Share the Light

We made it through our first week!  I'm sure you were all exhausted by Friday as the first week can be busy getting things in order and helping the students adapt to new routines.  One thing I can tell you is that I am hearing a great deal of positive feedback from parents.  Go Mustangs!!  There is one teacher that seems to be the topic of "My teacher is awesome!"  When we asked David to move from 3rd grade to middle school I remember him asking questions like, "Do they hug?" and "Do they cry?"  Hopefully not and 7th grade appears to be a perfect match!  One Mustang Buck coming your way.   

For all the new staff, welcome to my blog.  I will post a new blog each weekend, usually on Sunday.  In it, I will discuss upcoming events, reflections on past events, teaching strategies and classroom ideas I read about, etc. etc.  It is important that you take time to read this each weekend as I communicate the week's events and responsibilities through this blog. 

I have started going through unit plans. I'm looking at them all and in great detail and providing feedback. I'm seeing a lot of really great things and it's clear you are putting time into creating your units. Some important reminders: keep EQs broad and only use a few, upload all assessments before creating the lessons (teacher observation cannot be the only assessment), and think beyond bible quotes for the values infusion.  I have noticed that some of you have the unit plans from last year.  That is absolutely fine as long they go with curriculum/textbooks we are currently using and be sure to update with this year's dates.  It's important to indicate when the lessons will take place.  If this is your first year at St. Stephen, please do not be overwhelmed by this as it takes time to build your unit plans the first year. 

I have created the rubric for the Golden Lunch Tray Award.  A new sheet should be used each day and that one sheet will be used for both lunches and all tables.  Each table is for one grade with the exception of the combined grade 1 and 2 table.  I've noted that on the rubric.  The students who sit at that table should be the same at least for the whole month so the correct students get the award if that table wins.  If anyone has questions, please let me know and I will bring them to the lunchroom on Monday on a clipboard. 

This week I would like to talk about something we didn't touch on during pre-planning.  It's a reminder for returning teachers and new info for our new teachers and it is only for teachers who teach religion.  For everyone else, it's FYI so you know what's happening and you can support the religion teachers. 

Each Friday, remind students to listen to the readings at Mass and to bring their envelopes to church.  During Monday's religion class, set aside 5-10 min. to talk about the readings and homily from Mass.  It can be a question they answer in their journal as bell work and then a brief discussion.  It does not have to take long, but the idea is that we want students to know that going to Mass is important and hopefully those who have trouble with the question because they didn't go to Mass will go home and ask their parents to take them the following week.  This may be a good thing to mention on Tuesday night so that parents understand that Mass will be discussed in religion class. 

Last year I shared a resource that does all the work for you.  There are weekly handouts you can print, but I would recommend doing that only once in a while for special seasons.  I suggest you use them as a guide to come up with questions about the readings.  I shared the website with everyone a few weeks ago - The Religion Teacher https://www.thereligionteacher.com/  I have a site license for this website and the credentials for everyone is the same - lumoh@sscsfl.org / Mu$tang123.  You can choose from "Weekly Readings" on the right side.   We are currently in Year C and this weekend is the 20th Sunday in ordinary time.  The worksheet for this weekend says, "Directions: Read Luke 12:49-53. In this Gospel passage, Jesus says that he will establish division even among families for believing in him. Imagine if you were rejected even by your own family for your belief in Jesus, then answer the question below. What do you have faith in that is so strong that you would have the courage to be rejected even by family and friends?"  There are also other resources on the website. 

Another resource I found, and many of you may already know about is Sadlier.  You should each have a login for the teacher resources (Gina can help with that), but there are also open resources at https://religion.sadlierconnect.com/wbcid    Choose This Week's Liturgy and you can scroll to the one you want.  This may actually be a better resource.  There are discussion questions for each of the readings as well as activities.  Again, you will find numerous resources here other than Liturgy.  

Here is a rundown of this week's events:

Monday

• STREAM planning meeting at 3:15 pm.  Come with ideas

Tuesday

• Picture Day (Karen will have an approximate schedule for you, but stay in your classroom until called or volunteers come to get you)
• PTCO meeting at 5:30 pm in the FLC.  All should attend and you may leave at 6 pm
• Back to School night presentations:  6:30 - 7:10 and 7:15 - 7:55.  I will announce it is time to switch at 7:10 and say goodnight at 7:55

Wednesday

• Mass
• iReady testing begins

Thursday

• Visits in your classroom by the boy scouts (Gr. K-5)

HAVE AN AWESOME WEEK 2!