Monday Gathering

Today was the gathering that Ben has been looking forward to! Not only did he have a part in his class' presentation, but he was also recognized for his birthday coming up on Thursday and the whole school sang "Happy Birthday" to him. He did a great job speaking....even had his part memorized and was very "theatrical" about it!

Man, Do I Feel OLD!

Tonight we visited Richland Northeast HIGH SCHOOL with Clay as we begin thinking about next year. I felt like we were looking at colleges! These high schools are so much different than what we were used to in the upstate. We visited three programs at RNE (there are a total of four). The first was PCA (Palmetto Center for the Arts) as Clay was considering auditioning in theatre. It was amazing what they do with the students in visual, literary, and performance arts. The second was a double session with the CavPlex program -- an all media/journalism related program. The students are exposed to print, computer and TV media and have a state-of-the-art news studio (that as of yesterday includes a green screen set up!) If I'd had an opportunity like this one, I would definitely NOT be a teach today....I would have pursued my interest in journalism. The final was an academic magnet, Horizons, that is absolutely top-notch. The students we met in it are all applying, accepted and receiving big scholarships to the top schools in our country.

The whole thing was very impressive. I leaned over to Ron and whispered, "If we'd only had these kinds of opportunities in high school...." He totally agreed. Now, Clay has applications to fill out and interviews to do. Final decisions will be made and posted after April 1!

As for me, I can't believe I have a child going to high school in slightly over six months....when did I get so old?!??!

Another Christmas Party

The school had a party tonight and it was nice to be able to share dinner with

Stephanie and Rick (who were invited),

Mary and Cam (Mary teaches with us)

and Becky (our Art/Spanish teacher).

Me and Stephanie

Polar Express Day

Four years ago when I was teaching 2nd grade we held a "Polar Express" Day at school and I bought a new pair of pjs just for the occasion. The next year I moved to a new school and "took" PE day with me. Ben was also at my school that year so, we both bought new pjs and again last year, new pjs for both of us for PE day. Well, this year, yet again I found myself at a new school and again I brought PE day with me. Over the weekend I went out and bought Ben and I our annual pajamas and today was finally the big day and we got to wear them with our slippers to school!

Mr. Chris played conductor and checked tickets before reading the story to our students. Afterwards, parents served us hot chocolate and cookies! Less you think we did nothing today, we did do math and reading....all Polar Express related of course! We ended the school day by gathering as a group to watch the movie. Too bad this wasn't the last day before break....it was pretty hard to beat!

Colonial Christmas and Crafts!

Today we took the upper elementary students to the Lexington County Museum....it was FABULOUS! I can't wait to go back and really explore as we did two programs (which were free for our classes courtesy of the Lexington-Richland Cultural Council!) and only saw two of the houses. I am so amazed by the vast cultural and historical offerings in the Midlands....it is heaven for a history-buff! :)


Our first program visited a 1770s era cabin (which was the size of my living room and housed a family of 18...talk about crowded spaces!) where we saw every day items they would have used, games they would have played, how they made clothes and then we made our own candles!

my candle......

The second program took us into the John Fox house from 1832. This was the Christmas program so we looked at the traditional (and natural) decorations that would have been used in that time period and then we actually went and MADE our own decorations! We made popcorn strands and apple/clove pompadors (?) for the tree at school, a gum-drop tree and cinnamon stick and clay ornaments for our own trees.


This was a wonderful field experience for the students and teachers!

Sunday of Awards!

Our school's director received a call on Thursday that I had been selected as the VFW Post 4262 Teacher of the Year! This is to recognize excellence in teaching --- particularly citizenship and US history. They invited us to an "awarding" for today and Ron, the boys and I met Victoria and her son, Natondi there. After a terrific meal (chicken, ham, mac and cheese, corn, green beans.....some good ole country cooking!), I was presented with a check by the Post. $$ = YEA!! The post folks were very nice and I turned in a scrapbook for the district judging, which was taking place today. (In the photo I am pictured with the Post Commander and Post President)

Then this evening, we joined Ben's soccer team for the fall banquet at a local pizza place where he received his trophy for the season.

It was quite a day for us!

