Portraits of the CSI teacher and Cicada

It's great to be back in the classroom! I think many teachers feel like I do... they enjoyed their summer time with their families, they hated to see it end (who wouldn't?), but at the same time, when they walked back into their classrooms those two weeks (or sooner for many teachers) before the kids returned, they probably felt a mix of mild anxiety and contained excitement. The anxiety level probably increased in the days just before the students returned, but then the first day arrived, and we felt the thrill of being a 'new' Teacher (to the students) once more.

I can't speak for all the teachers... but I hear what they say, I see it in their eyes, I feel it in the vibes they give off with their walk, their posture, their gestures, the look in their eyes. Yes, they're glad to be back in their classrooms.

The first things kids will see when they walk into my classroom is the top of a bookshelf on which I've placed some interesting things. A feather collection, the rock, a balancing eagle, and a bug barn. All things they can look at and touch if they want to.

                                    

The Chinese writing on the rock says Tau (pronounced Dow, like in Dow Jones)... The Way. I love the word, the symbol of its meaning. I can't remember where I found the rock (several years ago), but at the time, I was experiencing a spiritual change... I had finally accepted the most important Truth, which I had known all my life, but had forsaken as a young adult. I had found The Way to a new life through Jesus Christ. I learned of the Chinese character, and painted it on the rock... I keep it with me at all times... either in the classroom or at my home... as a reminder of who I am.

The little wooden box is a Bug Barn. It's a great place to put larger insects for a few hours so kids can view them. Lately, it has housed three cicadas (on separate days), but they were all in their last hours of life and laying upside down by the time I found them.

Today I saw my first group of Kindergarteners for this school year. I had found an activity on the internet that was sure to be a great icebreaker for them as well as giving me some valuable assessment (through observation).

Read the 'letter' I typed up for the parents. I wish I could find the link to the website where I found the idea. But here's my version of it below, with a very detailed drawing of ... me! I was impressed by the student's work... she even drew me standing on the stool. I was holding a T-square. Awesome! (btw, CSI stands for creative subject integration)

                                            

I took pictures of three of the renditions (colored pencil, btw). I thought the kids were very observant. The picture above shows me wearing my beaded lanyard... there are two very large blue glass beads on it... I'm thinking that's what the child was illustrating. And she has put glasses on me!

I like how this girl shows me in red hair. You don't know it yet, but I had highlights put in my hair, and low lights... a touch of auburn. I'll try to get a photo of the new me. One of the kids noticed how the T-square looked like a sword. I think this little artist agreed with that image.  Again, she included the stool!!

                                                     

Finally, the child who drew the picture below has drawn my other hand, complete with five fingers, and a simplified T-square grows from my left elbow. I seem to have lost my legs, unless those two yellow appendages are them. Then I must be footless. Bless her heart! She has drawn my lanyard as well.  

This activity went really well. I think I'll do it with each of the other five kindergarten classes.

                                           

Finally, a parting shot of one of the littlest visitors to my classroom. 

                                   

 

Tags: kindergarten art class, cicada

Back to school and The Prayer

Where do I begin? I returned to school officially Monday, and today is Wednesday. I am thrilled to be back in the classroom, but also a bit apprehensive as I consider the changes I want to implement in my instruction.

The big word in our school district this year is engage. The Mirriam Webster Online dictionary includes, among others, the following definitions for this word:

4 a: to provide occupation for : involve <engage him in a new project> b: to arrange to obtain the use or services of : hire <engage a lawyer>5 a: to hold the attention of : engross <her work engages her completely> b: to induce to participate <engaged the shy boy in conversation>

This year our teachers are going to be more engaging in the classroom! Including me. More about this later.

For now, I want to add this video of one of my favorite male singers... Josh Groban. Oh, and Celine's voice is beautiful as well. There are many folks to pray for out there, you know who they are. I know folks who are in the hospital, who work in hospitals, people who are called into dangerous work, or who work with people in the margins of our society ... these people need our prayers. Both the ones who do the work, and the ones who benefit from their efforts.

                                          

     "The Prayer"

I pray you'll be our eyes
And watch us where we go
And help us to be wise
In times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer
As we go our way
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your Grace
To a place where we'll be safe
La luce che tu dai

I pray we'll find your light
Nel cuore restera
And hold it in our hearts
A ricordarci che
When stars go out each night
L'eterna stella sei
Nella mia preghiera
Let this be our prayer
Quanta fede c'e
When shadows fill our day
Lead us to a place
Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we'll be safe.
Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza

Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza
Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino
Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai
We ask that life be kind
E'il desiderio che
And watch us from above
Ognuno trovi amore
We hope each soul will find
Intorno e dentro a se
Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer
Let this be our prayer
Just like every child
Just like every child

Needs to find a place,
Guide us with your grace
Give us faith so we'll be safe
E la fede che
Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera


[ www.azlyrics.com ]

I dedicate this post to River, and pray that he is safe as he ministers to the homeless people of Las Vegas.

 

Tags: The Prayer, Josh Groban, the homeless, engaging students

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We've Got the Power!

                                      

Back in March and April of this year, people from several local churches gathered together to begin working on a common summer outreach mission. It's called Vacation Bible School.

I had not experienced Vacation Bible School as a child... I grew up Catholic. I don't know if other Catholics ever attended VBS, but I didn't know what it was until about thirteen or so years ago when I became a VBS adult volunteer. I was 42 years old. Kind of old to be starting Vacation Bible School for the first time, but it's never too late.

I fell in love with the concept from the start. It's a fun way to introduce kids to Jesus, and to tell the stories about God's love for them, about their relationship with Jesus, and about God's relationship with them. At VBS, kids generally sing lots of praise and worship songs, make crafts, play games, and eat snacks... all the while hearing the rich stories about Jesus and his disciples, stories about the faithful, the struggles, the miracles, the tragedies and the joys of living in Christ.

