Ahead of me three children walked

they paused each time I stopped

collecting memories with a click

to take back home with me...

Hoppy friends

Staying only a few hours,
rescued from the parking lot...

This toad was part of our classroom today.

The subject of a Venn Diagram..
the reason we "hopped" before we checked our pulse in Health class
and
the delightful cause for many squeals.

Carefully placed behind the playground fence,
here's hoping he found something yummy to eat
and some peace and quiet.

Stars on your nose!

With bitty ones smiling,
I put stars on my dear one's noses today.

Not given out "willy nilly",
my little students had to earn them!

Completing new Centers on Opposites or One on One Correspondence,
they showed me their efforts.

I grinned and handed out liberal praise
and two Mylar prismatic star stickers per customer!

Extra special listeners...
good helpers...

Who knew what might be the ticket to shiny bliss...

Sigh,
I love being a teacher.

What a nice group of children I am leading this year.

Tonight,
Tomorrow,
Always....

May your day be filled with small wonders...
Like sticky bits of joy...


I don't think it matters
if it is you who are the one sharing the treat
or if you are the one receiving it.

I wish you happiness.

I rolled down a hill today...

We rounded the bend in the path.
On our left was Dawe's Lake,
on our right an embankment leading down to the giant bushes that spell out the park's name.
Ahead of us a bit,
a family whose bitty ones were giving the hill a good roll.
I laughed.
smiled.
turned to my own dear ones.
I had no "takers"...
not a single child who wanted to have a go at the path of green delight.

So I looked at them,
put down my "adventure bag",
laid down my cell...
and laid down on the ground.

I tucked in my arms and down I went,
squealing and screaming,
the rush and the whirl
something from days gone by.

Dizzy,
so dizzy at the bottom,
and laughing...
still no one wanted to join me...

With a grin
I wobbled to the top
and once,
twice more,
flew down the hill.

nature's jewels

beauty all around us

time together

A patch of sunshine

Great Seal State Park

Nestled near Chilicothe Ohio,
is a little piece of heaven.

With hills to leave you breathless,
you should take several bottles of water and sturdy shoes.

I was fortunate to hike today in this wondrous place.

My friend and I enjoyed each moment.

He found a itty bitty walking stick,
I frighted a tiny bit of grey fur that ran off the trail.

I admired lovely dried flowers growing on some moss,
my friend told me they were its spores.
I was delighted when I touched them
and saw tiny clouds of new life drift out over the trail.

We saw giant anthills
and I understood how tying someone to an anthill would be a bad thing.
My friend made an amazing lunch,
I brought cookies.

It was an unbelievably,
one for the memory books,
perfect day.

Tonight as I laughed,
chatting on the phone with my hiking partner,
we talked over future adventures.

I think very soon I am going to get a chance to try out a kayak or a canoe.

The world is full of beautiful possibilities.


I wish you lovely ones.
God Bless and goodnight.

Honest accomplishment

Our morning arrival activities provide my students a chance to greet each day's start with a joyful choice. You can almost see the gears turn in their heads as they consider what center they will choose and who they will play with.

These two guys made me smile early this morning. Working together, they had completed an impressive collection of phonics puzzles and they were proud to pose for a photo they knew would be posted for their parents to see.

I know how they feel. When I do something well, it is nice when someone notices. What a blessing when we share compliments and encouragement with each other. Living within a community creates interdependency. We all need each other! From the bitty ones who offer smiles, to the grandma who bakes outstanding cookies, life is just better when we share it with others.

Now and always, I wish for you a network of loving family and friends. May you find comfort in your place in the universe. You are needed! It is good that you are here! May you be blessed.

Searching together

My students love looking for bugs.
They enjoy the search and the finding...
as well as showing others what they have discovered.

It is simple in Kindergarten.

In life we all are searching...
For a sure path to follow,
for peace in our hearts.

May you and I find Truth at the end of our search...
Blessings and honest decency.
Now and always,
let us ask the One who made us
to help us in our daily exploration.

Indulging in the moment

Heading home tonight after running "Back to School" errands, my oldest daughter spotted the alley behind our local Payless shoe store.

As I drove past the alley, she squealed and begged, "Can we go down the alley?" I mentally paused and looked over my shoulder at my dear one who starts High School on Thursday.
I smiled and with a silent chuckle, I turned the car back around and headed down the narrow drive.
With a glee that I recognize, she was so delighted that I will treasure the moment for a very long time.
Up and down the sharply graded path, crossing streets and seeing only wildlife and backyard pets, I indulged my teenager in her innocent request.
This young woman, is truly my daughter.
She has learned a blessing passed onto me from my own mother,
joy in the little things.
I am so grateful to have entered this world
the daughter of a woman who knows true happiness.
My mother is a kind and generous woman.
She sees the best in those around her.
She shares.
She hopes.
She prays.
I am blessed to be her "dear one".
Now and always,
let us also share happiness with those we love.
Even if,
especially if...
we are asked to drive down the "alleys" in life
and spy on pets and squirrels.

Who we are...

With crayons and markers,
my little ones made pictures of themselves.

