At 2:45 this afternoon, I picked Snapper up from school. As we drove to her swim team practice, we chatted about the events of her day. We don't have enough time to go home before practice, so we arrive at the swim club early and do Snapper's homework in the car. Her homework today was simply to read a book. I asked her what book she was reading, and she whipped her Bible out of her backpack. I was pretty surprised to see that. Here's how our conversation went.
Me: You took your Bible to school?
Snapper: Yup! During our quiet reading time at school, we can read whatever we want.
Me: So you're reading your Bible?
S: Yup, I took it with me yesterday, too.
Me: Why do you want to read your Bible at school?
S: Well, this is a public school and they don't teach us about Jesus. So I am taking my Bible with me so I'll be ready to tell other kids about Jesus if they want to know about Him.
Me: Wow! That's pretty cool, Snapper!
S: Yesterday Morgan and Aaliyah saw me reading my Bible, so I told them to bring their Bibles and we could read our Bibles together.
Me: Did they remember?
S: Yup, they both remembered. They brought their Bibles to school today and during reading, we sat together and read Genesis 3! I told some of the other girls, and I think Naomi is going to bring her Bible tomorrow. Are you happy, Mom?
Me: Yes! I am very happy, and I'm proud of you for wanting to share Jesus with your friends.
S: I knew you would be proud, but I'm not doing this for you, you know. I'm doing it for Jesus.
At that point I had no words. That doesn't happen very often! What more was I to say?
At moments like this, every parenting struggle and heartache fades away, and ceases to be important.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Superhero Supreme
So often I feel like most of my interaction with my kids is discipline and correction. Manners training. Social skills tweaking. Respect reinforcing. Kindness coaching. The list goes on. I have to work hard to be careful not to forget to praise them for the things they do well. Are you tracking with me here? Every now and then we like to celebrate character growth in the kids. I've noticed that making a big deal about growth steps tends to have far more of a lasting impact than the daily discipline grind. Now don't get me wrong...the daily discipline is important--no, critical--in developing Christlike character in my children. But positive reinforcement is crucial, too. When I notice consistent progress, we celebrate. I think the theme of our week this week could be Superheroes! Both my kids have had some very heroic moments. Their acts of heroism are very different, though. I must write them down so as not to forget.
Pepper is my hero. He is a real superhero. Pepper IS Spiderman. Rest easy here...there are no spiders involved in this tale. At some point in the last few weeks, Matt introduced Pepper to his favorite movie: Spiderman. Spiderman was Matt's favorite superhero when he was little, so it seemed logical to start Pepper young. Ever since watching the movie, Pepper has become immersed in all things Spiderman. This means his Spidey underoos are top priority in his underwear drawer. He wears his Spiderman costume as much as I will let him, which is pretty much all the time. He constantly plays Spiderman, insists that his name is Spiderman, and has worked hard to teach his fingers how to hold the web-slinging position. He even understands that Spiderman helps others. Both kitties have been "rescued" multiple times. Of course, they have to be locked in the closet so he can rescue them...but still, he is showing great kindness and compassion by tenderly rescuing "poor, lost Zoe and Pixie" from their distress. Yesterday he came down for breakfast with his Spiderman action figure in one hand and his Spiderman baseball cap in the other hand. Here is what he said.
(Holds up action figure) "Look Mommy, it's ME! Look what I can do!" (proceeds to jump around the living room, making combat noises and flying Spiderman all over the place) Serious cuteness!
(Holds up his ball cap) "This is amazing, Mommy! They even put ME on a hat!"
Can you stand it? I can hardly stand it! I just want to eat him up, he's so cute!
Pepper is my superhero because he has such a wonderful imagination. I am soaking up every moment of Pepper's delightful imaginative play! He is also my hero because he is making a very conscious effort to be kind to the cats. This has been an area of consistent struggle for him, but he is really working on it! I've even heard him verbally coaching himself on how to kindly touch the kitties! So proud of him!
Snapper is a real-life superhero. All summer long, we had an ongoing discussion about bullying. We read books about bullying, talked about why bullies act the way they do, and about how to deal with a bully. We did quite a bit of role playing so she would be prepared to wisely handle bullying whenever she should encounter it. And believe me, bullying is a big problem in the generation our kids are growing up in! Snapper's first confrontation with a bully came in the first 5 minutes of her first day of 2nd grade. I watched the whole thing from the hall, curious to see if our advance preparation would pay off. Snapper was handing out pencils for her teacher when one of the girls in the class--we'll call her Lisa--came over to her. Lisa, who is a good 6 inches taller than Snapper, got right up in Snapper's face and told her in a very mean and domineering manner that she was passing out the pencils wrong. Without missing a beat, Snapper straightened up, looked Lisa square in the eye and said (in the trademark sassy Snapper style), "Hello, I'm in 2nd grade. I think I can handle it!" I think my jaw hit the floor at the courage and boldness of my girl! Lisa backed down and walked away. The next day she asked Snapper to be her friend, and they have enjoyed playing together ever since.
Yesterday a 3rd grade boy started making fun of Snapper's friend Kelly (name changed). Snapper went straight over to that older boy and told him to stop making fun of Kelly, or she would go tell the teacher. She reminded him that words can hurt others. Then she growled at him and chased him away.
Today Snapper's teacher had surgery, so there was a sub in Snapper's class. During a math game, the class got very rowdy. The sub had to discipline the whole class. However, there were a few students who were being quiet and respectful, and were trying to get the others to calm down. Those 4 girls and 2 boys got to pick their favorite books from the shelf and go next door to another teacher's classroom to read while the sub dealt with the naughties. Snapper and Kelly were two of the good kids who enjoyed their reading reward!
Snapper is my superhero because:
1. She courageously (if not the most tactfully) faced the bully.
2. She made friends with the bully.
3. She stood up to a bigger, older boy in defense of her friend, and coached him on using kind words.
4. She is making good behavior choices and is choosing to do what is right, even when it means going against what everyone else is doing.
I am so proud of my kids this week--proud of who they are and the growth I'm seeing in their lives. I'm planning a superhero party for them to celebrate. Our party will happen on Saturday. If the weather cooperates, we'll go for a morning hike to the top of Pinnacle Mountain which is about 10 miles west of downtown Little Rock. That is an activity that requires courage and determination, yet has a great reward! In the afternoon, I'll take Snapper to the pottery studio in our town to make a wall hanging for her room--one that reminds her of her favorite Bible verse, Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." For dinner we will have a superhero meal. Our menu consists of: Hero Burgers (recipe coming soon!), Superpower Smoothies (fruits and veggies to strengthen our bodies), and Powerade to drink. It will be a celebration for both kids to remember!
