Send your own ElfYourself eCards
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
November 20, 2008
An Award.
so ... my blogger friend Sarah gave me an award this morning ... and boy oh boy did I ever need it.
I'm pretty sure that there is a target on me right now... or maybe God is just trying to get my attention ... but whatever it is, it's not pleasant. Not in the least.
Anyway - back to the award that seems to be about the only {good} thing about today ...
As a recipient of this {honest, real, full of truth} award I must post 10 HONEST things about me.
{1} I worked at school last night until 9:45.
{2} I ate M&M's, peanut butter crackers & an apple for dinner.
{3) My boys and I shopped at Wal-Mart this morning before 7:00 a.m. for toothpaste and wrapping paper.
{4} Elf Yourself is good for the soul.
{5} You've Got A Friend is my favorite quote book & I read through it almost every day.
{6} Making the state of Oregon with Model Magic is fun - no matter how young or old you are.
{7} I am making a bulls-eye for my school shirt and am wearing it tomorrow.
{8} I hit a parked car when I dropped Mason off at pre-school today.
{9} I cried for 10 minutes ... and really, it was only a scrape & a small dent ... why me?!
{10} I dislike drama & the {out-of-control} feeling I have when stuff {sCRAP} happens.
There you have it - the honest truth... and nothing less!
and ... I'm passing this award along to:
Mack - The Elf!
Now, if this doesn't get you tappin' your toe ... and smilin' too - I don't know what will!?!
Send your own ElfYourself eCards
November 18, 2008
It's a struggle.
**NOTE **
the previous post ... the little trip my class took across town to read to some elderly folks ... we weren't the only ones who went.
Several other classes from my school took time last week to spread love and {youthful joy} ... I'm just the only {camera crazy} teacher who likes to document everything ... so, I can't take credit for being {wonder teacher} ... and after you read this post, you'll really think I'm more like {The Teacher from the Black Lagoon}.
..................................................................................................................
Every day I'm {in charge of} 24 seven and eight year olds. My job is to teach them great and amazing skills that enhance their reading, writing, knowledge of math skills like place value, graphing, money, carrying, borrowing ... letter sounds, spelling, landforms, state symbols, maps,life-cycle, bodies, nouns, verbs, sentences, main ideas, paragraphs ... and so much more.
Every day I unlock my classroom door, flip on the lights, turn on the computers, and pray that the day is successful.
Report card time, grading time, end of the trimester time, the beginning of the holidays time ... it's overwhelming. And somehow, magically, I'm supposed to leave all of the {stuff} in my own life at the door when I enter each day, and help these sweet boys and girls who so desperately want to learn become better, brighter people in our world.
It's hard. It's draining. It's challenging. It's mind boggling. BUT, it's my job.
Today, every one of my 24 little sponges was {present}. They practiced parts of small plays they are going to be in. They played at recess. They read books. They started writing letters to soldiers in Iraq. They practiced for their Christmas concert with the other three classes of 2nd graders. They wrote their {weekend reports} in their journals.
and ...they talked ... and talked ... and talked. Due to all of the talking and a few other unmentionable catastrophes, they spent some time with their heads down. Some visited with the principal. Some visited with the counselor. Some struggled to complete even one task of the day.
But... they weren't the only ones struggling today ... I struggled today.
I struggled with knowing how to best teach them when they really wanted to talk more than listen.
I struggled with knowing how to speak calmly when I really wanted to scream.
I struggled with knowing that how I responded to certain challenges affected the entire day.
I struggled. period.
I try really hard to be an effective, positive, and strong teacher all of the time, but at 2:20 today when the lights were low and my students and I just sat in our {quiet} home away from home, staring at each other, honesty prevailed.
I talked, and they listened. I shared my frustrations with them, and they listened. I apologized from my heart, and they listened. The bell rang, and I promised them tomorrow would be better.
Oh, how I pray it is.
... and as I struggle to educate these children, I'm reminded of the inspirational/motivational speaker I admire so very much and a few of the words he wrote directly to me at the beginning of this challenging year ...
..............................................................................................................................
Your statements about yourself are priceless. Be sure to refer back to them on any day that you are feeling discouraged by some tough times in the classroom.
(If you do not experience some tough times in the classroom, you are probably not doing a very good job!)
It is an awesome thing that children do when they bestow the title "My Teacher" upon you. Make every minute count.
Always remember that laughter is one of the keys to being a great teacher. Laugh daily with you students.
Sincerely,
Your admirer,
Mac Bledsoe
......................................................................................................................
He didn't know what my year would be like. I didn't know what my year would be like. It's the end of the first trimester, and my students aren't the only ones who are {learning}.
the previous post ... the little trip my class took across town to read to some elderly folks ... we weren't the only ones who went.
Several other classes from my school took time last week to spread love and {youthful joy} ... I'm just the only {camera crazy} teacher who likes to document everything ... so, I can't take credit for being {wonder teacher} ... and after you read this post, you'll really think I'm more like {The Teacher from the Black Lagoon}.
..................................................................................................................
Every day I'm {in charge of} 24 seven and eight year olds. My job is to teach them great and amazing skills that enhance their reading, writing, knowledge of math skills like place value, graphing, money, carrying, borrowing ... letter sounds, spelling, landforms, state symbols, maps,life-cycle, bodies, nouns, verbs, sentences, main ideas, paragraphs ... and so much more.
Every day I unlock my classroom door, flip on the lights, turn on the computers, and pray that the day is successful.