Book Fair Week

Our school is having a book fair right now and this week had several special days for it. On Monday was hat day, Tuesday was breakfast with family, Wednesday was character dress up, Thursday was lunch with family and Friday was "spirit" day. I didn't manage to get a picture of me and Ben on spirit day, we matched in our Carolina jerseys, but we did get a dress-up day picture before school. Just in case you are wondering, Ben is Jack from the Magic Treehouse series and I am Fern from "Charlotte's Web".

Public Schools - A+ Education!

This past week was American Education Week. Bet you didn't know that unless you are an educator! The celebration this year was on public school education.

Everyone has their own choice and right to choose the education setting for their child - public, private or home-schooled and I know that sometimes one choice is the only option for special reasons, but I get so tired of hearing how terrible our public schools are --- kids don't behave, teachers don't behave, test scores are low, students aren't getting enough, students are getting too much....I hear it all! I have met teachers who don't need to be in the classroom, but I have also met teachers whose classrooms are their lives! I believe we need more public school choice for our students (keep going, Jim Rex!), but I believe we need to quit knocking what we already have at the same time, while we are working on this improvement. No wonder teachers leave the career......they are expected to be an expert, a teacher, a parent, a counselor, a nurse, a verbal/mental punching bag and a million other things all rolled into one human being. Our teachers are often doing the best they can with what they have --- lack of parental support, limited funding, etc. Now that I have ranted, I want to show the good that can and DOES go on in our public schools (at our school!)

Our students, parents, faculty and friends:

• raised a total over $600 in donations and registrations for Walk for Life, a local cancer research event! About 10 people actually walked!
• raised $80 for Harvest Hope Food Bank to purchase Thanksgiving turkeys for the needy!
• brought in 631 (our school only has about 100 students!!!!) canned goods and non-perishable items for donation to Harvest Hope Food Bank!
• are volunteering over the next couple of weeks at Harvest Hope Food Bank!
• start a coat drive the week after Thanksgiving for Palmetto Place, a temporary sheleter for children!
• hosted 5 veterans to come in and talk with us for "Take a Vet" to school day and created a "Veteran Memorial Wall" to recognize our school family veterans!
• will participate in and sponsor a Flag Retirement Ceremony with a local scout troop after Thanksgiving. Several unservicable flags have been donated for retirement!
• have taken or will be taking shortly field experiences to plays, the Fire Department, the zoo (in conjunction with their education department), a pumpkin patch, Harvest Hope Food Bank (to volunteer!), and a Colonial-Era activities museum!
• created a BEAUTIFUL (see October posts for pictures) sculpture to display during HalloWonka at EdVenture Children's Museum!

Isn't that amazing???! And, we are barely half-way through the school year!

So, even though our schools need work, I hope that we'll quit focusing on the negative and start looking for the good.....the really good.....the GREAT! Every week my students and I end our week by reading a Cynthia Rylant book "The Wonderful Happens" and then we discuss the wonderful that DID happen in our class. It is my hope that we all read this book and find out what the wonderful is happening at our children's school or at our local school. I promise you will find WONDERFUL things going on!

Happy "AMERICAN EDUCATION WEEK"!!

Ben's Gathering Again

This week was Ben's class' gathering week for Monday morning and Friday afternoon. I missed Monday because I was away at a conference, but was able to see Ben present his "angle house" --- a lego (of course!)house that showed obtuse, right and acute angles. He did a wonderful job presenting AND building!

Finally Fall, Maybe?!?

With it being Halloween and not wanting to compete with candy and costumes, I planned some "different" activities for my students today. The main portion was going on a "Haiku Hike" around the school. We hiked, observed nature, wrote notes and then used those to write haiku about our hike. (Haiku is a Japanese poetry that uses the form of three lines, 5 syllables in the first and third lines, 7 in the second line....just in case you didn't know.)

It was nice to see a few trees turning colors and falling to the ground. The downside, yesterday was actually cool. Today, we were sweating while we hiked! Crazy weather is all I can say.

(We also read two books Haiku Hike, written by 4th graders about their own haiku hike and Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, which we used to do math. And, finished off our day with a candy-themed science experiment.....we used sprite, club soda and vinegar to see which would disolve Laffy Taffy first and then we are also seeing what color of Laffy Taffy will disolve first in the liquid for the first one....you'll have to message me with a guess to find out which one works fastest --- Sprite, Club Soda or Vinegar!)