Has your kiddo been a superhero this week? Please tell me about it! If you have creative ways to celebrate character growth, I'd love to hear about that, too.
Pepper is my hero. He is a real superhero. Pepper IS Spiderman. Rest easy here...there are no spiders involved in this tale. At some point in the last few weeks, Matt introduced Pepper to his favorite movie: Spiderman. Spiderman was Matt's favorite superhero when he was little, so it seemed logical to start Pepper young. Ever since watching the movie, Pepper has become immersed in all things Spiderman. This means his Spidey underoos are top priority in his underwear drawer. He wears his Spiderman costume as much as I will let him, which is pretty much all the time. He constantly plays Spiderman, insists that his name is Spiderman, and has worked hard to teach his fingers how to hold the web-slinging position. He even understands that Spiderman helps others. Both kitties have been "rescued" multiple times. Of course, they have to be locked in the closet so he can rescue them...but still, he is showing great kindness and compassion by tenderly rescuing "poor, lost Zoe and Pixie" from their distress. Yesterday he came down for breakfast with his Spiderman action figure in one hand and his Spiderman baseball cap in the other hand. Here is what he said.
(Holds up action figure) "Look Mommy, it's ME! Look what I can do!" (proceeds to jump around the living room, making combat noises and flying Spiderman all over the place) Serious cuteness!
(Holds up his ball cap) "This is amazing, Mommy! They even put ME on a hat!"
Can you stand it? I can hardly stand it! I just want to eat him up, he's so cute!
Pepper is my superhero because he has such a wonderful imagination. I am soaking up every moment of Pepper's delightful imaginative play! He is also my hero because he is making a very conscious effort to be kind to the cats. This has been an area of consistent struggle for him, but he is really working on it! I've even heard him verbally coaching himself on how to kindly touch the kitties! So proud of him!
Snapper is a real-life superhero. All summer long, we had an ongoing discussion about bullying. We read books about bullying, talked about why bullies act the way they do, and about how to deal with a bully. We did quite a bit of role playing so she would be prepared to wisely handle bullying whenever she should encounter it. And believe me, bullying is a big problem in the generation our kids are growing up in! Snapper's first confrontation with a bully came in the first 5 minutes of her first day of 2nd grade. I watched the whole thing from the hall, curious to see if our advance preparation would pay off. Snapper was handing out pencils for her teacher when one of the girls in the class--we'll call her Lisa--came over to her. Lisa, who is a good 6 inches taller than Snapper, got right up in Snapper's face and told her in a very mean and domineering manner that she was passing out the pencils wrong. Without missing a beat, Snapper straightened up, looked Lisa square in the eye and said (in the trademark sassy Snapper style), "Hello, I'm in 2nd grade. I think I can handle it!" I think my jaw hit the floor at the courage and boldness of my girl! Lisa backed down and walked away. The next day she asked Snapper to be her friend, and they have enjoyed playing together ever since.
Yesterday a 3rd grade boy started making fun of Snapper's friend Kelly (name changed). Snapper went straight over to that older boy and told him to stop making fun of Kelly, or she would go tell the teacher. She reminded him that words can hurt others. Then she growled at him and chased him away.
Today Snapper's teacher had surgery, so there was a sub in Snapper's class. During a math game, the class got very rowdy. The sub had to discipline the whole class. However, there were a few students who were being quiet and respectful, and were trying to get the others to calm down. Those 4 girls and 2 boys got to pick their favorite books from the shelf and go next door to another teacher's classroom to read while the sub dealt with the naughties. Snapper and Kelly were two of the good kids who enjoyed their reading reward!
Snapper is my superhero because:
1. She courageously (if not the most tactfully) faced the bully.
2. She made friends with the bully.
3. She stood up to a bigger, older boy in defense of her friend, and coached him on using kind words.
4. She is making good behavior choices and is choosing to do what is right, even when it means going against what everyone else is doing.
I am so proud of my kids this week--proud of who they are and the growth I'm seeing in their lives. I'm planning a superhero party for them to celebrate. Our party will happen on Saturday. If the weather cooperates, we'll go for a morning hike to the top of Pinnacle Mountain which is about 10 miles west of downtown Little Rock. That is an activity that requires courage and determination, yet has a great reward! In the afternoon, I'll take Snapper to the pottery studio in our town to make a wall hanging for her room--one that reminds her of her favorite Bible verse, Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." For dinner we will have a superhero meal. Our menu consists of: Hero Burgers (recipe coming soon!), Superpower Smoothies (fruits and veggies to strengthen our bodies), and Powerade to drink. It will be a celebration for both kids to remember!
Has your kiddo been a superhero this week? Please tell me about it! If you have creative ways to celebrate character growth, I'd love to hear about that, too.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Back to School Traditions, Part 4
Okay, so this tradition is so unoriginal. It seems like most people do it, and for good reason. How fun is it to have a first day of school picture of your child...taken each year in the same place? This is the fourth year I have photographed Snapper on our front porch. You can use the porch post as kind of a marker for her growth from year to year. I think the maturing of her face is really significant, too. This was the first year Pepper got his picture taken, and the first year I photographed them together.
K-4...so tiny and adorable!
K-5...still so little!
1st Grade...our homeschooling year
2nd Grade...how she has grown!
Little Man, K-3
2nd grade and K-3
K-4...so tiny and adorable!
K-5...still so little!
1st Grade...our homeschooling year
2nd Grade...how she has grown!
Little Man, K-3
2nd grade and K-3
Back to School Traditions, Part 3
When I was a kid, my mom had this awesome red plate. The border of the plate said in white letters: "You Are Special Today!" She looked for every opporutnity to use the plate. I found it at my place on my birthday, half-birthday, days when I was receiving an award of some sort, and sometimes the morning after I had done something unusually kind or helpful. It was a great way to make an ordinary day more special, and it built my sister's and my self esteem every time we found that plate at our place. When my mom died, I took the plate to live with me. A few years later, my dad gave my another identical plate. Now I have one for each child!
