But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Luke 18: 16

Trinity Kids provides spiritual guidance, education, & community for children from infancy through 5th grade. For Preschool through 5th grade, the “contemplative model”; of children’s ministry is used to provide the framework for learning about the stories of the Bible, with a focus back to the gospel & salvation of Jesus Christ. Lessons and discussions are hands-on, reflective, and open-ended. Please contact Julia Guy (julia@trinityanglicanmission.org) with any questions or to learn more about Godly Play and the contemplative model.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Advent III and IV & the Advent Jesse Tree

On Sunday, we talked at length about God's story and it's culmination in the miraculous life and redeeming death of Jesus. We have been reviewing the previous symbols and making some incredible connections between the events in God's story. Please take a moment to ask your children about these images and the stories that accompany them. Also, you are more than welcome to borrow the symbols that we have been using, or I can email you a file with the images so you can print out your own. 

Over the last couple of weeks, we discussed the remaining symbols, as described below. 

Day 13Prophecy of the Shoot from the Stump of Jesse (represented by a stump with a fresh root or leaf); John 1:14a 
Day 14Prophecy of the Lion & the Lamb (represented by a lion & a lamb); Isaiah 11:10b 
Day 15Prophecy of the Prince of Peace (represented by a a dove & a crown); John 14:27
Day 16Prophecy of the Gentle Shepherd (represented by a lamb & a shepherd); John 10:27
Day 17Prophecy of the Suffering Servant (represented by a cross); John 10:15 
Day 18Prophecy of the New Covenant (represented by a heart) Jeremiah 31:33a

Day 19Prophecy of Bethlehem (represented by Bethlehem silhouette & star); Philippians 4:13
Day 20The Exile (represented by a fiery furnace); Jeremiah 1:8 
Day 21The Return to the Land (represented by an ancient wall) Revelation 22:20 

Day 22: The Star (represented by a star); Matthew 2:10 
Day 23: The Light of the World (represented by a candle or light); John 8:12
Day 24Angels Proclaiming the Coming of Christ (represented by an angel) Luke 2:14

Day 25: The Birth of Jesus (represented by a nativity scene); John 3:16

Thank you for celebrating Advent with us! 

the Advent Gospel story... in pageant form

 
   On Saturday, the children did a fantastic job sharing the story of our Savior's birth, as told in the books of Matthew and Luke. It was glorious. There were so many precious moments of grace, innocence, and sweetness (with a little mischief, as well, of course). Nearly 200 community and family members attended to learn of the mysterious and miraculous beginning of Jesus' life on earth.
   Thank you especially to Marty Reardon and the other Worship musicians that assisted in making the pageant a unique and beautiful opportunity to glorify God. Thank you to Glen Sutton for doing an excellent job with the sound, lights, and perfecting the traveling star. Also, I am so thankful for Emily Braund and Corrie Madlem, who helped to herd our sheep and cow chorus from behind the scenes.
    Please look forward to photos coming soon, courtesy of the magnificent Andy Lee and Ashley Jones.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Resources for Celebrating Advent at Home

     Throughout the Advent Season, things can become overwhelmingly busy with holiday parties, family traveling, cookie decorating, and the countdown to Christmas morning. There are a lot of wonderful resources available to assist Trinity’s families in adding an element of contemplation to your Advent season. Please let me know if you have are looking for ideas on how to incorporate these resources at home.
*Bartholomew’s Passage, Jotham’s Journey, and Tabitha’s Travels by Arnold Ytreeide are fantastic books that provide a daily reading for children and their families to read together and discuss. The stories are historical fiction and are told during the days preceding the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. These stories are interwoven and are recommended to be read one at a time, over a three year period. This is an incredible resource!
*These website also offer great ideas and links to other books and stories for children:


www.onlineministries.creighton.edu & www.anglicansonline.org/special/advent.html

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Advent II & the Advent Jesse Tree

On Sunday, we talked at length about God's story and it's culmination in the miraculous life and redeeming death of Jesus. As we walked through the first six symbols of the Advent Jesse Tree, some beautiful insights were shared by the children. The realization that Jesus was with God in Creation, in the need for reconciliation after Adam and Eve's betrayal in the garden; His presence was even acknowledged in the promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. One child thoughtfully added, "Jesus was really the lamb that let Isaac not get killed." What a beautiful synthesis of God's plan! 


