Most Common Teacher Characteristics that Relate to Intentionality in Student Spiritual Formation

This study identified most common teacher characteristics that are related to student spiritual formation intentionality. A Christian school teacher has the influential task of guiding students in their spiritual formation from a biblical worldview so that students' lifestyles exhibit character, leadership, and service to others. Given this task, Christian teachers are able to be intentional within classroom management, through instruction, and by modeling. Fifty administrators from the Southeast Region of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) were asked to forward a survey to their teachers. Teachers within these schools were then asked to complete this survey regarding intentional practices for student spiritual formation. The survey made use of a Likert scale based on the continuum of very important to not important for the first 20 questions. Teachers were then asked to rate these characteristics and in a later question, teachers were asked to explain spiritual formation. By using the Likert scale, a rating system, and open ended question, a triangulation method was used to find the most common characteristics related to spiritual formation intentionality. The characteristics found to be most common included exhibiting a Christlike attitude, creating a classroom climate that promotes spiritual growth, and being intentional in the spiritual disciplines. The results were also divided into three levels which included Pre-K to 5th grades, 6th through 8th grades, and 9th through 12th grades. The characteristic unique to Pre-K to 5th and 6th through 8th grades was: respectful of all students as they progress on their spiritual journey.