I wish our graduates of 2009 and their families wonderful lives in the love of the Lord. Now may the peace of God that passes all understanding fill your hearts and souls through faith in Christ Jesus! Blessings!
In many ways this has been a long year. Some of the days seemed to limp by as we handled students being un-Christlilke to other students. Hurt feelings, bad attitudes, and questionable dedication to learning can make the time drag for a teacher. However, as Tevye would say, “On the other hand…” it’s hard to believe that the year is almost over. Some days flew by as the children showed excitement in learning and flashes of higher order thinking skills. I went to a workshop once where the presenter said that God calls His teachers to be faithful, not effective. One of my colleagues asked if the presenter could move and talk to his school board. What the presenter meant was that God would cause the effects to be His. I have tried to faithful to my calling this year, and now I place my students and their parents in God’s hands and await His effectiveness. To God be the glory!
Religion final is Monday. Prealgebra final was Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Science final is Tuesday. We will be watching Jesus Christ Superstar and The Cross and the Switchblade between testing.
Have a blessed weekend! Stay warm and dry with the ones you love! Blessings!
“Not me” - innocent face follows - “I didn’t do it.” Parents, does that sound familiar? Well, just so you know, we experience that same scenario at school. While you try to believe in the innocence of children, unfortunately, some times it just isn’t so. That’s were adult wisdom and discernment has to come in to make a judgment regarding innocence or guilt. Don’t be afraid to exert your rights as a parent to raise your child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Use your God-given responsibility in the best interest of your children.
In religion we are almost through studying the events of Holy Week culminating with the resurrection of Jesus. In literature we have written name acrostics, diamante, letter couplets, and haiku. We will be writing limericks, free verse, questions poems, and concrete poems. In science we are wrapping up our study of work and machines. Test on Tuesday. Next come speed science. In math we will be using next week to prepare for the final that will be on Friday and Monday. Finals are coming. You should see and help your eighth grader prepare.
Have a wonderful weekend filled with family time and peace. And may the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus! Blessings!
These have been some long days, but I give thanks to God that He gives strength to handle them. I watch my eighth graders growing, and I pray that God would lead them in His paths always. I pray for their parents as they work to bring them up in the nurture admonish of the Lord. The days grow fewer and fewer in which to impact their lives as they move towards high school. The units are winding down, but we will remain focused, hopefully, until the final school bell rings. May God bless and keep you in His love and peace! Blessings!
Life is interesting in the middle school when you have students who try to get others in trouble. Accusations fly, but there is never a witness or any proof that any action occurred. It is easy to state that someone did something in order to get a sympathetic ear. I do not believe that this behavior, or lying and hoping to get away with it, are God-pleasing. If you want to see “old Adam” at work, do I have a place for you! When the disciples could not cast a demon out of a young boy, they were confused since they had already successfully cast out demons. Jesus told them that this type could only be cast our through prayer. I have been, and will continue to be, praying for my students. Please aid me in this endeavor. The effort can be draining, but they are worth the time and the effort!
I pray you have a blessed evening with the ones you love! Walk always in the light of our Savior’s grace! Blessings!
Keep an eye on the work that your children are doing! Yesterday I had a math student get 21.5 out of 33 problems incorrect on a math assignment, but they had a great time playing in athletic competitions over the three day weekend. Don’t lose your vigilance as the end of the year approaches. I guarantee to you that I will keep teaching through the last day of school, and I will require that my students turn in their work on time. It is up to you to check that their work is up to the standards of eighth graders about to enter high school. I deeply worry about some of my eighth graders. They have a pipe dream that they will participate in high school activities, but I fear they will not be eligible to do so. They have received the opportunity for preparation and success, but some have actively resisted. I place them in the hands of a loving and caring God.
We leave for Chicago tomorrow. One good thing about trips like this, my students’ health issues clear up and they are present and punctual. We have our meeting at 7 am and leave at 7:20 am sharp. Please be to Trinity on time and ready to go. The weather is predicted to be excellent. I anticipate a good trip.
Blessings on your evening! Get your children to bed early so they can enjoy their two days in the Windy City. May His peace fill your evenings!
Whoever said that parenting is easy must be childless. Yesterday in Bible class the high school students shared some of their life goals and the worries they have over these goals. One of the young men said that his biggest worry over his life goals was in raising his children to be godly and respectful. I was impressed! Sometimes as parents we have to make the hard decision and risk the displeasure of our children. I thank God that I had some parents this year who, when the need arose, accepted the challenge and disciplined their child. The dividends they will reap in the future will be manifold. There were also parents who failed to rise to the need. I hope that my past experiences with this type of action do not occur, but I fear that they, too, will reap dividends of a different kind. Keep holding your children (and their future spouses) in your prayers. Worship with them regularly and show them how important Bible study is by attending with them. Solid families are built on the foundation of Jesus Christ!
We are entering our last units of the year! In religion we are following Jesus through Holy Week, the crucifixion, the resurrection, ascension, and Pentecost. In literature the eighth graders will be writing their own poetry. In science we are studying simple machines and work. In music appreciation the class is completing our study of Fiddler on the Roof.
Have a blessed evening! Pray for good weather in Chicago on Wednesday and Thursday! May the Lord bless and keep you, may the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, may the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace! Blessings!
I heard something interesting on the radio this morning. It was a report about how boys between the ages of ten and twenty are in greater risk of dropping out and floating in life. The reason given was that boys have less male role models are dads are either absent or so busy with earning a living that they don’t have time to teach their sons how to be men. The other reason given was that in the age of “equality” we have equalized boys to be girls. I can truly attest to this trend after viewing what has happened to “young men” over the last thirty-four years. We have prolonged their dependency while treating them as if exposure to so many worldly stimuli has matured them. Believe me, it hasn’t. I have unfortunately seen a vast decline in the responsibility and dependability of these boys. There needs to be a countrywide wake-up call, or we will see the next generation having fathers who don’t have a clue how to be men. Being male and being a man are two different things!
With the play tonight we have cut back homework. However, memory work is still due tomorrow as is the final Chicago report for Thursday. Have a blessed night filled with His love. Give your children your time, they desire it! Blessings!
‘Be still and know that I am God.’ What wonderful words of comfort and rest when we want to do it all. How many times did Jesus and his angels give that message of peace to His people? We are a people that want to do it on our own and feel stressed when we can’t. That’s when God comes with His message of peace and love in our lives. ‘My peace I give to you!’ Oh, that we would remember that peace of God that passes all understanding every day of our lives! I wish you His peace and joy today and always!
Greek mythology scrapbooks were due today. The last literature unit is where the eighth graders create their class poetry books out of eight different types of poetry. It usually is a lot of fun. Science test today on forces in fluids and then we study the scientific concept of work. Quiz in religion tomorrow on Palm Sunday and the Cleansing of the Temple. Between singing engagements, musicals, and outside athletics, we try to fit some education so that the eighth graders are ready for high school.
Have a blessed evening fill with the peace that passes all understanding! Blessings!
Teacher Appreciation breakfast this morning so this will be short. Parenting is not an easy thing to do. It requires daily decisions and prioritizing. What makes a great parent, great, is the ability to decide what is in the best long-term interest of their children. At this stage in the lives of my eighth graders, their education and preparation for success in high school should be one of the top priorities. Maintaining emotional stability and balance in this time of hormonal flux also ranks right up there. Hang in there! The rewards of being consistent and focused on what is best for your child will far exceed the short-term upset and turmoil of them being trained. Have a blessed weekend filled with His peace that passes all understanding! I hope to see you in God’s house on Mothers’ Day!