This week, we will be discussing the next six symbols, as described below. 


Day 7: Joseph’s Coat of Many Colors (represented by a picture of a colorful coat); Romans 8:28a
Day 8: Moses and the Ten Commandments (represented by a tablet with numbers); Psalm 119:11
Day 9: Canaan, the Promised Land of Many Blessings (represented by a cluster of grapes); Psalm 103:2
Day 10: Ruth and Boaz (represented by a sheaf of wheat); Ruth 1:16b
Day 11: King David (represented by a slingshot); Psalm 23:1
Day 12: Josiah Finds the Law (represented by a scroll) Psalm 119:105

Monday, November 15, 2010

Christmas Pageant preparations have begun!!

     As Advent and Christmas approach, we will begin preparing for the annual Christmas Pageant. Children 4 years old through fifth grade will sing, act out the Advent Gospel, and enjoy a celebration reception. This year’s performance will be a little bit more low-key, so we will only be rehearsing three times before December 18, when we will perform for our church community.  Rehearsals will take place on Sundays, Dec. 5 & Dec. 12 at 2:00 pm and Friday, Dec. 17 at 6:00 pm (Dress Rehearsal). Please sign up in the Gathering Room & be sure to pick up a CD with the music so that your child can be included. Only a few children will have speaking parts, so even shy actors are welcome! J  

Thursday, November 4, 2010

trinityKids Movie Night!

Please join us for a…

trinitykids Community
Movie Night!

Friday, November 12
6:30- 8:30 pm

Come watch Pixar’s Ratatouille, have fun & fellowship with other kids!
We will also enjoy a hands-on cooking activity… yummy!
(Pizza will be sold for $1 a slice.)
Friends are welcome!

Please sign up in the Gathering Room so we can be sure to have
enough for all to enjoy. Thanks!

Advent & the Advent Jesse Tree

      The Advent season is a sacred time of preparation and anticipation as we near the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Each year, we celebrate through the telling of the Advent story, the lighting of Advent candles, and the retelling of traditional Christmas stories. This year, we will be adding a new tradition. Devotions connected with the tradition of the Advent Jesse Tree will be guiding us through various symbols that will encourage discussion and creativity in the telling of an old story. As described by Dean Meador Lambert, this tradition “seeks to tell the story of God’s redemptive plan for the world through 25 symbols from the Old and New Testament. The symbols trace the heritage of Jesus Christ from the beginning of creation. Each symbol [can be] explained with scriptures, devotions, questions, prayers, a memory verse, and songs.” We will be using Lambert’s book of devotionals to explore the Season of Advent through these symbols and the stories that they tell. In order to help your family prepare for the first six symbols (aligned with the first six days of Advent), they are: 
Day 1The Light of Creation (represented by a picture of the Earth); Genesis 1:1
Day 2The First Sin (represented by an apple and a snake); Isaiah 53:6
Day 3Inside the Ark (represented by an ark with a rainbow); Romans 6:23                                               
Day 4The Call to Abram (represented by a camel and a tent); Genesis 12:3b
Day 5Isaac and the Lamb (represented by a lamb); John 1:29b
Day 6Jacob's Ladder (represented by a ladder); Genesis 28:15a
      I will continue to write reflections and provide more information on the trinitykids blog throughout the Advent season, along with questions and reflections to complement each symbol so that you can continue to the conversation with your child at home. 

Sunday, October 17, 2010

“… and a time to every purpose…” ~Ecclesiastes 3

     The changing of the seasons is a beautiful time to reflect on God’s creative plan and the ways in which He formed nature to be a sustaining, cyclical part of our lives. When one season ends and another begins, we often take notice of the passing of time and contemplate the events that have passed since the weather last changed in its pattern. During a collaborative worship time together recently, students in the preschool- third grade classes considered the ways that God demonstrates through His creation that there is a time for every purpose (using Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8). In response to this discussion, children created a large drawing to display some of their thoughts about the changing seasons and other images that came to mind through the scripture. Please take a moment to enjoy these collaborative artworks, hanging on the back wall of the Gathering Room. Also, I recommend that you take a moment to talk with your child about the seasons and God’s timing. A few guiding questions are listed below; we will be asking similar questions in the classroom on Sundays as we draw nearer to the Advent season.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every purpose under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 
                                                                                                                   
*Now I wonder why God decided that there should be a special time for everything?                                
*I wonder how God shows us that it is the right time for something to happen?
*I wonder if you have ever realized that it wasn’t the right time for something to happen? I wonder if you have ever realized that it was the right time for something to happen?                                                              
*I wonder what the Bible means when it says, “a time to keep and a time to throw away”? Is it just talking about trash? What is God really trying to share with us?             
*I wonder what the most interesting part of the changing seasons is for you?                
                 

