Everyday Christian Teaching: A Guide to Practicing Faith in the Classroom
David I. Smith’s most recent book, Everyday Christian Teaching: A Guide to Practicing Faith in the Classroom, represents yet another of his significant and vital contributions to Christian education. Commencing with an invitation to wisdom for teachers and their students, Smith offers philosophical insights along with practical strategies for authentically integrating faith into teaching practices. From the book’s introduction to its conclusion, readers are thoughtfully guided through the seemingly ordinary yet profoundly meaningful moments of classroom life, illustrating how faith can naturally arise in these experiences.
Through reflectively exploring everyday classroom activities—such as initiating a course, establishing guidelines, organizing content, assigning tasks, assessing learning, taking breaks, and wrapping up discussions—Smith unveils practical strategies for leveraging these moments as opportunities for faith development. Rather than simply presenting abstract theological concepts, Smith encourages educators to engage in active reflection, acknowledging the spiritual significance of routine teaching decisions. Additionally, he examines the academic year’s cycles, aiding teachers in making meaningful connections between faith and teaching methods. Incorporating memorable experiences and examples, Smith challenges educators to critically examine their teaching practices through the lens of Christian conviction. This book transcends mere inspiration; it provides educators with practical prompts and strategies that empower them to translate their faith into action.
One of the remarkable strengths of this book lies in its accessibility and relevance for educators at all stages of their careers, addressing daily teaching experiences while offering a profound and lasting invitation to wisdom. Whether viewed through the eyes of a new teacher or a seasoned educator, Smith offers a thoughtful and generous perspective for rethinking classroom practices. As he points out, the teaching journey involves more than just imparting knowledge; it includes the development of both students and educators. Through this growth process, teaching becomes an act of discipleship—an opportunity to express one’s faith through service to others. This book acts as a guide for effectively navigating that journey.
The contemporary educational landscape is complicated, frequently requiring educators to navigate a multitude of diverse worldviews while remaining steadfast in their convictions. Everyday Christian Teaching serves as an invaluable resource for addressing this critical challenge. The reflections presented by Smith are profoundly rooted in the Christian tradition and exemplify insightful, engaging, and practical qualities, rendering the book an essential resource for educators serving within various educational environments. Rather than advocating for a retreat from the complications of contemporary education, it prompts educators to embrace opportunities for engagement with wisdom, grace, and a deep grasp of the intersection between faith and pedagogy.
This book expands upon Smith’s prior work, On Christian Teaching: Practicing Faith in the Classroom, in which he compellingly advocated for the connection between faith and pedagogy.1 On Christian Teaching presents a conceptual framework for Christian pedagogy and underscores the significance of faith in shaping the learning experience itself, ultimately building a case “that we should think of teaching as something that can be Christian” and that teaching decisions should be viewed as “plausible extensions of Christian convictions” (Everyday Christian Teaching, 6, 8).
Everyday Christian Teaching “takes it as a given that we can and should connect faith and pedagogy” (8), concentrating on important next steps in moving forward from that principle. Adopting a more pragmatic approach structured around the cyclical nature of the academic year, Everyday Christian Teaching focuses on how seemingly minor, routine teaching decisions hold the potential to reflect and embody Christian beliefs. This book builds upon Smith’s earlier contributions while highlighting the practical application of these concepts, assisting educators in integrating faith-informed pedagogy into their everyday classroom practices.
Utilizing the metaphor of a pilgrimage, Everyday Christian Teaching offers guidance for educators seeking to cultivate faith-informed insights and life-affirming practices that gradually transform their teaching. The pilgrimage concept is particularly relevant, reminding educators that faith-based teaching is a journey, not a destination, focused on continuous reflection, growth, and alignment with Christian values.
Through captivating stories, practical examples, and active exercises, Smith encourages educators to contemplate the significant effects of subtle classroom interactions. His book offers a guide for thoughtfully merging faith with teaching through intentional practices and reflection. In Smith’s words, this work is about “living into the habits of reflection that might help us to more fluently trace the patterns of faith into the fabric of our teaching” (6). For example, how a teacher organizes a lesson, the guidelines they establish for dialogue, and even the pauses they incorporate in discussions play a fundamental role in fostering an atmosphere that promotes or obstructs faith-informed learning. By highlighting these everyday choices, Smith empowers educators to align their teaching decisions with their beliefs, ultimately nurturing transformative learning experiences.
An important element of Everyday Christian Teaching is its promotion of an embodied faith. Frequently, conversations about Christian education exclusively highlight intellectual belief, neglecting how faith is physically and relationally expressed in the classroom. Smith emphasizes to educators that faith encompasses not just what is taught but also how it is conveyed. This encompasses the tone of voice used with students, the patience shown during challenging times, and the consistent character displayed throughout the school year. By focusing on these key aspects of the teaching and learning journey, educators can cultivate a learning environment that embodies the love, grace, and truth of Christ.
Ultimately, Everyday Christian Teaching is more than a book—it is an invitation. Smith invites educators to step back, reflect, and reimagine their teaching in light of their faith. He challenges them to see the classroom not just as a space for knowledge transfer but as the sacred ground where faith is lived out in the smallest of gestures and interactions. Whether teaching in a Christian school, a public institution, or any other educational setting, Smith’s insights offer a compelling vision of what it means to teach Christianly in today’s world. The book provides reassurance that faith-informed teaching is possible even in secular environments and that it can be done with both integrity and respect for diverse perspectives. Smith’s hope is that this resource “will help educators to think of the truth as lodged in pedagogical actions, not just in opportunities (valuable as they are) to pray or state a Christian idea in class” (6).
For educators looking to integrate faith and teaching meaningfully, Everyday Christian Teaching is an essential resource. It offers not only theological insights but also practical strategies, enabling teachers to create classrooms where faith and learning are intricately combined. Smith’s wisdom, clarity, and profound understanding of pedagogy make this book a must-read for anyone committed to Christian education. His invitation to reflect on the “everyday” encourages a recognition of the extraordinary potential present in each teaching moment—potential that, when embraced, can transform not only the lives of students but also the very essence of teaching itself.
By leading teachers through the seemingly minor, ordinary aspects of their profession, Smith demonstrates that faith is not simply an abstract idea; rather, it is intricately woven into the very fabric of teaching. He does not endeavor to identify teaching strategies exclusively Christian or restricted to Christians alone; rather, he aims to demonstrate how drawing upon Christian beliefs and instincts can influence the decisions teachers make and the instructional frameworks they develop. By concentrating on everyday experiences throughout the academic year, Smith’s work inspires teachers to view their vocation as a sacred mission with the power to influence students’ lives beyond academics, extending into their spiritual growth as well. For those eager to gain wisdom, enhance their teaching skills, and embark on a reflective path of faith-based education, Everyday Christian Teaching serves as an essential resource.
