Math, Community Service, and Chapel

One tool that I love to use while teaching math lessons is a personal whiteboard. Each student has their own personal whiteboard, dry erase marker, and felt square to use as an eraser. It’s nothing fancy and all made from office supplies. Having all of these tools in their desk gives them a sense of maturity and responsibility. I’ve relayed to them the importance of taking care of their tools and the consequences of losing or tearing the tools up. So far, they have all valued their supplies and have taken excellent care of them. When I instruct them to get their whiteboards out and get ready to have math, they get excited! These help the children to stay engaged and have hands-on experience with the concepts they are learning. Working with me to solve problems lets me know almost immediately who is on track and who needs more scaffolding. It builds the children’s confidence in math and builds them up to their daily work.

This year we have a long term community service project and, at least one, short term project. Our long term project is to collect pop tabs and donate them to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Little Rock. The RMH is a nonprofit charity and it makes it possible for families to be close when a child is being treated at Children's Hospital and other local hospitals. The class made a little house that the Ronald McDonald House charity sent to me to hold the pop tabs. The little house will serve as a great little reminder to collect tabs. I’ve never seen them so eager to cut and glue! They took their time and worked hard on coloring and constructing these houses. They’ve spent a week, working here and there, on the houses and you can definitely see the accomplishment that they feel shine through their smiles. They’ve been wanting to take them home all week, I know they will put them in a great place to help us bring in a lot of tabs to help this fabulous charity!

Tuesday was our day to go to chapel. This year, to keep in adherence to safety guidelines and the health of our students' top priority, chapel is being live-streamed and we take part in our classroom. Every week one class attends chapel- with just one class it is easy to keep everyone distanced and ensure everyone keeps their masks on. It was so nice to have the covered face to covered face experience. Chapel is one of the most special aspects of St. James. It was refreshing to get to be there and set a great tone for the week!

Have a blessed day!

Claire