Faith Lessons Learned in the Classroom

Kamora Johnson

McKay Student Ambassador

Physical Education

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This semester, I have been student teaching in both health and physical education classes. At the beginning of the semester, I felt very stressed and overwhelmed. I questioned whether I was prepared and whether I was a good teacher. It often felt like the students did not see me as a real teacher or respect me. I was exhausted, wanting more sleep, but school started early, and I stayed up late most nights, lesson planning.

One night, when I was overwhelmed with stress and did not want to go to school the next day, my husband said to me, “Start each day focusing on how you can make that day better for one student.” This simple advice changed my perspective on teaching. I began focusing less on myself and more on my students and how they were feeling. Over time, teaching became much more manageable. Along with that, my testimony grew, and I learned many faith-centered lessons. I’ve compiled a list of three faith-centered lessons I learned:

Every student has divine worth.

Students talk over you, do not fill out their notes, fall asleep in class, go on their phones, and sometimes just misbehave. Yes, better classroom management can help with a lot of these problems, and it is something I am still working on. But I have learned that even more important than having everything perfectly managed is how I choose to see my students.

It is a lot easier to be patient, less frustrated, and more hopeful when I remember that each student is a child of God. That truth changes the way I respond. Instead of immediately getting annoyed, I try to pause and think about what that student might be going through or what they might need. Some students act out because they are tired, stressed, or not getting attention in other areas of their life. (Mosiah 26:27).

Turning towards God in the hard moments

Teaching is a lot of work. There is lesson planning, keeping students on task, and presenting information in a way that is engaging and meaningful. It can feel overwhelming at times. One thing I have learned this semester is how important it is to turn toward God in those hard moments instead of trying to handle everything on my own.

Each morning, I started with a prayer asking to have the Holy Ghost with me so I could teach my students what they needed to learn and communicate it clearly. Speaking has never come naturally to me. When I get nervous, I tend to stumble over my words or struggle to find the right things to say. That was something I worried about a lot going into student teaching.

But I have seen that when I show up, put in effort, and turn to God, He helps me do more than I could on my own. There were moments in lessons where I felt guided in what to say, or where things came out more clearly than I expected. It did not mean everything was perfect, but it reminded me that I am not doing this alone. Ether 12:27 has become very real to me through this experience. My weaknesses did not disqualify me from being a good teacher. Instead, they gave me a reason to rely on God. I have learned that weakness is not a barrier. It is an opportunity for God to strengthen me and help me grow into the teacher I am trying to become

Small, consistent effort brings real growth.

“You can be bad at one thing one day, but do not keep being bad at it.” I heard this quote early on in the semester, and I decided to apply it to my teaching. I am not a perfect teacher by any means, but each day I try to focus on just one thing to improve.

Some days it was something small, like giving clearer instructions or managing transitions better. Other days, it was being more patient, speaking with more confidence, or connecting with a specific student. It did not always feel like I was making huge progress, but over time, those small efforts started to add up.

Daily practice, reteaching, and building routines in my classroom reminded me of the principle of learning “line upon line” (2 Nephi 28:30). Just like my students, I was learning little by little. This mindset helped me be more patient with myself and trust that growth would come as I kept trying.

Faith lessons can be learned anywhere; you just have to be willing to look for them. Christ is the Master Teacher, and as I have tried to follow His example and ask for His help, I have seen Him guide me and strengthen me in ways I could not have done on my own. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned, and I know I still have so much to improve. I am excited to keep learning and growing as I continue to teach.

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