Big God

It's been really neat this year to go about discussions a little differently.  I guess I've been thinking about how I am with these kids for 7 hours a day (more than some of the parents) and how God would want me to teach them in the way of Lord.  This is tricky of course because I'm not allowed to bring up God, Jesus or faith.  I don't think this has to completely close the door though because they are allowed to talk about it if a student brings it up... 

I have a series of Big Books about science.  Some are about how plants and animals grow, some are about recycling, some are about life cycles.  When we talked the other day about the life cycle of a butterfly, I mentioned how it's so cool that no one taught the butterfly how to be an egg, form into a caterpillar, create a chrysalis, and bust out a butterfly!  It was just created that way to do that specific purpose.  If I act really excited about those things, then they get even more excited!  They have an  amazing sense of wonder.  I regularly  talk about things like how awesome it is that flowers  weren't taught how to break through their seed or push through the dirt, or bees weren't taught how to pollinate, or that the Earth is only 1 of trillions of other planets, they were just created that way!  Usually a student will say that God created it to do that.  Then I just smile and sit back while they finish their little discussion about God without me saying a word.  Yesterday in learning about space, the students thought it was so cool that if Earth were a little closer or farther away from the sun, there would be no life on Earth.  They also found it interesting that that little Earth in the picture is just one of trillions(?) of other planets and other solar systems.  At the end of the lesson, Noah said, "Wow, He's a really big God!"  The 5 year olds get it.  Most adults don't...  So strange.  I've learned a lot this year about appreciating (or even noticing) little things in nature from this group of kids.  We could all take a lesson on being appreciative of God and his creation from these Kindergarteners!

Green Beans in the Living Room

This Spring, Josh and I decided to plant a garden.  You may be wondering how we'll do this in an apartment.  Well, we saw an add for $10 plots in the community garden right around the corner from us!  So we went to the store to get seeds and starter plants for our garden (that we hadn't purchased yet...).  Our second stop was at the community center to buy a plot for the summer.  Unfortunately this was in early April and we weren't allowed to plan until they had designated the plots this week.  Therefore, we have green beans (rather large climbing plants!), squash, broccoli, carrots, spinach, lettuce, cilantro, basil,  parsley, rosemary and corn growing in our living room.  It's quite embarrassing when people come over.  At first we tried moving all the planters into the bedroom when people came but it was too much moving around, so we just leave them out for visitors.  Definitely a conversation piece!  Last weekend we tilled up the garden (by shovel and rake!) and we're hoping to plant them this weekend.  We weren't exactly sure how much to plant in a 10x10 plot so we did a little of everything.  Maybe we should have researched some more before jumping into all of this!  Anyway, I think we're going to have a ton of produce!!  Let me know if you want any! :)

Hollanders

These are some pictures from our mini-trip to Holland, MI!  Details to come later :)

The Future Cowboy

The other day I was trying to inspire the kids to want to read and see a bigger purpose in reading.  I was trying to explain that they need to read in everyday life.  We started talking about the different jobs that they wanted to have when they grow up.  Some students wanted to be a firefighter, so I explained that they would need to be able to read the street signs when they drive the fire truck.   Some people wanted to be a cashier, so I explained that they would need to read the receipts.  Some students wanted to be a teacher, so I explained that they would need to read books to the children.  I was feeling quite proud that I'd gotten around to almost all the class and found a purpose for reading for every job.  Then...I had to get extremely creative.

Me:  "What would you like to be when you grow up?"
Student:  "A COWBOY!!!"
Me:  "Hmmmmmmm (hahahaha)  well..............cowboys ride horses, so I guess you'd have to read a book about how to train a horse!

A bit far fetched on that one!

Missing Chunk of Hair

The other day I was at the round table with a small group of kids reading.  The rest of the class were around the room at centers.  I should have known not to let the kids work independently with scissors....

So, after the first rotation of centers, one of the girls shrieked, "He cut his hair!"  I thought she was exaggerating, so I thought that I would take care of it after centers were finished.  Well, I forgot.  Until...we went to library and the librarian said, "Oh my, did you cut your own hair!?"  I looked more closely and sure enough, a chunk of his hair in the front was missing!  Oh no!  What would the parents think??

Unfortunately, spring picture day was the next day!  Hahaha his parents were genius and spiked his hair with gel and you couldn't even see the short spot!  We talked about it at conferences and they informed me that it was not the first time that this had happened!! :)

I found out I get to keep my job next year!  Same grade and same school!  Yay!  I'm already starting to plan out some of the things I will do differently next year.  Hard to believe there are only a couple more months of the school year!  I am looking for a summer job.  Hopefully I will be able to babysit for a family full time.  Alright, off to take a Sunday afternoon nap! :)

The Stingray on my Porch

The other day in my class, we were talking about birds and nests.  One kid said that one day a bird built it's nest in the tree by their front porch.  The next thing ya know, one of the other kids said, "Oh, one time there was a stingray on my front porch!!"   Hahaha, I said, "Are you sure it was a stingray because stingrays live in the ocean."  All he said was, "Ohh....."  Haha, I caught him fibbing ;)  These days we're trying to distinguish the made up stories from real stories.  Ties right into fiction vs. non-fiction!  :)

I am constantly reminded of Danny and his kids when my students complain.  Danny teaches his kids about the verse that says, "Do everything without grumbling or complaining."  I'm tempted to use that verse in the classroom!  Lots of complainers these days when they don't get their way.  I kindly remind that sometimes we have to do things we don't like to do.  They were amazed that even I have to do things I don't like to do.  We can still choose to have a good attitude.  We're still practicing our good attitudes! ;)

The Winter That Never Ends

Well the snow was nice for the wedding, but that was almost 2 months ago and I'm about done with it!  I never remember a winter being this harsh!  We've missed 6 days of school (which is kind of nice)!  Even though it's been a harsh winter, life is good! :)  Married life is fun!  We've figured a lot out already and I can't wait to learn more about each other.  It's been fun to hang out with married couples at church now (doesn't that make us sound old?).  Right now we're doing a kickboxing class at church and it is kicking us!  We were both sore this morning!

Things are going extremely well at school!  My kids are learning so fast these days.  They all know how to read now and are starting to write sentences.  Kindergarten is the most rewarding job in the world!  Everyday I go home excited because another student learned something cool that day.  I thought I'd share this poem with you.  It was passed down from Sylvia to my mom and then to me.  VERY true:

Winter Boots
Did you hear about the teacher who was helping one of her
pupils put on his boots?
He asked for help and she could see why.
Even with her pulling, and him pushing,
the little boots still didn't want to go on.
By the time they got the second boot on, she had worked up a sweat.
She almost cried when the little boy said,
 'Teacher, they're on the wrong feet.'
She looked, and sure enough, they were.
Unfortunately, it wasn't any easier pulling the boots off,than it was putting them on.
She managed to keep her cool as, together, they worked to get the boots back on,this time on the correct feet.He then announced, 'These aren't my boots.'
She bit her tongue, rather than get right in his face and
scream, 'Why didn't you say so?'
like she wanted to.
Once again, she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting
boots off his little feet.
No sooner had they got the boots off when he said,
'They're my brother's boots. But my Mom made me wear 'em today.'
Now she didn't know if she should laugh or cry.
But she mustered up what grace and courage she had left to
wrestle the boots BACK onto his feet again.
Helping him into his coat, she asked,
'Now, where are your mittens?'
He said, 'I stuffed 'em in the toes of my boots.'
She'll be eligible for parole in three years.

Haha, this is what I do everyday!