Using Poetry to learn alphabet sounds

Laughing and fussing over who got to be the next, "rabbit", my students and I enjoyed our alphabet poem today.

What a delight it was to watch them, "rest by the river" and "race" to their rabbit hole.


You would have thought the spot under our green table was better than Disney World for the delight being there caused my little ones.


=-)

A rabbit safely back in his hole!

Experimenting

With concentration and happy questions,

my students made the most of their Art experimentation time.

We've been learning color sight words and learning about mixing colors in Science.

You can even ask my students what color azul is,

they know their Spanish color words as well!

With smocks put on all by themselves

and "velcroed" closed by their classmates,

my students touched the wet chalk.

They watched as it drew dark and dried light.

They discovered what colors mix to make something new

and which,

just make a mess.

Cooperation...

Discovery...

Fun!

A happy thought...

More Please!

I want more...

• chances to roll down hills
• paths to climb with friends
• dinners shared with the best company

I want to...

• sit around a campfire in contentment
• see a turtle in the wild
• always keep a smile in my heart

I am grateful for...

• My family
• My friends
• The life I have been given
• The opportunities that I will discover on my walk

How about you? How do you feel this Tuesday? If you already feel a, "long week" coming on... If you are daydreaming about the weekend already... Then you and I have something in common. =-)

Make your own list and join me in looking forward to the possibilities

Brussel Sprouts?

I often say life is an adventure.

What is it that I mean?

Like you many of you,
I go to work each day.
I do chores in my home.
I pay bills.

So, where then is the adventure?

I make mac and cheese,
try to convince my own children to do their homework
and like almost everyone,
have odd piles of papers I don't think will ever go away.

Despite this,

or perhaps because of this,

I look for the quiet joys in life.

Someday I will see the Grand Canyon.

Now I will hike the best trails this part of the country has to offer.

Over a course of a lifetime,

I hope to perfect and discover

wonderful new cookie recipes to share at the holidays.

I am content to add one or two every year. Finding and collecting the treasures and savouring their delights.

Some days, I am tired and I am frustrated. Sometimes the thoughts in my head are neither nice nor especially kind.

There are times when the mundane is at risk of overshadowing the happy things.

Then I am blessed with things like Brussel Sprouts.

Yeah...

I did say brussel sprouts.

Using a recipe given to me by the very interesting man I am seeing, I shared a very nice time with my students today.

Sharing...

I think that is the key to adventure.

...the reason we all seem to seek companionship...

Whether it is delighting in "baby cabbages" that, "smell like peas" or having someone to hike up a hill with, life is better when we share it.

I am thankful for my children,

for my students,

for my dear ones...

My life is an adventure because of them.

Looking up...

Above us the trees towered.

The rock face was on our left
a respectable drop to the right.

Carefully we picked our way up and down the path.

The green moss on the walls had a texture that just begged to be touched.

The dusty trail called to us.

Up and down...
rock steps that countless others have traversed.

The beauty that is all around us...
has been here since long before I deemed it lovely...
and it will be a reality long after I am gone from this Earth.

Solid,
lasting,
wonderful.

It is easy to see
how our world was deemed,
"Good".

I invite you to make your own trek towards the Hocking Hills Region. More specifically, today I am endorsing the "Rock House" area. A good trail, not too busy, quiet... peaceful. Check it out at
http://www.1800hocking.com/rock-house or http://hockinghillspark.com/Rock_House.asp .