Daze in the Life of a School Teacher

The "Excitement-pedia"

2009-04-15T19:18:00.009-05:00

The students have begun SAT testing this week,and will continue for a few days next week as well. They have stayed relatively quiet, asked a few off-the-wall questions, but have basically slowed down, listened to directions, and TRIED to stay as non-antsy as possible. After testing however, it's no holds barred on the release of energy!!! Kinda like a wind-up toy....

Anyhow, today while they were running around the gym, Mr. Jamie came in to watch them for a bit. One of the girls came over to him, and was talking about what I'm not sure, but she began to list off a bunch of books. The College Dictionary was one, but then she mentioned the "Excitement-pedia". ("The what?!?" Mr. Jamie and I said.) The Excitement-pedia. (Yup, that was what she said.) "You need to use the "Excitement-pedia!"

So, just remember, when you have to look up some obscure fact, you should use the "Excitement-pedia." Maybe it will make it easier and more fun.

Speaking from the Heart

2008-12-28T18:28:00.025-06:00

Job 8:10 - Shall not they teach thee, and tell thee, and utter words out of their heart?

Out of the heart, the mouth speaketh…

What things children say! They are so clear in their speech. The things they say come out simple and straight, and to them, they do not mean to hurt or offend the person to whom they speak.
Several times, mine have started a statement with, “Miss ______, I don’t mean to be disrespectful… but…” and of course they are not at all being disrespectful! They are gently probing an area that they wish to learn more about. They are simply stating a fact that they see with their clear, open, child’s eyes.

Children see things in a light that is dim to an adult. As a child grows, things become clouded, skewed, warped, twisted, and darkened to a point that they can no longer understand as a child.

The Lord wanted the little children to come to Him, because He knew how easy it was for them to trust and believe! Their minds are open! They suck in anything they are told! Their minds are sponges, waiting to be expanded to the hilt, dripping with knowledge, ‘til they are wrung out on some other little one to be sucked up again.

Sometimes, a child can suck up things that he or she should not know as a child, and this causes them to lose the innocence early. War, killing, hate, hurtful words, cruelty. They don’t come up with these things on their own. They see them in others, or in things.

Each child is born with a sin nature. Naturally, they want to head toward the wrong. A baby cries for attention. (I want!) A young child plays rough, snatches, and then it hollers when the toy is snatched from them! (Again, I want!) Selfish little things, we all are.

When a child is given those things that they want, they soak up those things not needed. They are given greed, lust, selfishness, pride, anger, and much more. Instead they should be given love, kindness, a good work ethic, family values, truth, and manners. They cannot tell what they should have, or should not have. That is why the adults need to carefully give them information, and help them discern between right and wrong, all the while, teaching them to make good choices, so they can do so when the time comes.

We are so responsible for the little ones. Don’t hinder, or stop their little mouths. Even if what they say astounds you, cuts you, hurts you, amazes you… think about that they said, and don’t stop their thoughts. Let them come out. And direct them, in the way they should go.

Proverbs 22:6 ~ Train up a Child in the Way he should go, and when he is Old, he shall not Depart from it.

Good Charlotte ~ A Nature Walk

2008-10-31T16:26:00.003-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-29T20:18:00.002-05:00

You Have Arrived....

2008-10-28T16:18:00.002-05:00

Your eyes are closed tightly, and you hear the jangling of harness and gear on horses. They knicker and whiney to each other as they plod along. In the distance, the hollow thumping of the wagon wheels, as it lumbers heavily over the Georgia clay roads. The twitter of the birds awake before daylight. You open your eyes, and feel the chill of the early morning on your face, combined with the hot steam from your tin coffee mug wrapped snuggly in a scrap of wool as not to burn your hands. The sunlight filters through the thick overhang of tree branches woven together like an amazing tapestry worked by unseen hands. The blacksmith has just begun to heat his metal, and in a moment his hammer will ring with a clear resonance, like the bells of the town church. A young lad from the carpenter’s shop is sweeping out the last nights shavings, and carefully eyeing wooden blocks to be used for the day’s projects. The gunsmith’s shop is open and ready for business, the Mercantile already bustling with ladies looking for goods, and gentlemen sending letters, and discussing politics in hushed tones. The time would come….