Monday, October 4, 2010

trinityKids Community Craft Night!

Please join us for a... 

trinitykids Community Night! 
Friday, October 15th 
6:30- 8:30 pm

Come make Autumn-themed crafts, 
have fun & fellowship with other kids!

(Pizza will be sold for $1 a slice.)
Friends are welcome!

Please sign up in the Gathering Room or through the Facebook invitation so we can be sure to have enough for all to enjoy. Thanks! 

(Kindergarten- 5th grade students only)

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Atlanta Schools Database

     Parents often ask about neighborhood day cares and schools. When considering where to send your child for away-from-home education, the questions can be overwhelming. How are charter schools and neighborhood public schools different? Should I send my child to a religious private school or one that has a more academic focus? Should I go with the school around the corner or is it better to explore the school choice system outlined in NCLB? Do standardized test scores really matter? In response to these concerns, trinityKids will soon be making available a resource for Trinity families. This resource will include basic information about Atlanta schools, especially those that are attended by children from Trinity. This will be a good place to go for information about tuition, locations, reflections on school atmosphere, and the unique benefits and differences of each school. Parents have graciously provided feedback about their own experiences and their insights will be available as well. Hopefully this will be a useful resource that will empower parents to reach out to others in the Trinity community for input and to make the best choice possible for their children.
     Look forward to this database becoming available in the next month or so! 

Monday, September 20, 2010

Teachers' Resource Closet- now open!

Attention teachers, parents, tutors, nannies, and babysitters:
     I am happy to announce the grand opening of the Trinity Teachers' Resource Closet!! It really is just a closet, but it's filled with many teaching gems that have been gathered throughout the course of my teaching tenure- in other words, eight years of hoarding educational stuff. A few things have already been borrowed by new teachers, but there is plenty more to lend out. Math manipulatives, big books, science materials, teacher resources, incredible materials from Teaching Tolerance that can be adapted for early elementary all the way up to High School, posters and other visuals... even plastic bins and letter boxes that are great for organizing your classroom. I have tons of stuff! Come borrow it! The Teachers' Resource Closet is located in the Walkers Room (down the back hall past the Women's restroom), in the very back corner. Thank you for adhering to the posted “check out” policy and for keeping it tidy! Don’t forget, I also have a treasure trove of guided reading book sets, fiction and non-fiction picture books, as well as an early reading series available to borrow in my office. 

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Community Events will Continue!

Our summer of fun and community included just about every kid-friendly activity in Atlanta- from bowling, to cooking at the Young Chef’s Academy, to a free day at the High Museum. It was fantastic to build relationships each week and to participate in the city that we all love so much. But don’t worry, Community Events will continue in the Fall and Winter. Monthly Community Nights for kinder through fifth grade kiddos have become a staple of trinityKids- they are so much fun! We will also be making plans to go pumpkin picking in October, as well as another cooking class at YCA.  The best way to stay up-to-date about these events is through this blog, through the Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=110373408995790&ref=ts, or through announcements and signups in the trinityKids Gathering Room. 

Our next event will be a Movie Night on September 17, from 6:30- 8:30 pm. We’ll be watching Pixar’s Monster’s Inc. I look forward to seeing the smiling faces of Trinity’s incomparable children soon! 

Friday, September 10, 2010

Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses.... and us.

