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Explain, in your own words, what “processing activities” are and how they contribute to a coherent curriculum.
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I use processing in the form of journaling regularly with students. At the end of a year, I can choose to keep them, so we can reuse/reflect on them at the beginning of the next year, save them until graduation (personal favorite), or return them to students with my comments. Students love having a chance to look at their growth through reflection over time. These prompts provide me with the opportunity to allow students to integrate their faith with their learning objectives. I’ve used journaling with lit, after spiritual emphasis trips, or just on a random Monday morning to ease into the school week with thoughts of our weekend and how the events of it have changed us. I sometimes write as well, and we optionally share out and discuss. Growth through peer to peer relationship, as well as positive feedback for those who need it.
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Processing activities allow students to reflect deeply upon the content and connect it to their personal life, worldview, and other subjects. Processing activities allow students to make deeper connections and realizations beyond simply acquiring new information, making them an essential part of curriculum.
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Processing activities are when students engage in reflections of what they have learned. They look back at what they studied and think how their thinking changed and where does the Word of God now influence what they think. They can also look at what worked and what didn’t work. This also allows to integrate the Bible into the lessons and make sure the studies are coherent with a Biblical worldview.
Processing activities can be written down or in discussions, but it is important to revisit.
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Processing takes time, and so it is a good idea to come back and revisit ideas later for reflection.I liked the suggestion about asking students tor write down certain ideas they have about the subjects they’re taking, at the beginning of the year; then, at the end of the year, ask them to revisit those ideas and also reflect on how scripture now influences their thinking about those ideas.
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Processing activities are times in the lesson, unit, and/or year, that we pause to think back, reflect, and revisit what we had previously learned or thought about a concept or piece of knowledge and determine if that thought is still valid or how it has changed now that they have more knowledge.