Report card time, grading time, end of the trimester time, the beginning of the holidays time ... it's overwhelming. And somehow, magically, I'm supposed to leave all of the {stuff} in my own life at the door when I enter each day, and help these sweet boys and girls who so desperately want to learn become better, brighter people in our world.
It's hard. It's draining. It's challenging. It's mind boggling. BUT, it's my job.
Today, every one of my 24 little sponges was {present}. They practiced parts of small plays they are going to be in. They played at recess. They read books. They started writing letters to soldiers in Iraq. They practiced for their Christmas concert with the other three classes of 2nd graders. They wrote their {weekend reports} in their journals.
and ...they talked ... and talked ... and talked. Due to all of the talking and a few other unmentionable catastrophes, they spent some time with their heads down. Some visited with the principal. Some visited with the counselor. Some struggled to complete even one task of the day.
But... they weren't the only ones struggling today ... I struggled today.
I struggled with knowing how to best teach them when they really wanted to talk more than listen.
I struggled with knowing how to speak calmly when I really wanted to scream.
I struggled with knowing that how I responded to certain challenges affected the entire day.
I struggled. period.
I try really hard to be an effective, positive, and strong teacher all of the time, but at 2:20 today when the lights were low and my students and I just sat in our {quiet} home away from home, staring at each other, honesty prevailed.
I talked, and they listened. I shared my frustrations with them, and they listened. I apologized from my heart, and they listened. The bell rang, and I promised them tomorrow would be better.
Oh, how I pray it is.
... and as I struggle to educate these children, I'm reminded of the inspirational/motivational speaker I admire so very much and a few of the words he wrote directly to me at the beginning of this challenging year ...
..............................................................................................................................
Your statements about yourself are priceless. Be sure to refer back to them on any day that you are feeling discouraged by some tough times in the classroom.
(If you do not experience some tough times in the classroom, you are probably not doing a very good job!)
It is an awesome thing that children do when they bestow the title "My Teacher" upon you. Make every minute count.
Always remember that laughter is one of the keys to being a great teacher. Laugh daily with you students.
Sincerely,
Your admirer,
Mac Bledsoe
......................................................................................................................
He didn't know what my year would be like. I didn't know what my year would be like. It's the end of the first trimester, and my students aren't the only ones who are {learning}.
Life Changing.
I'm really not sure what they're going to remember about this experience - and those to come in the near future.
I hope it's the joy they brought.
I hope it's the smiles they arroused.
I hope it's the difference they made in just a short 25 minutes.
Actually, no matter what it is they choose to remember about the fall of their 2nd grade year ... I hope they know how proud I was of their compassion, their understanding, their attitudes, and their hearts.
I hope it's the joy they brought.
I hope it's the smiles they arroused.
I hope it's the difference they made in just a short 25 minutes.
Actually, no matter what it is they choose to remember about the fall of their 2nd grade year ... I hope they know how proud I was of their compassion, their understanding, their attitudes, and their hearts.
November 17, 2008
Monday. Mouse. Mason. Modbe.
A mouse was in one of the cupboards this morning. Mason heard me scream and came running to the rescue
His reaction - and without a blink of an eye:
{We've gotta get rid of it mom - remember mom? - like at our old house ... brief pause ... where's the traps? get the peanut butter ... another brief pause ... and put your feet up mom}
That's my boy. Already taking care of business for me.
He spent the day getting {DIRTY} with dad ... {workin' hard}!
Here's what I came home to:
His reaction - and without a blink of an eye:
{We've gotta get rid of it mom - remember mom? - like at our old house ... brief pause ... where's the traps? get the peanut butter ... another brief pause ... and put your feet up mom}
That's my boy. Already taking care of business for me.
He spent the day getting {DIRTY} with dad ... {workin' hard}!
Here's what I came home to:
Looks like the laundry room is calling my name.
And my last little Mason{ism}...
As I'm getting out of the car tonight - wearing this Modbe top with brown pants and a vest ... but not looking quite like this pretty model chick ...
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Mason asks : Was it {jammie} day at your school mom?
Seriously ... how can a Monday end better than that?! ... and when did my son become the {fashion police}??
November 16, 2008
The Scenic Route.
So our {vacation} didn't end at the beach ... and the photos didn't either.
I know you're shocked. {grin}
We headed north along HWY 101 to the mouth of the Columbia and got to Astoria just in time to get a few decent shots without flash.
and then ... after we crossed the amazing river that opens into the Pacific Ocean, a vote was taken, and we decided that our cranky, crying Mack needed to stretch his little legs. He's normally such a great little traveler, but his first experience driving up the coast wasn't that pleasant ... and honestly, none of us {especially Mason} could take the crying any longer.
I know you're shocked. {grin}
We headed north along HWY 101 to the mouth of the Columbia and got to Astoria just in time to get a few decent shots without flash.
and then ... after we crossed the amazing river that opens into the Pacific Ocean, a vote was taken, and we decided that our cranky, crying Mack needed to stretch his little legs. He's normally such a great little traveler, but his first experience driving up the coast wasn't that pleasant ... and honestly, none of us {especially Mason} could take the crying any longer.
and there you have it ... the last post of our 4 day get-away!
We've now settled back into {normal} ... which includes piles of work to grade, meetings to attend, bills to pay, report cards to complete, pictures to order, balers to repair, cows to bring home, calves to sort, laundry to fold, meals to cook, beds to make, emails to answer, prayers to be heard, and life to be lived ... to the fullest - which is really a bit grouchy, a bit under the weather, a bit tired, and a bit overwhelmed ... but it's full!
Psalm 9:1-2
I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart,
I'm writing the book on your wonders.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.
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