Chick-fil-A for Lunch and Making Learning Fun: ICS Student Writing Samples

Delightful ICS student writing samples after a delicious lunch, all in the name of learning and fun.

We Help Students Become Engaged, Attentive Learners

At Intermountain Christian School, we believe that the best learning happens when students are highly engaged, build on prior knowledge, and feel connected in their community. Sometimes helping students love to learn looks like surprising them with FUN, and letting them make memories with friends. The story below is a wonderful example of how ICS makes learning engaging, meaningful, and yes, sometimes a little yummy too.

Why these Students Went to Chick-fil-A for Lunch

Students take two weekly reading tests, and if they earn two 100% scores, they get to go off campus to Chick-fil-A for lunch. While we celebrate everyone’s wins in a variety of ways, this tradition has become a special motivator that helps keep students engaged. Under the new ownership, this Chick-fil-A location has partnered with us in a different and fun way this year.

Student Writing About Their Experience

Our students came back and wrote about their experience, and the quality and joy of their writing might be even more delightful than the lunch they enjoyed that day:

Penelope L. Wrote This:

When Codie, Cody, Madeline, Izzy, and I went to Chick-fil-A, we had a blast! But before we could go, we had to do one thing, well, technically two things: get two 100% on our reading test. Codie was the first to get it, then it was me (Penelope), next it was Izzy, after Izzy, it was Madeline, last it was Cody.

We went to Chick-fil-A on February 18, 2026. When we got there, we were just expecting to order our food, eat, and leave. But instead, we got a tour around the restaurant! At first, I thought we were going to just have a tour around the dining part of the restaurant, but then our fellow tour guides started to lead the six of us (including Ms. Frazee, our teacher) to the back, where the food was made! We got all excited because we weren’t expecting to go back into the kitchen. Ms. Frazee wasn’t even expecting this to happen!

Once we got to the back, our guides showed us where each kind of food was made, and they showed us the freezer rooms, too! We learned some things, like how the workers have to wear yellow aprons when working with raw meat and white aprons when working with other foods. After they finished showing us around, they told us to wash our hands because they said we were going to make our own food. Now we were really getting excited!!! So, we put on the YELLOW aprons, and then they showed us how to “bread” the meat. It was really fun.

A few minutes later, we got our chicken and fries, and we got to put our sandwiches together. We also got to put pickles on, but they couldn’t overlap each other. They usually just put two pickles, but Izzy and I managed to put 6-7 pickles on! Cody also did a lot, too (I didn’t mean to do “6-7”).

To conclude, I had an amazing time at Chick-fil-A because I was 100% not expecting anything like what happened that day. We thank Chick-fil-A, Miss Sarah, and Miss Cathi for letting us do a tour through the restaurant and letting us have an awesome time. (Thank you for the delicious sandwich, too!)

- Penelope L.

Isabelle Wrote This:

You just ate dinner, and you can smell the fresh batch of cookies that your grandmother just took out of the oven. As you take the first bite, a burst of flavor that includes nuts and the classic mouth-watering chocolate chips, you decide that you want to try to make them yourself. As you creep into the kitchen, you see that your grandmother is making another batch of cookies and has left the ingredients out on the counter. You run over to grab the recipe before she catches you, but it isn’t there, and then you realize that the recipe is in her head. Eventually, she decides to teach you the recipe, and now you help her whenever she makes cookies. That is a lot like my experience at Chick-fil-A, the secret recipe was so close, yet so far away.

As we walked through the doors, we could smell the warm, crispy fries. We were greeted by the workers, and they gave us some cow hats to wear during our visit. Then we walked over to the story that was on the wall and learned about who formed Chick-fil-A and the story behind it.

Next, we got to go into the kitchen and see how everything is made. There was an area for salads, toasting the buns, and making chicken. The workers each wear hair nets and different colored aprons and gloves depending on what they are working on, so they can prevent cross-food contamination. There are some areas where you make the food for the drive-through and take-out, and there are some areas where you make the food for the dine-in.

Then we got to make our own food! First, we had to put hair nets on, wash our hands, and get the right colored gloves and aprons. Next, we each took turns breading the chicken and, of course, taking pictures. Then we waited for the chicken to cook. Finally, we assembled our sandwiches and ate them with some fries and a drink. But the time had come, we had to say goodbye and go back to school. On the way out, they gave us some stickers, and we took our leftovers to go. That was what my experience at Chick-fil-A was like.