    The summer has been a season full of learning, wondering, and curiosity. The curiosity of the children has been especially piqued by a focus on Old Testament figures and the opportunity to better understand the deeper history of God’s people. Although the stories and timelines of these incredible individuals often leave us with more questions than answers, exploring the dedication, determination, and commitment of these brave believers offers innumerable avenues for life application. Whether children are discussing the ways that Samuel was open to God message for him and through his life, or the difficult patience and frustration of Sarah, these stories are a wonderful way to find ourselves in scripture.
     I encourage you to take some time to converse with your child about the Old Testament. As we frequently express during our time together on Sundays, “All these things happened to tell God’s story. God’s story is adventurous and interesting, but it all leads toward Jesus and his birth and death here on Earth.”  
     When teaching children about the Old Testament, it’s helpful to focus on the central themes…. the uniqueness and glory of God; the Law; God's influence on world history and nature; corporate and individual sin and the remedy; and the proper way to worship God. It can often be confusing to explain to children that the Old Testament also tells that the Jews were God's chosen people, which is the main reason for their special protection- and their special punishment when they did wrong. But again, most importantly, the prophecy of Jesus is inherent in God’s story; it is first and foremost in God’s plan. I recommend asking your child open-ended questions that will enable them to consider for themselves how the lives of God’s people in the Old Testament can be a model or a lesson for their own. Here are a few questions that we frequently ask after sharing an Old Testament story:    

*Now I wonder which part of the story you liked best?
*I wonder what part is the most important?
*I wonder what part is about you…. Or what part was especially for you?
*I wonder if we can leave anything out of the story and still have everything that we need?
*I wonder what the story of this person and their family might be teaching you?
*I wonder if you’ve ever had a tough time with some of the things that this person also had to deal with? I wonder if you can learn from what they did- what to do or what not to do? 

Monday, August 30, 2010

trinityKids "Summer Schedule" is ending


FYI: This Sunday, September 5th, will be our last day of our "Summer Schedule." Children in pre-school through 5th grade will attend the musical worship with their parents, then join their teachers for a lesson after that. As always, younger children will be checked in at the beginning of the service. On Sunday, September 12th, children will return to a "regular" schedule, in which all children will check-in at the beginning of the service. On the 12th, those children who are ready to move up to a higher age class will be invited to do so.

Monday, July 12, 2010

trinityKids Summer Events- BUTTERFLY FESTIVAL!


Bring your family and come enjoy the Butterfly Festival and the Chattahoochee Nature Center!
We will meet near the main entrance at 9 am on Saturday- friends, neighbors, and family members are welcome too.

Admission is $8 for members and $10 for non-members each day (the festival takes place both Sat. and Sun., but we will only be meeting as a group on Sat.). Children under 2 get in free! Get more information at: http://chattnaturecenter.org/flying-colors-butterfly-festival.html.

They have tons of really cool events and activities for kids of all ages. Bring a bag lunch and we can picnic together if you're interested! :)

Call Julia (404-803-4206) if you have trouble finding us.

{Please note, an adult family member (or nanny/ babysitter) is expected to attend with each child/ family, unless other arrangements have been made.}

Monday, May 24, 2010

trinityKids Summer Events- BOWLING!!


Bring your kids and come enjoy a day of bowling with trinityKids!!

We will meet at Metro Lanes & Games Bowling in Atlanta
on Thursday, June 3rd @ 1 pm
*friends, neighbors, and family members are welcome too*

Each game is $2.50 per person, shoe rentals are $2.75
Children may bring cash to purchase snacks if desired.

{Please note, an adult family member (or nanny/ babysitter) is expected to attend with each child/ family, unless other arrangements have been made.}

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

trinityKids Community Night

Please join us for a…

trinitykids Community Night!

Friday, May 21st
6:30- 8:30 pm

Come play games, have fun & fellowship with other kids!
(Pizza will be sold for $1 a slice.)
Friends are welcome!

Please sign up in the Gathering Room so we can be sure to have
enough for all to enjoy. Thanks!

(Kindergarten- 5th grade students only)

Monday, May 3, 2010

trinityKids Art Show & Reception

Please check out the Trinity Artists' Blog to read more about how the art community will be supporting the children at their art reception on Friday.

http://trinityartists.blogspot.com/

Monday, April 26, 2010

The Great Green Growing Season

As the Easter Season ends, we will be beginning a time of learning and growing often called “Common Time” on the Liturgical calendar. In trinitykids, we call this time the “Great Green Growing” Season, as that is what we strive to do. This season is a time for learning more about the work of Jesus and the work that he has commissioned us to do, which is to “…go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28: 19-20). The lessons that are taught during this time are focused on the parabolic teachings of Jesus, as well as character studies & story telling from the Old Testament. This is a special time for growing in our faith and learning more about our role as the hands and feet of Christ. Another important aspect of this time will be the beginning of the summer schedule in trinitykids. Similar to last summer, students will join their parents for worship during the months of June, July, and August. Students in preschool through 5th grade will then be checked in as usual (after the initial musical worship time has ended), at which time they will enjoy a lesson or art response time, led by one of the trinitykids teachers.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

trinityKids Summer Events!