Each year on the first day of school, I pull out the red plate and serve Snapper's breakfast on it. This is the fourth year for her, and Pepper's first year! Yesterday Matt made waffles and served them to the kids on their red plates. Another fun, special tradition that the kiddos love. The lighting in my dining room is horrible at 6 in the morning, so please forgive the quality of my pictures. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Pepper is wearing a "penglin mathk" (penguin mask) on his head in his picture. Attempting to remove it would have resulted in chaos, and no picture. When you have a feisty 3-year-old, you have to pick your battles, and that one wasn't worth fighting. I'd rather have the "mathk" in the picture than have a picture of a screaming boy...
Each year on the first day of school, I pull out the red plate and serve Snapper's breakfast on it. This is the fourth year for her, and Pepper's first year! Yesterday Matt made waffles and served them to the kids on their red plates. Another fun, special tradition that the kiddos love. The lighting in my dining room is horrible at 6 in the morning, so please forgive the quality of my pictures. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Pepper is wearing a "penglin mathk" (penguin mask) on his head in his picture. Attempting to remove it would have resulted in chaos, and no picture. When you have a feisty 3-year-old, you have to pick your battles, and that one wasn't worth fighting. I'd rather have the "mathk" in the picture than have a picture of a screaming boy...
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Back to School Traditions, Part 2
Okay, so no pictures for Pepper yesterday, either. But as I predicted, he was super excited this morning and cooperated pretty well. When I picked him up from school, he was peaceful and happy. So when we got home, I asked him if he wanted to go out front and take some fun pictures. I learned something today: when Snapper's away, Pepper will play. The little turkey hammed it up from the camera. I think he was so relaxed because there was no big sister pressuring him! So even though the pics were taken today, they'll count as his before school pictures for this year. It's the first year of school for him, so I don't have any older pictures to share.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Back to School Traditions, Part 1
My bloggy friend Michelle wrote a great post talking about back-to-school traditions. Since Snapper is starting school tomorrow, I thought I'd use Michelle's post as a jumping off point for a post of my own. I don't remember any back-to-school traditions when I was a kid. That's primarily because I was homeschooled. I was always excited to start school, but there was never any meeting a new teacher, wondering who was in my class, or shopping for supplies and clothes. So I'm a total newbie when it comes to back-to-school traditions. But if you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I'm a sucker for traditions, and look for every way possible to infuse my children's lives with tradition. I believe it helps ground them, gives them security, and strengthens our family's identity.
The first tradition I've started is taking pictures of Snapper within the week before she starts a new grade. We're now on our fourth year of these pre-school pictures, and it is really fun to look at the pictures to see how she has grown and changed each year. I also get a list of her favorite things.
Here are the pictures from the last 4 years!
Second Grade, August 2009
First Grade, August 2008
Kindergarten, August 2007
Pre-K, August 2006
Tomorrow Snapper will start 2nd grade at a new school and Pepper will begin his first year of preschool! I have to get pre-school pictures of Pepper today. He has been so contrary and grumpy recently! I tried to take his pictures yesterday when I did Snapper's, but he would have none of it. Mr. Grumpy Gills! Today I may just have to bribe him with ice cream...
The first day of school has its traditions, too. But I will hold off and save that for tomorrow. I'm always on the hunt for fun ideas I can implement with my family. Please leave me a comment and tell me your favorite back-to-school tradition, whether from your childhood, or something you do with your kids.
The first tradition I've started is taking pictures of Snapper within the week before she starts a new grade. We're now on our fourth year of these pre-school pictures, and it is really fun to look at the pictures to see how she has grown and changed each year. I also get a list of her favorite things.
Here are the pictures from the last 4 years!
Second Grade, August 2009
First Grade, August 2008
Kindergarten, August 2007
Pre-K, August 2006
Tomorrow Snapper will start 2nd grade at a new school and Pepper will begin his first year of preschool! I have to get pre-school pictures of Pepper today. He has been so contrary and grumpy recently! I tried to take his pictures yesterday when I did Snapper's, but he would have none of it. Mr. Grumpy Gills! Today I may just have to bribe him with ice cream...
The first day of school has its traditions, too. But I will hold off and save that for tomorrow. I'm always on the hunt for fun ideas I can implement with my family. Please leave me a comment and tell me your favorite back-to-school tradition, whether from your childhood, or something you do with your kids.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
What I've Learned
I've decided that since so many other bloggers post a weekly blog about what they've learned that week (to read them, visit Musings of A Housewife), I will start doing the same thing. Tuesday is a quiet day for me, so without further ado, here are the things I have learned this week.
1. Grad school is a fantastic way to snap the mind out of the daily grind. However, I do not recommend taking a grad school course on a one-week fast track plan, particularly when that course involves the reading and study of, and testing on, the whole Old Testament. I learned a TON in that class, and loved every bit of it. But I about killed myself and alienated my husband and kids in the process.
2. I learned that tulips are my new favorite flower. After the monotony of winter in the mid-south, those brilliant blooms are food for the soul. There's nothing like rich color to lift the spirit! Here's one of the pics I took on Saturday that didn't make it into my Toolips blog.
3. Every mom can read the seriousness of a situation by the sound of her child's cry. There's the hungry cry. There's the tired cry. There's the whiny cry. There's the scared cry. There's the angry cry. There's the hurt cry. Then there's the REALLY HURT cry. I'd never heard that one before today. Today I learned that my daughter can issue a cry that makes every hair on my body stand up, and propels my feet into jet action. Geesh, I didn't know I could still run that fast! Snapper took a fall at the park today. The fall itself wasn't bad, but how she landed was. By the time I got to her, picked her up and carried her to the picnic table to look at her ankle, it had already swelled up. We were at the doctor's office 15 minutes later and the poor little ankle was bulging out of the shoe. It looked like it had grape jelly under the skin. A quick xray and exam determined that it is not broken (praise the Lord!), but it is badly sprained. The tricky part will be keeping my very active 6-year-old off her feet for the next week.
4. I was reminded (not really new learning...) that age 2 1/2, while challenging, is also delightful. I love Pepper's emerging ability to communicate and express himself...in words! My little Pepper was so concerned for Snapper when she fell. While I was examining her ankle, he kept trying to kiss it. At the doctor's office, he hollered down the hallway, "Huwwy up, doctuh, my sit-ter (sister) gots a twisted!" When the doctor was examining the ankle, Snapper was softly crying. Pepper slapped the doctor's hand and said, "No, doctuh! Don't hurt my sit-ter!" The doctor explained that he wasn't trying to hurt Snapper, just trying to figure out what was wrong. Then Pepper said, "You go get my sit-ter a bandaid wight now!" The doctor obviously enjoyed Pepper's concern, and complimented him on how much he loves and cares for his "sit-ter." So stinkin' cute!
