"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."
- W.B. Yeats
Well, the school year is upon us, as is another adventure! This year is going to be different for both the students and myself, as digital curriculum and iPads are making their way into the classroom. This is a very exciting time to be a part of the U.C.A. family and I am truly blessed to be a part of it!
This year I will leave P.E. behind and pick up 7th grade History! We have an entirely digital curriculum that we are using this year and just looking through the content excites me for all the possibilities this class will have due to this technology. We are going to have a blast going through medieval history using digital resources such as online homework assignments, digital flashcards and review for tests, and awesome presentations from both myself and student created.
I will also be doing 7th grade Bible this year, which will go though the life and ministry of Jesus. I previously taught the book of Acts to 8th grade, but love the transition to the story and meaning behind our Christian faith. I am really looking forward to the discussions, questions, and growth of the 7th grade class in learning about Jesus and his ministry. This is going to be another great opportunity to use the iPads in the classroom, as they open up the possibility for student led presentations, research into current events, and access to many biblical resources via the internet.
I will retain my 8th grade math class from last year, which is Algebra Readiness. I absolutely love teaching this class. It allows me to really help the students master the skills needed to be successful next year in an Algebra 1 class. I feel that the small class size and being able to set our own pace is such a key aspect to the effectiveness of this class that each year I am truly blessed to be teaching it. I am looking forward to many eureka moments within this class as we tackle each new concept and master it!
Well, the adventure awaits and all we can do is start it! Start strong, stay strong, finish strong!
Monday, August 25, 2014
Thursday, June 12, 2014
End of the Year
As the year comes to a close and we wrap things up, I am so proud of the work my students have made and the progress they have shown. In Math 7 and Math 8 we spent the last 1-2 weeks reviewing and preparing for their next journey, Algebra 1. I was so impressed by all they retained and remembered from September through June and I know they will take on any challenge they face next year. Keep up the great work and remember to keep it all fresh this summer with some periodic reviewing!
In Bible 8, we spent time reviewing and reciting verses for graduation. We also spent time going over the year in Acts and what it means to have a relationship with Christ. I have seen these kids grow spiritually throughout the year and I am praying for them each day that they continue to do so as they move on into high school. I am so proud of each and everyone of them!
This year has been such a blessing for me as a teacher and I pray that I have been able to be a blessing to my students as they have been a blessing to me!
In Bible 8, we spent time reviewing and reciting verses for graduation. We also spent time going over the year in Acts and what it means to have a relationship with Christ. I have seen these kids grow spiritually throughout the year and I am praying for them each day that they continue to do so as they move on into high school. I am so proud of each and everyone of them!
This year has been such a blessing for me as a teacher and I pray that I have been able to be a blessing to my students as they have been a blessing to me!
Friday, May 16, 2014
Finishing Strong!
May is upon us and we are still going strong! With the late Easter vacation this year, May seemed to be here before we knew it, but we are taking it in stride and working very hard.
In 7th grade math we are finishing chapter 10, which is a very important chapter for the foundation of Algebra 1 that they will be taking next year. They are doing SO well with this chapter that I am very optimistic about their ability to tackle Algebra 1 next year! We will be doing some more work with it before finishing off the chapter and moving on to our next and final chapter for the year.
In 8th grade math we are solidifying not only new objectives and ideas, but reviewing and making sure all of our years work is put to the test. It is nice to see them working so hard still, knowing how much this will help them next year in high school. I am very excited to see them finish and start again next year with the skills they have been practicing all year. We will be finishing up this last chapter and starting an all book review for a final test!
In 8th grade Bible we have started memorizing our graduation verses. This is no easy task and they have been doing very well remembering verses they recited in September. Also, with Spiritual Emphasis Week in May, we have been talking about our relationship with God. We have been getting into some good conversations about what it means to have a true, meaningful relationship with God, how to maintain and grow that relationship, and the importance of doing so. Watching these 8th grade students grow spiritually this year has been a blessing and I am so proud of the way they have stepped up this year in Bible. I am hoping that I can continue to see them grow and mentor them as they enter their high school years!
