Read the Wall...

The Wall of Truth

One of the greatest blessings of teaching at a Christian school is being able to boldly share my love of Jesus with my students!  In a teacher's life, every school year brings the opportunity to hone her craft, do things better, make more of a difference in her students' lives.   

While I craft lessons that incorporate reading, writing, listening, and speaking (you know, all of those standards that our students need to master), I also have the opportunity to point our students to the truths that are found in the Word of God.

This year, I wanted to find a way to make the Word of God and the truths found in the Bible become a part of what we are doing every day - in a more intentional and bold way. I wanted to do this better and bolder than I had done it before. So, in an effort to make this a priority for me and for my students, I have covered the front of the classroom in Biblical Truth!

As we discuss plot and setting and theme and characterization, we make connections to Biblical truths. As we write sentences that demonstrate a variety of sentence structures and grammatical elements, we make connections to Biblical truths. As we read novels that explore that journeys of characters through life situations that might mirror our own or through historical periods that have changed the world, we make connections to Biblical truths. 

I have been so encouraged by the discussions sparked by the wall of truth; I can't wait to see what connections my students make next! 

Live Worthy. Bear Fruit. Grow in Knowledge

As I start another school year, my eleventh at Upland Christian Academy, I am looking forward to all that God has planned for me and for my students. I know that we will be studying great short stories and novels. I know that we will be making connections between those literary works and the Biblical Truths - Creation, God, Mankind, Moral Order, and Purpose. I know that we will be writing short literary analyses and longer essays, using the writing process to hone our skills. I know that we will learn new vocabulary words as well as Greek and Latin roots to build our ever-growing vocabularies. I know that we will work together to complete tasks - and work independently to complete others. In fact, I know what I have planned for me and my students. What I don't know - and what I am looking forward to - is seeing what God has planned. 

How is he going to use my plans to grow His kingdom? 

On my heart as this year begins is Colossians 1:9-14. May the Holy Spirit fill my students with a desire to live worthy, bear fruit, and grow in the knowledge of God. 

English 7 - The Phantom Tollbooth

Going Beyond Expectations with Milo!

Can it be? Is it that time again? Time to travel BEYOND EXPECTATIONS into the LANDS BEYOND with Milo, Tock, the Humbug, and a cast of extraordinary characters in Norton Juster's novel The Phantom Tollbooth! Filled with puns, idioms, and word play, the essence of this novel is the love of learning, the journey of discovery, and the extended metaphor of the importance of WISDOM. We are going to enjoy all of that AND explicate, analyze, and learn about language and writing!

Milo and my students are beginning their journey together...

"The little car started to go faster and faster as Milo's brain whirled with activity, and down the road they went. In a few minutes they were out of the Doldrums and back on the main highway. All the colors had returned to their original brightness, and as they raced along the road Milo continued to think of all sorts of things; of the many detours and wrong turns that were so easy to take, of how fine it was to be moving along, and, most of all, of how much could be accomplished with just a little thought."

So, let's get those brains whirling with activity so that we can discover with Milo just how much we can accomplish with "just a little thought"!

Oh, and if you've never read The Phantom Tollbooth, I encourage you to pick up a copy and settle in for a great read. While this is a book marketed for children, it is insightful and thought-provoking for readers of all ages!

English 8 - Argument Essays

The month of February was filled with writing! The eighth graders wrote their Argument Essays, choosing from a variety of topics. The students were nine given statements with which to agree or disagree, including:

The school day should start later for teenagers.

All junk food should be banned on school campuses.
Cellphones can be educational tools. 

The most popular essay topic was "the punishment for texting and driving should be the same as it is for drinking and driving."

The students worked through the writing process: pre-writing, researching (including on-line articles), drafting, editing, revising, revising, and more revising! They also had to create an online survey to gather data which they then incorporated into the body of their essay. 

The students exceeded my expectations with their passionate arguments and critical thinking. 

Next up? A journey into the past: Across Five Aprils and the American Civil War.