Weekly blog

Friendship Skills -

In our friendship skills seminars this week, Mrs. Rutledge began by helping students identify communication styles and taught them how to be an ally, someone who reaches out to another in need.  Showing empathy, being a listener, helping to calm, and encouraging one to find a positive solution are things that allies do.  Students also looked at ways people demonstrate bully behavior and the types of actions that are hurtful to one another.  In our last session on Tuesday, students will be strategizing on how to be an UPstander rather than a BYstander when someone is acting mean or treating others unfairly.

Through video clips, discussion, and activities,  the students have been very engaged in the class and even asked if we would be having these classes for the rest of the year.  I am pleased to see they value guidance in their relationships and are taking some ideas to heart.  With each lesson, Mrs. Rutledge is reminding students of sin and grace - how we all fall into these types of hurtful behaviors at times, and as brothers and sisters in Christ, we can call on God's strength to help us work through conflicts and bring healing and forgiveness to relationships. 

A Peek into our Week

Relgion - Following the missionary journeys of Paul.  We are looking at witnessing skills and will follow Lutherans from Germany to Missouri in preparation for our field trip on the 22nd.

Literature - Stories of Oral Tradition.  Do you have any stories that have been passed down in your family?  What a great way to share family history, the culture of what is what like "back when I was a kid,"  and stories of faith to your children.  This week:  Greek mythology

English - Finishing the year with pronouns and some oral communication skills

Social Studies - Looking at Mexico, we started with the Aztec civilization to preview the 7th grade World History course.  As we move to modern times, we are examining reasons why people choose to immigrate from a variety of countries to the U.S. 

Art - Check out the beginnings of our foil animal sculptures: