Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Seeing the future
Sneaky
Knowing I was being watched,
I started to write on the sidewalk that circles our play structure.
Children began to read over my shoulder as I crouched writing a sentence.
Thus,
a game was born.
I chuckled silently to myself as my students drifted in and out of the action.
When it was all over,
Everyone was content.
And (shhhh!) we'd all practiced our reading and running skills!
If you happen to learn something lovely along the way, consider it an added bonus!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Beauty all around us...
I planted more flowers.
I had a couple cookies made by my oldest kiddo.
Talked for an hour to friends.
Helped my youngest daughter with her homework.
Laughed
Sighed
Contemplated life
I didn't
...do a bit of work except for household chores
I didn't touch the school books...
You see,
it's Spring Break week for me!
So,
though,
It's off to school I go,
this week is purely for "fun".
Field trips
Pearler beads
lots of play time...
Sigh
I am tired.
All the happiness is wearing me out.
I suppose I must go to bed.
I feel like a little child...
that something nice will happen when I close my eyes...
I might "miss" something.
How silly.
I pray that you are more sensible.
That sleep comes easily tonight and you wake tomorrow rested.
God Bless!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Summer Daydreams...
I am smiling as I happily listen to my itunes.
The ability to change your mind
a tad rainy at times...
and,
for the past few hours,
the world has been a bit misty...
Their fingers are probably taking a little while to thaw out...
Moments frozen in time
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Can't stop smiling!
I squealed when I was handed the title.
I think I did a happy dance.
I may not stop smiling for quite a while.
without the help of a friend.
My kiddos and I can go to our favorite Metro Parks again.
I can go to work without waking up my dear father.
I can run to the store without actually "running"!
may your needs...
even the unspoken ones...
that seem too big...
that seem too impossible...
I pray that they will be met.
Blessings
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Rain
As my eldest daughter and I happily chatted and packed lunches this morning, we heard my youngest kiddo awaken.
I decided to let him wake up on his own and come on down as I had already checked on him earlier and left his door ajar.
Everything seemed fine until a few minutes later when we heard an odd sound of water running and suddenly water was "RAINING" on our heads!
This was not fresh water.
AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
As we screamed bloody murder, I ran for the stairs to see what had happened.
(Sadly, I was correct in my assumption.)
My youngest had plugged the toilet and then continued to flush.
yuck.....ooooooooh.......icky......
New Clothes... Another shower for me.... a bath for him..... two loads of towels and all the pans my daughter used to try and catch the drips.
... I guess that's what happens if you are too philosophical in the morning.
I must confess I was not quite so positive while it was happening.
I assure you I said a few words that aren't "Kindergarten safe" as my eldest says.
.... But, when it was all over....
I still made it to work on time.
Everyone had breakfast.
Everyone was clean.
Everything was alright.
So, in the whole scheme of things...
no harm no foul...
Though it may be a while before I blog about rain again...
Have a wonderful afternoon.
I hope it is uneventful.
If it rains on you, I hope it "rains" only rain.
God Bless!
Before the sun comes up
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Visiting the Moon
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Daydreaming of napping
Sleep tight,
Don't let the bed bugs bite.
If they do,
take your shoe and
squish 'em 'til they're black and blue.
A dear friend taught me the rhyme,
which is a tad different than how I learned it as a child.
Tonight I must confess that I'm not feeling a bit chatty.
I am going to set my cell alarm,
take a blanket
and
go "watch"
a bit of Twilight with my eldest daughter who wants my company.
Because she loves me,
she'll forgive me if I doze off.
I pray that as day turns to night,
you will find rest for your head,
your heart,
your soul.
May you be blessed.
Tonight,
Tomorrow,
Always.
(May you escape those wicked "bugs" as well!)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Small changes
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Pigs
Saturday, March 21, 2009
New Beginnings
I'm going to let it settle and then add in a little more.
The fresh start is a challenge.
I must confess though,
the new opportunities in my personal life
often inspire nerves
that I haven't felt since my teenage years.
I chuckle at my own uncertainty some days.
I pray that as we walk the road of life,
we do not unnecessarily fear the adventures we face.
I fervently hope that we take the lessons of our past,
wrap ourselves in the "fabric" of our faith
(hopefully it will keep out weeds!)
and
step out into the sunshine.
Life is meant to be lived.
May the garden of your life be beautiful and full of good growth!
Friday, March 20, 2009
We had so much fun!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Nickel Nonsense
We've gone on sight word "hunts", used shaving cream to practice word families and popped popcorn to assist with addition.
Today we played another game of, "You can keep it!" This game is my attempt at motivating my students struggling with coin identification. In most families, children simply do not see coins being used on a daily basis. The piggy bank with begged change is no longer a bedroom standard. My intelligent children do not have the life experience to intuitively know which coin is which.
My response?
Literally a group discussion.
An examination of a coin.
A comparison to the other coins.
We talk about the possible pictures that could be on it.
(The new coins, which thrill collectors, terrorize my students.)
Then... if they can name it... and tell me its value, it is THEIRS!
...(insert chuckle here)...
Nickels, pennies and dimes still make an impression in 2009.
After our lesson, every kid could tell me what I'd given them;
they could show me where the nickel said, "Five Cents".
For the rest of our day together,
every time I saw a coin in the hands of a student,
Every time, they knew!
Review time is so satisfying because the progress my students have made makes me so happy.
Kindergarten children learn so much; they are a privilege to help educate.
I hope for you this evening,
the simple pleasure my students had today
as they nibbled ten pieces of popcorn,
measured snakes out of play dough
and
collected their very own nickel!
Good night and God bless!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Finding a tune for our hearts
I love the peppy music and it makes the half an hour go faster.
What a blessing music can be.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Ping Pong Balls... plastic beads... green Peeps!
Monday, March 16, 2009
A not so secret love affair!
...you might guess that I love Target!
For those of you who do not share my affection, my outburst may seem a little over the top.
Therefore, I'm going to share the top three reasons why going to Target is so much fun. There are many many more.... but I know you're busy!
- The CLOTHES!... have you seen them? Some of them are a bit silly in their trendiness... but many... many are heavenly and really not too expensive. Every once in a while it is o.k. to give into the temptation and come home with something lovely!
- The endless erasers and gel pens in the OneSpot! Now, I usually refrain from buying junk from China... but what's a Kindergarten teacher to do? I've got to have "treats" for my kiddos!
- The popcorn! It's buttery...need I say more? Grab a bag on the way out of the store and pop in a movie when you make it home. You'll almost think you are at the theater.
I solemnly promise...
Target doesn't sponsor my blog...
It's just that my children and I had a fun time looking for t-shirts and yummies tonight and we had to share the joy with you!
May your nights...
your days...
be filled with beautiful things.
The love of our families...
cookies
and
four dollar green t-shirts!
May you be blessed.
Today... Tomorrow...Always
Lucky Day!
We will be using a map left by our leprechaun friend.
I've heard a rumor that Lucky is going to hide a "Max and Ruby Springtime" video for them to find.
Later we are going to find sight word cards and trade them in for Irish coins.
We're going to play Irish freeze tag, drink green juice and maybe even practice an Irish jig!
Perhaps we will find "clues" to prove Lucky has been around....
....hmmm....
tiny green footprints?
My friend Laura, who teaches the half day kiddos, is bringing "magic" pudding. Some people have called it pistachio... but we know better. It has the neat property of not being green until you add the milk! We are sure the Kids will be impressed.
Even my girls at home and I have gotten into the spirit of the day! We all have matching green t-shirts to wear tomorrow.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Beautiful
So many years ago my eldest daughter stood before me,
so lovely that she took my breath away.
In her babyhood...
In her innocence...
She was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.
Tonight, as she stood before me in her Confirmation dress...
I felt the tears well up in my eyes...
I was overwhelmed by her beauty...
By her innocence...
I was awed by her graceful twirl..
I smiled at her wide eyed desire for acceptance and approval.
I am so glad she is mine.
I pray that we all may find such beauty and innocence in our lives.
Looking through the eyes of our loved ones,
let us see the world,
share the awe...
celebrate!
May we be blessed!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
An oasis of pure pleasure
After visiting my mother today,
A gift from a friend!
We found it!
Friday, March 13, 2009
Hunting near bushes!
Our first adventure is rather uncomplicated but, as it is in a very popular location, it should be very entertaining attempting not to get "caught" retrieving the hidden box.
My trail name is, "Kindergarten girl" and my stamp is a graded paper with the words "neat work" emblazoned across it. I can not wait to find the box and stamp the hidden logbook!
New adventures are always exciting and my grin is spread across my face in anticipation of tomorrow.
May tomorrow bring you happiness...
even if you'd rather not crawl around near bushes...
praying to avoid poison ivy!
May you be blessed with joy in your heart and whatever good things will make your day complete!
Until tomorrow...
Good night!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Happy places...
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Oh my gosh! Letter boxing?
Never give up!
Every year his teachers dutifully have tried to show him the alphabet and how to write his name.
Mom is doing well!
Dear ones
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Glitter and rocks!
Rocks... and Leprechauns...
Glitter and glue...
Clues on a map...
As I sit here musing out loud, I know what my eldest daughter will be doing with me tonight.
