Classroom Update!

Here is what is happening in Room 120!

7th English: The students did an excellent job with The Giver unit.  The students honed their higher level thinking skills and worldview application as we discussed how the absence of God in the novel actually points to His existence and our need of Him.  We also discussed the value of life and what the author was trying to say in writing The Giver.  We discussed how differently Christians understand our lives than how our current culture values life.  I am thankful that we can discuss the themes of a "secular" novel and apply what we have learned to our world and understanding.  We are now in the middle of a grammar unit and will soon be starting a short story unit to finish off the first quarter.  The only homework that the students have in English currently is to work on their Giver projects which they will present on October 3rd. 

8th English: We are more than halfway through The Hiding Place.  Class time has been made up of discussion, reading comprehension assessments, writing prompts, and more.  I have appreciated how the students are staying on top of the reading for this amazing novel. Students have been saddened over what has happened in the book, and certainly some tears have been shed in class.  They are coming to class prepared to discuss, and I am enjoying every moment with them and this book.  Last Friday we read that Betsie ten Boom felt sorry for the Nazi soldiers (WHAT?!) and we talked about what Jesus said on the cross about forgiveness (OH!).  In addition to reading, the students are also in the middle of writing research papers on various Holocaust-related topics.  Class time has also been spent teaching them how to research, paraphrase, cite, and conquer MLA Format. 

8th Bible: The current memory passage is Ephesians 5:1-4, ESV. In light of this passage, we will continue to discuss what it means to "be imitators of God" as we learn more about Jesus' life on Earth.  Parents, if you want to generate some dinner discussion, ask your student what the core truth needs to be as Christians (circle diagram), what our lives mean in the eternal scope of things (line drawing), and how we are called to be fishers of men (comparison chart).  If they are really listening in class, maybe they can tell you what areas Jesus exhibits power over (with examples from each) and what ICHTHUS means!  We will be finished with the first unit in two weeks and will have a culminating test on these concepts and more.  I am so blessed by my students in this Biblical Worldview class each day!

Bonding at the recent TCS Pep Rally! :) I love these sweet faces! 

We went outside for part of Bible class last week!  Sometimes ya need a little recess!
These awesome kids loved spending time together enjoying the beautiful weather.