We began our week with a chapel led by Pastor Dan Jongsma of DCF. He talked to us about farms, and specifically about fences: how they keep animals safe and protected, keep them close by so the farmer can care for them, yet provide lots of freedom within the enclosed space for the animals to roam around. God provides "fences" for us, too: the 10 commandments. These commandments are given to us by a loving God who cares for us and protects us and gives us lots of freedom within the boundaries he sets for us. God wants us to stay within the "Law of Love"--to love God above all else, and to love our neightbors as ourselves. If you have a chance, ask your child about this lesson on fences!
Today was a working day in class. Our book clubs met again, and students worked together to discuss their books and complete their assignments. Most of the students are keeping up with their reading and doing a good job working with others in their group. All students will be finishing their books and completing their last assignments for our next book club meeting on FRIDAY. (Field Day is Wednesday, so students have a little longer to wait till their next meeting.)
We also continued researching our topics. I've asked students to do some at-home researching this week and to make, if possible, a trip to the library to try to find some print sources to use for research. Students are expected to come to class on Friday with at least 15 research notecards completed, and they should also bring with them two print sources (books, magazine articles, etc.) If finding a print source is a problem, please let me know in writing.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
May 11
Our devotions today were based on a passage from Romans and used a neat analogy: just as a glove isn't capable of much on its own, but can do amazing things when filled with a hand, so we are--not capable on our own of living according to God's standards, but when filled with the Holy Spirit, capable of great things! We prayed together for God to fill each one of us and help us to live in the way he desires!
We are well into our books for our Book Clubs, and each group has met three times now. Students are reading, quizzing each other, discussing, and sharing their work with one another. It's great to see the students collaborating as they talk about their books and share their observations! Clubs will continue to meet and read for two more sessions.
We began working on research papers today. Students will be writing a 750-1000 word (3-4 page typed) research paper on a significant person or event. Students came today with their topics and began doing research online. We talked about notetaking and avoiding plagiarism, and students learned how to create a source card and take notes from that source. We'll continue to research next week, and students will be required to consult print sources as well, so if you have a trip to the library planned, have your child check for books related to his or her topic.
We praised God today for the beautiful weather and the opportunities we have to delight in his marvelous creation. Enjoy today and the weekend ahead!
We are well into our books for our Book Clubs, and each group has met three times now. Students are reading, quizzing each other, discussing, and sharing their work with one another. It's great to see the students collaborating as they talk about their books and share their observations! Clubs will continue to meet and read for two more sessions.
We began working on research papers today. Students will be writing a 750-1000 word (3-4 page typed) research paper on a significant person or event. Students came today with their topics and began doing research online. We talked about notetaking and avoiding plagiarism, and students learned how to create a source card and take notes from that source. We'll continue to research next week, and students will be required to consult print sources as well, so if you have a trip to the library planned, have your child check for books related to his or her topic.
We praised God today for the beautiful weather and the opportunities we have to delight in his marvelous creation. Enjoy today and the weekend ahead!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
May 2
Today we worked on essays based on The Hiding Place. The students are writing five paragraph essays in which they discuss a theme (message) of the book and use examples from the story to show how this theme is conveyed. We looked today at the structure of an essay--introduction, body, and conclusion--and what is included in each of the parts. I also gave the students a writing guide for their essays; it's designed to help them think about each sentence they write and how it is related to the essay as a whole. We spent some time writing in class, we will have a little more time to work in class on Friday. The essays will then be due next week Wednesday.
We also prepared today to move on to our next reading assignment. The students will be working in groups called Book Clubs to read novels together. Each club will be assigned a different novel. Groups will have reading assignments each day, and each member of each club will have a job to do related to that reading. The clubs will meet during class and members will work together to present and complete the assigned jobs. Today we talked about book clubs and learned about the jobs, and on Friday students will receive their club assignments and we'll get started reading!
We also prepared today to move on to our next reading assignment. The students will be working in groups called Book Clubs to read novels together. Each club will be assigned a different novel. Groups will have reading assignments each day, and each member of each club will have a job to do related to that reading. The clubs will meet during class and members will work together to present and complete the assigned jobs. Today we talked about book clubs and learned about the jobs, and on Friday students will receive their club assignments and we'll get started reading!
Monday, April 30, 2012
April 30
During our chapel this morning we praised God through song, and we practiced for Sunday, when the DCS students will lead the praise singing at Dearborn Christian Fellowship. I hope that almost all of the students will be able to be there! It's great to see all those young people on stage, and I think seeing our school family together will be inspiring to others at the church--and hopefully other families will want to be a part of our school family next year! If your child is able to be there, he or she should plan to come at 9:15 if possible to do a little warming up for our worship.
