First Quarter...Finished!

Well..we just finished the first nine weeks. I love every one of my classes. Such a sweet group of sixth graders!

The Bible ISNs have been fun for both me and the students. A favorite activity was the "fakebook" worksheets. I just googled Fake facebook activities and so many worksheets showed up. I printed off a free sheet and after our study on Noah and later on, after our study of Joseph...I had the students create a "fakebook" page as the Biblical figure. They then pasted the page in their ISN and I could grade it from there.

Bible Fun

Every Friday my students have two things to look forward to. First is their memory verse quiz *wink wink* and second is Sword Drills.

Students use their Bibles or the Bible under their desks...I call out a random verse and they frantically search for it so they can win.  I have sweetened the deal for my classes though. I have had parents donate prizes so the kids compete for candy prizes or the revered "Big Box" prize.

Here's how we play:
I call out different groups to participate. Sometimes it is by row, sometimes by shirt color, other times it is by what they ate for breakfast or if they have particular pets. The kids love this part.

Then I call out what they are playing for...either fun sized candy or a big box prize. The big box prizes are awesome donations that I had asked for near the beginning of the year and continue to ask for throughout the year. Usually they are non edible, dollar section prizes. Things like pens, locker magnets, journals, silly putty...

I call out a verse. All bibles are shut. If students have book tabs they have to hold them against their chest. I say the verse once more then say "GO."  The first student who starts reading the correct verse wins the prize. It is such a great way for the students to get to know their Bibles and the books in them!

I encourage my slow pokes to play at home with their families..it's a lot of fun

I have included a picture of our prizes.

Iconic, Ironic, or just plain awesome

I'm using this binder at school. I love how it slides the ring over, instead of opening downward.

I've got all my classes in this binder, separated by period. I put all my grading in for the weekend, or evening.

And...As I stand here teaching my sixth graders, it makes me smile to think that the Trapper Keeper I used in 6th grade gets a new life in this 6th grade classroom.

Praying more effectively

Well hello Blog friends!

I have been so absolutely tired by the end of the day I don't feel like talking physically or even virtually. I got to sleep in a couple hours today and I feel like a million bucks!

This week I had the opportunity to teach the A.C.T.S. method of praying to my 6th graders. Haven't heard of it? I hadn't either, for most my life, until I attended a Bible study a couple years ago where the leader introduced me to it.
A- Adoration
This is where you start out by praising and adoring God for who He is. A time of telling Him that you love Him for the many characteristics He is.

I teach six different periods of Bible, and throughout the day, we read some verses which included characteristics and aspects of God. Then we would list as many as we could think up. By the end of the day, my chalkboard looked like this

I had the kids use index cards, and write a day of the week on each card, then add 3-4 characteristics of God on each card. That way they could use a different card every day. 

C- Confession

This is the portion of your prayer where you confess your sins that keep you from having a closeness with your Father. 

T- Thanksgiving

A time to thank Him for all His blessings in your life.

S-Supplication

This portion, at the very end, is where you make known your requests to God.

I've been modeling this prayer for my classes each day, and I hope that at least a few of them find this more effective than what they had been doing.

Here is an example of how this prayer would look in real life:

"Dear Heavenly Father, You are my Everlasting God. Isaiah 40:28 says, "The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom." I love You and Praise You with my whole heart.

Lord, I'm sorry for the way I treated my sister, I yelled at her when she wanted to play with me. I am so sorry.

Thank You for this beautiful day. Thank You for my family and that they love me. Thank You for all You do for me.

I pray now for my grandma who is sick. Can You please be with her? Would You comfort her and if it be Your will heal her? Give her peace and help her to know that You are near.

In Jesus name, Amen."

Hope this helps any of you out there struggling to pray effectively.

So, that's what I've been up to. I hope to get back into crocheting again before Christmastime, I would like to create some new patterns. :)