Respect Lesson
Hi there, I'm back asking for more help, I will actually contribute something of my own one day! I'm doing a lesson on respect with 3 boys.
Community Blog: Secondary
Training Opportunity
To add to these training opportunities for schools workers is Scripture Union's 'Advanced School for Schools Workers' happening at Morley Retreat House, Derby 16-20 March. For more information read on or follow this link.
Wayne Dixon
Interview with Isaac Slade
Following my last post, have been reading up more about the Fray and found this amazing interview from a few years ago by lead singer Isaac. He speaks very refreshingly about the band's move into the secular music market. The vocabulary he used to use in his Christian songs, he remembers, had no way of connecting with his non-Christian friends...he compares it to his job in Starbucks: "If I handed somebody a double grande mocha latte and told them, 'Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life,' they might throw it back on me." Worth a read!
Looking for Lent Resources?
The Love Life, Live Lent campaign began 3 years ago, and is back for another year...check out the site. The idea behind it is this: 'Instead of giving up chocolate or going on a detox, it encourages people to undertake a simple act of generosity each day. The actions are small and fun to do, but make a real difference in homes, families and communities.'
You Found Me
The Fray's latest album is released today. Why does this information warrant a posting on schoolswork.co.uk? They have a great song called 'You Found Me'...not only are the lyrics very powerful and will connect with a lot of young people, Isaac Slade (lead singer and pianist) speaks about the reasons behind this song in a way that will open up some great conversations about faith with young people. In an interview with USA Weekend, Isaac answered this question: "How do faith and pop music intersect for you?
Faith is hard to talk about, but for me there is a coherency that I find in faith. There is a pull toward living and believing the same thing. There is no room for thinking one thing and then living another.
Poverty & Homelessness
I missed the fact that it was Homelessness Day on Sunday. However there are a couple things you might find useful...this week is Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, with a great site set up to cater for it with lots of lovely resources (you have to register to download anything, but only takes a minute and is worth it...it not only discusses poverty on a global scale but also brings it closer to home).
Also, the Salvation Army site has some resources which help children and young people explore this issue in schools...I really like their glocal poverty stuff (think global. act local).
Conferences...
Conferences are an amazing chance to connect with other youth, schools and children's workers...a time to be encouraged and feel supported in your work, challenged to learn how to work better aswell as inspired by others who are walking a similar journey to you. With this in mind there are a few conferences coming up between now and the summer specifically for schools workers that it's worth thinking about getting along to.
If you live up North, Pais are hosting a conference next month, and so this one I will start off by mentioning, but keep reading for more...
Schools Workers Conference
Christian Schools Work Conference: "Schools Ministry as Mission" 23 June St Saviours Church,Guildford GU1 4QD. 9.30-4.00pm.
East To West are proud to present an outstanding day of teaching, training and networking for all involved with schools work.
Keynote speaker: Nick Shepherd. Contributions / topics: Gunz Down, Anger Management, Self Harm, Sports Ministry, Future of Education, Personal Development, Sex Education, Creative Engagement with the Curriculum. Cost £25 (before 30 April) £30 (after) Details: see the site or email {encode="christine@easttowest.org.uk " title="Christine"}.
Wayne Dixon
How effective is your work in the school???
Our biggest desire is to make an impact on young peoples lives for God. How do we know we are being effective in our schoolswork and how can we measure that?
Valentines ideas for primary and secondary schools
Hi. I'm planning to do 2 Valentine events for 5-11 year olds from a local school. The event will involve games, music, crafts, music, cooking and a Bible theme/story.
I'm also planning to do themed Valentines events at our youth cafe for 11 - 14 yr olds.
The story so far
The Story So far is a performance and series of workshops for RE by Lacey Theatre Company. I've seen it and it is SUPERB. Entertaining - interactive, fun and relevant for years 7-9. Some fantatsic one liners, very dramatic and moving as key aspects of the bible are portrayed in a very accesible way for pupils.
Examattack
It's January and it's exam season. (Well pretty much every month is exam season for most pupils in our schools.) That's what's been happening around here amongst year 11 and sixth formers I've been chatting to.
'Examattack' is a presentation helping pupils preparing for exams. At the heart it's to help them put exams in perspective and for pupils to 'give of their best and achieve their potential'. It has been very well received in schools over the years and has been put on the web by someone from my home church, Ben Rolfe, http://www.examattack.org.uk to allow pupils, schools, youth workers, schools workers to make use if appropriate in schools and churches for people you know facing exams in the coming months.
Wayne Dixon
Prejudice session ideas please
I'm doing a lesson on prejudice & need your ideas please!!
'I don't think this is relevant'
Check out a great article by Dr Andrew Smith in the February issue of Youthwork Magazine. It is EXCELLENT. Thanks Smeeee.
See it, read it, then pass it on to others in your network / connections so that they too might be able to tap into it and more importantly pass it on to young people / churches and the like.
Teaching about the Conflict in Gaza
Help on how to lead discussion on the current conflict in Gaza are available from the Three Faiths Forum.