- Isabelle V.

Helping Students Love to Learn and Learn to Write

These two pieces give a glimpse into what makes the ICS experience special: small class sizes, attentive teachers, and unique experiences. Students are not only building strong writing skills but are also learning through memorable moments that make them eager to observe, reflect, and communicate with confidence.

Considering ICS? Come Experience the ICS Learning Environment for Yourself

If you are looking for a school where learning is engaging, meaningful, and rooted in a warm Christian community, we would love to welcome you to campus. Schedule a tour and come see the ICS experience for yourself.

Miss Shin's Lion Story

Miss Shin's Lion Story

How did you decide you wanted to work at ICS?

After graduating from Dordt University in Iowa, I was hoping to teach at a school near the ocean or the mountains. When I felt unsure of where to begin my search, my college professor was able to connect me to Mitch Menning, our ICS Head of School, who was also a Dordt University (previous known as Dordt College) graduate. 

When I flew out to Utah to get a tour of ICS, the welcoming staff, beautiful view of the mountains and trees, and the voices of energetic children absolutely captured my heart! I felt called to join in on the mission statement of ICS to teach in a Christ-centered learning community that equips and inspires students to thrive in God's world. God's hand was so evident when he led me to accept the 4th grade position at ICS to grow, to serve, and to love my students and my neighbors here.

How long have you been working at ICS?

1 year (2nd year currently)

What is your role at ICS?

4th Grade Teacher

What do you look forward to the most about coming to work everyday?

I look forward to greeting my students with an "elbow bump" and seeing their smiles & hearing their stories each morning. God's mercies are new each morning, and it is incredible to receive His strength to be joyful, faithful, and courageous. Our class also loves to sing a hymn and share our prayer requests to start our day!

What do you like to do when you're not hard at work?

I enjoy cooking new recipes, making Asian food, or baking in my free time. I have a passion for worship and love to play the keyboard and sing praises to our God. Utah is also a beautiful place, so I have also been enjoying going on hikes with friends!

What is one thing your students and/or coworkers may not know about you?

I started to sing hymns when I was four years old! :)

JA CITY

JA City

I had the opportunity to chaperone Mrs. Hope’s 5th grade class’ visit to the Junior Achievement BizTown experience. Having participated two years earlier for my older daughter’s day at JA BizTown, I couldn’t wait to be involved again. 

It is an absolute joy to watch the students live a “grown up” life for a day with awe and enthusiasm. When they cross over that bridge off of the elevator into JA BizTown, being told they are officially, temporarily grown-ups for the day, their countenance changes. They are eager to take on the challenge and sincerely have fun learning.

It means so much to me as a father to see the students having a joyful view of work. JA City was an opportunity to plant seeds in a practical way about what the future holds for them. I loved watching them “leave the stress at the bridge” on the way out, as well as receive a few important perspectives, life skills and fond memories with classmates in the process. 

Practically speaking, seeds are being planted in terms of financial Literacy (i.e. balancing a checkbook), awareness of the economy and community interdependency, work readiness skills and basics of business management. I’m more than a little bit jealous that I didn’t get to have this experience as a 5th grader! 

I am deeply grateful to Mrs. Hope and the other elementary teachers for the effort and consistency that they put into the Junior Achievement program during these formative years. 

Written by Alex Adema, CEO, DPS Skis, ICS Dad

1st grade science: He is still in charge

When Lauri Bradt asked me to teach first grade Science this year, along with my other positions,  I was overjoyed. I have such a passion for hands-on, Biblically integrated, real-life learning. After all, that’s what Science class is all about!  Needless to say, I had no idea how exciting it would really be until we started Distance Learning!  

Teaching Science class through Distance Learning is definitely a challenge, especially when we are studying plant growth!  But I have always loved a good challenge! We started two weeks ago, monitoring our school-grown brassica plants. Each child planted his/her own mustard seeds before we left the school building.  Since then, I have been recording videos twice every week of the students’ plant growth! The students took their plant journals home and they record the growth of their plants and draw what they observe each time they watch my Science class video. We have watched our minuscule mustard seeds grow to tiny sprouts; our tiny sprouts grow to small seedlings, and the seedlings grow to larger vegetative plants with stronger stems and large leaves.  The students are excitedly waiting with anticipation for the budding and flowering stage of our brassica plants! Our discussion of germination and pollination will come to life as they observe their plants flower and reseed.  

