Mimi Day Camp with Toots

I have the joy of keeping my granddaughter, Toots, this summer while we are both on vacation. She has termed the arrangement as Mimi Day Camp. Each day we attempt to do something new, something fun. Well, as we were playing outside yesterday afternoon, Toots suggested that we play school, and she would be the teacher. Instantly, her sweet little voice boomed with control as she commanded the attention of the class and barked out the instuctions for me to follow. Do we really sound like that as teachers??? I half expected the neighbor to drop his pool tool and fall into submission. Even the cat stood at attention, not moving a muscle. She gave me a choice of chalk color, told me where to write, and what to write. She patiently waited for me to complete each task before assigning a new one. She is a natural but I'm not sure I want to be in her classroom again tomorrow, or I will be counting the days until school is out.

Don't Stop Reading!

My fourth graders urge me to read to them every day. So I oblige. But the 15 minutes can be extended when the action of the book whips the students into a frenzy, causing them to beg for more from the book. I love it when the students are so into a book, so desperate to know more that they beg for more. As I finished the book Dear Mr. Henshaw the class wanted more and couldn't believe that the book was completed. They wanted Leigh's parents to remarry and "live happily ever after." Students began relating their stories about how they had not seen their dad for two weeks, two months, or since age 2. The mood in the room became very somber, and one young man burst into tears. He was missing his dad. How powerful words can be. How important books are in the lives of all of us. However, I think I will choose a more light-hearted book for the next reading.

Politics and Crackers

I went to my first cracker barrel session today. Wasn't quite sure what to anticipate. Didn't see a barrel except around the waists of several older gentlemen. Heard a lot of banter, a lot of posturing, little truth. And I couldn't find any crackers any where.

School Play Day

My granddaughter, Toots, and I spent a snow day playing school. We filled out her extra school agenda with the activities planned for the school day, complete with centers and snacks. I loved it when she played her DS at "recess". She loved it when we ate our school lunches on REAL school lunch trays. One of the centers was crafts where she tied the yarn on 4 of the quilts we are making for an orphanage in the Philippines. When she asked to watch cartoons, I reminded her that would happen when she arrived home from school. It was an excellent day of play and learning. If only real school were as much fun!

Reflections of the Year Past and Resolutions of the Year Present

Ok, so the title is not original, but I'm tired and can't think. It seems as if 2010 has zoomed past me and at times dragged me along with it. I had many deadlines to meet, goals to accomplish, work to be done, and on and on. I guess it would behoove me to make a list of those things accomplished for my own sake, for motivation to do even more in 2011. So here goes in no particular order:

• Babysat my granddaughter on our days off from school, including most of the summer. We had lots of fun, learned a lot, and enjoyed our time.
• Welcomed a new grandson into the world. He is so cute. He loves to stick out his tongue, and he is only 8 months old. Looking forward to many new adventures.
• Enjoyed time with our step-grandsons (I hate that word step!) playing, eating, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, watching football, and just spending time together.
• Enjoyed time with my three children, their mates, and grandchildren, but always wishing it were more time.
• With a great group of people, we sewed and shipped 1001 diapers for the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission. This is the most we have ever done. PTL
• Went on a mission trip to South Dakota to help build the addition to their church. In just 3 1/2 days the project went from a hole in the ground to complete roof.
• Went on a mission trip to Honduras where Lorraine and I helped with their sewing program. I took oversized and unwanted clothes and showed them how to make backpacks, bags, skirts from jeans, save items from the clothes and much more. I was so thrilled to be doing mission work in my area of skill.
• Worked Vacation Bible School which is always a fun activity to be with the children.
• Continued with Beginner Bible Bowl kids at our monthly competitions and the Nationals. The young ones keep you hopping and all was good!
• Attended the National Missionary Convention to renew our desire to work in missions, pick up new ideas, and make new contacts. It's better than a family reunion.
• Accepted the challenge and read through the Bible in one year along with 80+ others from our church.
• Continued with our small group for the third year. As a group we sent Children's Spanish Bibles to a project in Honduras, sold Christmas wreaths for project money, worked at SOS in town, sponsored a child for the year, and purchased Christmas for an extended family. We love getting together and especially eating.
• Finished agonizing physical therapy on my hip, and had a root canal. Yippee!
• Continued with our Sign Language Interpreters at church.
• Became Marty's nurse after he had shoulder surgery. I was creative on ways to make his recovery easier such as elastic bands to hold his phone and TV remote while he recovered in his recliner.
• Continued to serve on the Missions Team, collect food for the CARES program, and substitute at the Senior Dinners.
• Attended the graduation, honors dinner, and parties for my nephew, Kyle, who graduated second in his class. Way to go, Kyle!!
• Continued another year as teacher of fourth graders. I have a great class this year:)
• Celebrated 60 years of life and 38 years of marriage to my life partner, Marty. Looking forward to many more years of life and marriage.

