Tuesday, October 27, 2009

What I'm All About

Today one of my students made me a colorful paper that said "What You're All About." The list said "games, fun, reading, creative, writing, doing it good, do your best, think." I was so excited! If that is what my students - at least one of them - is getting out of my class then praise the Lord! I know that I am far from being a perfect teacher or the best teacher these students will have, but maybe I am doing some things right after all! I thank the Lord for those few words of encouragement today from that student.





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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

"Ears like a hawk" and other stories

The kids tried to sneak up on me several times today, but for some reason they never could startle me. Each time I was sitting at my desk working on the computer so my back was to the door. They tried to firgure out how I could "sense" them and not be spooked. Could I see their reflections in the monitor screen?! Abbie told them to just stop trying to scare me because I have "ears like a hawk."


I handed my second grade boys a math page and told them to put their name on the paper. Being in a silly mood I started telling them "You can be Joseph and you can be Thomas, etc." They got all "what, what's going on?! what?!" on me and thought it was the craziest, coolest thing that I was letting them write a different name on their paper. Then they asked if they could write last names, too. Ok, I say. Now instead of Jack, Jared, Wyatt, Joshua, and Ryan I have Edward Restaurant, Jr., Thomas Maid, Franklin Treesap, Gary Maple, and Joseph Humbly. Please note that I didn't pick the last names, they did!

 
We had elementary chapel today. Yay! A group of high school students, along with a couple teachers and Pastor Mark, run the chapel time for us. Today we sang a Noah's Ark song to the tune of The Ants Go Marching. As we sang - it was a long song - the high school students and teachers acted out the story! It was such a cool idea! Some of the teens dressed up in animal costumes, they had spray bottles for rain, and thunder sound affects. Bad guys and Noah were dressed as such, and they had posters of clouds, sun, and rainbow. After the lesson the kids were able to color a Noah's ark picture. So awesome! I love getting some of the high school students involved with teaching the younger ones.


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Monday, October 19, 2009

Writing Bugs

Found a site with some fun writing pages called Writing Bugs. Lots of fun writing ideas, and I love the "Bug in Your Ear" at the bottom of the page. More than just writing prompts, the Writing Bugs also give some good tips for pre-writing and writing.





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Thursday, October 15, 2009

By and By

Where does the time go? Is it really October 15 today?! It is difficult to imagine that the first quarter of school is more than half over, that we've already had our annual trip to Klackle Orchard, that the teachers' convention has come and gone. This year has been the best of all so far, though. I have the best students - all of them are great, from my eager 2nd grade boys to my two bright 6th graders. I love them all! Tomorrow we are all having Hawaiian Day. I will try to get some pictures up here. I am in charge of elementary events this year and this is our first big in-school event. Not a major event actually, just dressing up with a craft, book, games, and snack in the afternoon. Fun way to end the week, no? And today I found some great ideas and worksheets for writing scary stories. Week after next we will work on them as we anticipate Halloween. No, we don't celebrate Halloween here and the stories won't have to do with Halloween night necessarily, just something fun to do this time of year. (Write your own scary story with these fun worksheets!) God has shown me much grace this year by giving me many ideas for improving my teaching, classroom management, and more. When I have felt the least like doing the work that needed done, God has given me just enough strength to carry on. More than once I have been able to press on through planning and grading to have a stress-free weekend or evening. What a relief that is! Praise God. I have been physically weary most of this year so far, but by God's power alone I have pulled through and even stayed on top of things. This has been an awesome month and a half. I am honored and blessed to teach at LBA, to teach these eight students, to teach with other amazing teachers, and to teach for God my Savior. Praise Him, and happy fall =)



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