In the meantime, the students have searched their yards for emerging buds, sprouts and seedlings of their own. It was so exciting to see the signs of life that each child discovered, as they took pictures of the plants and sent them to me.  As I created a video of a montage of all the plants and emerging life they found, I was reminded of the sovereign God of creation who is still in charge. Even in these unsure times, Spring is here; life continues everywhere around us; God continues to work in his nature.  Grace sent me a picture today of a perfectly sewn robin’s nest, filled to the brim with delicate, blue, speckled eggs with baby birds just waiting to awaken to a new day. The same God who is watching over those bird eggs is caring for each one of us, holding us in the palm of His Almighty Hands.   

Written by: Ingrid Veldhuis, 1st grade science teacher

Elementary School Highlight: JA City

Junior Achievement is a supplemental curriculum we enjoy using at ICS to equip elementary students with financial literacy and work-readiness skills. J.A. City is the exciting culmination of the program and, without a doubt, the highlight field trip of fifth grade! This year’s fifth-grade class prepared for several weeks and then traveled to J.A. City in Discovery Gateway on February 12th to participate with other fifth grade classes in a simulation of running a city for the day! ICS students fulfilled all the roles to operate a Chick-Fil-A, First Security Bank, Merit Medical, and KSL News station, and declared the experience “the best school day ever!” As their teacher, it’s my pleasure to watch them walk away from the day inspired to continue working hard in school after catching a glimpse of what it will be like to thrive in their future employment endeavors!

By Heather Hope, 5th-Grade Teacher

WHAT WE DO HERE IS IMPORTANT

My friend and colleague, Andrew Hobbs, when asked why he dresses so nicely for school responded, “because what we do here is important.” That response perfectly encompasses my reflections on the week of the production of Sound of Music.

I have had the great honor to become a theater mom. I am still learning from the veteran theater moms what this role looks like, but it is something that I have embraced more and more with each performance. At the very least, a theater mom must ensure that her child is present for rehearsals and stays motivated to push through the intense schedule. As I have witnessed, however, ICS theater moms go above and beyond this not-so-minimum effort. For this performance and others before it, Jennifer Little organized every detail around production. Her tireless efforts to ensure that every need was filled inspired this team of volunteer parents (Angie McGuire, Tamara Hawks, Danielle Scott, Mark Russell, Romana Brown, Rex Pickett and so many more) to use our abilities to help with costuming, hair and make up, set painting, and keeping students fed. Ultimately, though, the driving force behind our mom (and dad) efforts lies in the passion that we see in our children. This passion has been planted by Tess Tally.

Mrs. Tally is teaching our students more than how to act and sing. She is teaching them how to be professional. I was able to be backstage during two of the six performances. While I have recognized qualities of professionalism in my students before, never have I been able to see those qualities in action quite as I did on those occasions. As the two and a half-hour show was being performed on stage, the backstage area was alive with a methodical busyness. Crew members made ready props and set pieces to move on and off stage in the dark and re-taped microphones that had loosened off cast members’ cheeks. High school and middle school cast members helped their elementary school castmates with quick changes. Habit-clad girls worked hard to make sure Taylor Little (Maria) was in and out to make her cues and to hold back the curtains for Kylee Salazaar’s (Mother Abbess) wheelchair as she made her entrances and exits. What impressed me most was the hushed focus on each student’s face. I could perceive no nervousness, just the determination to do their absolute best. And as the final measures of “Finale Ultimo” rang out, cast and crew as well as their gifted director, harmonized beautifully--some on stage, some backstage. All were singing, showing their passion and perseverance through song.

Before taking the stage, all participants in a show directed by Tess repeat these words, “A professional does his best when he doesn’t want to. A professional does his best when he doesn’t have to. A professional does his best all the time because he can.” It is no wonder, then, that our students demonstrate the professionalism that is well beyond their years. This lesson is so valuable. We want our students to do everything wholeheartedly, for God’s glory. We want them to take joy in hard work done well. Tess Tally is modeling this through the stage, our teachers are teaching this in the classroom, and our coaches expect this on the courts and fields. Because we believe what we do at Intermountain Christian School is important. 

