But as for me it is good to be near God" Ps. 73:10: Thanksgiving Break 2012

Thanksgiving Break

For Thanksgiving Break Caleb, Amy and Enoch traveled from Gifu to Tokyo to spend the long weekend with us. It was a great time of family fellowship and good food. Among other things I was able to do:

Playing Pinochle, Euchre and Boggle
Walk along river
Take an afternoon nap!
Basketball with 3 CAJ students and Caleb
Some lesson planning for my lessons on the spiritual disciplines of submission and confession
Go to おふろの王様 with Caleb and there was an earthquake while we were there!
Ordered Chinese food from 押川さんand enjoyed watching the Bill Cosby show and Gomer Pyle episodes.
Reading 1 Thessalonians

Top 10 Teaching Tips!

Color-code your handouts

Green: Syllabi/expectations/rubrics
Yellow: Quizzes/Tests/Assessments
White: Regular handouts

Color-code & label your grades/classes

Bible 9: All of my clear-file folders are green
Bible 10: All of my folders are red
Bible 11: All folders are yellow
Bible 12: All folders are blue

Write "Master" in yellow highlighter on your master copies

Yellow highlighter doesn't show up on the copies

Grade assignments right away

Otherwise they pile up. This also allows students to know as soon as possible whether they are missing an assignment or not.

Bring a camera to take a picture of notes on the board OR type up class ideas so it is automatically saved.
Video student presentations so you can give specific feedback and so you can grade effectively
Attendance Questions

To get to know your students better ask a question they have to answer instead of just doing a head count or call names everyday (of course there are time when you need to keep attendance short as well!)
Example question, "Which would you rather be, really hot or really cold?"

Use Moodle OR some other electronic form to post your slideware online for students to view

For Bible 11 & 12 I will make a PDF of my Keynote or Powerpoints and upload them.

When assigning papers, have students submit a rough draft and a final draft either paper copy or submitted digitally (i.e. Turnitin.com)

This way you know if students are "on track"

Keep all our handouts uniform

For HS Bible all the students need a B5 binder so that all their handouts can be in B5 size and hole-punched. This way it is easier for students not to lose assignments.

Prayer Requests

Wisdom as I coach the 21 athletes on the ladies field hockey team. Our first game is Dec. 4th.
For the two 9th grade guys that I meet with every Monday morning to talk about the Bible with.
For time management as I continue to plan and teach Bible for grades 9-12.
That I will get adequate exercise and rest in order to fulfill my teaching responsibilities well.
That I will continue to ground myself in the word of God and live a life of integrity as I seek to be an example to those around me.
For my occasional meetings with Daichi Yamada from Chuo University. That I would be bold to share Christ with him and find opportunity to do so.

Pictures!