October 18, 2004
1. Fun Stuff to Do: Slate Run Fall Fest (October 31, 2-6pm) Enjoy hayrides, a giant leaf pile, pumpkin carving, a spooky scavenger hunt and more at the Buzzard Roost Picnic Area of Slate Run Metro Park. Learn how to make animal pictures on Etch-a-Sketch boards and hear Edgar Allen Poe stories around the campfire.
2. Environmental Workshops for Educators: The Franklin and Delaware Soil and Water Conservation Districts have partnered once again with Highbanks Metro Park to host a series of environmental and conservation education workshops filled with inter-disciplinary hands-on activities. Teachers are welcome to attend any or all programs. The materials will enable educators to help students meet curriculum competencies and gain knowledge, skills, and commitment needed to make informed decisions about conserving our natural resources. For more information or to register, contact Linda Pettit, Franklin SWCD (614-486-9613, ext. 115 or Linda_pettit@oh.nacdnet.org).
3. Using Literacy Centers to Enhance Your Reading and Writing Program (grades K-3): This seminar has been designed to help teachers create a wide variety of literacy centers in their primary classrooms. Linda Halleman, outstanding teacher and national presenter, will demonstrate innovative ideas for creating literacy centers that will reinforce reading and writing programs. The seminar will be held at the Holiday Inn on the Lane, Columbus on November 19. Register on-line at www.ber.org.
4. Strengthening Foreign Language Instruction: This new seminar is designed specifically for secondary foreign language teachers of all levels of experience. The ideas that are presented are applicable for all levels of foreign language instruction and all languages. Participants will experience exciting activities that they can easily use in their teaching immediately following the seminar. Outstanding foreign language teacher Jan Herrera will model numerous lessons and innovative activities that will increase students' foreign language achievement. The seminar will be held at the Columbus Convention Center. To register online: www.ber.org.
5. Weekly Religion Ideas, October 19, 2004, Standard I E:2,5,7:
For Teachers - The main message of Jesus was "Repent, the Kingdom of God's reign is at hand." The parables and miracle stories definitely related to his identity and mission. Jesus was re-centering the religion in social ethics of love of the neighbor by sharing and caring versus only doing religious practices of fasting, tithing, ritual washings, kosher foods and Sabbath observance. Jesus reminded his listeners of the more important precepts of their religion. We hear what Jesus was about from his teachings and parables. They challenge us to think differently and see reality from God's point of view. His miracles as people thought at that time, were that God had control over evil, life and the world. The power of God could be seen through Jesus' ministry. So the parables and miracle stories have to be understood in relation to what Jesus saw as his mission, a renewal of the religion. If you want a suggested list of his teachings and a list of the different parables e-mail rradecki@cdeducation.org.
For the Classroom - Here are some resources to use
in the classroom: Where is Jesus (Looking for Clues in the Parables),
16 pages, $2.00; Growing Up a Friend of Jesus (A Guide to Discipleship
for Children), also good for parents, $17.95, Hardcover; Acting Out the
Miracles and Parables (52 Five-minute Plays for Education and Worship),
$14.95, all from Twenty-Third Publications
(1-800-321-0411.) Some videos are:
VC 7200
Parables for Kids Volume I and II Pre/P
VC 7009
11. The Prodigal Son;
12. The Good Shepherd;
14. The Miracles of Jesus
PIJ
VC 7010
Jesus' Teaching Ministry
VC 6505
Exploring Bible Stories
A
VC 6660
Exploring Media with Today's Parables JSA
VC 6413
Great Bible Stories: The Story of Faith IJ
VC 7163
The Visual Bible for Kids: The Great Storyteller
PIJ
VC 7165
Who Is Jesus
IJSA
Resources - The following would be good reading for adults: Jesus: A Gospel Portrait by Donald Senior, CP (Chapter 5, "Jesus Heals") from Paulist Press. Fr. Senior will be the homilist and also present a workshop at the Faith Formation Congress on November 13. John Donahue, SJ has a chapter on "The Power of the Spirit" in his book The Gospel in Parable by Fortress Press. The Miracles of Jesus (What Really Happened?) by H.J. Richards and Jesus in Focus by Gerald Sloyan, SS. Both are from Twenty-Third Publications. Fr. Sloyan has a general discussion of miracles in his book. Jesus Before Christianity by Albert Nolan, OP, which is from Orbis Press, has a chapter on "Healing". The articles "Jesus" in the New Jerome Biblical Commentary by John P. Meier gives an overview of what Jesus was about. His Volume II of The Marginal Jew also discusses miracles and the deeds of Jesus. Scripture from Scratch articles such as: "The Healing Jesus" (Interpreting the Miracle Stories (N1099): "Luke's Gospel Like Entering a Painting: (NO195) and "The Tantalizing Parables Jesus Told" (N1293) by Eugene LaVerdiere, SSS might also be helpful.
6. Fee Waiver Available: An
Otterbein College fee waiver is available. It can be used anytime until
June, 2005. Any teacher who can make use of the waiver should e-mail
ezettler@cdeducation.org by
Wednesday, October 20.
Send comments to office@cdeducation.org
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