Taking the Kids to the Zoo

It rained yesterday. And, we took a field experience (like a field trip from our day) to the Riverbanks Zoo. It was cold, it was wet, but it was really fun. We had a great time traipsing through puddles to see the animals, who by the way were out and loving the rain, and attending education sessions. The day only brought one little problem...which I will blog about seperately.

I can't post of my pictures on here because of the students in them, but I thought I'd share a few of my favorites. Picture 1: the gorillas got into a fist fight while we were watching! The kids LOVED it! Picture 2: My favorites....the lions!

This was trip 2 to the zoo this week. Trip 3 will either be tonight or tomorrow night.

HalloWonka is Coming!

Next week is HalloWonka at EdVenture and we can't wait!! Ben and I are going on Monday morning (at 4:30 AM!!) for Live with Lucas and then back on Tuesday night for Preview Party (Clay is working at it on Tuesday and Thursday) and then, since I'm on the HalloWonka Committee, I have to work on Thursday night.

In addition to all of next week's fun, Wonka donates candy for schools to create themed sculptures (made entirely of Wonka candy). This year's theme was "Animal Fun" and THANK YOU to our art teacher who helped the students fine-tune their idea, build the paper mache structure and the animals. It arrived in our room Tuesday and we spent time gluing the candy on and finishing it up. I have many, many burns on my fingers from the hot glue gun and everything in my room is covered in glue, but I had a great time working on this with my students. Becky, our art teacher, came to pick it up today to take it to EdVenture and she was almost in tears because she couldn't believe how great it looked! She kept telling me how beautiful she thought it was!And, I must say that I think it turned out really beautiful!! Keep your fingers crossed the judges think so, too and we win! (We find out next Thursday night!)

Do I Look Like Dr. Doolittle?!?!

For some reason everyone wants to give me animals anymore. Somehow why I was out this week I acquired a new pet.....a little black and white bunny, that actually looks like Maggie. Its really sweet, and I love Maggie, Dobby and Matilda (in that order), but I'm not sure about this at all. Luckily while I was still out the bunny arrived, all the kids loved it and it has sort of migrated to our gathering area. Where I, for one, am hoping it will stay!?!?! Go figure, though, I picked her up today and she just lay in my arms and let me pet her. She felt just like Maggie and kept looking at me with those big, stinkin' bunny eyes....just like a baby....never hold it.

Also while I was out someone suggested a "contest" for the students to name the bunny. I voted today that if I have to take responsibility, then I get naming rights......her (at least we think its a her) name will be "Carolina", after the school and the team.

Another Friday Feast

Every couple of months we are encouraged to have a "family feast" in our classrooms. Today my class had our first feast and we had a great time, though I couldn't really talk to anyone. Luckily one of my moms and dads were the "mouthpieces" passing out directives.

It was made even sweeter because Ben's teacher allowed him to come and join us! He was so excited to get hot dogs, Doritos, Coke and Oreo Pie for lunch instead of the usual PB&J. And, of course, he thought he was special getting to sit with the Upper Elementary "boys".

Clay's Back

Clay got home last night about 9:00 from his field trip to Washington, DC. For once he took a ton of pictures! He had a great time visiting the White House grounds, the Holocaust Museum, all of the monuments, the Capitol Buidling, Smithsonian, the National Archives, Arlington and Mount Vernon (there might be others, but I can't remember everything!)

The funniest story of all, Clay and some of his friends kept getting "yelled at" (his words...which means probably means they just spoke to them) by security guards for sitting on the floor while waiting in buildings. One of them finally explained that they couldn't sit on the floors of government buildings because it is a sign of protest!

The only picutre with Clay in it (he and his friend, Colin on the bus ride to DC)

The Korean War Memorial was one of Clay's favorite things.

He also loved Arlington and wants to go back.

George's House

Clay called about 9:30 last night and they had arrived/checked in at their DC hotel after an eight or so hour drive and dinner at the Golden Corrall. (He's on a week long field trip to Washington, DC and left yesterday.)

Ron: "Seen anything historical yet?"
Clay: "I saw where George Bush lives."
Ron: "The White House, huh? What are ya'll doing tomorrow?"
Clay: "I don't know."

