The Adolescent Brain

Written by Jr High Teacher, Mrs. Rachel Hartnell

If you are the parent or teacher of a Jr High student, at some point you may have asked yourself, “Has this child lost their mind?” Adolescents are notoriously emotional, impulsive, and rebellious: a perceived recipe for disaster. As I have developed as a teacher, I’m learning to see these characteristics as a new opportunity for learning. The truth is, they ARE ACTUALLY LOSING THEIR MINDS! 

Teamwork and collaboration, which involve decision-making and emotional development, are skills that Jr High students are learning throughout their curriculum.

According to The Power of the Adolescent Brain by Thomas Armstrong (1), the teenage mind is working through the process of becoming more efficient, and in doing so, is deleting unnecessary gray matter in the prefrontal lobe. This causes the impulsive decision-making that is often perceived as rebellious and emotional. According to Strong, this developmental move is vital to give youth the courage and drive to break free from the parental nest and enter into adulthood. We can either fight against it and tell youth they are just hormonal or we could guide them in how to become discerning, independent decision makers. With my students, I am choosing the latter. 

So, what does this mean for a teenager? Although they seem emotional, impulsive, and rebellious, they are also becoming self-aware, social beings with creative, independent thoughts. Academy teachers strive to help them understand how their brain functions so they can navigate good decision making. For example, instead of telling a student they're a rebellious teen, I explain that their brain is preparing to make decisions on their own because they are preparing to enter adulthood. Then I give them facilitated opportunities to make choices so they learn how to apply God’s word in their decision making. They are given choices in what they want to learn about, choices in how they will complete homework, sometimes they create their own rubrics for grading an assignment, and even have an opportunity to grade themselves. We then discuss the outcome of their decisions, if it fulfills the intended purpose, or how different decisions would have better fulfilled their intended outcome. 

Recently, my students were given the task of holding one another accountable to complete homework, implement the scripture of the week, lead small group discussions, and maintain spiritual conversation in the classroom. They created their own rubrics to evaluate how well they and their classmates were completing these tasks according to what they have learned in the Word. Then, they got to meet with one another and discuss how their evaluation of themselves compared with their classmates. This allowed them to take responsibility for classroom expectations through discussion, implementation, and evaluation. This also challenged them to continuously consider the needs of their class and how to meet those needs as a team.

Teens desperately want independence, to feel heard, and to believe that others see them as valuable. As a teacher, I structure my classroom and assignments in a way that my students feel their voice is valued while also teaching them how to make discerning decisions, and I’m encouraged by their response in the process!

(1) Armstrong, Thomas. The Power of the Adolescent Brain:Strategies for Teaching Middle and High School Students.  Alexandria: ASCD, 2016.

An Update on our El Salvador Team

For several months Academy students have been preparing to be a part of a 58-person mission to El Salvador. Participants from the Academy for G.O.D., the Institute for G.O.D., and G.O.D. Latin America have been preparing to facilitate the annual SLAM Youth Bible Conference, the “Club de Niños” after school program, teach ESL at the village school, and perform various development projects.

Academy Principal, Alex Castro, facilitates team-building exercises for students during their layover in Houston airport.

On Wednesday, two groups began their journey to El Salvador. The initial group, including some core leaders, landed. Incidentally, the other was not allowed to fly. The President of El Salvador issued a quarantine for his country and restricted all incoming flights at the very moment the second group was boarding their plane. We’re thankful for the way the Lord has guided our Academy team. At this time, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in El Salvador.

The 46 who had to endure 24 plus hours of delays have handled the situation amazingly well. Leaders said they were fighting back tears as they watched these young people maintain positive attitudes, spending much of their time at the airport in worship and prayer, inspiring other stranded passengers, some of which joined in.

During their airport layover, students engaged opportunities for prayer and worship and demonstrated exemplary character despite challenging circumstances.

As for the team of 12 who made it into El Salvador, they are doing well. This group includes some of G.O.D. International’s most experienced development workers in Latin America. They’re taking all necessary precautions to keep safe, faithfully assessing the plans they believe God gave the overall team to implement, and have chosen to remain in El Salvador to carry out the mission.

We thank God for his protection and guidance. We’re grateful for the prayers and kindness given by parents, spouses, and friends. Please join us in prayer for the remaining group of 12 who have chosen to fulfill the objectives of the trip with a significantly smaller team, including 5 junior high and high school students.

If you’d like to donate to this courageous team’s efforts, please do so below.

The Purpose of Focus Level Elective Courses

Written by Ms. Rebekah Davis, Lead Teacher

This week our Focus students jumped into their semester-long elective classes. Now, maybe you’re secretly asking yourself, “Wait, what grade is Focus again?” Focus refers to our upper elementary students - typically ages 10-11. Your next question might be, “And elementary students get to pick their own classes?” That’s right! Within parameters.

At the Generals level (6-7 yo), students are exposed to a wide variety of subjects and skills. At the Specifics level (8-9 yo), they go deeper and look into the nuances of that discipline and its application. For example, Generals have a My Emotions class, and Specifics use that content to engage in Conflict Resolution class. Throughout these early elementary years students are learning themselves and discovering the natural gifts and inclinations God has given them.

