“At St. Justin School, we are blessed with the opportunity to both learn and practice our faith.”
Sixth Grade
The sixth graders are given a general overview of the Old Testament of the Bible. Students come to recognize the close religious bond that Jews and Christians share, following the paths of Abraham and his descendents as they formed the first monotheistic religion in recorded history. The sixth graders will examine many of the world’s major religions (especially Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) in order to better understand some of the more generally accepted morals and values. This process also helps the students to clarify differences among these religions and ultimately establish what it is that makes Christianity unique.
Seventh Grade
The seventh graders are given a general overview of Jesus’ life as it is recorded in the Gospels. At this stage in their spiritual development, students tend to be familiar with many of the stories in the New Testament, but may require further explanation as to how to apply the lessons of Jesus’ teachings to modern-day situations. The year is divided into several New Testament themes, including the Incarnation, the Kingdom of God, bringing about the Kingdom of God, the Paschal Mystery, and the Good News. Students will understand Jesus as the fulfillment of the Old Testament, the realization of Isaiah’s “suffering servant” and the Messiah for whom we have waited.
Eighth Grade
The eighth graders are given a general overview of the history of the Catholic Church. They will examine many different time periods that have come to shape our faith today. Some of these time periods include the Early Church, the Early Middle Ages, the Late Middle Ages, the Reformation, and the Modern/Postmodern Era. Students will track the survival of Christianity through some of the most turbulent periods of the common era, and note the successes and failures along the way.
A Note About Homework
Honesty and effort will be expected (and appreciated) every day. Religion homework isn’t always as straightforward as some of the other core subjects, but in case of confusion, students can: refer to their notes from class, check their homework notebook, call a classmate for clarification, and make their best effort to complete the assignment. Common sense is to be exercised in all areas of school, and homework is no exception.
I look forward to the role that I will play in the spiritual development of your child, and I thank you for the opportunity to reinforce the Catholic ideals you instill in them at home.
Mr. Chris Eaton (408) 248-1094 x22
* * * Mr. Eaton’s R.E.A.D. Program R.E.A.D. = Reading is an Expression 1 of Autonomous 2 Diligence 3
Because time is so easily wasted, much of our daily lives can be lost to lethargy 4 and disorganization. Put your mind into action! Seek the knowledge that lies hidden between the covers of a good book. Spend some time READING!
Dear Sixth Grade Students,
Instructions for the R.E.A.D. Reports
In addition to reading, you’re going to be writing! These authors have expressed themselves in their books, and now you have the chance to express yourself. After the successful completion of each book, you will need to write two paragraphs and one recommendation. Each paragraph must be at least six sentences (and it would help if you arranged those sentences sensibly), whereas the recommendation can be as short as one full sentence (or as long as three). These writing assignments should not be that difficult, but you will have to complete them carefully and neatly! Please begin by choosing an appropriate book. You should check that this book is 1) an award-winning book or written by an award-winning author and 2) at your reading level. The California Department of Education website (www.cde.ca.gov/ci/rl/ll/ap/litsearch.asp) is a good guide to use. Look hard to find a book that really interests you; the harder you look, the easier the assignment will be for you. If you are unsure about a particular book, please check with me. The next page is an example of how your report should look upon completion. The heading is in the upper left-hand corner and the title of your report will be capitalized and centered. Note that my two paragraphs are indented and contain exactly six sentences. If you follow this rubric exactly, there shouldn’t be any problems with your final grade. You are encouraged to decorate your report to your heart’s desire, but please do not forget your parent’s signature!
Mr. Eaton Sixth Grade R.E.A.D. Report April 9, 2008 An Example in R.E.A.D. Report Format
The first paragraph must comment on the book in general, but please make sure that you express your opinions; I’m sure the newspapers and the book reviewers have their opinions, but I want to hear yours. What did you expect before reading this book? Mention what it was that attracted you to it. After having read it, are you glad that you did, or are you a bit disappointed? If you did like the book, how would you convince someone else to read it? If you didn’t like it, what would you have done to make it better? The second paragraph will focus on two aspects of the writing. You can choose from any of the writing elements we have discussed so far this year (a few examples of these are setting and dialogue). You may decide to evaluate the author’s use of setting and how the setting affected the overall story; perhaps the setting made the story more interesting, or maybe it only made it more confusing. After you’ve discussed the setting, you might decide to analyze the style of the dialogue. Was the author able to convey the thoughts and emotions of the characters through the dialogue (and were you better able to understand the characters because of it)? The elements of setting and dialogue may have been used here as an example, but you get to choose the two elements that you would like to talk about! Lastly, you will explain: 1) whether or not you would recommend this book to a friend and 2) why or why not. Oh, and please try not to give away the ending in case there are students who plan to read it!
Parent Signature X_______________________
1 expression – a symbol, sign, or indication 2 autonomous – not controlled by others; independent. Self-governing 3 diligence – painstaking effort and care 4 lethargy – a state of sluggishness, inactivity, and apathy
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updated 03-01-08 |
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