Written by Becky Schumacher, HS English Teacher

ELEMENTARY ENRICHMENT: FOR THE LOVE OF LEGO

Growing up I always had a love for LEGO. There was nothing better than waking up Christmas morning, opening the new LEGO set I had been wanting for months and building it that same day. Working with LEGO not only provided endless hours of building, rebuilding, and imaginative play, but it taught me valuable skills like the ability to follow directions, analyze my work, identify problems, and break a large project into smaller more manageable pieces. This happened without me realizing it; it was so much more than just a lot of fun.

I started at ICS in 2nd grade and graduated in 2014. I am so excited my kids are now attending. ICS did so much for me socially, academically and spiritually, but it also developed in me a love for math and science. Throughout elementary, middle and high school, I was exposed to teachers who loved these subjects and imparted that love to their students. As a father of two amazing boys, I want to make sure they have the same opportunities to fall in love with math and science. Enter: LEGO Club. My hope is that it will give students the opportunity to explore STEAM subjects and to plant a seed of interest.

In the ICS elementary LEGO Club, we will be using LEGO bricks, sensors and motors, paired with simple and intuitive programming software to explore real-world problems and develop working LEGO models to solve those issues. Students will have the opportunity to try multiple solutions and discover what works and what doesn’t. Then as a team, they will communicate the steps they took and what they discovered. Through collaboration and problem-solving, students will have an opportunity to gain hands-on experience addressing real-world issues. LEGO Club will be utilizing the LEGO Education WeDo 2.0 Curriculum to learn how to integrate LEGO bricks, sensors and motors systems with robotic programming software. We are so excited to be launching LEGO Club this year and to build, learn and grow together.

By Alex Baskett, ICS Alum

TOP 5 REASONS WHY BEING A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE IS IMPORTANT

“Are my kids doing enough? Are my kids doing too much? What about college… Doesn’t my kid need to focus on the sport they excel at the most in order to get a scholarship?” There has been much said on both sides of the issue of the multi-sport athlete. There are coaches who would encourage an athlete to only participate in a single sport (usually the one they coach) year-round. There are parents who feel like the kid needs a break and should only participate in one sport. There’s the kid who wants to do it all. What is the “right way?” I have a few things I’d like to bring out in the open and at the end you can determine where you stand for yourself. 

It is a fascinating thing that this topic was never really discussed when I was growing up. There seems to be a shift that has happened between my generation and the new millennials as it pertains to “play.” What I mean is that we played differently than kids do today. When I was growing up we played outside. We played basketball, football, baseball, soccer, street hockey, and four square. We climbed trees. We had relay races. We “hopped fences” with loose dogs to retrieve balls that had gone over. We ran from stray pit bulls in route to the neighborhood park.

There was an understood reality that you played whatever everyone else was playing and you actually tried to be good enough to win. We didn’t need it to be an official game on a team because we were getting out of it what has proven to be beneficial for us that day. This form of play developed in us a competitive attitude that carried over into whatever field we ended up exploring. The benefits that we actually experienced parallel to what studies have shown. The bottom line is, the multi-sport athlete (MSA) is the way to go. 

Here are the TOP 5 REASONS WHY BEING A MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE IS IMPORTANT:

1. Injuries

One of the reasons why I endorse this philosophy is that MSA’s tend to get injured less often. Playing a single sport year-round forces athletes to use the same muscle groups and movements repeatedly. Studies have shown that strengthening different muscle groups through multiple sports is healthier. There was a study conducted that looked at NBA first round draft picks. It examined how many of them played a single sport in high school versus those who played multiple sports. The result was that players who played multiple sports were less likely to be injured than the single sport athlete. 

2. Competitors

I’ve also learned that college coaches are actually more interested in players who play multiple sports because they have more of a tendency to always compete. Coaches like Jim Harbaugh (University of Michigan) and Urban Meyer (former Ohio State coach) are two among many coaches who only recruit MSA. Harbaugh actually has his recruits play dodgeball, field baseballs, and play soccer at his camps. He says that “youngsters aren’t playing multiple sports as they once did, so you like to test them that way.”

3. Versatility

Multi-sport athletes are often more versatile and more capable of picking up new skills than those who play one sport. They usually can adjust to different positions faster and more effectively. Many recruits are asked to change their position when they arrive to college particularly for football. This has proven to be beneficial for players in that they usually achieve very high accolades personally and their versatility follows them to the pros where they’ll be asked to change positions again. 

