TFT Bulletin #9 | January 28, 2026

It has been a long time coming. Over the years many of you graciously shared feedback and nudged (urged?) us to respond. We finally have.

Without further adieu, we are excited to share the newest collection of Throughline images—a set designed for older students. Our hope is that you will take time as a staff to explore the imagery as there is a depth to them best discovered through a collective, studied effort.

And while we don’t want to spoil the richness of discovery, we do want to provide some context to this collection’s design.

First, all the images are taken from the life of Jesus as shared in the Gospels. Some images are embodiments of Jesus, some are from his teachings, and some are from stories about Jesus. The Throughlines have always been centered around following Jesus, and we wanted this set to convey this focus explicitly.

Second, these images are intentionally nuanced. The connection between image and Throughline may not be immediately obvious, or a connection to more than one Throughline might be possible. As we considered older students, we were intentional about these more challenging interpretations. These images will require study and exploration to understand their fullness. Whereas our elementary Throughline characters are concrete and explicit to support younger students, these new icons are intentionally not.

Finally, no single image can reveal everything to be said or discovered about a Throughline. I encourage you to place the new images side by side with the existing Throughline characters, along with the descriptions. What is revealed by the totality of these artifacts? We think the cumulative effect is the greater revelation.

A strength of the Throughlines has always been their initial appeal and simplicity. For as long as Teaching for Transformation has existed, people have been attracted to the Throughlines. For many, these images are their first connection to TfT. The attractiveness contained within a first impression is a strength of the Throughlines … but there is a shadow side. Because they appear simple, we often fail to take the time to discover their complexity. We hope that these new images stimulate teaching, exploration, and meaning making in our TfT classrooms—a movement towards deeper learning.

Finally, I want to recognize the incredible skill of Joe Hox in the creation of these new images. He persevered through many rounds of feedback (he is a true embodiment of our Habits of Learning), and we are grateful for his partnership in this project. We at TfT can’t wait to hear how you and your students respond to these images created especially for older learners.

The Gift of a Storyline

As the students in Rebecca Rael’s PK class at Chicago Christian Schools were preparing to leave for the Christmas break, she presented them all with a gift. Unwrapping, they discovered t-shirts that matched their teacher’s shirt that day—shirts with the symbols and language of their classroom storyline: Love God, Love People—Be the rock!

Celebrating Learning

Using the resources on the website as guidance, many TfT Network schools are already preparing for their annual Celebration of Learning. Celebrations of Learning are an effective way to increase engagement and deepen learning as they naturally incorporate the Hierarchy of Audience.

Whether or not you are part of a school-wide celebration, there are many ways to celebrate the work of your students. This older post from PBLWorks provides different entry points into celebrating the learning of your students.

Inviting Parents and Grandparents into TfT: Westlake Christian Academy

Kaylyn Penza, Kindergarten teacher and Elementary Catalyst at Westlake Christian Academy, shares this account of a reframed Grandparents Day. Dr. Kurt Flemming, Principal of Westlake, invited the community into the question “Who is my Neighbor?” through his newsletter, The Principal’s Pulse.

As the staff of Westlake transition from the first three years of TfT implementation into the deepening years, their emphasis is on inviting their community into the practices of Teaching for Transformation. Using the parable of the Good Samaritan with its accompanying question “Who is my Neighbor?” combined with the Throughlines as their launching point, Westlake has been reframing important school traditions such as Grandparents Day and Chapel.

FLEx Cards:

Celebrating Coulee Christian School

The mission of Coulee Christian School is to lovingly and intentionally equip students to live life on the EDGE: Educated, Driven, God-Centered, and Engaged. The school’s website quickly shows how this mission is being lived out through their FLEx experiences.

From Sharon Calarco’s sixth-grade ELA students partnering with Arrive Ministries to raise awareness and support for refugee resettlement in the Art for the Heart FLEx to Tracey Greydanus’s third graders serving as Kingdom ambassadors by encouraging others through “God Grams,” Coulee Christian students are truly living life on the EDGE.

Opening Circles with the Throughlines

Today’s Opening Circle resources include readings and a liturgy on community building. When choosing a reading, don’t be afraid to invite students to read it more than once! When we return and repeat, different ideas stand out and different perspectives/ideas move to the forefront. Enjoy these readings on repeat as you invite your students into the beauty of community building. One of today’s suggested books aligns perfectly with the ongoing question at Westlake Christian Academy: “Who is my neighbor?”

Community Building: Learners build communities of grace and purpose, making space for the belonging of others.