Walk down the sandy lane towards the Farmhouse, and sneak around back to the porch. There are yellow grits, plain and unseasoned, in a large bowl. Mounds of white-shelled hard boiled eggs heaped nearby. Salt-cured ham sliced thickly, jams, jellies, fresh bread, creamy butter, and more hot coffee. Help yourself… we don’t mind!

After you’ve eaten, and jaw-jacked a bit with the locals, head up towards the impressive courthouse square. Although the local sheriff may or may not be around, chances are, he and his Deputy will take care of whatever comes up. Across the way, the schoolmaster, looking stern and knowledgeable, waits for the children to come slowly to their lessons. The young lads and lasses, some being bribed by a sweetmeat, reach the Door of Learning, and enter therein. All around, the town comes to life, bustling swiftly by, hither and yon, as quickly as a Southern town can care to mosey.

And the tavern? Over yonder, just on the edge of town, life stirs inside. One might not be so sure of that fact. Considering the doors closed at eleven last evening, it is a wonder that someone is up by mid-morning!

I come back around to my porch, in the clean swept yard, under the sparse trees. Just a few short steps from the porch, 2 heavy iron pots, filled with lye soap, and bees-candle wax are warming from the cedar wood fires underneath. The washtubs are brimming with cold fresh water, and a chunk of soft lye soap waits on the board nearby. That’s when the Sheriff arrives, and serves me with a summons to appear in Court in just a few short moments. Apparently, he’s been hunting me, while I’ve been hunting him to collect the prisoner’s laundry.

Welcome to Westville ----

Wordless Wednesday

2008-10-15T13:07:00.001-05:00

Living Your History

2008-10-14T13:40:00.006-05:00

Nothing says HISTORY, like attending a Living History Event. Other than reading a History book, how can you experience History as it was ages ago? Maybe watching a movie would bring History to life. But what about actually attending, and participating in a “Live” event?!

This weekend I will be portraying an unmarried, young Irish Washerwoman in an 1861town called Westville, located in Georgia.
http://www.westville.org/pre-civilwar.htm
Westville is an 1850’s town comprised of 28 buildings, all period, from around the country. Each building has its own function and story. The town will “come alive” in 1st person from 5pm Friday evening, until late afternoon Sunday.

People of all ages will have specific jobs, such as fishmonger, parson, blacksmith, school teacher, judge, and others. Some younger ones will even portray school students, and will attend lessons in the Stewart County Academy! Their lessons will consist of spelling words, reading aloud, reciting mathematic facts, poems, and catechism. Saturday afternoon, all eligible men will be recruited into the army, for the coming War.

There will be a large period correct BBQ that evening, and Sunday will bring a sermon at the church from a Parson of the era. Homeschooled families could easily get involved and make Real History lessons for ever age group.

http://www.westville.org/

http://www.geocities.com/scar_civilwar/WestvilleIndex.html

Color Blindness

2008-10-13T17:26:00.003-05:00

Have you ever stepped back in Time, to a World where things are different than you expected them, or remembered them to be? People change. Languages change, customs, manners, surroundings – everything… Sometimes, Change is good. Sometimes, it’s not.

The Lack of all Color is Black – the Mix of all Color is White. (This statement is in reference to Light, not Paint.) Are you Color Blind? What does it mean, to be Color Blind? And what does Color Blindness have to do with Change?

I should rather ask… Do you see separate Colors, and Groups, or are you “Blind” to that fact? Do you see Black, White, Red, Yellow all in separate sections? Or do you see them all together as One group, as God made them to be?

Simply stated: All Colors are alike – they work together, to make Light! A beautiful combination of a wonderful Masterpiece, made by God. You would not have this Stupendous World, if you did not have all the Colors that God created, in One Place.

This thought has NOTHING to do with the upcoming election, but rather what I see, day to day, in my classroom. I have a mixed one – Black, White, Mulatto, and Hispanic! I love my kids!!! They are each so different, and so special with amazing talents, strengths, and weaknesses too. Day to day, we discuss Biblical things, Cultural things, and Historical things. My children, in My Class, know that I am Color Blind; that I see them as 1 group, but each a special one, completely, without “Color”. They know I love them. They know how Jesus treated both the Jew and Gentile, and the mixed Samaritans. They also know the World in which they live is harsh and cruel.

90% of the Churches in my area are Straight and Strictly Black, or White, or Spanish, or Korean. Calvary Baptist Church is the only Independent, Fundamental, KJV, Bible believing Church in Montgomery that is of a 4-part Mix. I LOVE my church!!! They are a true Christian group of Believers who allow any and all, no matter the Color, or Class.

