I've always enjoyed celebrating Christmas with my students. In 4th grade we would make decorations together and sing. This year in the library, it's been Christmas books upon Christmas books, from preschool to 6th grade. Because I teach such a wide range of ages, I've been able to share so many different types of stories and have the joy of seeing different reactions from the students.
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| The library is ready for Christmas! |
In preschool, we read a story about Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. We looked at story book pictures of the manger. Their eyes were so big as they realized where Jesus was born. Their faces scrunched up when we imagined that it might have been dark and cold and smelly there.
In 3rd grade, we read How the Grinch Stole Christmas. They laughed at Max the dog and were easily captivated by Dr. Seuss' easy to follow rhymes. They clapped when the story was over and we discussed the real meaning of Christmas. Later they wrote lists about how NOT to be a grinch. My favorite was "I will have a good attitude even when others don't."
In 4th grade, we read La Noche Buena, a story about a Cuban-American neighborhood celebrating Christmas. Many of the traditions mentioned in the book resounded with my Nicaraguan students. Here, Nochebuena (Christmas Eve), is the day to celebrate. Many stay up late and light off tons of fireworks at midnight, followed by a huge Christmas feast with extended family. After the story we talked about the differences between celebrating Christmas in the United States and in Nicaragua. There was absolute shock when I told my students that we do not set off fireworks at Christmas time in the United States. To them, Christmas time is always filled with fireworks. I confessed that I had no idea that other countries did fireworks at Christmas time until I moved to Nicaragua. We laughed together and shared other Christmas traditions. There was one major consensus: all the students wished it snowed here.
In 6th grade we read a young reader version of Dicken's A Christmas Carol. The students' favorite part? Scrooge's cap and nightgown. Later we did a Reader's Theater that used lines and language from the original story. We got to laugh together at some of the phrases and use our knowledge of the first story to help us figure out what the more difficult language and phrasing was trying to say.
During after school tutoring, my 3rd grader and I were working on her weekly memory verse.
Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.
Luke 2: 11 - 12
Before we begin memorizing, we always talk about what a verse means and any difficult words. For this particular verse, I asked her if she knew what the Messiah meant. After shaking her head no, I began to explain. We talked about the Jews and their longing for the Messiah to come. We talked about how Jesus was different from what they imagined the Messiah would be. Our conversation veered and soon she was asking me to draw a timeline. When was Jesus born? How about me? And Noah? We talked about Jesus' family tree and she proudly explained how she in Jesus' family. "I used to be in sin's family," she explained. "Then I believed in Jesus. Now I am in his."
I can't tell you how many times I was filled with joy these past couple of weeks. I loved watching my little preschoolers learn a beautiful truth - the Savior of the world was born in a manger. I loved seeing shock on the 4th graders' faces when they learned about the lack of fireworks in the United States. I loved teaching a classic to the 6th graders and watching them eagerly interact with the text. And what's better than knowing that a student has been rescued from sin's family and has joined the royal line of Jesus? How thankful I am for the joy that Christmas brings and the joy of being a teacher.
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| The advent calendar that is on the bulletin board outside the library. |
Merry Christmas!
Laura
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