We're wrapping up our study of The Hiding Place. Today we discussed the ways in which we were impacted by the book and what we learned from it. The students recogized that the book is not only a good story; it's also an encouragement to give thanks in all circumstances, to keep your faith in God and dependence on Him strong, and to share His love with others around you. There is so much we can learn, and it really is an inspiring story! After our discussion, we talked about possible themes in the book. Students each came up with at least one theme, and we shared them with one another. Students were then asked to choose a theme and to think of at least three ways in which this theme was demonstrated in the book. This is in preparation for an essay we will begin writing on Wednesday.
Today we also worked on choosing the right word for the sentence. We looked at about 20 word pairs (such as altogether and all together) and discussed their uses. Students then completed some exercises in which they needed to choose the word or words that were needed in sentences. I believe everyone finished this assignment in class, so the students' only homework today is to read (as always!) and to be prepared with a theme and three examples for our essay on Wednesday.
In closing, let me just say how much I enjoyed Grandparents' Day on Friday. We had a great turnout of grandparents and special friends, and it was so neat to see students working with and interacting with their grandparents. I'm so thankful that these special people are a part of our students' lives!
We're wrapping up our study of The Hiding Place. Today we discussed the ways in which we were impacted by the book and what we learned from it. The students recogized that the book is not only a good story; it's also an encouragement to give thanks in all circumstances, to keep your faith in God and dependence on Him strong, and to share His love with others around you. There is so much we can learn, and it really is an inspiring story! After our discussion, we talked about possible themes in the book. Students each came up with at least one theme, and we shared them with one another. Students were then asked to choose a theme and to think of at least three ways in which this theme was demonstrated in the book. This is in preparation for an essay we will begin writing on Wednesday.
Today we also worked on choosing the right word for the sentence. We looked at about 20 word pairs (such as altogether and all together) and discussed their uses. Students then completed some exercises in which they needed to choose the word or words that were needed in sentences. I believe everyone finished this assignment in class, so the students' only homework today is to read (as always!) and to be prepared with a theme and three examples for our essay on Wednesday.
In closing, let me just say how much I enjoyed Grandparents' Day on Friday. We had a great turnout of grandparents and special friends, and it was so neat to see students working with and interacting with their grandparents. I'm so thankful that these special people are a part of our students' lives!
Monday, April 23, 2012
April 23
We began our day with an inspiring chapel! We sang several praise songs together, and the kindergarteners joined the praise team today with their own instruments. They played drums, tambourines, guitars, and a keyboard and led us in singing. What joy they brought to our chapel! It was exciting to see these little ones' devotion to God and to think about the ways in which God leads us and works through us even when we are young.
The last couple chapters we've read in The Hiding Place have talked about Corrie and Betsie's experiences in prisoner camps in the war. We talked today about their stay in Ravensbruck, the notorious German concentration camp. We were amazed at how poorly they were treated and yet how thankful and grateful they could be each day. The sisters used their time in Ravensbruck to witness to others about God's love, and they even prayed for their persecutors. Corrie wrote that, on the one hand, their physical lives grew ever more difficult, but on the other hand, their lives in Christ grew ever richer. Their incredible story is such an inspiration! We wrote today about this interesting dichotomy, and the students used examples from the story to show how the sisters' lives grew both harder and richer. Students began their next reading assignment: to finish the book! (They have two chapters remaining.)
We look forward to sharing our day with our grandparents on Friday! We wrote about the things we appreciate about our grandparents and the memories we have of them, and students are preparing to give some grandparent awards on Friday. It should be a special day for all of us, whether grandparents are able to be present with each student or not!
The last couple chapters we've read in The Hiding Place have talked about Corrie and Betsie's experiences in prisoner camps in the war. We talked today about their stay in Ravensbruck, the notorious German concentration camp. We were amazed at how poorly they were treated and yet how thankful and grateful they could be each day. The sisters used their time in Ravensbruck to witness to others about God's love, and they even prayed for their persecutors. Corrie wrote that, on the one hand, their physical lives grew ever more difficult, but on the other hand, their lives in Christ grew ever richer. Their incredible story is such an inspiration! We wrote today about this interesting dichotomy, and the students used examples from the story to show how the sisters' lives grew both harder and richer. Students began their next reading assignment: to finish the book! (They have two chapters remaining.)