This is the New “Old” South, as I call it. In some part of the area, the Old Rules still apply, and you are treated according to what your Color is. For example: The other Day, I walked into a store in which I was the only White, besides the Manager. He was standing beside the Cashier at the register (who had a better tan than I did – which is my way of saying she was Black…) and instead of greeting the Person that she was waiting on, he looked past them, and spoke directly to me. After speaking to me, he dropped his head, and went back to working, without another word to anyone. It was at this Point that I looked and noticed WHY he spoke to only me…The Cashier lady barely spoke when I moved up, although I tried to engage her in Conversation. I felt horrible, knowing that because of my Skin Color, I was shown preference.

Jesus never did that. Why should I?

I choose to be Color Blind.

Health Warning for Children & Adults

2008-10-13T16:57:00.005-05:00

Did you know that Turtles can cause not only Children, but also Adults, a severe allergy and illness? Last September, I purchased 2 small "Red-Eared Sliders" for our classroom. They enjoyed life in a large tank, dontated by a lovely friend. The creatures, aptly named Rick & Bubba, enjoyed life in the tank, being fed by the children, and "scooting out" once in a blue moon.
However, unbeknownst to me, their algae build up, small as it was, began a deadly virus in my system. The mold, which I was very allergic to, wracked my system for months, deadly, and invisible. Until one day, I collapsed. The doctors said I had a virus, and would need rest. They treated me for nausea, vomiting, and virtigo. Two weeks later, there was no change. Another doctor took an x-ray of my sinus cavities, and found that every crevise was filled completely. (Gross!!!) I had been sleeping 13 hours a day, and taking small naps also. Although my nose wasn't running, and I wasn't coughing, there was so much mucus built up inside. The muscles in my face began to freeze and lock, and my jaw was in complete pain.
My first doctor's trip was Dec, 02. It was not until mid-Feb that I realized what was wrong. The Turtles were given away immediately, and slowly things returned to "normal". I've started school again this year, with no creatures. Over Spring Break, and Summer Break, the illness continued to shed itself. The allergy is working it's way out of my body, and has reached my stomach lining. Because of the drainage irritating my stomach, there are many foods I cannot eat, and after eating, feel like throwing it all back up.
Turtles have slimy diseases, and parents are warned to "wash your hands after handling!", but I'm telling you, don't even get the things!!! It isn't worth the medical bills, and the soul-sucking sleep your child will be doing for the next 1/2 year or more.

Send a REAL love letter this year...

2008-01-13T15:07:00.000-06:00

Me, as Miss Emily....

2008-01-12T20:46:00.001-06:00

For those of you who are in love with Books and Poetry, I will again be portraying Miss E. Dickinson this year at the Alabama Book Festival on April 19th, from 9am-4pm.

http://www.alabamabookcenter.org/events/book-festival.html

There will also be a gentleman portraying Edgar Allen Poe, and possibly other amazing personas! The authors are very friendly, and Miss Kathryn Tucker Windham is a one-of-a-kind storyteller from ages bygone. She is sure to delight those of all ages!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Tucker_Windham

Of Shoes & Ships & Sealing Wax...

2008-01-10T21:35:00.000-06:00

Of cabbages, and kings!

Well, that's all fine for Carroll Lewis, but for our class, we learned about sealing wax! In fact, a few days ago, we re-created the French & Indian (F&I) War in our classroom by having those in bright yellow shirts line up, and be the British, and those in blue shirts, hide amoung the desks as F&I's. Most people think that the French were fighting the Indians, but that is incorrect!!! They were on the same side, fighting against the Brits. Guess who won! Did you say the F&I's? You are wrong! The Brit's score again, ladies and gentlemen!!!

Then we went on to learn about King George III who taxed (not texted) the colonists. He passed the stamp act - papers used for newspapers, and calendars were to be "stamped" with a certain design. I brought in a nice peice of linen resume paper to see the "watermark" stamp on it for the kids - SO COOL!!! A few other things I brought in to show them were my special ink pen, and sealing wax with my initial seal. I had 2 candles lit at the front of the room, and I went around the room to each desk, writing each child's name, in 1700's copperplate script on parchment. When it was finished, I folded it, and demonstrated how to seal a letter! Red was the most used color (black was to notify of a death), and so I chose the former. As the wax sloooooowly dripped onto the parchment, the kids had a great time imagining it was blood. :-) When I showed them my seal, they saw it was backwards! Some of them though it would come out backwards when I pressed it in the wax, but of course, it didn't! They all loved feeling the dried wax seal!