What did you learn this week? Leave me a comment and share one thing.
1. Grad school is a fantastic way to snap the mind out of the daily grind. However, I do not recommend taking a grad school course on a one-week fast track plan, particularly when that course involves the reading and study of, and testing on, the whole Old Testament. I learned a TON in that class, and loved every bit of it. But I about killed myself and alienated my husband and kids in the process.
2. I learned that tulips are my new favorite flower. After the monotony of winter in the mid-south, those brilliant blooms are food for the soul. There's nothing like rich color to lift the spirit! Here's one of the pics I took on Saturday that didn't make it into my Toolips blog.
3. Every mom can read the seriousness of a situation by the sound of her child's cry. There's the hungry cry. There's the tired cry. There's the whiny cry. There's the scared cry. There's the angry cry. There's the hurt cry. Then there's the REALLY HURT cry. I'd never heard that one before today. Today I learned that my daughter can issue a cry that makes every hair on my body stand up, and propels my feet into jet action. Geesh, I didn't know I could still run that fast! Snapper took a fall at the park today. The fall itself wasn't bad, but how she landed was. By the time I got to her, picked her up and carried her to the picnic table to look at her ankle, it had already swelled up. We were at the doctor's office 15 minutes later and the poor little ankle was bulging out of the shoe. It looked like it had grape jelly under the skin. A quick xray and exam determined that it is not broken (praise the Lord!), but it is badly sprained. The tricky part will be keeping my very active 6-year-old off her feet for the next week.
4. I was reminded (not really new learning...) that age 2 1/2, while challenging, is also delightful. I love Pepper's emerging ability to communicate and express himself...in words! My little Pepper was so concerned for Snapper when she fell. While I was examining her ankle, he kept trying to kiss it. At the doctor's office, he hollered down the hallway, "Huwwy up, doctuh, my sit-ter (sister) gots a twisted!" When the doctor was examining the ankle, Snapper was softly crying. Pepper slapped the doctor's hand and said, "No, doctuh! Don't hurt my sit-ter!" The doctor explained that he wasn't trying to hurt Snapper, just trying to figure out what was wrong. Then Pepper said, "You go get my sit-ter a bandaid wight now!" The doctor obviously enjoyed Pepper's concern, and complimented him on how much he loves and cares for his "sit-ter." So stinkin' cute!
What did you learn this week? Leave me a comment and share one thing.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Food...Umm, UMM!!!!
Yesterday and today can be summed up in one word: Food!
Soul Food: Today I completed my Old Testament Suervey course. It was an intense week of study (20 hours of class, plus reading the Old Testament, plus making flashcards and studying for the exam). But it was rich! Everything I learned will be digesting over the course of the next few weeks. Right now my head is so packed that I'm finding hard to focus on anything. The exam was brutal--150 questions covering the Old Testament, minus a few books. No study guide. Ugh! I thought I studied pretty well, but was still unprepared for the exam. It was HARD! I have no clue how I did. I still have 2 papers to write in the next 8 days.
Emotional Food: Tonight will be a fun, fun night! I'm scrapbooking from 6-midnight with some gal-pals from church, and my scrapbooking buddy, Taya. There is little else in life that I enjoy more than putting my precious family photos together to create a work of art! Oh yes, it will be fun!
Love Food: My hubby is the sweetest and best of men. He knew the tremendous pressure I was under this week, and completely cleaned the house for me. He also finished the tile project in the living room and bathroom. He also seeded both the front and back yards. He also cut down 2 trees in our back yard so our plants will grow better. He also quizzed me last night to help me prepare for the test today. He also made me a special treat while I was studying yesterday. He took Tostitos Scoops, filled each one with cheese, and baked them. Then he filled them the rest of the way with sour cream and salsa. My own plate of nacho bites! Doesn't he rock? Oh yeah, AND he took care of the kids all week so I could go to class and study. My man is THE man!
Body Food: Snapper's best friend, V, recently had a fundraiser for her school. She sold cookie dough, and a few other food-related items. I bought a crock pot cookbook, because I am in need of some new crock pot recipes. I tried one last night, and it was added to that elite category of recipes that my entire family scores a 10! Without further ado, here it is.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
(serves 6)
1. Place 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Combine in a bowl and mix together:
1 can chopped, mild green chilies
2 cloves minced garlic
1 diced yellow onion
2 cans (15 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup chicken broth
2 tsp. ground cumin
3. Pour mixture over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours or until chicken is tender.
4. Remove chicken from crock pot. Use 2 forks to shred the meat. Then, return the meat to the crock pot. Add 1 tsp. salt. Add chicken broth if necessary
Just before serving, add:
4 corn tortilla, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
Serve in soup bowls, topping each serving with grated cheddar cheese, a slice of avocado (if desired), and a dallop of sour cream.
Soul Food: Today I completed my Old Testament Suervey course. It was an intense week of study (20 hours of class, plus reading the Old Testament, plus making flashcards and studying for the exam). But it was rich! Everything I learned will be digesting over the course of the next few weeks. Right now my head is so packed that I'm finding hard to focus on anything. The exam was brutal--150 questions covering the Old Testament, minus a few books. No study guide. Ugh! I thought I studied pretty well, but was still unprepared for the exam. It was HARD! I have no clue how I did. I still have 2 papers to write in the next 8 days.
Emotional Food: Tonight will be a fun, fun night! I'm scrapbooking from 6-midnight with some gal-pals from church, and my scrapbooking buddy, Taya. There is little else in life that I enjoy more than putting my precious family photos together to create a work of art! Oh yes, it will be fun!
Love Food: My hubby is the sweetest and best of men. He knew the tremendous pressure I was under this week, and completely cleaned the house for me. He also finished the tile project in the living room and bathroom. He also seeded both the front and back yards. He also cut down 2 trees in our back yard so our plants will grow better. He also quizzed me last night to help me prepare for the test today. He also made me a special treat while I was studying yesterday. He took Tostitos Scoops, filled each one with cheese, and baked them. Then he filled them the rest of the way with sour cream and salsa. My own plate of nacho bites! Doesn't he rock? Oh yeah, AND he took care of the kids all week so I could go to class and study. My man is THE man!