4. Growth

Another benefit of the MSA is that they have more potential for improvement. When athletes play one sport, they run the risk of reaching their “ceiling” much faster than the MSA. The reason is because when you’re an MSA, you are forced to stop playing a sport when the season is over. This means you wouldn’t train for an entire year; leaving you with more room to grow and improve. One of my favorite things to tell athletes is this: “NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE ABILITY TO GET BETTER!” You can always improve and playing multiple sports will ensure that you have to work at it. 

5. Coachability

Another factor to consider is that MSA’s have the potential to be more coachable than their single sport counterparts. This reality is an extreme benefit and probably got my attention more than any other. Every sport is different and typically requires a certain style of coach for each one. For example, my coaching style probably won’t work for golf. I remember playing for Coach Rick Majerus and how difficult it was on so many levels. I remember wanting to quit and thinking, “this is not worth it.” Fast-forward to today and I realize that since playing for Rick, I have been able to play for any coach and work for any boss! He prepared me to deal with any type of personality and style. 

This blog clearly lands on one side of the argument and I’m not naïve enough to say that this line of thinking doesn’t come with some valid push back, but I ascribe to the philosophy of the MSA and have adopted it as part of our athletics philosophy and value system at Intermountain Christian School. Here is how it reads:

“We value our multi-sport athletic approach. We believe there is great value in our athletes participating in multiple sports and are committed to encourage and integrate this philosophy into our school’s culture.  With this approach, our athletes are able to gain different kinds of skills they can apply from one sport to the next. This approach has also proven to enhance hand-eye coordination, balance, endurance, explosion, communication, and athletic agility. The athlete is also able to avoid injuries from overuse.”

Written by: Tim Drisdom, Athletic Director at Intermountain Christian School

Sources: 

USA Today

High School Sports

Jamie Duffek, NCSA

"5 Reasons"

Michelle Smith EspnW.com

The Michigan Daily

2016

"5 Reasons College Coaches Love to Recruit Multi-Sport Athletes"

TOP 4 WAYS TO BEAT THE SUMMER SLUMP

Almost twenty years ago I met Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing. Since my first introduction to Pudewa’s belief in writing, I’ve been one of his biggest fans. He states, “The auditory environment will have a greater impact on the way children speak and write then on anything we ever do educationally.” Embrace the previous statement and make this summer a game changer for your family. Turn the lifestyle you live today into a “reading culture” lifestyle for tomorrow. Make a daily effort to breathe in the simple statement above. Be attentive to what your child is hearing. Allow the truth Mr. Pudewa shares infuse into your home’s atmosphere. After all, God calls us to be attentive to what goes into our brain, and hence into our heart. His gift of hearing “packs a powerful paycheck.”

1. HEAR TOGETHER

Gather the family together and hear “story” read aloud.  As a busy parent, who hopes to create a reading culture for your family, you might need to multi-task while read-aloud is happening. Instead of being the voice reading the story, allow an audible device (car, Audible App or CD player) to play that part. While prepping for dinner, folding laundry or driving to dance class, you, along with your children, will have the opportunity to hear exceptional vocabulary and the templates of beautiful language patterns.

2. PLANT THE SEEDS FOR GREAT CONVERSATION

The auditory environment you create will work its magic more deeply than anything else you can do academically. Here’s the kicker though. Take this seriously and you’ll not only serve your children academically, but you’ll also plant the seeds that will lead to great conversations. Story will give you the nourishing soil in which characters come alive.  Your family will connect with intimate friends, whom you soon love and admire. Without leaving the house you’ll travel to wonderful places together and experience history in ways that will penetrate your skin and become a part of who you are. And all of this combined will be a magnet pulling you into great conversations you would otherwise not be blessed with.

3. MEMORIZE TOGETHER

When it comes to competent communicators, speaking is the other side of listening. Hearing reliably correct syntax and sophisticated language patterns is powerful, but memorizing eloquent language is ultimately better. Encourage the memorization of poetry because it provides an unusual and formal way of speaking which children might not hear otherwise. They’ll hear and then be required to speak in a unique form of communication. Also, excerpts of great speeches from years past provide useful and powerful communication patterns and language templates. Scripture and songs also serve the purpose of accessing powerful language patterns and vocabulary. Grab some friends and form a poetry club and create the stage for a future Intermountain Christian School Champion Speech and Debate team. These simple acts will help your student become a more competent communicator.