Well, we are finishing strong in all aspects and I cannot be happier. The students can see the finish line and they aren't letting up!
In 7th grade math we are finishing chapter 10, which is a very important chapter for the foundation of Algebra 1 that they will be taking next year. They are doing SO well with this chapter that I am very optimistic about their ability to tackle Algebra 1 next year! We will be doing some more work with it before finishing off the chapter and moving on to our next and final chapter for the year.
In 8th grade math we are solidifying not only new objectives and ideas, but reviewing and making sure all of our years work is put to the test. It is nice to see them working so hard still, knowing how much this will help them next year in high school. I am very excited to see them finish and start again next year with the skills they have been practicing all year. We will be finishing up this last chapter and starting an all book review for a final test!
In 8th grade Bible we have started memorizing our graduation verses. This is no easy task and they have been doing very well remembering verses they recited in September. Also, with Spiritual Emphasis Week in May, we have been talking about our relationship with God. We have been getting into some good conversations about what it means to have a true, meaningful relationship with God, how to maintain and grow that relationship, and the importance of doing so. Watching these 8th grade students grow spiritually this year has been a blessing and I am so proud of the way they have stepped up this year in Bible. I am hoping that I can continue to see them grow and mentor them as they enter their high school years!
Well, we are finishing strong in all aspects and I cannot be happier. The students can see the finish line and they aren't letting up!
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Ready, Set, Go!
This school year has started off very well! We have been getting back into the swing of things and shaking off the summer little by little. Now that we are mid September, everyone has left behind the back to school mentality and they are ready to tackle this school year!
In my math classes, we have been reviewing some of the end of the year lessons from last year. Most of the time it will click right away and they remember the lesson from last year. We are starting now to get into chapter 2, which will begin to expand on the chapter 1 ideas and move into brand new ideas all together. I am very excited for my math classes this year, as I have 2 very excited classes who are eager to conquer math this year.
My Bible class will again be going through the book of Acts. Acts is a very interesting book and what is exciting, for me as a teacher, is that most of the kids have not done a study on this book before 8th grade. It really allows me to introduce them to things that they may know but have never studied before. Early church history and the beginnings of the Christian faith is something we all need to know and learn. Understanding what our early church founders went through after Jesus ascended is such a crucial aspect of our faith and I am so blessed to be able to embark on that spiritual journey with them!
This year is shaping up to be yet another amazing one and I am cannot wait to watch it unfold!
Mr. B
In my math classes, we have been reviewing some of the end of the year lessons from last year. Most of the time it will click right away and they remember the lesson from last year. We are starting now to get into chapter 2, which will begin to expand on the chapter 1 ideas and move into brand new ideas all together. I am very excited for my math classes this year, as I have 2 very excited classes who are eager to conquer math this year.
My Bible class will again be going through the book of Acts. Acts is a very interesting book and what is exciting, for me as a teacher, is that most of the kids have not done a study on this book before 8th grade. It really allows me to introduce them to things that they may know but have never studied before. Early church history and the beginnings of the Christian faith is something we all need to know and learn. Understanding what our early church founders went through after Jesus ascended is such a crucial aspect of our faith and I am so blessed to be able to embark on that spiritual journey with them!
This year is shaping up to be yet another amazing one and I am cannot wait to watch it unfold!
Mr. B
Monday, October 29, 2012
Classroom Happenings!
After a very active and exciting month of October in the Junior High, I am happy to say that we are finally settling down again! With each grade taking a trip and having different teachers being gone for those trips, it has been a very GO-GO-GO month. As exciting as this month has been, I can honestly say I am happy to start having ALL my students and co-workers back!
In 7th grade math, we have worked through most of the "beginning of the year review" content. A lot of the beginning year lessons are overlap from the previous year, however, we are passed those lessons and moving onto some new territory: the Pythagorean Theorem! This a new endeavor for most of them and it is exciting for me to be able to introduce it to them and see them grasp the new ideas!
