I have come to fall in love with teaching in Catholic schools. What are YOU in love with?...

"Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you will do with your evenings, how you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in love, stay in love, and it will decide everything." - Pedro Arrupe

Saturday, October 13, 2012

...And...?

Teaching fourth graders presents many challenges, but the one I have found year after year to be the most like pulling teeth is getting the students to write complete sentences with specific details to support their answers.

In fact, when I explain the challenge to most people, I usually compare it to this:



If you've ever taught in a classroom (of any age), you undoubtedly know what I'm talking about.

Why is explaining ideas and other things on paper so darn hard? Is it really that much extra effort? Well, for some reason, my fourth graders think so.

So, until the students can expand those sentences on their own, I'll be the one right there saying, "And...?" And then, just maybe, I'll get answers with at least some substance...

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