4. LET THEM SEE THE JOY OF READING

Sarah McKenzie, author of The Read Aloud Family, clearly, confidently and consistently encourages the entertainment factor when it comes to reading. If your children are going to become avid readers, the people they love, admire and count on must also be people who read for the mere joy and entertainment found in reading. Before going to bed at night, ask yourself, “Did I enjoy ‘story’ today? Along with my children, did I enjoy time with a book today?” Children, who grow up in families where adults clearly love reading, follow suit and define themselves as readers. Viewing reading as their “family culture” they recognize the joy story provides. In their world, it makes complete sense that story is a daily event “their people,” the people they love and admire, do every day.

NOT CONVINCED IN THE POWER OF STORY YET? READ ON…

This should be enough to convince you, but there is more. Providing an environment such as this will supply a reservoir of eloquent language patterns for your child to use when called upon to write. Good writing is good communication. Make certain your child is immersed in language-rich soil, encourage his or her listening, speaking, reading and thinking in an environment which will boost his ability to write in years to come. Louis L’Amour, a western author says, “A writer’s brain is like a magician’s hat, you can’t get something out of it unless you put something into it first.” Be intent on providing quality literature during your daily read-aloud time. We do not become fluent through “small talk” and we certainly don’t hear it in the form of today’s media choices. We find it in quality literature.

Even if listening, reading, and writing is the only goals you reach for this summer, your child would benefit greatly. But that’s just the surface stuff. Underneath listening, reading, and writing glistens the gem of clear, unobstructed thinking. If we want our children to think well, they must be given the opportunity to ask themselves questions. Practicing listening, practicing reading, and practicing writing gives your child the opportunity to ask insightful, searching questions. We do it on the run, we do it without knowing but every time we listen to “story,” read “story,” and write “story,” we are inevitably asking ourselves questions which lead to constructive thinking.

I’m now twenty years deeper into my passion for language arts and am more committed than ever to share my love of reading and writing with children. It is my hope this message will impact your life as well. If it does, I’m fairly certain your children will respond one day with a “thank you.” I had a mother who read to me, where she opened the door to the love of reading that I have long-embraced. She carved out time for me to read, made wise decisions for each gift of a book and encouraged me to read to others. My mother showed me and helped me understand the power of story.

Here at Intermountain Christian School, we are all about community, and in order to foster that value, we would love to glean any wisdom on any book titles, applications, or authors from our readers! Please comment below!

Written by Shelly Davidson, ICS Librarian

The Teacher Effect

Let’s take a trip together- traveling into your memory-mind’s eye. Do you see whose face appears when I ask who was your favorite teacher? Did you take it back to your kindergarten days with his/hers undoubtedly kind smile, or perhaps that one awesome basketball coach who pushed you harder than any other during sophomore year? Do you have him or her in your mind? Now hold on to the feeling- not the image of their face, but the feeling they left in your heart which you are revisiting now- The peace you received during that rough personal time, the laughter bubbling up because they had a killer sense of humor, or the immense pride you feel in yourself at this moment because you know your life could have turned sideways if they had not crossed your path at that exact moment they did. Welcome to the teacher effect.

I would argue that whether you were a total school-loving, high-performing nerd to the max (like myself) or the kid who couldn’t wait to bust through the doors of your school for the last time and never look back (like my husband)- No matter where you stand on the grading scale, there was that one teacher who you had and currently have this undeniable fondness for. For me, it was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Greer. She was the eldest teacher I ever had, and my goodness gracious her strict disposition was palpable, but she had this effect on me throughout the remainder of my schooling days that set the tone for my drive toward achievement. I was drawn to her teaching style- her almost military-like standard of focus really hit a note for me and to this day I still sing her praises (obviously).

Let’s return. We’re here watching our children make their own relationships, evaluations and memories with teachers of their own. A greater sense of appreciation has hit us as we see from the parenting perspective how each teacher molds, uplifts and pushes them to greatness better than we can ourselves. This year alone, I never knew how monstrously impatient I could be until attempting (ahem, *failing*) to help my son learn to read. That is, until Mrs. Brown came along to take the reins with a calm confidence, followed with Mrs. Veldhuis coming in with the assist (like a perfectly timed “alley-oop”) in “Reading Intervention.” With months of frustration internally building and often times spilling over at my son’s expense, he came home from school one day, sat himself at the counter and began to read me a book as I prepped dinner. Slowly and all at once, my kindergartner was reading and I wasn’t sitting next to him painfully going through each. and. every. word with him. HALLELUJAH! Something clicked for him in that classroom, at the side of his teachers, that spurred a realization to greater achievement than I was able to. As a parent, welcome to the teacher effect.