In elective courses, students are able to explore a given subject in greater depth. In a Fermented Foods class this semester, students are learning to make kefir water.

By the time the students get to the Focus level, they know themselves well enough to have notably stronger interest in some disciplines over others. Their classmates know it too. Jimmy is the math whiz! Ali can write a 10 page story over the weekend! Two years of choir class has highlighted musical gifts in many.

Paying attention to these budding gifts, we offer a diversity of classes to the Focus students, and let them select 2 of their classes each day. This semester’s electives span subjects like Fermented Foods & Gut Health, The History of Math, Speech/Debate, Typography, Forming & Maintaining Healthy Habits, Chorale, and Robotics!

The diversity of classes matches the diversity of our students, keeping motivation high for students as they each have ownership over their schedule. Stay tuned for some exciting reports this semester from our Focus electives!

Training in Godliness

Written by Mrs. Mathews, 7-12th Vice Principal

Headmaster Garner spends afternoon training sessions with the students. Mr. Garner has facilitated over 250 national and international mission trips, and he offers valuable lessons for our students in their preparations.

“Train yourself in godliness; for, while physical training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, holding promise for the present life and the life to come.” - 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Spirituality doesn't automatically happen for those who are in pursuit of our Lord. Spirituality has to be developed over time and with great intentionality. As parents, we know this to be true as spirituality is not something that we practice just for ourselves but we try to emulate for our children.

There have been so many moments this semester thus far where I have seen our students demonstrate what they have been taught both at school and at home. The SLAM Winter Retreat started our semester off right where our students left hungry to know God’s Word. Students returned making commitments of reading God’s Word every day, spoke about doing their devotionals earlier and longer, and expressed a desire to hold one another accountable.

We have had moments where our Jr High and High students used their recess time to worship God and pray, not just because they were encouraged by a teacher to do so, but because they felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. Our Jr High and High chapel experiences have been filled with hearts ready to worship and testimony to God’s answered prayers.

Not only are our halls being filled with impromptu worship sets and prayerful voices, but our students are now preparing to take their spiritual disciplines abroad.

Vice Principal, Mr. Muñoz, leads the El Salvador mission team in Spanish worship songs. Learning Spanish has been one of the major aspects of training for this team as they learn to communicate cross-culturally.

Watching our 8th-12th grade students prepare for their El Salvador mission trip is such a joy! As they practice their Spanish speaking skills, skits, and songs, I see a young generation being trained in godliness, wanting to use their spirituality not just for themselves but to serve those in need.

Our young people are more than ready to use their training in “godliness to be of value in every way” for all those they serve both here and abroad. Please continue to be in prayer for them as they prepare these final weeks for their mission trip to El Salvador!





Worship in Spirit & Truth

Written by Mrs. Hollie Benoit, Specifics Level Lead Teacher

“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God.”  Psalm 95:6

In a world where differences such as skin color or clothing brand can drive children apart, making them feel insecure and alone, our students are being unified in their love for the Lord. This semester our older and younger students have combined classes for our weekly Chapel. As students transitioned into this new phase during the last few weeks, we as teachers have encouraged them to spend time together, getting to know each other on a deeper level. 

Scenes like this are what make the Academy’s weekly chapel services a distinct part of our students’ week. Growing together in prayer and support for one another is a precious lesson the students are learning.

Chapel is the one time during the week when all four classes at these levels come together except for lunch and recess. There were understandable insecurities the first few times among the younger students: “who will I sit next to”, “what do these older kids think of me”, among others. Recently, we were blessed to witness the overflowing presence of the Lord in the room as the children allowed for freedom in worship to occur: on their knees, crying out to the Lord, hands raised in worship to God with all their heart. 

I often find myself getting caught up in worship doing the same, closing my eyes and raising my hands. During this particular Chapel though, I heard small cries to the Lord which turned to weeping. When I opened my eyes to check on the students, I was overcome with the sight before me. Several students, of varying levels, from all four classes, were around the child who had been overcome by the Lord’s presence. They were laying their hands on them, praying for them, worshipping the Lord together, embracing and supporting each other during what can feel like such a vulnerable moment. 

The past weeks have been building to this culminating moment, and they were getting to experience unity together, the way the Lord teaches us. They released all insecurities and were genuinely free to worship alongside one another in complete vulnerability and truth. In John 4:24, Jesus teaches that “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Our students are overcoming any differences to support one another, pray for one another, love one another, and depend on each other. I am so incredibly thankful for moments like these that remind us of the Lord’s goodness and his promise to be with us always. 

We all have spiritual giftings and differences, and recognizing our differences is useful. However, those differences should not separate us but instead should be the very thing that encourages us to thrive in our role in the body of Christ. I’m proud to see a generation of children who see each other the way God made them different, but yet the same, all created in His image. These students are living this out daily, and the work the Lord is doing in them never stops amazing me!