The 8 Keys of Excellence on YouTube

I had the amazing privilege of working for, and being trained by Supercamp, by Quantum Learning. It was the best teacher training I ever received  (and I have a degree in Education), and the best quality learning program I've seen. Their core is the 8 Keys of Excellence, which I have connected with the Fruit of the Spirit (There are 9, but I put kindness and gentleness together). These are 8 principles to live a life of excellence, and keys to success. Since I am teaching (mostly) 5th-8th graders, I also added an element from Supercamp learning (mind mapping, the maze, labels, SLANT, affinity process, above the line, VAK, OTFD and AAMR) which I think are interesting and important:
1.Integrity and Peace with Mind Mapping
2. Failure leads to Success and Joy with the Maze
3. Speak with Good Purpose and Kindness/Gentleness with Labels
4. This is it and Goodness (giving grace) with Slant
5. Commitment and Love with the Affinity process and Love Languages
6. Ownership and Faithfulness with Above the Line
7. Flexibility and Patience with VAK
8. Balance and Self-Control with OTFD and AAMR

I found videos on YouTube for each of these subjects, and I am excited to incorporate them into my classes at the International School! I made a YouTube Playlist, if you would like to be able to use this for your own teaching or knowledge. Just wanted to share!

September Sunday Funday

Our weekly vlog: ya get two this week! Yay! The first one we actually made a couple of weeks ago, while we were still making decisions, but now it is finalized, and we are (working towards paying off for the next couple of years from) buying land!

This is officially my parent's favorite video we've ever made:

We had a lovely week, and Caid was able to receive training to become a school chaplain, opening doors to minister any public school in Brazil. This weekend we went to two different birthday parties--which was quite a lot for us. Brazilians go all out--or not at all, it seems. At Living Stones we celebrate birthdays because most of the kids do not get to have a party, as the level of parties is set pretty high (and very costly). I would not be surprised if the two parties we attended each cost a YEARLY minimum wage salary in Brazil (around USD$3,000). We were honored to be able to celebrate with these special people in our life. 

Reads from the Interwebs:

1. Why do you keep going back? " I am going back because I feel like I should, and yet I am not at all going back because I feel like I should because I have lots of people telling me I shouldn’t. I am going back because I feel like I am needed, but I am going back because they don’t need me at all..."

2. Missionary Memes: We've been sent used lingerie and broken happy meal toys before...just sayin. 

3. How to Reach out to Vulnerable Children: "So what does it take to reach out to a 12-year-old on the edges of society? Thankfully, Jesus shows us where to start."

4. The Life Changing Power of Representation: I don't think you get this until you have lived somewhere where you AREN'T represented. Where everywhere you look...you don't see yourself. 

5. What Have you Seen? "When I listen to the things many American Christians think are important, what we "see" on a daily basis, I listen politely but so often I think of my Kenyan sister and wonder, "What she would think?"