Well, after the colonists didn't pay attention to the stamp act, Good Ole King George III taxed items such as window panes, cloth, shoes and tea! Thanks to the Living History Group that I re-enact with, I had part of a tea brick to show the children. They guessed it was a box to hold something, or a hard thing that had a neat design. One girl did say a brick, and she was the closest!!! We compared that to a tea bag of today, and then we talked about the Boston Tea Party.

Mr. Paul Revere was our last story for the day. I read Mr. Longfellow's poem to them, and we discussed such terms as minutemen, man-of-war, sentinel, alders and belfry. On a map, we followed his path to Lexington & Concord. Since Mr. Longfellow was born in 1807, We figured that he was a young boy when Mr. Revere passed away. He may have even met him! But even if he did not, his story was well told by all.

http://www.paulreverehouse.org/ride/virtual.shtml

Pass along your history! (But check it, and search it, and make sure it's right!)

"Okay already... I said Alpaca!"

2007-12-19T22:51:00.000-06:00

If you can just imagine this setting....

Some guy, from New York or Jersey, is getting out of the cab, and hollers across the street, "Okay already. Alpaca!" The muffled reply, "What? Youse goin' somewhere? You'll packa what?"

But that is NOT quite what I meant... An Alpaca is a special type of animal, not some slang word. This year, for Christmas, I receieved a very cherished gift. A warm and wooly cloak, made from Alpaca. The Alpaca is something likened to a llama, and is a native of Peru. It is a stout little fellow with LOTS of hair to share! They weigh about 120-175 lbs., and eat mainly hay and grass. Occasionally, they will eat tree leaves. In fact, 1 cow will eat as much as 10 Alpaca! These special beasts are 1-2 feet shorter than the average llama, and have long flat ears instead of curved banana-shaped ones.

The Alpaca's wool-fiber comes in about 52 natural color shades!

Today, it is illegal to slaughter an Alpaca for it's meat. They are only bred for their wooly-fiber to make coats, sweaters, hats, socks, mittens and other wearables. The Alpaca fiber contains microscopic air pockets which give it powerful insulating value - which makes it ideal for human clothing. The Alpaca wool is similar to sheep's wool, but it is three times warmer, it is also silkier, and much lighter, and it bears very little lanolin. This makes Alpaca wool nearly hypo-allergenic! (Lanolin is a greasy yellow substance that acts like a water-proof skin ointment for wool-bearing critters.)

Europeans began spinning Alpaca wool in the late 1830's after several attempts to work with the silky stuff. Today, we have all sorts of amazing products to keep you warm and wooly in the weather to come.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpaca

http://www.alpacanet.com/store_main_alpacawear.cfm

Jesus, with Skin on ~

2007-12-19T19:37:00.001-06:00

My goal in teaching, is to show my children "Jesus, with skin on"! Now, this sounds rather odd, but I was challenged by a Sunday school teacher to do this very thing. His father had passed away, and as this man stood in church, he could find not one "bad" thing about his father. He never showed anger, never yelled, never spoke harshly...his home was always open to anyone and everyone, and he shared Jesus constantly. He helped others by giving what he could, and finding others to help in what he could not do. This man was no super-human hero, but he was "Jesus, with skin on"! I am sure he had his faults, but his son didn't see that. Instead, he saw a man who not only read the Bible, but lived it the exact way that Jesus did over 2,000 years ago.

So, as I walk into class each day, am I prepared for the questions that will come? Am I ready to face the hurts and pains, the frustrations, the fears, disappointments and other issues that come into the lives of these little ones? How will I react? Who will I turn to? What feelings will I have - but more importantly... How will I react to these little ones? Will I be a "Jesus, with skin on"?

The Elusive Apple Raisin Turkey

2007-12-19T13:57:00.000-06:00

When you are hunting for Thanksgiving treats, put away your gun, and get to the store! Bring home some apples, toothpicks, raisins and a few olives. On a clean paper towel, place the apple, stem down. Take 6 toothpicks, and spear about 12 raisins on each. Insert each toothpick into the apple, near the "bumps" on the bottom, which is now facing up towards you. Arrange them like the tail feathers on a turkey. Then take one toothpick, and one olive. You will need to use the toothpick to pull out the pimento. Unfold the pimento carefully, and insert 1/2 of it back into the olive. Place the olive on the toothpick, pimento downwards, like the gobbler of a turkey. Now place the toothpick with olive head on your turkey. Place the turkey on the table for a cute decoration, and enjoy!

