let's just be honest here

what have i really been up to?

blog lurking

blog commenting

a bit of envy

a bit of inspiration

some self-disclosure on a perfect stranger's blog (oops)

there's just something misleading about the intimacy of a blog, don't you think?

we see photos (mostly spectacular) taken of lovely people in exquisite surroundings eating and crafting wondrous quilts, skirts, aprons...

i like to do a bit of crafting myself, but my darn sewing machine nearly put out my eye a few weeks ago, and even my ever-frugal husband commented about the loudness of the motor/engine of that thing

i have:

1. about 6 sewing projects in various stages of completion

2. no fewer than 5 cookie/candy recipes dancing in my head like some deranged faerie

3. a son who wants me to play beatle's rockband with him

4. a car with a loose seal on the windshield

5. a netflix to watch

6. a Bible collecting dust on the bookshelf

7. speaking of bookshelf--i need about 2 more-floor to ceiling size, if possible--and black is a good color for our decor

SO...

why the heck am i wasting away my day lurking in blogland??

GOODBYE

the very best dog

this dear fellow belongs to my brother josh and his wife kristi (sp.?)

dusty is the very best dog you could ever hope to meet

look at his smile

look at his floppy ears

he gives love

he is trustworthy

he is gentle

he is kind

he is a better person than many of us most days

thanks to dusty's mommy for sending me this photo

now she could just send me the dog. seriously. really.

we didn't have...

we didn't have stockings this year

our 'christmas mittens' made from felt--the size of stockings finally had to retire-too much lint and gunk on those critters. note to self: don't make large decorations from un-washable felt if you intend to have a dusty house and a hairy cat

we didn't have perfectly coordinated gift wrap

we didn't have our 'merry christmas' banner made from paper source polka-dot paper

we didn't have red/white baker's twine to adorn our packages (i put it away too well)

but here's what we DID HAVE

kindness

generosity

gratitude

home-made hot cocoa (some with a splash of pepperminty goodness)

all four of us (+cat) safe and healthy

gainful employment

central heating

gas in our cars (both kinds) tee hee

gifts under the tree

relaxed time together

the awareness of and thankfulness for Christ--his birth, death, and resurrection--you can't fully appreciate Christmas without embracing Easter

i'd do it 100 times

the other day one of our 4th grade teachers reminded me it had been a year since my "oral portfolio/e-folio defense" the "exit interview" as it were to get out of the education program @ iwu...and when i say get out of, i mean successfully complete the requirements so that they will allow you to take the praxis 2 and apply for an indiana state teaching license. anyhoo, feeling stressed and overwhelmed, or maybe just a bit snarky towards the whole experience, and without thinking, i said something to the effect of being glad that was over, and would not do it again, but would go to beauty school instead. yikes. bad attitude.

as i continued down our school hallway i replayed the scenario in my mind (this is a moment by moment activity for me; anyday, all day)

can you spell conviction? shame? remorse?

i turned my tushy around and bolted for that teacher's room! and blurted:

what i really meant to say was that i am so committed to helping young children learn that i would endure the teacher education program 100 times over if it meant that i could make a difference in the education and well-being of a child.

whew.

that is what i really meant to say.

i. would. do. it. 100. times. yes. ma'am.

100

kids can RUN!

just a teeny update on the click clack moo...

for fun and craziness, i asked the students to run about the room as they imagine the farmer ran --hands in air, hopping mad--or as M. put it--"like he popped his cork"

see, you just have to put yourself IN THE STORY...

and your students/children will build their comprehension...and love for learning...

(i have the stamp of approval on my MOO sounds. one of my students keeps cattle and says that i do a great MOO, very realistic)

kids say MOOOO

A really good book is like crab legs. Both are pretty neat looking on the outside, and the inside? Well, the longer you linger the better it gets. Maybe that's not the best metaphor, but give me a break-- I have a splitting headache and i've been nice all day. all day. nice. yes. me.

Anyway, I just want to share about my 3rd grade students. We've been studying various aspects of critical thinking in regards to literacy. I've pulled out Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type. I've modeled how to use a character organizer, a 2 character comparison, Retell using sentence strips, and on and on...great ideas can be downloaded/printed from the Florida Center For Reading Research.

fcrr.org

OK, THE GRAPHIC ORGANIZER I WANTED TO SHOW HERE WON'T LOAD TO MY BLOG--THE ONE THAT WILL LOAD IS A BIT LAME COMPARED TO THE ONES FROM Florida Center for Reading Research...

Alrighty! Well, we've read click, clack, moo about 1,000 times, and each time i use the best cow's moo sound i can muster. one student who raises milk cows was very impressed with my hidden talent. sometimes the students will join in with the moo, and then yesterday was the best; I had to gather pencils or some other such supply not already at my fingertips, and i offered to let one of the students read aloud to the rest of the (small) group. they formed an arrangement of : one girl reading, two boys mooing.

the joy of read-alouds! the thrill of students actively engaged in learning! hooray for moo! hooray for us all. i just sat back down in my chair and let the group run with their excitement. these moments are priceless. i am SO thankful i didn't demand to have the book when i sat down--so glad i didn't interrupt. sooooo happy they were enjoying their reading, working cooperatively, and learning all at the same time.

feelin' greedy or showin' gratitude?

As we draw nearer to the Thanksgiving holiday, I am committed to being intentional in showing my gratitude for the everyday blessings that I am often tempted to overlook. We have vehicles that get us back and forth to work. We have a roof over our heads, and some of us (jacob) have a room decorated in an aesthetically pleasing way. COLTS.

We have food to eat, and even have the option of eating some of our meals out. We have friends to share our lives with. We have a great church family and a super pastor/pastoral family who genuinely care about us and our daily lives. THANK YOU, AL AND GINNY :)

I have a steady source of income for the first time in over 3 years. I have a valid and current teaching license. I work with 6 different groups of children everyday, and am thrilled to see their academic progress.

I have a husband who works 2 jobs to support our family. He is very low-maintenance and keeps our family stable. Thank you, daniel:)

I have a great neighbor who taught me how to read literature and think critically about books and film. Thank you, Amy.

Tomorrow: more on my thankful list--which will include our children, our kitty, my departed grandmother, and my new teacher friends at school.