Announcing:
Saint Mary's Press winner for the week of April 24, 2009!
Congratulations to winner!

winner will receive a copy of 9th Grade Survival Guide, a $14.95 value.

The first year of high school can be exciting and scary at the same time. Fear Not! The 9th Grade Survival Guide is here to help. On these pages, teens will find everyday situations that ninth graders face and some tips on how to navigate high school life with style and grace. Some of the topics covered include hazing; getting lost; dealing with disappointment; meeting new people; understand teachers, parents, and peers.

Look Inside: You can view an online sampler of the 9th Grade Survival Guide on the SMP Web catalog. Search for "9th Grade Survival," or use this link to go to the product description, http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=3453.

9th Grade Survival Guide, by Chris Wardwell,
ISBN 978-0-88489-966-7, paper, 248 pages, $14.95,
http://www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=3453

Year-end Strategies for the Classroom
An Interview with Chris Wardwell
by Roxane Kadrlik Chlachula

As the school year winds down, it can be difficult to keep teens engaged in learning. I checked in with Chris Wardwell, a theology teacher at Saint Thomas High School in Houston, Texas, and author of the 9th Grade Survival Guide to find out what strategies work well in his classroom.

Chris, what do you do to keep students engaged in learning as the end of the year approaches?
I try to treat it like any other time of the year. I find that the students will generally live up to my expectations. If I keep my expectations high, then the students will tend to rise to the occasion.

Yet, at the same time, I have to be realistic. They are often overloaded with work, and I acknowledge the stress that many of them experience. I will often give them a pep talk toward the end of the year. I will sometimes give them a short break just to talk about their work load. They are sometimes more willing to work after they have gotten it off their chest.

How do you deal with the extra energy teens seem to have during these final weeks of school?
I like to have more interesting and fun activities at the end of the semester. In the New Testament course I teach, it helps that we study the Book of Revelation in the last week or two of the semester. Because teenagers are usually pretty interested in subject matter like that, they are more willing to stay focused.

Do you have any advice for new teachers that are experiencing this for the first time?
Practically speaking, it seems like all of the teachers try to schedule their tests on the final day. Perhaps it would help to give the last test a week earlier, and then give a shorter quiz over the material on the last day. Also, don?t show a movie unless you are finished for the year. Once that movie is over, they will be done. Trying to get them to work afterward will be next to impossible.

Have a sense of humor. Young people really appreciate it. Starting class with a joke or a cartoon is an easy way to get their attention. Be honest--acknowledge if you (and probably many other teachers) are tired and ready for a break too.

Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week
by Brian Singer-Towns

Having been a catechist for over 20 years and now as the parent of a full-time educator, I know how important a little affirmation can be for teachers. The upcoming teacher appreciation week (May 3-9) is a great time to affirm the teachers in your life. Here are some time-tested ideas to get you started; Education World has 65 more ideas here: http://www.educationworld.com/a_admin/admin/admin308.shtml.

• Some special food: Lent is over now so we can celebrate with food again! How about gathering your catechists after class for some brownies and ice cream? Or give your teachers a healthy snack pack with some dried fruit, almonds, and low fat snack bars.
• Words of affirmation: This may not be a novel idea but in this day of e-mail and text messages, a written note really says you invested some time. Whether you are a parent or a student take a few minutes to write a thank you to a teacher in your life. If you are a teacher yourself, send a note of appreciation to a colleague who has helped or inspired you.
• A thank-you billboard: This idea is a little out there, but it may be easier to do than you think. Local billboards in your town or city can be rented for a month or less for a few hundred dollars--there are often discounts for non-profits. What a great way for your parish, PTA group, or school board to thank your community's catechists and teachers.

Two Interviews with Maura Thompson Hagarty

Listen to a live interview with Saint Mary's Press development editor Maura Thompson Hagarty on Relevant Radio's "Searching the Word" program at http://www.relevantradio.com/Page.aspx?pid=3407 on Wednesday, April 29. Maura will talk about how The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers helps teens ages 10-14 with their questions about their faith.

Maura also recently appeared on a CatholicMom.org in a podcast and on an e-mail interview. You can listen to the podcast at http://www.smp.org/ItemExtras.cfm?ItemNum=2150, and find the interview at http://new.catholicmom.com

Maura Thompson Hagarty, PhD, is a development editor for parish resources at Saint Mary's Press and the co-editor of The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers.

Learn more about The Catholic Connections Handbook for Middle Schoolers at http://www.smp.org/AlternateDetail.cfm?AltId=79!