How to pray for your child’s teacher

As the holidays slowly draw to a close and thoughts turn to the back-to-school season, with its new routines and new classes, you may be feeling apprehensive about the start of the new year and a new relationship that will critically impact on your child’s school year ahead—the one with their new teacher.

It can be easy to make quick judgements about teachers—as too strict or too disorganised, unable to control the classroom or slack in replying to emails. If your child has extra learning requirements or social anxieties it can feel like even more pressure is being put on that crucial question: Which teacher will my child have this year? Will they understand my child? Will they be patient and loving or quick to anger? Will they make time for my concerns or brush me off? Will this relationship be difficult or a blessing?

As someone who worked as a primary school teacher, I know the reality is that different teachers do suit different children, and some teachers connect better with some parents, and, not always through anyone’s fault, the parent—teacher relationship can be tense. One of you is overwhelmed, busy and has a whole class to care for. Another of you is overwhelmed, busy and pouring their whole heart into their child’s wellbeing and education. Both of you are balancing many competing demands and needs. It is inevitable that there may be points of friction where needs clash or communication is not clear. When it is our precious children involved, the stakes can feel high, all the time.

But as someone who is also a Christian, can I ask you, no matter how tricky or easy your family’s school relationships turn out to be, that you would commit to praying for your child’s teacher this school year?

We all know teachers work long hours for not enough pay and often not enough thanks. Christians especially should value these people who have not chased after easier work or higher income but are committed to the good of our children and the next generations. But when it is your child’s happiness, report card or behaviour in question, it can be easy to see the teacher as the villain in the story, especially when they make mistakes, as any person does.

So, no matter whether your child loves or resents their teacher, adores or rails against each learning task, gets on easily with their peers or finds interactions prickly, what can you pray for your child’s teacher this year? I’ve written an example that might help to guide your prayers.

*Promote 'Scary Stuff' here*

Dear Lord,

As school returns, with all the busyness and chaos, I want to pray for (teacher) this year. As they learn lists of names and read behaviour reports and individual learning plans, I pray you would keep their heart open, soft and welcoming to all the new faces coming into their classroom this year. Whatever stories they have heard or past experiences they have had with these students and their families, I pray that you would be making the way smooth for peaceful relationships in the classroom—between students, between teacher and students, and between teacher and parents.

As they juggle curriculum and learning needs, as they navigate staffroom dynamics and the varied priorities of school leaders, I pray you would be giving (teacher) clarity on what is important, and where to put their time and energy. With work that never ends, I pray you would sustain them to work well, and to rest well also. Give them wisdom as they face the long marathon of a school year with this new class of students.

Lord, we know there are many vulnerable students in our classrooms and schools. We know that for many of them, teachers are the safest adult they know. We pray you would give teachers clear insight to know how to help students, and, when needed, deal wisely with the sorrows of life that their students face. We pray they would be a touchstone to connect students in need to services and authorities that can help them, whatever they are facing.

Lord, I pray for my child’s relationship with (teacher). I pray they are able to respect their teacher, follow directions and do their work to the best of their ability. And I pray that their teacher would see my child as they are: your beloved child, made in your image, with all their strengths and weaknesses and quirks. I pray that my child’s teacher would come to love and appreciate my child for who they are. And I pray my child would see how hard their teacher is working for them, and for all the other children in their classroom.

Finally, I pray that if my child’s teacher is a Christian, you would strengthen and encourage them in their faith, both through their work and through the community of believers. I pray we would be an encouragement to them. And if they don’t know you, Lord, I pray you would bring them to see who you are—the good God who loves them and made them and cares for them. I pray that my family and other Christian families in our school community would be a shining light of the gospel, holding out the good news of Jesus to all who need to hear it.

Lord, you are the one who is in control of everything—from which teacher my child gets to where they sit for lunch each day. I pray that you would help me trust you with all these decisions. I pray that when needed, I would speak boldly and clearly for the good of my child, but that I would also look to see the good in their teacher and give grace and compassion when they make mistakes or make decisions I disagree with. I pray you would be working through all these things this year and beyond.

Amen.

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Rebecca Sharley is a trained primary school teacher with experience in kids’ and youth ministry. She runs training workshops in kids’ ministry and writes a newsletter called ‘Searching For Grace’ on Substack. She is the author of God’s Family Now: A New Look at Kids’ Ministry.

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