentist offices, and beauty salons throughout the city. Nashville citizens vote for their favorite businesses in over 250 categories with detailed contest rules and zipped-lip results until the "Best of Nashville Day" in October each year. 

In the Nashville Scene’s Best of Nashville Contest 2021, we are proud to announce that The Academy for G.O.D. placed in five categories: 

1. Best Elementary School - 3rd Place

2. Best Middle School - 2nd Place

3. Best High School - 3rd Place

4. Best Private School - 2nd Place

5. Best Teacher: Robert Muñoz - 2nd Place

Established in 2013 with 22 students, The Academy for G.O.D. offers innovative education for students K-12. Birthed out of the ministry of Global Outreach Developments International, The Academy for G.O.D.'s mission is to “holistically educate children to become responsible, kind, ethical neighbors; competent persons, globally conscious and historically relevant." Today, The Academy is home to 250 students across its campus program in Old Hickory, its hybrid program for homeschool students, and its online program reaching remote learners across the globe. 

Courses are biblically-based with an emphasis on Social-Emotional Learning. Teachers are challenged to recognize and cultivate the Multiple Intelligences each child may be most gifted in (linguistic, mathematic, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, interpersonal, and spatial). The Academy has a growing athletic department with a committed fan base (Go Phoenix!) and diverse after-school clubs (chess, yoga, geocaching, etc.). They provide annual STEM fairs and contests, Grandparents Day, Talent Shows, and Student Performance showcases. It is also a nationally recognized farm-to-school program incorporating fresh produce and meats from local sources, featuring produce from G.O.D. International’s Hopewell Farms. Most importantly, the Academy is surrounded by supportive parents who regularly pray for Academy students, teachers, and staff. 

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an existing goal to make Academy education available to more students via an online platform. Today, students from Uganda and the Philippines attend live courses via Zoom, bringing a global experience into the classroom. As for the kind and ethical portion, students have Bible courses every day and regularly participate in service opportunities benefitting their Nashville neighbors. (You may find Academy students sharing music with a retirement community, an Academy high schooler teaching a painting class to individuals with special needs, or junior high or high school students serious about learning Spanish for their cross-cultural mission experiences.)

The Academy for G.O.D. is a Category IV non-public school registered with the state of Tennessee and a member of the Association for Christian Schools International (ASCI). Academy teachers and staff have been featured speakers and facilitators for ASCI conferences in South East Asia. 

As for our honored teacher, the late Robert Muñoz, he was simply the best. Robert played a major role in getting the Academy off the ground alongside his best friend, Academy Headmaster Gregg Garner. Over the years, Rob, who had his Master in Public Health, taught Science and Biology to all age groups. He also regularly spoke at weekly chapels, led worship, and gave 200+ kids a positive start to their day through his famous morning announcements. Rob’s latest and most honored position was the Elementary Vice-Principal, which he held from 2018 to 2021. Rob passed away in July of 2021, leaving behind his wife and five amazing kids who all attend The Academy for G.O.D. Rob, who loved to celebrate and be celebrated, would have felt so honored to have received this award. We believe he's cheering as loud as he always did for his Academy family today. 

Thank you, our beloved Academy family and Nashville voters, for cheering on the Academy for G.O.D.! We are happy to continue raising the next generation to be kind, ethical neighbors who consider all people God's family worthy of love and respect. Join in the cheer Mr. Muñoz so often led us in: Phoenix - Rise Up!