It is Ireland week in my class and we are learning about all things Irish! Which of course in Kindergarten includes a larger than average dose of crazy Leprechaun adventures.....
Today our leprechaun left us a new tape for our listening center with a teeny tiny note on it that seemed to say his name was Lucky. We also found a pack of Irish Teddy Bear stickers that no one said their mother sent. Hmmmm... I guess it had to be the Leprechaun, how else would they have arrived?
Tomorrow we are going to use our map skills to follow clues to treasure and use rulers and scales to measure and weigh our glittering rocks!
In a class of eighteen, I'd have expected a skeptic or two, but I have not a one!
Hook line and sinker my kiddos have excitedly bought into the fun.
Looking for clues and eagerly attempting to involve the rest of the staff in the craziness. They are convinced that our dear young half day teacher may just kiss that critter if she finds him! I had to chuckle over this and tell her.
We are writing, reading and breathing silliness. We are also learning about the real Ireland. About its beauty and rich traditions. The real Ireland is just as wonderful as all the pretend fun.
The prep for this week is extensive, but the memories that are being created, I think are worth the effort.
I will never know... but I really hope that someday another generation will be told silly stories inspired by the happy nonsense I am sharing with my dear little charges.
I hope for you this evening, a little dash of fun. May just a bit of mischief find its way into your daily life. The silly happy joke you forward... the pretend bug you put where a sibling will find it when they visit you... the itty bitty naughty prank you pull on a buddy who will never suspect you! But beware... don't dish out anything you don't want returned.
Just like my class leprechaun, friends tend to pull tricks when they know you'll enjoy them.
May your days and nights be filled with happy laughter...
Go and find a little trouble! A little mischief is a good thing!
May you be blessed with all the best of life...
Now, Always and Forever!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Home again
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tomorrow is moving day!
I'm sitting here for a moment or two pausing and trying remain calm. I have so much to do that I'm a little stressed... All right, a lot stressed but let's not tell anyone... it can be our little secret!
My favorite packing tools at the moment are white garbage bags. There is nothing like the last "rush" to make you rethink what you really want to keep.
Do I really need those old candy molds? What about that cute dust catcher that sits on the top of the t.v.? Nah... At almost nine at night I'm becoming almost Spartan in my outlook. It's a good thing all the important stuff is already packed because I just might rethink it as well.
I am so grateful for all my family and friends who are coming to help me tomorrow.
Good, loving people who have so many other things they could be doing with their weekend.
They are generous and kind; I am overwhelmed by their friendship. I pray that I will be the friend they need as well.
I hope for you tonight, that you are blessed with loving friends who reach out and help you even when it is not convenient, even when the task at hand is not easy.
I pray that your life may become a beautiful adventure.
That you are never without a map to guide you.
That you always have company for the road.
May you be blessed,
Today...
Tomorrow...
Forever...
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Waxing Poetic
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The gardens are moved...
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
A New Home
Monday, March 2, 2009
Play-Doh Snakes and Teddy Math
This afternoon as we headed into our lesson time, I had a smile on my face and absolute confidence in my heart.
Why did I feel so sure that my dear charges were going to have a lovely time?
My buoyant feeling was entirely due to eight cans and three boxes full of guaranteed Kindergarten joy.
For you see, our Math lesson on using our ruler was to be conducted entirely with play dough and our addition and subtraction work was to be added by Teddy Grahams counters.
We practiced measuring by making snakes and other animals of specified lengths. Every "correct" answer received a sticker about the size of a pencil eraser! (Trust me... everyone was on target after we "talked"!) After I assessed each child's work, I instructed them to play while I checked their classmates' efforts.
The whole system worked well and by the end of the session, rulers were being used properly and my kiddos were covered in stickers.
When my groups switched and we cycled into the second lesson, the boxes of Teddy Grahams came out.
Every child received a math paper, a pencil and two teddies to eat! While they munched their little bitty yummies, I explained that I'd give them all ten more to use as we did the math together and that when we were done and their math was checked, they would be allowed to eat them!
Happy noises and cooperation ensued. We did addition together and then subtraction. My students are amazing at addition and quickly came up with the answers for the first problems. The real challenge began when the sign changed to subtraction and my kiddos tried to blithely continue adding the numbers.
I must confess it is a little funny when students sneak ahead and add numbers that were meant to be subtracted. The resulting problems are harder than anything I would expect them to attempt on their own and their outrage over being told they need to erase the work and stay with the group is probably more amusing to me than it should be.
I love to observe my students when they are deep in thought and watch them figure out things for themselves.
I believe that no matter what struggles we may have to overcome, we all are good at something.
What a blessing that in this world some people actually understand directionality and spacial reasoning! That there are people out there who can competently set a bone or cook a four star dinner!