We look forward to sharing our day with our grandparents on Friday! We wrote about the things we appreciate about our grandparents and the memories we have of them, and students are preparing to give some grandparent awards on Friday. It should be a special day for all of us, whether grandparents are able to be present with each student or not!
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
April 18
Happy Spring! The students did a fantastic job in their performance of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe! We had a chance to watch a recording of our performance, and the class enjoyed seeing how they looked from the audience's perspective. In addition, we learned about writing a review, and students took a few notes on their performance and are in the process of writing a review of the performance. Students created drafts, and today we worked on some specific changes, such as leaving oneself out of the writing and using specific words and descriptions. We did some revision and worked on our final drafts today, and those will be due on Monday.
We're back to our study of The Hiding Place now as well. Students read chapter 11 for today, and chapter 12 will be due on Friday. We discussed the character of Lieutenant Rahms today and saw how Corrie was able to show God's love to this German officer. It's good to get back into this great story and see the ways in which God works!
We're back to our study of The Hiding Place now as well. Students read chapter 11 for today, and chapter 12 will be due on Friday. We discussed the character of Lieutenant Rahms today and saw how Corrie was able to show God's love to this German officer. It's good to get back into this great story and see the ways in which God works!
Monday, February 27, 2012
February 26
I'm sorry for the gap in my blog posts! We have moved into our work on the play, and our schedule has been a little different. Students successfully completed the audition process and are now "knee deep" in the work involved in rehearsing for our production. We have been working on learning and understanding the terminology and concepts used by actors and directors. Students are now very familiar with terms like "stage left", and they know where on stage that is. Blocking, articulation, being in character, projection, movement--these are all things that we have talked about and are putting into practice. Being on stage can be difficult and even awkward or uncomfortable for some, but all are making progress and learning about what to do!
We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Susan Vandenbrink working with us again this year! Mrs. Vandenbrink is a former DCS parent whose children are now college graduates, and she has graciously come back for many years to help us with our play. She has a wealth of theater knowledge and experience, and she does a great job of sharing that with our students!
We have blocked out entire show (your child can explain that to you!) and we are in the process now of running and working each scene. We started today with the prologue and scene one, and we are working through each part in a detailed fashion, focusing on the characters, their lines, and their movements. Students need to have their lines memorized in order to do this well! The students have been told that lines need to be memorized, and this has been homework for them for some time now. We are currently working on the first 20-30 pages of the script, so those lines should be the first focus, and as we work through the play, those lines will need to be committed to memory also. Please encourage your child to be working on lines, and if you can, please spend some time working with him or her on those lines. Really, the best way to practice lines is to speak them out loud, and if your child can have you or someone else read all the other characters' parts from the script, that is a huge help. Thanks!
The date of our play will be Friday, March 30--so if you haven't already put it on your calendar, please do! We will have an evening performance and an afternoon dress rehearsal. If you're able, plan to attend both!
Plan, too, for a couple of mandatory after-school rehearsals that week. Students will go to OL Smith to get used to the stage and practice there on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27 and 28 after school until 6:00. It will be very important to have all students present, so plan ahead to reschedule lessons and activities for your child on those days.
Thanks for your help and support of your child as we continue on in this exciting endeavor!
We are very fortunate to have Mrs. Susan Vandenbrink working with us again this year! Mrs. Vandenbrink is a former DCS parent whose children are now college graduates, and she has graciously come back for many years to help us with our play. She has a wealth of theater knowledge and experience, and she does a great job of sharing that with our students!
We have blocked out entire show (your child can explain that to you!) and we are in the process now of running and working each scene. We started today with the prologue and scene one, and we are working through each part in a detailed fashion, focusing on the characters, their lines, and their movements. Students need to have their lines memorized in order to do this well! The students have been told that lines need to be memorized, and this has been homework for them for some time now. We are currently working on the first 20-30 pages of the script, so those lines should be the first focus, and as we work through the play, those lines will need to be committed to memory also. Please encourage your child to be working on lines, and if you can, please spend some time working with him or her on those lines. Really, the best way to practice lines is to speak them out loud, and if your child can have you or someone else read all the other characters' parts from the script, that is a huge help. Thanks!
The date of our play will be Friday, March 30--so if you haven't already put it on your calendar, please do! We will have an evening performance and an afternoon dress rehearsal. If you're able, plan to attend both!
Plan, too, for a couple of mandatory after-school rehearsals that week. Students will go to OL Smith to get used to the stage and practice there on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 27 and 28 after school until 6:00. It will be very important to have all students present, so plan ahead to reschedule lessons and activities for your child on those days.
Thanks for your help and support of your child as we continue on in this exciting endeavor!
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