As I have listed these accomplishments, it has been cathartic as well as encouraging to me. I see that I need to get busy on a whole new list of things to accomplish in the year 2011. God, I'm ready to serve.

Snow Day: What Should I do?

I have a bonus day today--no school due to the snow and ice. I brought home lots of school work that I can do today, on my own computer, with the larger monitor. I should be able to accomplish a lot. But I have also volunteered to keep my granddaughter so that her parents can work. If Toots comes, we will need to do some fun things like baking several kinds of cookies, maybe make a cheese ball with crackers, make a pot of soup, make Christmas ornaments, read, do the Wii games, watch cartoons, and just enjoy one another's company. I can always do the school work later. Too bad she would tell or we could wrap Christmas presents.

Cover That Sneeze, Please!

I have IT, between my sneezing and coughing, blowing my nose, feeling miserable--I'm so sick I am not going to school. That is big. I usually tough it out and go. Glad I am contagious and have to stay home. I don't have a couch or bed in my room from which I could teach. I got this from several in my class. We try to do the Count Dracula covering of the sneeze, but it doesn't always happen. I know I will get better, some day in the future. My voice is lower every day. I've matched it to notes on the piano. Today I am two octaves below middle C. I just realized that there is only one more octave and two other notes to the end of the piano! Surely my voice would never go that low.

Your Shirt Talks

I was daring yesterday. I was bold. I could have been reprimanded. But I did it any way. I wore a shirt with a Christian message on it to school. The shirt even said the name of a very important person. I figured that since the students were wearing shirts covered in skulls, my shirt would be acceptable. And it was.

The Highly Anticipated/Dreaded Fall Party

As I arrived at school yesterday, I noticed that the children were a little more alive/out of control. I thought it was because of the Fall Party scheduled for later in the day. As we began class, I asked who had been trick or treating so far? About half of the class raised their hands. Then I asked who had eaten candy? About five admitted to eating candy for breakfast. No wonder they were so hyped. The day zoomed by quickly and their activities and volume escalated to a feverish pitch. At the time I could stand it no more, the party was ready to begin with parents AND siblings. At least half of the children brought something to share, so their plates were overflowing with iced cookies, candy, gum, and SUGAR. There were colored sprinkles all over the new carpet along with green punch spilled. I had to resort to blowing the whistle, literally, when it was time to clean up so that they could hear me over the noise. After the third blow they calmed to a low roar and began stuffing leftover candy, cookies and toys in their bags and prepared to go home. I knew that their parents would be so proud of them and their behavior as they arrived home for the evening. And I did not contribute one bite of sugar.

It's in the Jean Bags

The new desks at school are not quite big enough for all the books and library books of my students. Too often, books were piled on the desks or on the floor. I decided to try something to hold their books. I took old jeans, cut off the legs, and sewed in a bottom. Then using zip ties, I was able to attach the bags to the sides of the desks. It took me about a week sew all of them, but it was worth it. The kids love their jean bags. One boy had all of his desk in the bag. I had to urge him to return some of the books to his desk.

Busy, Busy, Tiring, Successful Week

You would think that week four of school would be easy, but it was not. Seems like we do not have a spare moment. I have even been teaching during our bathroom wait. (For those who don't know, we have one set of bathrooms for almost 300 kids. So we spend a lot of time standing in line, waiting our turn.) Some of the students are ready to be in school and ready to learn. While others will take a little while to join us. (Hope it is soon!)

I had one of my students invite me to church with him this week. That was rather special. He knows that I am a Christian, and he felt comfortable enough to invite me. I already had something at my church, but I told him that I would go with him sometime. A classmate overheard our conversation and asked what church and where. He wants to come. So the first boy wrote out the information for him. The sun is rising.