1812 Alabama 7th US Infantry Re-enactment; Fife & Drum

2007-11-12T09:06:00.001-06:00

Over the loud gun shot on the battlefield, you can hear the drum and fife signaling each soldier, giving specific orders. The noise is deafening, and the powder smoke as thick as pea soup, yet each man swiftly follows every command given. His ears have become accustom to the firing of guns. Since the drum tone is similar, it may be hard to distinguish that from the gun shot. With the fife, a soldiers ears can atune themselves to the higher pitch and hear clearly over the din. It is important to follow each command quickly, and completely, for it may mean your life. John Oien, Drum Major for the 1812 Alabama 7th Regiment of the United States Infantry (Cottonbalers), brought to life the job of such a musician for the 1st and 2nd grades at Calvary Christian Academy. Along with Mr. Oien, was Number 23, Music Bob, also known as "Speedy". This nickname was given to the musician for prompt and consistant obedience. Music Bob was adept at playing the fife, and treated the class to a wonderful rendition of "Harvest Home". The students were shown how important it is to listen carefully, obey promptly, respect others and be courteous. It was a treat for them to be "marched" down the hallway to their next class, followed by the musicians who played a lively tune! Mr. Oien has a knack for making History come alive to any age group, and when students are intrigued, they will remember it for a lifetime.

The Bee Movie

2007-11-04T17:07:00.000-06:00

On Friday, I went to see The Bee Movie, starring Jerry Seinfeld. Seinfeld is known for being a comedian, with his own TV sitcom. In this animated flick, Seinfeld portrays a male bee in a very busy hive. He has spent 3 days in school, 3 days in high school, took off one day, then spent 3 days in college, and today is the day he chooses his new job!
This is backward in my thinking pattern. I thought the females had all the jobs!!! This movie shows the men working, and most females walk around gazing at the males with rapture and awe. Anyhow, Seinfeld's friend "Adam" joins him, and they take a tour of the hive. Adam doesn't seem to have trouble picking the job he wants, but Seinfeld joins the "pollen jocks" on a trip outside the hive to gather pollen and nectar. (Again, a wrong outlook...)
While outside, he remembers that bees can't fly in the rain, and they are never to talk to humans! He gets stuck to a tennis ball, loses his way from the group, gets caught in a rains storm, but saved by a human lady... who he MUST thank. So, lo and behold, he speaks. Their friendship grows, and in time, he finds that supermarkets sell bee's honey!!! "That's our honey they are stealing! We make that!" And off he sets to find out who is stealing the honey from the hives, and how he can get it back!
Seinfeld, with the human's help, becomes a lawyer, and represents the whole world of bees. He is able to shut down the Honey Farms and they give all the honey back to his hive. When the hive is overloaded with honey, there is no more work for the bees to do, so they just chill and relax.
In the meantime, no flowers are being pollinated, and everything is dying. The human, who owed a floral shop, has closed everything down, and leaves to see the last Rose Parade in California. Seinfeld realizes his error of trying to do everything himself, and follows her there. Together, they steal a rose-covered float and fly it by plane back to their home. The pilot and co-pilot are freaked out by the bee, so the human has to fly the plane. She follows the bee instructions that Seinfeld gives her and the other pollen jocks come to her rescue and guide the plane to the landing strip. All of the bees begin to pollinate the flowers, and magically, on cue, every flower and free revive. Seinfeld is granted his pollen jock jacket, helmet and gear for helping the hive.
Over all, the humor of this movie was clean and decent. It is very funny for teen to adult age, but not so for younger children. They will not be able to understand what is behind the humor. Enron is joked on, as well as Sting, and "Larry King Hive". The basic viewpoint of this film is that everyone has a job that they must stick to, or things will not work smoothly. Hard work is the best policy, and everyone needs to pitch in. It was not a movie to learn the science of bees from.

