Start your day of learning with an opening prayer for class! Students begin the day in the best way by thanking God for another important day of learning. A shorter, preschool-age prayer is included as well. You will love the free printables, which are giftable to any of your teacher friends as wall art for the classroom!
A Beautiful Practice for Students of All Ages
Even students in preschool can say a simple prayer at the start of the day. This establishes great habits for their spiritual development, which will come in handy throughout their lives. Opening prayers do not need to be long or complicated. A good opening prayer can be short and sweet. Just as you would start the day with a glass of water, brushing your teeth, or making your bed, it is important to establish the routine of prayer in children.
Is This a Child’s First Prayer of the Day?
It may be sad to think about, but sometimes a teacher’s prayer at the start of the day is the first time the child is praying that day. Parents often feel so busy and stressed to get their children to school on time. They are also in a rush to get to work and other responsibilities. I do not fault parents for this because I am guilty of it, too! However, it can be beautiful to embrace it as a teacher’s duty, just like Spelling and Math. If you are a teacher, start by praying for the children’s families. Pray for their health, safety, worries, and concerns.
Setting a Good Tone for the Rest of the Day
I remember attending school as a child and feeling excited to see all of my friends. I had a lot of energy and wanted to play with them right away. Since I attended Catholic School, we started the morning in prayer as an entire school. We either prayed on the recess lot as an assembly or over the intercom. We also prayed as an individual class with our own teacher. Looking back, I see how it calmed us down as students. It served as a marker or bookend of sorts. After prayer, we knew it was “time to get to business.” I think part of this had to do with the fact that we all said the same memorized prayer together, so we were in unison. The harmonious rhythm of our sing-song prayer was also subliminally grounding.
Praying at the start of the day can serve as an effective positive routine that signals the beginning of learning for a child. Even if it is a new habit, children will pick it up incredibly quickly. This can make learning much easier throughout the year.
For the Love of Learning
Ultimately, if nothing else, an opening prayer for class is an impactful way to continue to ask God that our children love learning throughout their entire lives. As the curriculum becomes more sophisticated, it can feel more difficult, which discourages many students. In addition, we must be realistic with the fact that we are competing with the challenges of today’s society. For instance, teachers continue to try to instill a love of reading. However, if children are not exposed to books, libraries, and literature at home, but are instead allowed to play games on devices or scroll social media for hours, they struggle to see the joy of reading.
Homeschoolers Can Pray These Prayers, Too!
An opening prayer for class is not limited to traditional classroom environments! Homeschool moms, I’m talking to you! The prayers included below are perfect for breakfast time, morning circle time, and other morning rhythms and routines with all of your children. Bring these prayers to your Classical Conversations groups or other homeschool co-ops! Even if you only have one child whom you are homeschooling, you two can say this prayer together.
Opening Prayers for Class: What’s Included Below
Because I know that teachers who visit this site teach a variety of ages, I have included two different prayers:
- Short Opening Prayer for Class: This opening prayer is intended for preschool and elementary-aged children, but can be prayed by anyone of any age! It is written in rhyming, poetry format.
- Longer Opening Prayer for Class: This opening prayer is intended for older students (typically middle school, high school, and college). This prayer asks St. Thomas Aquinas to intercede and help students in their love of learning. This prayer also calls on St. John Baptist de la Salle and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, known for their support for education and learning (Learn more about St. John Baptist de la Salle here and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton here.).
Short Opening Prayer
Help me to grow
In all that I know.
Help me to love
Your words from above.
Help me, I pray,
to learn goodness each day.
Help me to see
Christ’s light living in me.
Amen.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE PDF DOWNLOAD: Short Opening Prayer for Class – PRINTABLE PDF – Life with the Saints
Opening Prayer for Class
Lord Jesus Christ,
We come to you with open minds and open hearts, eager to learn and grow each day. We thank you for the opportunity to share in the knowledge and wisdom of Your Holy Father. We thank you for the tools, such as books and supplies, that make it possible for us to learn today. We ask for perseverance and humility in learning. Help us to respect and honor those who are teaching us. Give us the patience we need as beginners. We humbly pray that we may use what we learn to do Your will, forever and ever. Amen.
St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for us.
St. John Baptist de la Salle, pray for us.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE PDF DOWNLOAD: Opening Prayer for Class – PRINTABLE PDF – Life with the Saints
Continue Praying Throughout the Day
Don’t let the fun stop after morning prayer! Can you include other prayers throughout the school day? As Catholics, we pray the Angelus at 6:00am, noon, and 6:00pm. You can include prayers before and after meals. Pray at the end of the school day, sending off students with prayers that they are safe and continue learning.
Do you know a teacher who is pregnant and in need of additional prayers? Check out this prayer for pregnant women.
Is your husband a teacher? Check out this prayer for husbands!
Perhaps a special teacher in your life or a special student is celebrating a birthday today! Have your students say this special birthday prayer for a friend.
How can I pray for you as a teacher as well as your students today? I encourage you to include these intentions as a comment below!