This summer, trinitykids will be gathering often to build community, have fun, and enjoy our wonderful city. We will continue with the monthly Community Nights, but we will also be meeting weekly to enjoy other events around the city and the surrounding areas. All children (even the little bitty ones) are welcome to attend, as long as they are accompanied by an adult (parent, babysitter, nanny, family member). Think of these as big community Play Dates. A full schedule of the events, locations, and costs is available in the Gathering Room. Signups will begin in mid May, so please take a moment between now and then to decide which events you or your family will attend. I have worked hard to find the most reasonable prices and many locations offer group discounts, so be sure to sign up ahead of time to take advantage of the lower cost.

It's going to be a lot of fun and a great opportunity to grow as a community of friends.

Here is a brief summary for you, but please remember that there is quite a bit more information available in the schedules that you can pick up in the Gathering Room.

June 3 (Thurs): Bowling
June 11 (Fri): Community Night
June 18 (Fri): Puppet Show
June 25 (Fri): Drive-in Movie

July 3 (Sat): High Museum of Art
July 5-10 (Mon- Sat): Vacation Bible School, for rising kinder- 5th grade
July 17-18 (Fri- Sat): Butterfly Festival
July 30 (Fri): Young Chefs Academy Baking Workshop

first week of August (tbd): Blueberry Picking
August 13 (Fri): Community Night
August 18 (Wed): Atlanta Botanical Gardens
August 27 (Fri): Imagine it! Children's Museum

I hope you will be able to join us!!

Monday, April 12, 2010

trinityKids Community Night

Please join us for a…

trinitykids Community Night!

Friday, April 16th
6:30- 8:30 pm

Come make Spring-themed crafts, have fun & fellowship with other kids!

(Pizza will be sold for $1 a slice.)

Friends are welcome!

Please sign up in the Gathering Room or email Julia (julia@trinityanglicanmission.org) so we can be sure to have enough for all to enjoy. Thanks!

(Kindergarten- 5th grade students only)

Vacation Bible School

Please SAVE the DATE for

trinitykids Vacation Bible School!

Monday- Saturday, July 5th- 10th

Children entering Kindergarten- 2nd grade:

9:00 am- 12:00 noon daily

Children entering 3rd- 5th grade:

9:00 am- 3:00 pm daily (lunch included)

Youth in 6th- 8th grade may participate as Junior Counselors

Saturday will be a celebration picnic & field trip: 9:00 am- 2:00 pm for all children & their families

Sign ups will begin in late May

We will be studying the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 3-10) through story-telling, singing, play, creation, & service.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

trinityKids Art Show & Reception


trinityKids will be hosting an artist reception to celebrate the youngest artists in our community. Beginning April 9th and continuing throughout the Easter season, paintings, drawings, and sculpture created by artists in preschool through 5th grade will be on display. Each piece was created in response to lessons & stories taught from scripture. On May 7th, please join us for a proper Artists' Reception. Children and their families are invited to come and celebrate the work. Families, friends, and community members are also invited to attend. This will be a special opportunity to honor these amazing young artists.

"The child must know that they are a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like them."

~Pablo Casals

Come celebrate the uniqueness of each child and enjoy their honest and thoughtful expressions of God's blessing!!

~Refreshments will be provided- so come and feast!~

The Easter Season


The Season of Easter is a very special time in the church year. Of course, it is about more than Easter bunnies and pastel colored eggs. The Easter Season is a wonderful time to glory in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Throughout the weeks of Easter, we can focus our time and energy on the reunion we have with God our Father. We can focus on the beauty of his creation and all the wonderful blessings we enjoy because of God’s benevolence and grace. I encourage you to celebrate these things with your children. Remind them every day that God has given them an abundance of blessing through their families, their friends, their teachers, the natural world around them, the food that they eat, and the incredible freedoms that they enjoy. trinityKids and the larger Trinity family will be celebrating the Easter Season through art, music, story-telling, and community building. Let us take joy and excitement in the resurrection! Christ has died, Christ has RISEN, Christ will come again! Also, please celebrate those children and young people who committed their lives to following Christ by being baptized on Easter. Congratulations to Mia, Pressley, Deonte, Anna, Andrew, & Caid!!

