*watching Aubrey wear a backpack and pretend to go to school
*watching Aubrey try to learn to tie a bow
*spending time with Gracie's class during library time
*watching Madelyn play Top-It with Jim
*counting my blessings and trying to forget all the stress that is currently in my life
Thoughts, quotes, and poems on raising and homeschooling 3 little women. Ephesians 2: 8-10--For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." ~William Butler Yeats
Monday, February 24, 2014
The Reason I Love (and Miss) Teaching
One of my favorite moments from today happened while another mom and I were presenting an artist and art project to Gracie's second grade class. Andy Warhol was the artist. The kids were to use oil pastels and create color patterns in four separate blocks on a piece of paper. Then, they chose a black stamp that went over top of the pattern. After one boy finished his art project, he looked at the other kids' projects and said he didn't like his. I told him that no one else had a paper that looked just like his and assured him that his was a Dhylan original, never made before and could only be created by him. He looked at his paper for a minute and then I saw a slight smile on his face. It was a very simple and brief encounter with him, and yet, it really lifted my spirits.
One of my all-time favorite moments as a teacher was helping a sixth grade boy realize that he could be a poet. I had given them an assignment to write a poem and publish it in a creative way. One of my students came up to me and said he didn't like the assignment and had no idea how to write poetry. I knew this boy loved skateboarding. When I told him he could write a poem about skateboarding and then publish the poem on a skateboard he designed himself, his face lit up. He went on to create a very cool blue skateboard with his poem written in the middle of it, complete with skateboarding terms. He was very proud of that skateboard.
That is what I love about teaching. Helping a child believe in himself and giving him a moment to feel special. So many good teachers and parents are leaving schools because of Common Core. I tried to leave, too. But our schools need teachers and volunteers who know that school isn't just about Common Core. It isn't just about conquering a twenty step math problem. It isn't just about fiction and nonfiction. It's about caring adults helping children look beyond what they think about themselves, how they see themselves, and the boxes in which they have put themselves. It is about encouraging them to see things in a different way. To spark creativity they didn't know they had. To help them make connections. To give them someone to talk to because no one at home is listening. It is about these things, and so much more!
I'm thankful that even though I am not currently teaching that I am still allowed opportunities to be in the classroom. I really hope Dhylan's art project is hanging on his refrigerator.
One of my all-time favorite moments as a teacher was helping a sixth grade boy realize that he could be a poet. I had given them an assignment to write a poem and publish it in a creative way. One of my students came up to me and said he didn't like the assignment and had no idea how to write poetry. I knew this boy loved skateboarding. When I told him he could write a poem about skateboarding and then publish the poem on a skateboard he designed himself, his face lit up. He went on to create a very cool blue skateboard with his poem written in the middle of it, complete with skateboarding terms. He was very proud of that skateboard.
That is what I love about teaching. Helping a child believe in himself and giving him a moment to feel special. So many good teachers and parents are leaving schools because of Common Core. I tried to leave, too. But our schools need teachers and volunteers who know that school isn't just about Common Core. It isn't just about conquering a twenty step math problem. It isn't just about fiction and nonfiction. It's about caring adults helping children look beyond what they think about themselves, how they see themselves, and the boxes in which they have put themselves. It is about encouraging them to see things in a different way. To spark creativity they didn't know they had. To help them make connections. To give them someone to talk to because no one at home is listening. It is about these things, and so much more!
I'm thankful that even though I am not currently teaching that I am still allowed opportunities to be in the classroom. I really hope Dhylan's art project is hanging on his refrigerator.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Birthday Favorites
*teaching little ones in church today
*going to Cracker Barrel with Jim, the girls, and my parents and having breakfast for lunch. I love their biscuits and gravy, but Jim's homemade is even better.
*presents--butterfly mug, nail file, flashlight, Palace of Stone and The Vow, and birthday money (for more books) :)
*coloring with the girls in the office
*reading to Madelyn
*watching The Pioneer Woman during supper
*Jim made lunches for tomorrow so I could have a break from doing it
*giving the girls lots of hugs
*going to Cracker Barrel with Jim, the girls, and my parents and having breakfast for lunch. I love their biscuits and gravy, but Jim's homemade is even better.
*presents--butterfly mug, nail file, flashlight, Palace of Stone and The Vow, and birthday money (for more books) :)
*coloring with the girls in the office
*reading to Madelyn
*watching The Pioneer Woman during supper
*Jim made lunches for tomorrow so I could have a break from doing it
*giving the girls lots of hugs
Thursday, February 20, 2014
*Aubrey's pretty curls
*getting the sheets washed. I love fresh sheets.
*helping Madelyn with her homework
*celebrating Jim's birthday yesterday
*the way Aubrey kept telling me this morning how Jim comforted her when she was scared during the thunderstorm
*I'm thankful that Gracie got to draw and color this afternoon
*realizing that baths and homework before supper just do not work
*the way Aubrey wants to stay at school with her sisters when we drop them off. I want to stay too!
*I'm thankful there were no tornadoes here today
*getting the sheets washed. I love fresh sheets.