Body Food: Snapper's best friend, V, recently had a fundraiser for her school. She sold cookie dough, and a few other food-related items. I bought a crock pot cookbook, because I am in need of some new crock pot recipes. I tried one last night, and it was added to that elite category of recipes that my entire family scores a 10! Without further ado, here it is.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
(serves 6)
1. Place 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Combine in a bowl and mix together:
1 can chopped, mild green chilies
2 cloves minced garlic
1 diced yellow onion
2 cans (15 ounces each) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup chicken broth
2 tsp. ground cumin
3. Pour mixture over chicken. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or on high for 3 hours or until chicken is tender.
4. Remove chicken from crock pot. Use 2 forks to shred the meat. Then, return the meat to the crock pot. Add 1 tsp. salt. Add chicken broth if necessary
Just before serving, add:
4 corn tortilla, sliced into 1/4 inch strips
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
Serve in soup bowls, topping each serving with grated cheddar cheese, a slice of avocado (if desired), and a dallop of sour cream.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Savoring Monday and a Reminder
Reminder first: On Friday, March 20th (that's this Friday), my blog address will be changing. This is to protect the privacy of my family. Make sure you make note of the new address, because the current one will take you nowhere starting on Saturday.
http://www.lifeartist48.blogspot.com
When I graduated from college 7 years ago, I sat in the passenger seat of my Daddy's car and cried as we drove away from the campus, closing the door on my college years. I'm not saying I loved every minute of my years in school. There were plenty of classes I did not enjoy, boring professors, hideous group projects, and pointless papers. But most of the time, I loved school. The best part about those years was the mental stimulation. As I studied, listened, discussed, debated, researched, and wrote, I felt alive. There's nothing like the thrill of learning something new, something exciting, something you can apply to real life. That summarizes my college experience.
After graduation, teaching elementary school offered more of that mental stimulation, primarily in figuring out a variety of ways to meet my students' different learning styles. I loved teaching, loved my kids.
When we moved here to Arkansas, I became a full-time, stay-at-home mom. I love this job! It is a continual challenge to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of my children. It is a challenge to keep life--and our budget--in balance. And I still haven't figured how to keep my house even somewhat tidy, meals planned and healthy, children bathed and content, husband happy and loved, and myself sane.
As much as I love being at home, I have missed the deeper thinking that was part of daily life for me 4 years ago. I have wanted to get back into the learner mentality, but I didn't know when. When the opportunity presented itself for me to begin graduate studies with a great seminary without having to go out of town, I jumped on it. My class is every morning for a week, and takes place up at the office. Hooray for our employer who brings professors in from time to time to teach classes for the enrichment of our staff!
I savored all 4 hours of class this morning. I love learning new things, especially since the topic is foundational for my life. My goal is to take one class each quarter over the next 4 years. It will keep my mind fresh, help me avoid becoming stagnant in my primary role of wife and mom, and will deepen my relationship the Lord. Yup, that's a lot to savor!
http://www.lifeartist48.blogspot.com
When I graduated from college 7 years ago, I sat in the passenger seat of my Daddy's car and cried as we drove away from the campus, closing the door on my college years. I'm not saying I loved every minute of my years in school. There were plenty of classes I did not enjoy, boring professors, hideous group projects, and pointless papers. But most of the time, I loved school. The best part about those years was the mental stimulation. As I studied, listened, discussed, debated, researched, and wrote, I felt alive. There's nothing like the thrill of learning something new, something exciting, something you can apply to real life. That summarizes my college experience.
After graduation, teaching elementary school offered more of that mental stimulation, primarily in figuring out a variety of ways to meet my students' different learning styles. I loved teaching, loved my kids.
When we moved here to Arkansas, I became a full-time, stay-at-home mom. I love this job! It is a continual challenge to meet the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of my children. It is a challenge to keep life--and our budget--in balance. And I still haven't figured how to keep my house even somewhat tidy, meals planned and healthy, children bathed and content, husband happy and loved, and myself sane.
As much as I love being at home, I have missed the deeper thinking that was part of daily life for me 4 years ago. I have wanted to get back into the learner mentality, but I didn't know when. When the opportunity presented itself for me to begin graduate studies with a great seminary without having to go out of town, I jumped on it. My class is every morning for a week, and takes place up at the office. Hooray for our employer who brings professors in from time to time to teach classes for the enrichment of our staff!
I savored all 4 hours of class this morning. I love learning new things, especially since the topic is foundational for my life. My goal is to take one class each quarter over the next 4 years. It will keep my mind fresh, help me avoid becoming stagnant in my primary role of wife and mom, and will deepen my relationship the Lord. Yup, that's a lot to savor!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Savoring Monday: In Honor of Nikki Rose
I am so exhausted I can barely see straight to type this, so I'll keep it brief. Here are my savory moments for today.
1. First day of grad school. Yup, I'm taking my first class toward a Master of Arts in Christian Education. I'm super excited, because I've wanted to do this for a long time. The class: Old Testament Survey. I have an awesome prof, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the class...even writing the papers!
2. My Honey is home! We picked him up from the airport at 2:00 this afternoon. Oh, is it good to have him back!
3. My precious children. Tonight I was honored to photograph the funeral of Nikki, our friends Rocky and Kristi's 17-year-old daughter who was killed in a car wreck last week. Their extended family lives in California, and they wanted pictures of the funeral to take back home to California with them later this week. It was an open casket viewing, and Rocky and Kristi wanted pictures of every aspect of the evening. I experienced such a broad range of emotions tonight as I snapped 380 pictures. I felt like a trespasser into people's grief, yet I shared the grief myself. The emotions were so intense that by the time I got home, I had such a bad stomachache that I could hardly stand up. Watching our sweet friends mourn for their child broke my heart again, and reawakened in me how thankful I am for my own, precious children, and how much I love them. I held them both extra long tonight.
Here is a picture I took of a rose from one of the funeral flower arrangements, in memory of Nikki Rose.
1. First day of grad school. Yup, I'm taking my first class toward a Master of Arts in Christian Education. I'm super excited, because I've wanted to do this for a long time. The class: Old Testament Survey. I have an awesome prof, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the class...even writing the papers!
