Animal School (Video) (A Must See!!!)

Good Morning, Friends!

Happy Feast of the Assumption to all of my Catholic readers.  Today is my first day "off" this week and I look forward to taking the kids to Mass and then back home for a quiet day spent together.  

The little boys have been having some rough evenings.  In-Service schedules are intense...they require nearly full-time participation even though I'm a part-time employee.  This has meant piecemeal-ing babysitting services and disrupting the normal routine and flow of our days.  My middle child actually struggles with this more than the youngest....but the youngest feeds off the middle...and so evenings are a mixture of tears, defiance, tantrums, etc.  Definitely looking forward to next week when our actual "school routine" gets underway and I'm back in the home for the majority of each day!  This week has been a clear reminder that my children are not ready for me to be away from the home for more than a couple of hours each day...even if they think they are!  :)

Anywhoo...yesterday was another wonderful in-service.  My morning was spent learning about how to better serve ELL (English Language Learners) students.  Having spent 4 years teaching in a ELL and Title 1 Building, I am very comfortable with meeting the needs of this type of learner.  And while we don't have a lot of ELL learners at St. Paul, it's important to remember that if we even have just ONE, we need to meet that child's needs.  

In addition, the teaching methods and tools used to deliver content to the ELL learner are just as applicable and appropriate for every type of learner in the classroom.  Many of the suggested delivery methods are just good teaching practice, plain and simple.  

What I love about teaching in a Catholic setting, is that we are able to make that immediate Faith connection that overcomes any language barrier!  Looking into the face of Christ in each and every parent and being the hands and face of Christ to every ELL parent and their child really makes a huge difference in the delivery of services.  

And again, my number one task as a St. Paul employee is to help these little children get to heaven!  

The afternoon was spent learning how to better serve the needs of my Special Education students.  My head is swirling around with terms like "accomodations", "modifications", "scaffolding", etc.  Again, many of the ways we modify or accomodate for the special needs learner is just good teaching for any child.

As the year progresses, I look forward to sharing some of the ways that you can support your emerging or struggling reader as well as ideas to support mathematics instruction, especially problem solving.  Think manipulatives, manipulatives, manipulatives!

Finally, I leave you with this video titled "Animal School".  I had never seen this and it moved me to tears.  (If you're a crier, I might suggest having a kleenex on hand!)  I think that this video sums up how a lot of homeschoolers feel about the education system (both private and parochial).  

I pray that I never make a child feel like a "bee"..."polar bear"..."eagle".

Children are as unique as their fingerprints and a gift from God.  As educators we must ALWAYS strive to help every child develop their God-given gifts and talents regardless of what that looks like!

Enjoy

P.S.  I am not endorsing or promoting this website.  I just thought they made an awesome video.