Being on the outside looking in to a life building within and around your children is one of the hardest realities of becoming a parent. But, man oh man, when I see the beauty through pain, the accomplishments through hardships, and the blessings through steadfastness, I experience that same calm confidence that Mrs. Brown had brought to the table. The stronghold of control in making sure my kids are okay easily slips away. I have the calm confidence in the molding of their minds and characters because of their teachers.

They are cared for.

They are loved.

They are heard.

They are stretched and challenged.

They are held to a higher standard.

They are becoming who they are in large part due to their teachers.

3 John 1:4

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in

the truth.”

Remember that teacher in your memory-mind’s eye? The good work he or she has done in your own life is the same good work your son or daughter’s teacher is doing right this very moment. The teacher effect is generational. I encourage you, do not hold back your tongue in thankfulness for those men and women who show up displaying God’s goodness in your kids’ lives. May the position of gratitude in your heart be expressed outwardly toward them today. If she were still alive today, I would track down Mrs. Greer and thank her for instilling a love of learning in my life, for giving me a king-size Snickers bar when I finally mastered my times tables and for keeping me in line when I was easily distracted by my crazy friends. Go thank a teacher today and let him or her know that their impact is tangible, life-bringing and ever so important.

Comment below who your favorite teachers were and share on Facebook!

Written by Erica Smith, ICS Mom

Expanding Opportunities

“We are not computers so how can we teach students to do things that computers can’t do?

The answer?

We need to teach students how to think, how to engage, how to take concepts further, how to do research, and how to use more of their brain.

A traditional approach to teaching has the tendency to limit our reach on the students who may not fall in line with the middle-of-the-road expectations. And that is why Katy McCombs is so passionate about Gifted and Talented Education; because of the reach for all the students, below, at, and above the average learning level.

Katy McCombs has been with ICS for two years and will receive her Master’s in Gifted and Talented Education in December of 2019. Her presence at ICS and in the classroom with our students is of immense benefit in that, as the students grow, they will reap tremendous reward to impact the world around them. In the 2019-2020 school year, ICS will be implementing a pilot program utilizing the gifted and talented approach to teaching. This program will expand opportunities for children, benefiting every student, even the ones that in the traditional classroom would be identified as “falling behind.” The benefits are clear and we look forward to the impact this approach to learning will have on our students.

Here are 5 WAYS THAT THE GIFTED AND TALENTED APPROACH BENEFITS STUDENTS:

1.       DIFFERENTIATION -  Gifted and talented education emphasizes variety - teaching which takes into account student’s abilities and interests. Using differentiation is taking a broader approach to learning. Differentiating between content, processes, the learning environment, and product creation brings different opportunities and perspectives to students.

2. INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING - Gifted education means teachers meet students where they are and then push them to learn more. Making a path for the learner to follow means that the teacher has an idea of where the students can go if properly led. Gifted and talented students can be motivated by making a new learning discovery that is further than where they might naturally go on their own.

3. ADAPTABLE, BUT STRUCTURED

The gifted and talented learning journey is intended to take students deeper into more complex thinking.  Walking up the path of Bloom’s Taxonomy and reaching across the Levels in Webb’s Depth of Knowledge is how deeper, more complex learning takes place. When combining these methods, it has the added benefit of preparing students for the kind of questions asked in standardized testing. Yet at the same time, students and teachers must remain flexible in their studies. If teachers have the knowledge to adapt their lessons to optimize student engagement, it ensures all the students have a better learning experience. Adaptable teaching reaches more students.

4.  PROJECT-BASED AND PROBLEM-BASED LEARNING

This is where students learn how to think through a situation and reach a solution. These group projects promote teamwork, reward “out of the box” thinking, and help students to connect what might seem like disparate ideas. Problem and project-based learning lends itself to working through real-world scenarios that have real-life opportunities connected to them. This is a great place to be innovative!