2. My Honey is home! We picked him up from the airport at 2:00 this afternoon. Oh, is it good to have him back!
3. My precious children. Tonight I was honored to photograph the funeral of Nikki, our friends Rocky and Kristi's 17-year-old daughter who was killed in a car wreck last week. Their extended family lives in California, and they wanted pictures of the funeral to take back home to California with them later this week. It was an open casket viewing, and Rocky and Kristi wanted pictures of every aspect of the evening. I experienced such a broad range of emotions tonight as I snapped 380 pictures. I felt like a trespasser into people's grief, yet I shared the grief myself. The emotions were so intense that by the time I got home, I had such a bad stomachache that I could hardly stand up. Watching our sweet friends mourn for their child broke my heart again, and reawakened in me how thankful I am for my own, precious children, and how much I love them. I held them both extra long tonight.
Here is a picture I took of a rose from one of the funeral flower arrangements, in memory of Nikki Rose.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Rollin' Along
I just read my friend Jane-Holly's blog about homeschooling, and was inspired to mirror it with some thoughts of my own.
Snapper and I have completed Day 3 of homeschooling. After 3 short days of experience and observation, I feel compelled to preach a small sermon on the benefits of home education. By now you've figured out that I like lists...might even be a compulsive list maker. Hee hee! So my little sermon will come in the form of a Top 5 list.
Top Five Benefits of Homeschooling (Why I think this homeschooling thing may become a permanent fixture for our family)
5. When Matt and I were teachers, we spent much of our day in transitions. It frequently took 10 minutes to transition from one subject to another, 10 minutes to get everyone lined up and down for recess, P.E., computer, lunch, etc. Then another 10 minutes to get back up to class and settled in. There were bathroom breaks. And time spent disciplining children. Wasted moments, and lots of them. There is very little time wasted at home. Because of this, we are finished with school before noon, leaving Snapper the whole afternoon in which to just be a kid!
4. We have complete flexibility with our school schedule. Last night I didn't sleep well, so we slept in a bit this morning and started school a little bit later in the day. We are hoping to travel to California some time in the next 3-6 months. Because we're flexible, we can go whenever we want.
3. We have unlimited opportunity for creativity in our teaching. If Snapper is especially fascinated with a subject, we can research it thoroughly, and create learning activities that will be customized to her unique learning style.
2. We can move at Snapper's pace. We don't have to do every problem on every worksheet, ot even every worksheet! If she has a solid understanding, we can move on and not have to wait for the rest of the class. If she's struggling with an area, we will camp on it until she get it.
1. We can (and do) run everything we teach Snapper through the filter of God's Word. That doesn't mean we skip over contoversial issues. On the contrary, we boldly discuss those issues and teach Whitney to apply God's truth to each situation she encounters.
Our first three days have been wonderful. Yesterday Snapper decided that she loves Math! She joyfully completed a whole week's worth of math lessons because she wanted to! And we spent 2 hours on the couch reading together. Even 2 hours was not enough for her. We will be back on the couch reading again this afternoon. She draws and crochets while I read to her. I am getting to recreate for Snapper one of my most cherished memories of my own childhood. Last night at the dinner table, Snapperdeclared to me, "Mommy, I love being homschooled!"
Music to this Mommy's ears!
Snapper and I have completed Day 3 of homeschooling. After 3 short days of experience and observation, I feel compelled to preach a small sermon on the benefits of home education. By now you've figured out that I like lists...might even be a compulsive list maker. Hee hee! So my little sermon will come in the form of a Top 5 list.
Top Five Benefits of Homeschooling (Why I think this homeschooling thing may become a permanent fixture for our family)
5. When Matt and I were teachers, we spent much of our day in transitions. It frequently took 10 minutes to transition from one subject to another, 10 minutes to get everyone lined up and down for recess, P.E., computer, lunch, etc. Then another 10 minutes to get back up to class and settled in. There were bathroom breaks. And time spent disciplining children. Wasted moments, and lots of them. There is very little time wasted at home. Because of this, we are finished with school before noon, leaving Snapper the whole afternoon in which to just be a kid!
4. We have complete flexibility with our school schedule. Last night I didn't sleep well, so we slept in a bit this morning and started school a little bit later in the day. We are hoping to travel to California some time in the next 3-6 months. Because we're flexible, we can go whenever we want.
3. We have unlimited opportunity for creativity in our teaching. If Snapper is especially fascinated with a subject, we can research it thoroughly, and create learning activities that will be customized to her unique learning style.
2. We can move at Snapper's pace. We don't have to do every problem on every worksheet, ot even every worksheet! If she has a solid understanding, we can move on and not have to wait for the rest of the class. If she's struggling with an area, we will camp on it until she get it.
1. We can (and do) run everything we teach Snapper through the filter of God's Word. That doesn't mean we skip over contoversial issues. On the contrary, we boldly discuss those issues and teach Whitney to apply God's truth to each situation she encounters.
Our first three days have been wonderful. Yesterday Snapper decided that she loves Math! She joyfully completed a whole week's worth of math lessons because she wanted to! And we spent 2 hours on the couch reading together. Even 2 hours was not enough for her. We will be back on the couch reading again this afternoon. She draws and crochets while I read to her. I am getting to recreate for Snapper one of my most cherished memories of my own childhood. Last night at the dinner table, Snapperdeclared to me, "Mommy, I love being homschooled!"
Music to this Mommy's ears!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Our First Day
Last year on the night before Snapper started kindergarten I had a meltdown. My baby girl was starting school. I cried over how fast her first 5 years of life had gone, and felt justified in my tears. After all, wouldn't I be right to assume that most mothers of kindergarteners cry on that first day of school? Last night was the night before Whitney started 1st grade and I had a meltdown. This year, though, my tears were for an entirely different reason. On the eve of my first day of homeschooling, I wanted my mom.
My mother, Lotte, was quite possibly the perfect homeschool mom. Coming from a background of several years of teaching, she was well equipped for the task of home educating her two daughters. Add to that some incredible creative abilities and a zest for life. She was ideal for the job. On my first morning of 1st grade, my mom, knowing how much I wanted to go to "real school", dressed me up in a cute little jumper, packed me a lunch in my new lunch box, and headed out the door, my hand clasped firmly in her own. With Jenny in the stroller and our German Shepherd Tara on the leash, we walked around the block together. On arrival home, my mom became my teacher. She led me upstairs to the spare bedroom which had been transformed into a miniature school, complete with desk (with my nameplate on it), chalkboard, American flag, a shelf of curriculum, a shelf of new school supplies, and the ABC border around the ceiling. My little heart, still sore from watching the neighbor kids climb onto the bus that morning, thrilled at the sight of my own, little classroom.
