Throughout our history, East Linn Christian has been focused on integrating faith and learning in everything we do. In 2018, we started on a journey to further develop that strength—the implementation of the Teaching for Transformation (TfT) curriculum planning model.
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East Linn Christian is currently one of only two schools in Oregon that utilizes the TfT framework!
What is Teaching for Transformation?
TfT embraces the practices of deeper learning and has developed core practices that align with these principles. A TfT school pursues a Christian education that invites the people of God’s story into real work that forms self and shapes the world. As schools implement Teaching for Transformation, all learning experiences are designed to ensure that teachers and students continuously grow as learners — life-long learners.
More info available at
TfT CORE PRACTICES
STORYLINE
TfT CORE PRACTICE
Every Christian school classroom must have a powerful and compelling vision of the Kingdom that creates a longing and a desire within every student to play their part in God’s unfolding Story of creation-fall-redemption-restoration.
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Every unit and every learning experience tells a story. The TfT framework tries, using the story discovered in each unit of study, to create a powerful and compelling image of God’s Story. The TfT framework invites students to imagine his or her place in God’s Story – now. TfT does this by connecting the story of each unit with opportunities to tangibly practice living in the grand narrative. Each student and teacher will begin to create a personal “storyline” and articulate how they see themselves living in God’s epic drama.
DEEP HOPE
TfT CORE PRACTICE
Every Christian school classroom must have an articulated and inspiring student profile that invites every student to imagine how to play their part in God’s story.
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Throughlines are big picture ideas around which we can organize curriculum. Throughlines are qualities/characteristics that we desire students to develop as God is revealed to them in all things. They are discipleship concepts that guide our living. These characteristics describe how we can become part of the restoration of creation. They answer, “How NOW shall I live?” Throughlines weave the big ideas into a transformational worldview. A key component of the TfT program is that teachers are challenged not simply to tell the students about the Throughlines but to provide actual opportunities for the students to “live” the chosen Throughlines in each unit.
FORMATIONAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE
TfT CORE PRACTICE
Every Christian school classroom must provide authentic (real work, real people, real need) opportunities for students to practice living the Kingdom Story. This practices then becomes a habit, with habits shaping who we are and what we do.
Students must be given the opportunity to do God’s work NOW – to be active and creative in God’s Story. Meaningful work creates a sense of purpose in their lives, and draws students more powerfully to God’s Story. As the name suggests, Formational Learning Experiences are designed to form the students’ hearts and actions as well as their minds, equipping students to become people who live and breathe God’s Story. Research and experience suggest that formational learning best emerges from experiences that get at our gut and touch our heart.
We promise to design formational learning experiences that:
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Invite every student to explore their role in the Kingdom Story
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Nurture every student to desire to be a peculiar person
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Empower every student to practice their life’s expression
TfT SPOTLIGHT
Here's a glimpse of what TfT looks like in the classroom.
7th Grade Bible Class
"Ask God"
Teacher: Mrs. Alison Albert
Our 7 grade Bible/Worldviews class has been studying biblical vs secular worldviews of topics like theology, philosophy, and ethics. We didn’t only want to learn head knowledge about who God is, so we studied God’s word and found that we are called to be imitators of God! We began to put this into practice by choosing a communicable attribute of God each few weeks and brainstorming specific actions we could practice. We have tried going out of our way to be a blessing to others (like doing chores without being asked!), choosing forgiveness instead of resentment, and making a point of talking to others about who God is and what He’s done. We’ve realized we need to rely on the Lord for all of this!
HS Leadership Class
"Be a Better Lobster"
Teacher: Mrs. Ellie Dixon
My 9-12 Leadership class is made up of our ASB and Student Council. They serve the student body by finding ways to build community and make space for the belonging of others. One of the ways we've done that this year is writing a card to a member of our school community and delivering it as a class in person every Friday . Students nominate someone at school who is kind, could use encouragement, or as a way to tell someone they're appreciated. When we deliver the card, someone tells the recipient why they're awesome and that we are glad they're at ELC, and then take a picture of the whole class with that person right as the bell rings for the weekend.