Mrs. S, This Is Your Child's Teacher

Well, Toots, my granddaughter, made it 11 days in kindergarten before a call from her teacher. Seems Toots's scissors found their way into another girl's hair. And when the teacher explains the assignment, someone bosses the children around to tell them how to do the work. Hmmmm. Who could that someone be? Teacher asked what works for punishment. Parents answered, "If you find something, let us know." That would be funny, but it is the truth. Toots has so much to learn about life and how to live it harmoniously.

Not Another Gift To Open?

I am so tired, I can hardly type. All week I have been unpacking boxes at school and putting the stuff away along with teaching my students. With the remodeling, our school is now twice as large, and just getting any where is a hike. My old bones and arthritic joints are feeling it on those stairs both up and down ten times a day. But who's counting! I've made it to Friday and I have 5 boxes left to open. Maybe I can delay and pretend it is Christmas. I haven't missed what is in them yet. By then I will really be surprised!!

May I Be Excused?

I heard that the bathrooms are not completed in my school. I wonder if they will be green like those at a school in Honduras. I wonder if they will be large enough like the other one in Honduras. As it stands, both Honduran bathrooms are better than what we have. LOL

Prayers for the School

I had the opportunity to attend a prayer meeting for our Christian school last night. There must have been 25 or 30 people who attended. Divided into 2 groups, we went into each classroom and prayed specifically for the teachers, children, and the success of all. I was honored to be able to so. Wish we could do the same for our public schools, especially mine.

School, The Ultimate Mission Trip

I'm sitting here with mixed emotions--school is about ready to begin for another year. I have had an awesome summer with the following:

• mission trip to South Dakota to help build an addition to the church on an Indian reservation
• National Beginner Bible Bowl tournament in Cincy with our 4 awesome players
• a week of Vacation Bible School
• mission trip to Honduras to teach sewing to the ladies
• sewing 254 diapers for the mission in Haiti with a large team of workers
• babysitting my granddaughter

I need to change my thinking and my focus about school. Instead of dreading it, I need to consider it another mission trip, another opportunity to witness and nurture the children and staff. That's what I will do:) No funds are needed, just prayer that I am the best ambassador I can be to all who see.

My Homework Is NOT Done!

This summer I had planned to get a lot of things organized for school and do some planning. Well, school starts in 15 days, and I have little done. I have this sickening feeling in my stomach that the teacher is going to be mad at me and that I will receive a bad grade. And the bad thing is, I'M THAT TEACHER. Maybe I will get some of it done this week. Maybe.

We Have Homework!

It's time to get serious. I mean, I brought home all this work to do over the summer for school, and all I have done is move the stuff around. After all, my dining room table is loaded down and is surrounded by boxes of important stuff. Today is the day. The other fourth grade teacher, Becky, and I are going to get busy with the math standards. Yes, we are going to do school work during our summer off. Yes, we are going to be productive starting today, this morning, this summer. Does it sound like I am trying to convince myself to get started, to actually work? If I hadn't already invited Becky over to work, I would not do anything on it today. Thanks, Becky, for making me be productive even though I could scream and don't want to do anything. But then I need to remember how blessed we are in the states. It could be like the schools in Honduras. They are thankful also.

If I taught there, I wouldn't have to worry about academic standards or current math books or computer programs. I would only worry about traveling an hour and a half up the mountain on boulders and washouts for the road, teach 50 students in the morning and another 50 in the afternoon. Then travel back down the mountain.

More Honduran School News.

While visiting the school in Honduras, I took some shots of the "centers" developed by the teacher for the students' use. The pictures are of Science and Math centers. All of the centers were perched on a narrow shelf across the back of the room with each clearly labeled. I marveled at them. From the items contained within each, I assume the teacher had to find/buy his own. But I should not judge what it takes to instruct the children. I know that my students would be so bored with the items while the Honduran children are so blessed.

Time For School in Honduras

We have so much! When I boxed up my room to make way for the renovations of our building, I had over 70 large boxes of books and supplies. I dread having to unbox and shelve all my stuff when we finally get into our upgraded school buildings. But check out these photos of a school in Honduras. And two bathrooms were sufficient for the whole school.