Throughout the early years of my education, my mom kept a fair amount of structure. I did my work at my desk. We followed the same schedule every day. My lessons were beautifully organized, and rich with wondeful detail. By the end of first grade I had read the Little House on the Prairie series by myself. My mom was an amazing teacher. We moved to Scotts Valley when I was 7. When I was 9, my parents built an outbuilding--our schooroom. I did all my work there with my mom. At recess Mom played tag with Jenny and me. For P.E. we played basketball, jumped rope, did lots of stretches, rode our bikes, and played hard. For Science, we explored our property, went tidepooling, did projects with Daddy, and got very hands-on. Mom read to us every afternoon, which I am sure is the root of my ever-consuming desire for a good book.
When I started 4th grade, Jenny began kindergarten. Her learning disabilities required more intensive attention from my mom. By that point I was pretty motivated, so I took on more responsibility for my education. Each week Mom gave me a carefully prepared lesson plan, for which I was responsible. It didn't matter how I did the work, so long as it was all done by Friday. When I needed help, Mom was there for me. I was free to choose where I wanted to work. That often meant doing literature in the almond tree, history on the tire swing, or spelling in the barn. My favorite place to do schoolwork was on the floor in front of the wood burning stove in our living room. I spent many peaceful hours there with my books, free to study at my own pace.
And then there were the projects! My mom realized my creative potential and knack for writing, so whenever possible, she customized projects that would develop my skills. I still have a box of some of my work that my mom saved for me. Book reports, creative writing assignments, photos of dioramas and relief maps that I did, paintings, research papers, the list goes on.
When I hit high school and my level went beyond my mom's ability to teach, she found specialists to enrich my learning. I took most of my classes at a small private school my sophomore and junior years, and had a private tutor for those classes not offered by the school. I was able to begin college at age 16, fully equipped for the rigors of those courses. In fact, several of my teachers questioned me about where I had gone to school. When I told them I had been homeschooled, they asked me to esteem my mom for a job well done.
What huge footprints I have to try to follow in. My mom really was a homeschool rock star. Since my mom is my biggest hero and role model (apart from Jesus, of course), I quite naturally want to emulate her in the area of homeschooling. And last night I had a good cry because guess what? I don't have a perfect little schoolroom for Whitney. I didn't buy her a lunchbox. Everything in my homeschooling world is not in apple pie order. I want to be my mom but I can't. And I miss her, so very much. I felt so awful about it all, in fact, that I decided to put school off for one more week so that I could get some sort of schoolroom together. I went to bed feeling so let down. And SO cranky!
God and Snapper had other ideas. She bounced out of bed this morning and came in to wake me up for her first day of school. She was so bubbly and springy that she could have written the Tigger Song. Then I told her we wouldn't be starting school for another week. And her face crumpled. All the bounce drained right out of her little body, so disappointed was she. Then it occurred to me...
Is this whole have-to-be-perfect-and-ready-for-school thing about Snapper's education, or my personal fulfillment and ego? I didn't have to think long and hard about that one. And a sense of shame washed over me. It's great to want to be like my mom. But it isn't a necessary component of Snapper's education. I can work on decorating the extra room upstairs as time and money are available. And no one will think less of me for not being a copy of Lotte. Just to test my theory, I asked Snapper a question:
"Sweetie, do you want to wait for our schoolroom ro be all set up to start school, or would you rather just do some schoolwork today?"
Her humbling response:
"Mommy, we don't need a schoolroom to do school. Why don't we just do our work at the dining room table? I don't care if it's all set up! I just want to be a first grader."
Choke. Cough. Okay, Miss Priss. We'll start school today. I'll let go of my visions of grandeur and really focus on having a great first day. And so we did. Pepper's grumps forced us to wait until he was quietly asleep at naptime before we could begin. I'm seeing that flexibility will be in order this year. We spread out on the dining room table and began school. Like my mom in one major way, I was very prepared with Snapper's lessons. I knew exactly what to do and how to teach it. Today she learned that all words are made up of sounds. She learned that phonograms are sounds that make up the English language, and that phonograms can have 1, 2, 3, or 4 letters in them. Some single letter phonograms have more than one sound. She learned the importance of good penmanship, and began working on the correct formation of some of the letters that start at 2 o'clock (a, c, d, f).
Then it was recess. And here's what I love about homeschooling. Her recess activity of choice: to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book. Ah, she is her mother's daughter! I spent many hours on the couch with tea and a book!
After recess, we tackled math. We're using a wonderful math program called Math-U-See. Each lesson starts with a video, and incorporates as many of the senses as possible. Today Snapper learned about place value: units, tens, and hundreds. She built math problems using unit blocks. She wrote down her answers. And she created problems for me to solve, explaining the steps to me as I went. She really got it, and loved it in the process! By the end of this short lesson, Snapper is able to correctly name any number 0-999, and write any number 0-999!
She did a fun first day writing project, a fill-in-the-blank poem about herself, and drew a self portrait to go with it. Here's her Biopoem (complete with her 5-year-old spelling).
'Snapper'
Playfull, silly, funy, prityy
Sister of Jackson
Lover of playing Star Wars, waching tv, and dress up
Who feels happy, exited, and glad
Who gives happynes, kisses, and hugs
Who fears darknes, blud, and tornaydos
Who would like to see Kung Fu Panda, dollfins, and Grandma
Resident of Little Rock
B
We concluded our school day by cuddling on the couch and reading another chapter in her Ramona book. She's excited about tomorrow, eager to learn, and joyful in the process.
And I am humbled. I think if my mom was here, she would tell me that the child is more important than the look of the classroom. Quality time spent teaching Whitney will mean far more to her than how organized my bookshelf was, and how far ahead I was in my lesson plans. So how do I feel going into tomorrow? No more tears, that's for sure! And I know my mom is proud of me, just the way I am.
At the bottom of this blog I have posted a slideshow of photos from Whitney's first day of 1st grade. I hope you enjoy!