It was fun to see the details they added,
the colors they chose.
I smiled as I hung their work on the board.
Their efforts will be the first piece in their portfolio this year.
I look at them now and know they will be different in nine months.
Tonight as I typed this,
I stopped
and recalled my oldest daughter's recent comment
about how fast the year has gone
and I sighed.
My students do not know what each day holds.
Never the less,
they embrace each day with innocent trust,
delighting in it's adventure.
With hearty smiles and dramatic tears,
they truly "live" the journey they are given.
...the path they are not in charge of...
Many days I wonder...
Who is teaching who?
I pray that you and I,
that we,
will find a way,
to trust when it is warranted,
to believe in what is true...
To live,
truly live,
the adventures we are given.
Now and always,
may you be blessed.

Running and playing...

laughing and climbing...

My Kindergarten kiddos enjoyed their day!

The night before Kindergarten

With my Red Communication Folders stacked,

activites gathered

and my alarm set for before sunrise,

I am headed to bed.

Two of my own children start school tomorrow as well.

Lunches,

supplies,

clothes to get ready...

Hang on,

the merry-go-round is about to twirl!

With a bit of a tremble

and a smile in my heart,

I'll jump into the new year.

May the coming season,

the new days before us,

bring new experiences

as well as a wonderful sense of comfort

when the traditions of years past are relived!

Now and always,

May you be blessed!

quiet

Stopping after lunch...
a smile in my heart...
contentment on my face...
I happily found myself a soda,
collected my "back to school" books from the library
and crossed the street
taking a moment
to enjoy the Mary garden at church.
The waterfall makes a soothing sound.
As I laid on the sidewalk
to capture my shot,
I had no words...
simply peace

A sister teases...

then she tastes....

... mercy is given

I took a walk.

To clear my mind...

stopping to appreciate what normally passes in a blur

surounded by concrete... beauty

Above me...

the sky is glowing...

I stop in the middle of the city to collect the "treasure" of the moment.

Bonafide chicken?

Literacy...
a blessing and a curse...
I read everything I see...
This sign caught my eye...
made me stop...
take out my phone
and laughing so hard I was almost crying....
I took this picture.
What do they think,
I think,
their chicken is made of?...
Raccoon?
Possum?
hmmm....
that actually would be more interesting...
=-)

Kindergarten happiness

Before I went to collect my students from the "Little Kid" school,
I took a bin of letters and took a stroll.
Tossing plastic bits of education willy nilly,
I grinned.
From their side of the playground,
the small dears peeked my way...
What was "Ms. Susan" up to?
Later...
a hike was taken...
a game was played...
skills were practiced...
What a happy thing it is to play and learn at the same time.
I thank God for my blessings...
For my family,
for a home to live in,
transportation...
and for that bit of paper...
earned and cherished...
my teaching license.

Tonight and always...
I thank God for you as well.
May you be blessed!

Saying goodbye... saying hello....

Tracing,
cutting,
decorating...
Even copying a sentence from the board.

My Kindergarten children made flowers for their families
and for the teachers who they are leaving to come to me.
With each moment,
each activity...
They are becoming mine.
It feels so strange to have let go of my first dear class
and to have found these little blessings waiting for me to lead.
What a wonderful profession I have joined.

Popcorn math

Playing together...
rolling our dice...
counting out the popcorn...
We practiced
one on one correspondance,
following directions
and patience.
Munching thier math manipulatives...
smiling...
enjoying life...
Kindergarten is a wonderful place to be!

Time for coffee and
ten minutes on the swing...
It is going to be wet...
I just don't care.
=-)

Just Playing

Today was such a wonderful day.
My students are such very nice little people.
If I had to describe our day in two words,
I'd say it was,
"busy"
and
"happy"!
We sang the chorus of our Grandparents' Day song for our principal
and our new afternoon Kindergarten teacher.
We even did the "dance"...
and yup...
it was all caught on tape...
And
"no"...
I don't have a great deal of dancing talent!
It didn't matter,
we had a wonderful time showing off anyway.
We painted "Friendly Fish"
to display in our Gallery.
Watch out Columbus Museum of Art,
we have free admission every weekday!
You just have to know one of our fine artists.
My smart,
endearing kiddos
even differentiated between uppercase and lowercase letters
on an alphabet sheet.
We took the time to meet our pets...
(Some even snuck their hands in the cages when the teacher wasn't looking!)
and ended our day by playing with puppets!
Through it all,
we also are becoming a group.
My dear ones are learning the expectations
and enjoying the privileges that come from good listening.
I sincerely can't wait until all of our class is together on Monday!

Finches delight

Pink

Wandering the gardens at Dawe's

At Dawe's Arboretum outside Newark

A picture from a photographer friend. Isn't it lovely?

The World Made Better With Children

Everyday,
as I enter or exit my home,
I pass through this door.
No matter how tired I am...
Regardless of the day I've had...
I can't help but smile.
The colorful bits of happiness
are the combined efforts of my daughters and I.
We love Arts and Crafts!
Without my children,
my door would likely be bare.
That would be very sad.
What a blessing my dear ones are to me.
Isn't it neat how lovely a bit of dried colored glue can be?
How amazing bits of melted plastic are?
Whoever thought of these things,
needs a big "thank you!"
I pray that now and always,
there is someone in your life
who makes you smile
like my daughters do.

Giant Cookies!

Oh how I adore my new kiddos!
See the cookies they made for their Meet the Teacher Night?
The mixed them up all by themselves;
everyone had a bowl!
They also made their first class book
and I hung up the giant "Welcome" sign they made.

I can hardly wait for my families to arrive.
In the care of a crew leader,
while their parents meet with me,
my students will decorate their free choice journals
and ice cookies for their parents' snack.
They are such very nice children,
I am so excited to share this year with them.