That's my boy! Always on top of things....yep, he's along for the ride, I guess! :)

He didn't talk long as I think he was tired, ready to hang out with his friends (he's rooming with his friend, Nick and four other boys, but Clay won the toss for the single bed!), and get ready for today's busy day. We can't wait to hear his update tonight. Hopefully, he'll call.

No Mom of the Year Award For Me This Year

Ben's class has been studying the Native American tribes of SC and this week he had a project due. One part of the project was to research and type up information, find/draw a picture and create a visual project. The first two went very well (Ben even finger-pecked the whole thing himself). And, he spent ALL week building this very detailed Indian (vs. Spanish??) village out of legos. It was gorgeous.

I meant to take a picture before we left home this morning, but forgot and didn't take the camera with me. I had Ben carry a few things for me when we got to school and I told him I would take the project so he wouldn't drop it. Well.......as I was closing the window to the back car, part (the most detailed part) of the lego village fell off onto the asphalt. (in all fairness there was slight design flaw that contributed to this and was corrected!) It was an explosion of legos in the school parking lot. After I kicked the car tire (and myself) we gathered up all of the legos and carried them to my room. By 8:15, Ben had rebuilt it. Not quite back to his beautiful satisfaction, but he was very pleased. I felt like dirt, however, all day long.

I truly didn't realize how creative of a child Ben is until this project. He's always saying he wants to be an architect. He loved doing this and took such careful care. That is why I was so devastated by my part in its demise. Look for pictures of it next week when I take my camera to school.

Ben's Friday Afternoon Gathering

I think I've already mentioned that every week one class at our school does the morning gathering on Monday and the afternoon gathering on Friday. Today was Ben's class' turn for the Friday afternoon and they did a great job telling about the things they are learning in Social Studies about the first americans.

I love this picture of Ben before the program.

Ben did a terrific job helping to introduce the program.

Manic Monday

Mondays are so rough! And, this one was doubly so! This morning was Muffin for Moms at school, Ben's first gathering (as a presenter), Ben's first day of Tae Kwon Do, my morning duty day, the gas tank was on empty and at 6:45 (as he and Clay were leaving) Ron realized that he didn't have a car!

On Friday night, Ben, Kristie and I had just picked Ron up from work for dinner and rode home together with the plan of picking his car up on Sunday afternoon. (We do this frequently on the weekends if we're going downtown on Friday night.) We forgot about it!!

So, we got gas, dropped Clay off at school and then Ron dropped off me and Ben and took my car to work. Mondays are also our "curriculum conversation" days and I don't leave school until after 5 so it worked out fine. Ron picked us up afterwards and we drove him back downtown to pick up his car before he headed off to a dinner meeting and Ben and I headed home. What a Monday!!

Ben and I made it in time for Muffins for Mom, sponsored by the Friends of CSI....dads served us muffins, fruit, and juice. Ben was so excited that we could have breakfast together like this.

Ben and his neighbor waiting for the gathering to begin. I just loved this picture of Ben.

Ben was so proud that he wrote his part himself!! Here he is waiting his turn (next...I missed the shot of him actually saying his part. I think I have almost officially worn out this camera...it is getting slower and slower at taking shots....guess I know what I'll be asking Santa for this year!)

Matilda

Meet Matilda! (No her head is not really as big as it looks in this picture!) One of my students and his mom brought (since I can't seem to part with Dobby from being a household member) a new hamster for our classroom last Friday. Matilda is a cute little hamster.....even though she and I didn't get off to the best of starts.

It started when one of the students dropped her...yes, dropped her. I picked her up to check on her and carried her around with me for a few minutes because she was shaking. A few minutes later we put her away and headed out to the gathering area to practice for our afternoon gathering show. One of my students remarked that I had spilled coffee or something (yea...something) on my shirt. Now, I happen to be wearing my wicking USC shirt. (And, let me just say it wicks liquids REAL well.) It takes me a couple of minutes and I realize that I didn't spill coffee or anything on my shirt....Matilda had wet my shirt!!!!! Luckily, our Friends President was there and she got me a school shirt to change into. Needless to say it was funny!

Matilda is much more active than Dobby. She loves to run in her wheel and she's actually awake for a good portion of each day. This one will only be coming home when absolutely necessary and she WILL be returning to school! :)