2007-11-02T00:09:00.000-05:00

Happy "We Love Jesus" Day! Since I'm a Christian, I choose not to celebrate Halloween. On this night, you hide your true self, and become something else. Most times, it's something evil. My students know how I feel about this, and I pray for their safety when they tell me they are going out for treats. I explain to them, that tricking others isn't what the Lord did! When Jacob in the Bible (whose name means Trickster) sold a bowl of red bean soup to his brother, then dressed as Esau came and stole the blessing from his Father, Jacob had to leave his family in fear for his life. Tricking others is not fun, nor is it good.

Therefore, we celebrated "We Love Jesus" day. Mrs. Kay brought in this amazing pumpkin to share with us the Love of Jesus. Pumpkins are just dandy, and this one does have a face too! You'll just have to read on to see why!

When she came to speak to us, she asked us to pretend that we were a pumpkin, all alone, out in the patch. Then Jesus came along and picked us right up! He looked deep inside us, and little by little made a change. He opened our eyes, so we could see. Then He let us experience new things, and made us smile. All the while, He was taking out the bad (seeds and goop) from our life, and throwing it away. He puts his Light (the Holy Spirit) inside us, and makes us shine for Him! With that light, we are able to tell others about His Love.

Will you tell someone today? Be a pumpkin and share His Love!

2007-11-01T23:58:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, October 28th, Landmark Park in Dothan Alabama hosted their annual Wiregrass Heritage Festival. Volunteers were dressed in period correct clothing as they demonstrated arts such as corn-shelling, quilting, open hearth cooking, soap making with lye, cane grinding and syrup making, cotton and peanut picking, and much more!

As a local elementary school teacher, I assisted in the festival by dressing as the Queen Bee buzzing around pointing people to the Honey Festival area. In the Agricultural Museum, people were introduced to cooking with honey, honey tips for good health, and procedures such as uncapping wax and extracting honey from the comb.

The Wiregrass Beekeeping Association provided a honey tasting table with many types, such as Michigan Thistle, Gall berry, Kudzu, Cotton and more! Local honey and products were available from the Horton Honey Farm, and Landmark Park. You could certainly say this was one honey of a day!

Walking Stick Bug

2007-09-29T21:12:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday, we caught a 5.5 inch walking stick bug. We compared him to a Praying Mantis, who has a fatter body, thicker front legs, larger head, and shorter antenna. The Walking Stick Bug is able to re-grow a leg, if taken off. (We did not try this...) He crawled around on my hand, arm and shoulder for quite a bit, and the students were very quiet the entire time!

The children really liked watching him test the air with his front leg, to see if he would walk further. They also marvelled about the tiny "spikes" on his legs. He was a nice green color when we found him, and he slightly changed when he came in contact with my dark shirt. We released him on a plant near the door, because we found that they eat plants and leaves. We saw him still there the next day....

So in love...

2007-09-29T21:03:00.000-05:00

While learning how to use the Thesaurus (which is actually a form of dinosaur, don'tcha know), my children had to write sentences using more "colorful" words. I gave them a word, and they had to pick an alternate from the 'Sarus! Not hard, right?
Well... the word was "throw". And the sentence?!?
And I quote... "The man was FLING in love with the woman!"
(uh huh, and I'm "fling in love" with coffee...)

Breathe on Me Breath of God...

2007-09-12T15:50:00.000-05:00

One day this week, we went outside to play, since the heat had slacked off a bit. It was very warm for me, since I had worn all black - school picture day, you understand... One little girl came up and sat behind me on the slide and said, "Oooh, you are warm! It's hot out here, isn't it?" I responded, "Yes, it sure is!" Then, a wonderful breeze whipped up, and I said, "Now that feels good!" The little one replied, "God's breathing on us! It does feel good!" How precious! I had to ask... "And, doesn't God's breath smell nice?" "Sure does!", was her reply.

Beyond the Bathroom

2007-08-31T06:21:00.000-05:00

The other day, while I was watching the kids after school, I had asked they use the restroom before they ate their snacks. 2 of the older Elementary boys were watching the little boys to make sure they went, but they were also fighting about who was going to hold the door! I had had enough, so I called out - "If you don't stop fussing please, I will hold the door for you." From the inside of the boys bathroom a small voice piped up, "You CAN'T! I'M NAKED!" (It belonged to one of the cute little Kindergarten fellas. :o) And you know, that's a pretty good reason too!

How well do You know YOUR Bible Stories?!?

