Good Goodbyes?

It's getting to that point of the year when I really start actually thinking about the end of the year.

No, I'm (surprisingly) not referring to summer vacation. (Although, thoughts of that will soon follow.)

I'm talking about saying goodbye to students...and not just for summer. A few of my students are moving out of town, and the 8th graders are moving on to high school.

In looking back over the time I've known each of the students who will be leaving our school, I started to cry - yes, they've been challenging, but the good times and moments of growth have far outnumbered the rest.

I understand that the goodbyes are so hard because it means we had something great in the first place, but that doesn't soften the blow, no matter what Pooh says:

So, it's apparently time to grab that box of tissues. It's time to remember the positive times. It's time to celebrate the journey of our school year...

Because summer's on the horizon...

Teaching with Joy...Interrupted by Frustration

Teaching with the Joy of the Gospel (see yesterday's post) - I went into today with that as my goal.

And I lasted...until just about 1:45 p.m. when my second period of 6th grade walked in my classroom...and then proceeded to talk/waste our time for the following 40 minutes. (Guess what they had to do for homework...what we didn't get to in class...Ah! Gosh, I hate doing that - homework shouldn't be punishment...)

Gotta get back on track tomorrow - I have to turn the tables, get things going my way and help these students learn. But how to do it...?

Video? Hmm...it's possible - I have some options...
Acting things out? Check, we're doing that Friday with Bible study...
Discussion? Well, that's a given...but keeping it focused...???

If you have any brilliant ideas, feel free to share. We're finishing up the year with studying the monotheistic religions (Islam & Judaism) and touching on Pentecost and the Ascension...

JOY - Rooting Ourselves in the Gospel

I read a really timely article today on The Religion Teacher (which, by the way, if you teach middle/high school religion, this site (and membership) is for you):

Teaching with the Joy of the Gospel

The article conveys the sentiment of rooting ourselves in the Gospel message (of joy) better than I could ever hope to. So, rather than reading something mediocre I could post here tonight, I direct you straight to the article - it's worth the read, especially as we near the end of the school year and get ready to rejuvenate over the summer. 

Trust me.

V-A-C-A-TION

I feel like I've fallen off the planet with posting on this blog...oops...

I can't even really blame the end of the year - we're still 2.5 weeks away (except for 8th grade - they're 1.5 weeks away)...

This weekend (due to the holiday) is a long one - and it's been very relaxing so far. (There's quite a bit of lesson planning and grading for me left to do tomorrow, but that's another story.) Our aunt and uncle are in town from Michigan, so we've had the pleasure to be tourists in our city of Chicago - Navy Pier, Andersonville, out in the suburbs...

It's good to relax - so refreshing...so needed...

The next few weeks are going to test my patience - I'd pull a million bucks on it (if I had that kind of dough)...

Dear God, help see us through till the end of the school year. Your dear friend, Kelly

Let Us Go...An 8th Grade View

Cue lights.

Cue sound.

Today was our first campus-wide spring choral concert practice. And, surprisingly, it sounded pretty good. (And I say surprisingly because, let's face it, usually the first rehearsals of anything leave much to be desired...)

The show progresses chronologically through the grades, with 8th grade going right before the final group number. Now, the 8th grade number is pretty fun, as they sing along to the tune of "Let It Go," but with a twist of lyrics, belting instead, "Let us go!" (Someone - I'm not sure who - rewrote the words.)

Now, I can't honestly say that there has been any point this year - except maybe right in the Mass for Confirmation itself - where I felt that 8th grade was my favorite class. And they still aren't, but as they sang those words and I looked upon them as a whole group, I couldn't help but feel a wave of sadness. Yes, sadness - even when I was ready just hours earlier to scream in frustration while attempting to break open the Book of Revelation with them - and I realized that in spending this past school year with them studying important topics about our faith and trying to help them adjust to the everyday challenges of growing up, I am not quite ready to let them go. 

Damned if I understand the reasons - and I know if I tell my colleagues about my sentiments, they may think I'm crazy (or secretly feel the same way, who knows). But I'll tell you one thing - when you spend enough time around your students, they become a part of you: a puzzle piece nicely nestled in and written on your heart. 

(I'm sure it pales in comparison to the feelings parents have, but on a basic level, I bet it's pretty similar.)

Ups and downs, we've had them in abundance (oftentimes within the extent of a class period), but we made it. I don't think highly of everything they do, but I have faith in them, and I wish them the very best.

Until August...

Today was my last day of Ministry of Care until next school year rolls around. 

And both my time at the hospital and the tulips lining Michigan Avenue did not disappoint. (Note in the picture below how I superimposed my name badge over the flowers to "say" this sentiment visually.)

(Corny, I know.)

But it truly was a beautiful day, rounded out by a leisurely brunch with my sister - We're carb-ing up before our half marathon tomorrow! - and a trip to Target.

I also finished the book Tattoos on the Heart (just in time for Wednesday's book club!) this afternoon before tackling this week's Bible Study reading/reflection of Revelation.

Not much planning left to do for school - 6th grade is working on a project (and class will be consistently disrupted with school music concert practice); 7th grade is watching a movie and finishing their vocations unit (courtesy of Holy Cross vocations); and 8th grade voted to take a look at Revelation (for which I will be using resources I've gathered through my current Bible Study). Yes sir, the school year sure is winding down in a hurry...

Spring has (finally) come and (nearly) gone so quickly here...

Movie Assessment (Follow-Up)

Here's a follow-up to my previous post - I present...the assessment!

It's far from perfect, but I think it will work (especially at this point of the school year)...

Three report card standards from one movie - woo hoo! This make me think it's okay to spend a week of class time on one film & its related assessment. (Not only is it a great movie, but the assessment will provide a substantial amount of scores for the students' report cards...)

Score!