By Serena  (SBS Turner Valley, Canada)

I have just finished grading a student’s work.In some parts they did fantastic; in others, there were serious challenges.After grading their work, I wrote them feedback: “You did this great”; “This is what I want you to work on, this is how you will get more depth.”And at the end I encouraged them.I shared how I was frustrated in SBS that I could not look at all that I wanted to, but that this is just the beginning of Bible study.And that as they keep studying the Bible, “it just gets better.”

As graders we get to pull out the best from our students.We are their coaches.Just like a sports coach encourages their players to be the best they can be, we do the same.A sports coach will identify a player’s weak spots and work with them on those weak spots until they are no longer an obstacle to them playing the best they possible can.As graders we are our students’ coaches.We get to cheer them on.We also get to help correct those areas that they are weak in.This will help them to get the most out of the Word and their time in SBS.I love that we have something that most sports coaches don’t.We have the Holy Spirit to help us identify those weak spots.We can pray in the process.Ask God to show you your students’ weak spots.He knows which are most important to work on right now.And ask God how you are to encourage each student.When we deal with people, there is usually more going on than meets the eye.God knows better than we do what each student needs most.It may be something you never would have expected.

Why do I love grading?Because I love my students.I want God’s best for them in everything, and that includes in their SBS work as well.