My mother, Lotte, was quite possibly the perfect homeschool mom. Coming from a background of several years of teaching, she was well equipped for the task of home educating her two daughters. Add to that some incredible creative abilities and a zest for life. She was ideal for the job. On my first morning of 1st grade, my mom, knowing how much I wanted to go to "real school", dressed me up in a cute little jumper, packed me a lunch in my new lunch box, and headed out the door, my hand clasped firmly in her own. With Jenny in the stroller and our German Shepherd Tara on the leash, we walked around the block together. On arrival home, my mom became my teacher. She led me upstairs to the spare bedroom which had been transformed into a miniature school, complete with desk (with my nameplate on it), chalkboard, American flag, a shelf of curriculum, a shelf of new school supplies, and the ABC border around the ceiling. My little heart, still sore from watching the neighbor kids climb onto the bus that morning, thrilled at the sight of my own, little classroom.
Throughout the early years of my education, my mom kept a fair amount of structure. I did my work at my desk. We followed the same schedule every day. My lessons were beautifully organized, and rich with wondeful detail. By the end of first grade I had read the Little House on the Prairie series by myself. My mom was an amazing teacher. We moved to Scotts Valley when I was 7. When I was 9, my parents built an outbuilding--our schooroom. I did all my work there with my mom. At recess Mom played tag with Jenny and me. For P.E. we played basketball, jumped rope, did lots of stretches, rode our bikes, and played hard. For Science, we explored our property, went tidepooling, did projects with Daddy, and got very hands-on. Mom read to us every afternoon, which I am sure is the root of my ever-consuming desire for a good book.
When I started 4th grade, Jenny began kindergarten. Her learning disabilities required more intensive attention from my mom. By that point I was pretty motivated, so I took on more responsibility for my education. Each week Mom gave me a carefully prepared lesson plan, for which I was responsible. It didn't matter how I did the work, so long as it was all done by Friday. When I needed help, Mom was there for me. I was free to choose where I wanted to work. That often meant doing literature in the almond tree, history on the tire swing, or spelling in the barn. My favorite place to do schoolwork was on the floor in front of the wood burning stove in our living room. I spent many peaceful hours there with my books, free to study at my own pace.
And then there were the projects! My mom realized my creative potential and knack for writing, so whenever possible, she customized projects that would develop my skills. I still have a box of some of my work that my mom saved for me. Book reports, creative writing assignments, photos of dioramas and relief maps that I did, paintings, research papers, the list goes on.
When I hit high school and my level went beyond my mom's ability to teach, she found specialists to enrich my learning. I took most of my classes at a small private school my sophomore and junior years, and had a private tutor for those classes not offered by the school. I was able to begin college at age 16, fully equipped for the rigors of those courses. In fact, several of my teachers questioned me about where I had gone to school. When I told them I had been homeschooled, they asked me to esteem my mom for a job well done.
What huge footprints I have to try to follow in. My mom really was a homeschool rock star. Since my mom is my biggest hero and role model (apart from Jesus, of course), I quite naturally want to emulate her in the area of homeschooling. And last night I had a good cry because guess what? I don't have a perfect little schoolroom for Whitney. I didn't buy her a lunchbox. Everything in my homeschooling world is not in apple pie order. I want to be my mom but I can't. And I miss her, so very much. I felt so awful about it all, in fact, that I decided to put school off for one more week so that I could get some sort of schoolroom together. I went to bed feeling so let down. And SO cranky!
God and Snapper had other ideas. She bounced out of bed this morning and came in to wake me up for her first day of school. She was so bubbly and springy that she could have written the Tigger Song. Then I told her we wouldn't be starting school for another week. And her face crumpled. All the bounce drained right out of her little body, so disappointed was she. Then it occurred to me...
Is this whole have-to-be-perfect-and-ready-for-school thing about Snapper's education, or my personal fulfillment and ego? I didn't have to think long and hard about that one. And a sense of shame washed over me. It's great to want to be like my mom. But it isn't a necessary component of Snapper's education. I can work on decorating the extra room upstairs as time and money are available. And no one will think less of me for not being a copy of Lotte. Just to test my theory, I asked Snapper a question:
"Sweetie, do you want to wait for our schoolroom ro be all set up to start school, or would you rather just do some schoolwork today?"
Her humbling response:
"Mommy, we don't need a schoolroom to do school. Why don't we just do our work at the dining room table? I don't care if it's all set up! I just want to be a first grader."
Choke. Cough. Okay, Miss Priss. We'll start school today. I'll let go of my visions of grandeur and really focus on having a great first day. And so we did. Pepper's grumps forced us to wait until he was quietly asleep at naptime before we could begin. I'm seeing that flexibility will be in order this year. We spread out on the dining room table and began school. Like my mom in one major way, I was very prepared with Snapper's lessons. I knew exactly what to do and how to teach it. Today she learned that all words are made up of sounds. She learned that phonograms are sounds that make up the English language, and that phonograms can have 1, 2, 3, or 4 letters in them. Some single letter phonograms have more than one sound. She learned the importance of good penmanship, and began working on the correct formation of some of the letters that start at 2 o'clock (a, c, d, f).
Then it was recess. And here's what I love about homeschooling. Her recess activity of choice: to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea and a good book. Ah, she is her mother's daughter! I spent many hours on the couch with tea and a book!
After recess, we tackled math. We're using a wonderful math program called Math-U-See. Each lesson starts with a video, and incorporates as many of the senses as possible. Today Snapper learned about place value: units, tens, and hundreds. She built math problems using unit blocks. She wrote down her answers. And she created problems for me to solve, explaining the steps to me as I went. She really got it, and loved it in the process! By the end of this short lesson, Snapper is able to correctly name any number 0-999, and write any number 0-999!
She did a fun first day writing project, a fill-in-the-blank poem about herself, and drew a self portrait to go with it. Here's her Biopoem (complete with her 5-year-old spelling).
'Snapper'
Playfull, silly, funy, prityy
Sister of Jackson
Lover of playing Star Wars, waching tv, and dress up
Who feels happy, exited, and glad
Who gives happynes, kisses, and hugs
Who fears darknes, blud, and tornaydos
Who would like to see Kung Fu Panda, dollfins, and Grandma
Resident of Little Rock
B
We concluded our school day by cuddling on the couch and reading another chapter in her Ramona book. She's excited about tomorrow, eager to learn, and joyful in the process.
And I am humbled. I think if my mom was here, she would tell me that the child is more important than the look of the classroom. Quality time spent teaching Whitney will mean far more to her than how organized my bookshelf was, and how far ahead I was in my lesson plans. So how do I feel going into tomorrow? No more tears, that's for sure! And I know my mom is proud of me, just the way I am.
At the bottom of this blog I have posted a slideshow of photos from Whitney's first day of 1st grade. I hope you enjoy!
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