2007-08-23T20:12:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, we watched the Jonah Veggie Tales movie. Today, I asked my kids to write in their journals the story of Jonah from their view points, and then draw me a picture.
While I was in the other room, my teacher's aide asked them why the whale spit Jonah out. This is what 2 of them said...
* Jonah didn't have enough sugar in him
* Jonah was broccoli flavored. Who likes broccoli?!?
Apparently, he took that Veggie Tales video literally! After all, Jonah was played by the Asparagus, but yeah, I can see how that sure could look like broccoli!

English Word, from 9 letters, to 1 letter...

2007-08-20T21:02:00.000-05:00

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/297019/fun_word_riddle/

a DATE is a fruit!!!

2007-08-20T19:47:00.000-05:00

Every boy or girl has one teacher that they just totally fall in love with when they are a child. Well, I've got one of those, and he is too cute for words! When he was younger, and I was not his teacher, I would tell him that "when he got big", I would marry him! His family got such a charge out of that!!! He's in my class now, just a few years later, and insists that he loves me, and he's going to marry me, and every other girl in the classroom! (He's the only boy in his grade!) Last year at Valentines Day, he proposed to me....

This year, as we were studying alphabetical order, he learned that a "date" is a fruit; that didn't stop him!
"All right, we have 3 words: olive, papaya and date. Which one comes first?"
"Date?!?! I'M ON A DATE WITH MISS ....!"
"No, this date is a fruit...we are not on a date."
"Well, the date comes first! I'M ON A DATE WITH YOOOOOOU!"

Wow. What a day.

Quote by Elizabeth Elliott

2007-08-19T12:10:00.001-05:00

If we give out of love,

there is ultimately no way in Heaven or Earth

to avoid receiving,

and receiving more than we could possibly give.

Peace at the Beach

2007-08-16T17:18:00.001-05:00

2007-08-16T16:48:00.000-05:00

Down south, Rick & Bubba are honored names of two famous radio personalities. And what better, than to use those same names for two special pets! My 1st & 2nd grades have adopted 2 red-eared slider turtles, and named them Rick & Bubba! The students enjoy watching them swim, scoot around, and sun themselves under the heat lamp. They are learning how the turtles take care of themselves, and how they act. One of the high school students is an Eagle Scout earning his reptile badge by taking care of them daily. They need to be fed, checked on, played with and kept in a clean tank. Rick & Bubba are truly the two sexiest turtles alive. :-)

I Believe.....

2007-08-15T20:26:00.000-05:00

I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God.

He was sent by God to the earth to die for our sins.

Because his (Jesus's) blood was shed on the cross,

or sins were covered, forgiven and forgotten.

That being said, we have an eternal home in Heaven with Christ.

The only thing we have to do is accept that free gift of salvation.

If we choose Christ, naturally we will want to do things for

Him to show that we are His child.

Such as Baptism, church ministry, witnessing and other things.

Being a Christian means that you accept others as a creation of God -

you help point them to Christ by witnessing to them, and discipling them.

You don't judge them for the choices that they make,

but you help them become better people for Christ.

That's basically it. :o)

A story for my kids... since they wouldn't stop talking!!!

2007-08-15T17:43:00.000-05:00

My kids (all 12 of them) were in the room making our adopted soldier JP a card, when I was outside using the copier. Mrs. Verble was helping them, but BOY, WHERE THEY LOUD!!! I stepped to the door, and flung it open..."All of a sudden... there it was! It was HUGE!!! About twice my size. It had 3 eyes, right in the middle of its head, and a horn sprouting from this side of it's head. (the right side, as I pointed out) It had fuzzy purple fur, and the most nasty, green furry teeth I ever saw!!! It growled a mean, HELLOOOOO. Hi! I said back to it. How are you? FIIIINNNE, came the reply. Whooooo, your teeth smell! Where's your tooth brush? BRUSSSSHHES ARE FOR HAIRRRR. WHATSSS A TOOOOTH BRUSSSSHH? Well, it's like a hair brush, but it cleans your teeth, and they don't get so dirty... HHHHHHMMMPH, it said. Then, it told me that its Granny had made little green sweaters for its teeth, because green was her favorite color. He had worn them every day, and never EVER took them off. Well, I convinced him to take them off, and after I washed them 5 1/2 times, they FINALLY got clean. However, since they were made from angora wool, and I had used hot water, they shrunk. Poor little things just did fit any more. But Monster was okay with that. He finally had clean teeth. The End. (Don't you wish you were back in 1st or 2nd grade?)