Pre-Kinders love games! Games are invaluable in my classroom as they provide an outlet for skill practice in a fun and engaging way. Students enjoy structured activities. My paraprofessional or I are usually at the table to work on the skill as we introduce the game and kids love going to a "teacher" center. Games also teach social skills like talking turns, playing fairly and even "you can't win them all"! Board games have been replaced by video games in so many homes so this is a great opportunity to engage kids!
The greatest lessons I learned this week were taught to me by God loving children!
Let me back up a little bit and give you some background and I hope you will stay with me. I am a Christian who LOVES my Lord and Savior! I was blessed with parents who know God and brought me from birth in the Catholic church. I attended Catholic school from kindergarten through twelfth grade with the last four years being at an all girl Catholic high school, and I am beyond thankful.
That being said, my faith is still growing and I attend a Christian church now and love where my faith has taken me. I am, however, a public school teacher and at times it saddens me that I can't share the fact that Jesus loves them with my students.
Today, our voices are stifled in public schools, but GOD is not. Here are 5 ways I have learned to bring GOD back into the classroom.
We, as believers in Christ, need to lead as Christ lead us. He came to this earth to give us the perfect example of how we can live our lives. So now its our turn to teach, model and love these children that have been entrusted to us. Yes, that also includes the not so easy to love child...You know the one-the child that pushes every limit and gets under your skin. He/she needs our LOVE the MOST!
So friends, this year my paraprofessional and I have prayer specifically for our students. We have been intentional with our prayer and we schedule who we are praying for. There are days and even weeks that we are more consistent than others, but the good news is God hears our prayers! So yes, we may not be able to pray with our students, but we can certainly pray FOR our students!
And yes friend, this sweet little pre-kinder friend taught me a HUGE lesson on Friday too! I was so touched by his honest answer when asked why he loved his mom. I am sure his mama was having a proud moment too! Children don't know to sensor their conversations to leave God out of public school and their is such power in this innocence! The Holy Spirit moved me to share his story, our story, our Savior's story with all who are willing to listen.
I believe the most powerful lessons we can teach our kids in the classroom are classified as "character education" but know this: we are planting a seed in these sweet, little children that will grow when tended to. So PRAISE GOD- against such things there is no law!
So friends, this year my paraprofessional and I have prayer specifically for our students. We have been intentional with our prayer and we schedule who we are praying for. There are days and even weeks that we are more consistent than others, but the good news is God hears our prayers! So yes, we may not be able to pray with our students, but we can certainly pray FOR our students!
My youngest son sent me a selfie on Friday to ask if his shirt matched his shorts. This was the shirt he received at church two years ago when he was baptized. It even says NEW CREATION on the back. My first thought was concern that he would be called out on it in middle school. (Middle school kids can be so mean!) But isn't that what we are called to do? Imagine if the Holy Spirit used Zach or even the message on his shirt to speak to someone. That is exactly what we are called to do and I am so thankful that my son has the conviction to do it! #proudmama
I believe the most powerful lessons we can teach our kids in the classroom are classified as "character education" but know this: we are planting a seed in these sweet, little children that will grow when tended to. So PRAISE GOD- against such things there is no law!
So as we celebrate Teacher Appreciation this week,
let's take the time to celebrate with each other
and be thankful for the little people we are honored to teach!
Alphabet
art
caterpilars
fairy tales
literacy
math
math centers
Mother's Day
plants
puzzles
science
Sight Words
Plant Week & Five for Friday
We brought a a Milk Weed Plant into the classroom in hopes of finding a caterpillar only to find out we have FIVE caterpillars! We are very excited to learn all about them. I love the text in this Butterfly Life Cycle book by Amanda Richardson. This product also has a life cycle poster and several other activities perfect for the primary grades.
Mother's Day is just around the corner. These finger print flowers are a favorite of mine. We will add the stems and fingerprint leaves next week. I am trying to decide if I should frame them or add them to the front of a card. It doesn't happen too often that I am actually ahead of the game!
Skill building puzzles have brought life back to the puzzle center! I found this idea over at The Applicious Teacher years ago and had it tucked away in the back of my mind. You should check out her post on Puzzles in the Classroom!
We are down to the final 28 days of school. I love that I have the most awesome paraprofessional! She is prepping Alphabet Flip Books for next year and yes, that is the final letter Z is see!!
Do you know how some weeks feel like they are NEVER going to end? Yes, that would be this week for me! Coming back from spring break is always hard, but we also had a sick dog, vet visits and I had a student fall on the playground who need stitches! #heavyheart
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)