Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Report Cards


Three times a year, we teachers hunker down, furiously marking and assessing to have something worthwhile to tell parents about how well (or not so well) their lovely cherubs are fairing at school. The comment section of the report cards are the most time consuming, where for each child I average about 300 words...a small essay. It's amazing how many ways a teacher can disguise negative behaviours into a more positive comment. The language is just rolling of my tongue this week...

For aggressive fighter child: Name has been working on displaying increasing amounts of self control when interacting with peers and solving problems with words only.

For child who is always centre of attention: Name is learning to listen more actively
and respectfully when others are speaking. He is learning to raise his hand when he has something to share.

For child who is completely clueless: Name is encouraged to be more aware of the world around her and to increase her general knowledge.

Sometimes what I really want to say is...

Name is an active child who just cannot keep his fingers out of his nose. He is unable to sit still for even a minute and I am not sure that he is physically able to raise his hand when he would like to speak. He cannot read to save his dear life and his penmanship is absolutely atrocious. What is the point of lined paper I ask?

On that note...back to my reports. Thanks for the vent.


Sunday, November 23, 2008

Operation Shoebox


Over the past two weeks, we (my students and I) planned, purchased and packed Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to send to children in less fortunate countries. It's always awesome to see how much the kids get into it and many used their own allowance, birthday money or did chores around the house to earn some change.

One group of girls brought seeds (for the children to grow their own food) and a water bottle, so they can water the seeds.



Toys, treats, and trinkets were packed and re-packed into their boxes.

Cutting the appropriate labels for our boxes. Gift for a GIRL or BOY?


Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Field Trip Day


Took the kids to gymnastics today and got to take loads of photos of them...
walking the line,

balancing and...

bouncing.

My biggest complaint/nightmare of the trip: these BOOSTER SEATS!
[Which each child needed in order to ride in a car and had to be collected this morning as their parents dropped them off]

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Saturday in Seattle to Scrapbook and See Starfield


On Friday morning, The Husband and I threw out the idea of heading to Seattle that afternoon as we knew that there was a scrapbook convention (yes, I am a craft geek.. you should have seen the look the border/customs officer gave us) and Christian Musicians Summit (for him) happening this weekend.

The Husband, Pricelined a Bellevue hotel on a whim (unbeknownst to me) and we ended up at the swanky Hyatt Regency for $77 that evening!!!


I spent my afternoon taking scrappy classes and wandering through the many displays and booths selling all things crafty. A craft-geek's dream come true!


Selecting mini chipboard albums to create as Christmas gifts. (For you crafty people, these 7Gypsies supplies were $1-$2.)



After my crafty afternoon, we headed to see Starfield and a number of amazing worship composers/leaders perform. By the time we started making the 2.5 hour return trip home, it was well past midnight. But, oh so worth it!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Thankful Thursday


I'm feeling especially thankful today.

I'm grateful for...

1. The one of a kind appearance made by the usually elusive sun.

2. Especially cooperative and easy to love students all week.

3. The opportunity to plan and fill some Operation Christmas Child boxes with my Grade Two's.

4. The Husband - who willingly takes an equal share of the cooking and cleaning.

5. Receiving good news from good friends - Congrats BFF and DH on the impending arrival! I'm so excited!!!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

FaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaLaaa


I love Christmas. I couldn't wait! Guess what went up today?





Monday, November 10, 2008

Lest We Forget


Today at school we honoured the many men and women who died fighting for freedom and peace. We read, discussed, wrote and drew about what peace means and how we can each make the world more peaceful. At one point today, I asked the kids what they thought peace meant.

Their answers:

"Peace is..."
-calm and quiet
-relaxing
-freedom
-no wars
-no fighting
-taking care of one another
-the little, round, green vegetable
...I kid you not!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

"Why Won't It Float?"

Buoyancy Lesson = Boat Building

Each child got a big blob of plasticine and had to shape it in such a way that allowed it to float.



Hard at work prodding, poking and patching up holes.


Testing out creations in a tub of water...


Best part: Sweet but Naive Lil girl who ignores my constant hints and warnings, and spends the entire time flattening out a pink piece of the squishy stuff and making cute lil flowers all over it...She finally puts her flat as a pancake but exceptionally pretty "boat" into the water and is floored that her creation sinks like a stone.

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Small Town Saturday


Small Town Wanderings + Mexican Food + Stumbling onto Farmer's Market = Sweet Saturday