This prayer can be a reminder to us of the miracle of Easter::

Heavenly Father, we thank you that by water and the Holy 
Spirit you have bestowed upon us, your servants the 
forgiveness of sin and have raised us to the new life of 
grace. Strengthen us, O Lord, with your presence, enfold 
us in the arms of your mercy, and keep us safe forever. Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom every family in heaven and earth is names, grant you to be strengthened with might by his Holy Spirit, that, Christ dwelling in your hearts by faith, you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

AMEN.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

trinityKids Community Night! :)

Come watch Pixar's "Wall E", make robot snacks, & fellowship with other kids!

Friends are welcome! :)

Please sign up in the Gathering Room (or through this invitation) so we can be sure to have enough for all to enjoy. Thanks! Pizza will also be sold for $1 a slice.

(Parents are welcome to stay and enjoy some time for fellowship as well, but trinityKids volunteers will be overseeing all of the activities.)

*Kindergarten- 5th grade students only*

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Excellent Literature for Children (that supports their learning in the trinityKids classroom)

As a child, I felt that information was validated and solidified if I read it in a book. I was a bookworm early on, and found that seeing information in black & white provided a level of confidence for me. It also provided a place that I could return to again and again and each time learn a bit more. Even still, I look to literature and nonfiction to further deepen my understanding of God and his story. In the past months, trinityKids teachers have been incorporating literature that supports the Biblical stories that are being shared. Books are shared during Worship Days as well and children are encouraged to embrace the opportunity to be with God through stories, art, and through acting out the events in a story. These books are chosen with care so that they complement the Scripture, rather than distracting from it. If you are interested in purchasing your own, they should be available on amazon.com and at your local library. Here are a few that have been wonderful:God’s Paintbrush by Sandy Eisenberg, If the World were a Village by David J. Smith, and Miracles and Wonders by Eric Kimmel.

Celebrating Lent with Children

Lent is a precious and sacred time in the church year. It is a season for preparation and focus on the miracle of the Resurrection; a time to draw closer to the mystery of God’s love and compassion for us. It is difficult for children to fully realize the incredible gift that was given when God gave his only son as a sacrifice for our sin. Children can, however, be encouraged to think deeply about and speak openly about God and Jesus through story telling, worship, and prayer.

There are many ways to help children enter in to the season of Lent thoughtfully and in a way that feels right for them. Consider speaking frankly with your child about sacrifice. Perhaps they could “give up” something during the weeks of Lent in order to experience sacrifice in a small way. Or as a family, you could spend more time in prayer or in reading from the Bible daily. There are many picture books that can also be read to elicit conversation and better understanding for children. We will be discussing these themes in the trinityKids classrooms and worship times; I encourage you to talk with your child at home as well and help them to acknowledge and participate in the season of Lent as we look forward to the Resurrection.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

"Embracing Different Learning Styles" Class


trinityKids will be offering a class for parents, teachers, and volunteers at Trinity. The primary theme of the class will be Howard Gardner's "multiple intelligences", or learning styles. All children (and adults) learn in their own special way. When instruction only addresses one or two of these styles, children can become frustrated, apathetic, or disillusioned. When multiple learning styles are addressed in an educational environment (at school, church, home, or elsewhere), children feel validated, encouraged, motivated, and hopeful.

Learn more about Howard Gardner at: http://www.edutopia.or
g/howard-gardner-interview.

In this class, you will consider the various ways that children learn and grow. You will learn how to encourage the "multiple intelligences" in your children (or those that you work with) and the children here at Trinity. The material for the class is based on my 7 years of experience in teaching Elementary school, as well as some of my Master's coursework in Curriculum & Instruction. I will try to make it as accessible as possible for parents and teacher
s alike. It is going to be a fun and active class. I will be offering this class on Wednesday, March 10th (6:30- 9:00 pm) & Wednesday, March 31st (6:30- 9:00 pm) as well. Please just respond with a comment if either of those dates work better for you! :)
*the class is free!