*helping Madelyn with her homework
*celebrating Jim's birthday yesterday
*the way Aubrey kept telling me this morning how Jim comforted her when she was scared during the thunderstorm
*I'm thankful that Gracie got to draw and color this afternoon
*realizing that baths and homework before supper just do not work
*the way Aubrey wants to stay at school with her sisters when we drop them off. I want to stay too!
*I'm thankful there were no tornadoes here today
Sunday, February 16, 2014
*giving the girls surprises on Valentine's Day--I gave them new dresses to wear to school. Aubrey got pink play-doh. They all got mini Etch-a-Sketches. Jim and I both wrote notes to them.
*taking Aubrey with me to the Gracie and Madelyn's parties at school. She thinks she is ready for school! She sat like such a big girl at Gracie's table.
*watching The Vow with Jim
*my present from Jim--Luke Bryan CD!
*watching Jim Gaffigan, Mr. Universe--my present to Jim and very funny!
*date night (especially loved getting a Reese's peanut butter cup blizzard)
*Sleepytime tea
*listening to a sermon on the computer
*learning more about evangelism (something I'm just not very good at)
*seeing the girls' creations on the Etch-a-Sketch
*the way Aubrey is starting to form complete sentences
*taking Aubrey with me to the Gracie and Madelyn's parties at school. She thinks she is ready for school! She sat like such a big girl at Gracie's table.
*watching The Vow with Jim
*my present from Jim--Luke Bryan CD!
*watching Jim Gaffigan, Mr. Universe--my present to Jim and very funny!
*date night (especially loved getting a Reese's peanut butter cup blizzard)
*Sleepytime tea
*listening to a sermon on the computer
*learning more about evangelism (something I'm just not very good at)
*seeing the girls' creations on the Etch-a-Sketch
*the way Aubrey is starting to form complete sentences
Thursday, February 13, 2014
*flowers from Jim :)
*the new music Jim played for me by Luke Bryan and Billy Currington
*baking cookies for Madelyn's Valentine party tomorrow
*watching Gilmore Girls last night (and maybe tonight)
*helping during library time
*finishing Princess Academy and starting Emily of New Moon
*looking at Aubrey's pretty blue eyes
*seeing Madelyn's progress with writing and reading
*reading love verses from the Bible and learning about St. Valentine
*Gracie sitting on my lap during library time and family time tonight. She is physically getting too big for it, but I'm glad she still wants to do it.
Prayers
*that Madelyn's teacher will feel better and that Madelyn will be healthy from now until her surgery.
*my Grandma, who broke her leg this morning.
*for Aubrey to start sleeping through the night
*for Valentine's Day and this weekend to go well
*the new music Jim played for me by Luke Bryan and Billy Currington
*baking cookies for Madelyn's Valentine party tomorrow
*watching Gilmore Girls last night (and maybe tonight)
*helping during library time
*finishing Princess Academy and starting Emily of New Moon
*looking at Aubrey's pretty blue eyes
*seeing Madelyn's progress with writing and reading
*reading love verses from the Bible and learning about St. Valentine
*Gracie sitting on my lap during library time and family time tonight. She is physically getting too big for it, but I'm glad she still wants to do it.
Prayers
*that Madelyn's teacher will feel better and that Madelyn will be healthy from now until her surgery.
*my Grandma, who broke her leg this morning.
*for Aubrey to start sleeping through the night
*for Valentine's Day and this weekend to go well
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Favorite Moments of Today
*coming inside after letting the girls play in the snow (because 20 degrees is apparently considered warm now)
*listening to American Girl during supper. We have Josefina right now. Our favorite has been Felicity and her horse, Penny.
*moving all of our art supplies to the office
*looking at classroom themes (because I still dream of teaching K)
*sitting down on the couch and not moving! Goodnight!
*listening to American Girl during supper. We have Josefina right now. Our favorite has been Felicity and her horse, Penny.
*moving all of our art supplies to the office
*looking at classroom themes (because I still dream of teaching K)
*sitting down on the couch and not moving! Goodnight!
Monday, February 10, 2014
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
*thankful for lunch with a new friend
*I'm proud of how well Aubrey is doing with potty-training
*adding notes to the girls' journals today
*making lunchbox notes for Valentine's Day
*the book I am currently reading, The Princess Academy
*the book I am currently writing, Chloe Conquers Kindergarten (inspired by Aubrey)
*my warm footed pajamas
*watching how independent Aubrey is becoming
*watching Gracie and Madelyn at dance class
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
*Madelyn's K teacher shared this with me--Cute Madelyn story! So we were all lined up by the outside door to go home today. There are several bags of ice melt sitting next to the doors. The bags have a picture of a penguin on them. Madelyn looks at them and says, "Wow, look at all that penguin food!!" So adorable!!!
*Aubrey is starting to protest about taking naps. She will play in her room for about fifteen minutes, and then she comes out without napping. I told her to stay in her room and asked her what she will get if she disobeys, and she said, "Chocolate milk." I have my work cut out for me with this child.
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