Besides teaching 7-12 Social Studies (combined in 3 classes; grades 7 & 8 together, grade 9, and grades 10-12 together), I am also teaching the 6th graders for Social Studies as well. This "shuffling of classes" is all because we don't have an English teacher. So they've combined other classes for people to step into that role, and the domino affect hits us all. It is all okay, but I do believe it would be SO much better if we had an English teacher. Do please pray about this! Thanks!
Because about half the students don't/can't show up the first days, I chose to give a mini-project early and let the kids enjoy themselves. That way, when all the others finally got here, they'd have less text book work to make up, and those already here could still accomplish something I'd planned to do at some point anyway.
The project was to research as if they could take a dream vacation. With the new encyclopedias that arrived in May, I had them look up at least 5 countries each, and create travel itineraries and look into histories or interesting locations which they'd like to see. It sounds simple, but the main reason I did this project was 2-fold: to have them actually see the value of the new encyclopedias (kids today seem to not be interested in book-research and they nearly fully rely on Internet- I gave them NO Internet options), and I wanted their minds and hearts to open up to dreaming a bit. It has been interesting to hear and see where the teens would like to go, and why.
Classroom time (in this case, Miss Keeley, our principal, has stepped in as one of the temporary English teachers).
Above: time in our first chapel last week. Be praying for our chapels for the year. They are always on Fridays, and we have 2; one for elementary and one for secondary. Pray that the Lord will touch hearts and minds so kids will either choose Him for the first time, or simply choose to follow Christ further. Pray for the speakers, the worship, for any visitors who come (so many parents often come see the chapels and God can work to reach them, too!). Lastly, be in prayer for our Spiritual Emphasis Week Sept. 7-11 and then the secondary retreat Sept. 16-18. Pray the Holy Spirit will reach lives as never before. Pray for softened hearts. Thank you!