In 8th grade math, we have started into the big, bad world of algebraic equations. Like a lot of math books, the first part of the book is overlap of the previous year's concepts. We are moving away from those ideas and moving into new territory. These 8th graders are well prepared, however, and are doing very well with these new ideas and complexity of algebraic equations. I am pleased with the way things are shaping up and I am looking forward to introducing more algebra concepts as we move forward.
In 8th grade Bible, we are chugging along through the book of Acts. We are seeing the many different miracles that God used to bring people to Christianity during the early church. We are also seeing a very involved base of followers, in that they so willingly give to those in need. With that idea in mind, we are preparing to participate in the Operation Christmas Child campaign in the coming month. This involves students making Christmas boxes with different age levels and genders in mind for kids in need. They will donate these boxes and, in December, we will be going to a distribution center to volunteer our time to help ship them all over the world! I am truly looking forward to seeing how our students are impacted by this project!
With all that being said, November and December will be a very busy, but rewarding couple of months in the Junior High!
In 7th grade math, we have worked through most of the "beginning of the year review" content. A lot of the beginning year lessons are overlap from the previous year, however, we are passed those lessons and moving onto some new territory: the Pythagorean Theorem! This a new endeavor for most of them and it is exciting for me to be able to introduce it to them and see them grasp the new ideas!
In 8th grade math, we have started into the big, bad world of algebraic equations. Like a lot of math books, the first part of the book is overlap of the previous year's concepts. We are moving away from those ideas and moving into new territory. These 8th graders are well prepared, however, and are doing very well with these new ideas and complexity of algebraic equations. I am pleased with the way things are shaping up and I am looking forward to introducing more algebra concepts as we move forward.
In 8th grade Bible, we are chugging along through the book of Acts. We are seeing the many different miracles that God used to bring people to Christianity during the early church. We are also seeing a very involved base of followers, in that they so willingly give to those in need. With that idea in mind, we are preparing to participate in the Operation Christmas Child campaign in the coming month. This involves students making Christmas boxes with different age levels and genders in mind for kids in need. They will donate these boxes and, in December, we will be going to a distribution center to volunteer our time to help ship them all over the world! I am truly looking forward to seeing how our students are impacted by this project!
With all that being said, November and December will be a very busy, but rewarding couple of months in the Junior High!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Edmodo Time!
Hello!
As you may have heard, this year we are using a site called Edmodo. This site is an AMAZING educational tool that we (teachers, students, and parents) can use in order to further integrate technology into our classrooms. So many different opportunities open up for us as a school if we are all on board with technology!
With that being said, students and parents alike can sign up for Edmodo here: www.edmodo.com
By doing this, students can access assignments, quizzes, polls, and discussions that will be a mandatory part of their curriculum. Parents can access all of these features as well in order to keep up with what their student is doing at school, while actively engaging with their student in discussions. Once you are signed up, a code will be required to join a class, which makes this a very safe environment for the students! All posts and members will be monitored by the teacher who runs the class making it a great place for students to feel safe and comfortable to express their ideas on any topic.
The codes for Bible 8, Math 7, and Math 8 were given to each student, while an additional code for The Hobbit book club was also given to those interested in reading through the book as a group!
E-mail me any questions you may have about this amazing tool and I hope to see you soon on Edmodo!
As you may have heard, this year we are using a site called Edmodo. This site is an AMAZING educational tool that we (teachers, students, and parents) can use in order to further integrate technology into our classrooms. So many different opportunities open up for us as a school if we are all on board with technology!
With that being said, students and parents alike can sign up for Edmodo here: www.edmodo.com
By doing this, students can access assignments, quizzes, polls, and discussions that will be a mandatory part of their curriculum. Parents can access all of these features as well in order to keep up with what their student is doing at school, while actively engaging with their student in discussions. Once you are signed up, a code will be required to join a class, which makes this a very safe environment for the students! All posts and members will be monitored by the teacher who runs the class making it a great place for students to feel safe and comfortable to express their ideas on any topic.
The codes for Bible 8, Math 7, and Math 8 were given to each student, while an additional code for The Hobbit book club was also given to those interested in reading through the book as a group!
E-mail me any questions you may have about this amazing tool and I hope to see you soon on Edmodo!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)