5. GOING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM - Students need to be introduced to enriching outside resources. We want to think past the end of the school day, school year, and school career of a student and look forward to what’s ahead. Gifted students have big potential for having highly-influential roles careers, and they need to be introduced to possibilities in the world and challenged by witnessing excellence around them. The world needs our gifted students to reach their full potential to be Christ-like and wise influencers.

We want all of our students to shine and thrive! There’s no shame in being smart or being good at something and we want our students to be engaged, not bored. We also need to be vigilant to the responsibility of God-given talents, because like the age-old saying goes, “If they don’t use it, they lose it.” Mrs. McCombs and ICS are strong advocates of every student and we look forward to how the Gifted and Talented Education pilot program coming up in 2019-2020 will better serve our student body. We are proud to have such a forward-thinking faculty member as a part of our ICS family and we look forward to all that the ICS students will reap from what has already been and will continue to be sown into their lives.

Click on the links below to read through the fantastic resources on Gifted and Talented Education:

http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-gifted-education  

http://nagc.org/resources-publications/gifted-education-practices

https://www.sengifted.org/post/competing-with-myths-about-the-social-and-emotional-development-of-gifted-students  

http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10017  

Grace > Striving

Post by Rachel Larson, of The Well Place

I am a mom of three little ones, and I haven’t even seen the trenches of preteen years or — I assume the more challenging — teen years, and yet I see my daily pitfalls as a mom that need so desperately to be covered by the hand of the Father. I can try to control the process, take the bull by the horns, and act like I can muscle (which really is more like stumbling) through it, or I can speak what is true.

The truth is that I, as a parent, am much more effective when I am found humbly at the feet of Jesus. When I am weak, He is made strong. When we run ourselves ragged, relentlessly striving and stubborn to do it all and be it all without Jesus and His grace, what happens? I know what happens for me — I hit that wall of “I’ve got nothing left to give,” and “I’m too exhausted to ‘adult’ right now,” which eventually leads to, “I’m a bad mom” or “I’m messing this up.” But, as soon as we can translate the shame of the stubborn “mom (or dad) boss” lifestyle, and melt into humility, somehow God’s grace overwhelms and picks up the pieces of where we fall short.

The other night, my husband and I had put the kids to bed and were sitting across from each other on the couch, exhausted. No phones on, no tv on, no actual conversation going on, just sitting and staring; exhausted. I finally snapped out of it, and confessed my feeling of disconnect with our kids, of feeling like the voice I had been using with them was not speaking life but discouragement, and that I felt like I was failing in this season of motherhood.

THIS WAS THE WALL.

I had been striving, pushing, pressing, and running from one parenting decision to the next. I found myself discipling one child, disciplining another, and changing diaper after diaper in that ruthless Groundhog Day lifestyle over and over again until this moment. Exhausted. Weak. Lonely. And this wasn’t the first time (obviously). All the while, the gift of Jesus walked beside me and all I had to do was reach out and hold His hand of grace.

My weakness gets swallowed up by His sea of grace. Every single time. As soon as I get off of the roller coaster ride that says I’m not enough, I need to push harder, do more and be better, it is almost like I get bucked off by the impending need for humility. It is humility that says I fall short and I cannot do it alone. It is in humility that sheds light brighter and brighter still on the glory that is God’s gift of grace.

 I have yelled at my kids (gasp), I get distracted by housework or my phone, I am inconsistent with discipline, and sometimes I even feed them oatmeal for dinner. And all of these (and much more) find me in a spiral of beating myself up to only find myself choosing the option to just try harder. But what if I embraced and actually believed what it says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-11:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”

What I have noticed and experienced in my own life is that when I humble myself to say “I just haven’t been cutting it, His grace seems to cover it, and is actually (like it says) sufficient. Parenting, no matter if we are in the depths of the terrible twos or throws of 13, is hard. And arguably still, the most challenging responsibility of our lifetime.

Why are we choosing to muscle through, when the gift of God’s sufficient grace is offered to us in our boasted weakness? Instead of stubbornly striving, walking out our parenthood in our own strength, and schlepping through the muck alone, let us grasp on to the hand of grace that Jesus is holding out for us. Let’s confess with our mouths first that we desperately need Jesus and His grace to wash over our families, our agendas, our children and our parenthood. And then let’s watch the hand of grace bring clarity and peace and direction, hope and a future worth having.