                             

I attended those first few workshops back in the spring, helping to draw, cut, and paint the props we wanted to use as a background to help us tell our stories. The program we used this year was PowerLab (by Group).

                           

I was inspired by the vision and dedication shown by the people I met last spring. They were excited about the mission of VBS, displaying enthusiasm and purpose in all that they did. I was thrilled to be part of the team.

In the above photos, you can see us painting the beakers (cut from thick sheets of styrofoam)... and in the photo below, you can see the results of those early spring preparation sessions. I included them to give you some idea of the size of this set. These eight feet tall, twenty feet wide styrofoam laboratory shelves sit in our Fellowship Hall this week. They serve as a backdrop to emphasize how Jesus gives us power to be thankful, helpful, and brave.... to live for eternity, and to tell the Good News.

                            

Each night this week the kids sat in the foreground, or stood and danced and sang the songs right in this very room... each night they tossed balloons into the giant beaker. They look like giant blue and white bubbles. The balloons represented not only their attendance each night, but their answer to a question our pastor asked of them.

Our PowerLab VBS began Sunday, the 10th... it's been a great week!

                             

If you've ever wanted to volunteer for VBS, but was afraid to because you had never done it before, let me encourage you to get involved. There's nothing more satisfying, nor more important, than teaching children about God.

Tags: Group PowerLab, VBS, Vacation Bible School, Christian Education

Sweetly Broken

Sometimes you hear a song that really hits the mark of your heart. When I was a teenager, I remember I loved listening to a variety of rock, pop, and bubble gum music. I fell in love with the voice of Neil Diamond, then Barry Gibb (and his brothers) ... this was pre-disco days, folks. Think late sixties).

In college (early 70's), my tastes matured, and I followed Harry Chapin's ballads, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and Young, the Doors, and Neil Diamond. Yeah, I guess he was my first love ... his voice.

Later, after my son was born, I heard Pink Floyd and bought a few of their albums, which I played over and over again. Early nineties I woke up to the voice of Bono and U2... yes, Bono replaced Neil easily.

"With or Without You" was the song that captured my attention in the 1987/88. It was Bono's sultry voice, and the bass guitar that seemed to mesmerize me whenever the song came on the radio. I had wondered what Bono looked like. We didn't have cable or dish tv back then, so I had never seen the videos that went with music. Until a couple of years later while on vacation at the beach, MTV was on ... and I saw the video. I found a very sexy man behind that sexy Irish voice. Watch it and tell me it ain't so!

Over the years, Bono has proved to be more than rock star. His talents have extended into political and humanitarian activism... he has spearheaded efforts to bring awareness to AIDS in Africa as well as other Third World issues. You can read all about him here...

But that's not what I wanted to write about today. In fact, I didn't really want to write at all... I just wanted to play the following video over and over again... this voice is my new love, the voice of Jeremy Riddle. I can definitely see that U2 has influenced his music.

I don't know too much about Jeremy Riddle... in fact, it's very much like what happened when I first heard the music of Bono... I fell in love with the voice, the lyrics of his songs first. Today I decided to find out what Jeremy Riddle looks like... my goodness, he's just a boy! LOL!

There are two versions... the first one is a video someone made to go with the music. I think it's well done, the music is loud... turn it up! The second one shows Jeremy singing on stage, but the volume is too low. However, you can see what he looks like. As if it mattered!

                                                  

It's not his voice that really interests me as much as what he sings with his voice. The words to this song, Sweetly Broken, are below. I'll let the words of his song of worship and praise do the talking... er... singing.

Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle

To the cross I look, to the cross I cling

Of its suffering I do drink

Of its work I do sing



For on it my Savior both bruised and crushed

Showed that God is love

And God is just



Chorus:

At the cross You beckon me

You draw me gently to my knees, and I am

Lost for words, so lost in love,

I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered



What a priceless gift, undeserved life

Have I been given

Through Christ crucified



You’ve called me out of death

You’ve called me into life

And I was under Your wrath

Now through the cross I’m reconciled



Chorus


In awe of the cross I must confess

How wondrous Your redeeming love and

How great is Your faithfulness

[ Sweetly Broken Lyrics on http://www.lyricsmania.com/ ]

                              

 

There's nothing more to be added. Except maybe 'Amen'.

 

 

 

Tags: Jeremy Riddle, Sweetly Broken

Spontaneity and J-Land Photo Shoot

                                                        

Today marks my third year blogging here at aol journals! YEAY!

I'm linking this entry to the JLand Photo Shoot because I wanted the photos to be part of the photo shoot event. I call these photos "Sunrise at Carolina"... and there's a video to boot! If you would like to participate in the JLand Photo Shoot, click on the above link for details.

                             

Wednesday morning my husband and I had a moment of spontaneity. It was about 10 a.m.

After his first cup of coffee, I saw him step outside onto the front deck. That's his favorite thinking spot. He loves being outside on a beautiful day, and it was such a day. He leaned back into the old wooden chair, his eyes scanning the yard.

He had the next three days off, and we'd made no plans. I asked him what he wanted to do with his time off... he said he didn't know. Sometimes that's his answer when he doesn't really care. It's like a stall answer, saying nothing, remaining uncommitted.

But it was the way he said it that made me think that he really was wanting to do something, but needed to hear what I thought first. That was my clue to jump in and tell him.

"We could either go to the mountains... or to the coast," I suggested. The coast is about 300 miles east, the mountains the same distance west. I would have chosen the mountains, but I knew he loved to visit the coast. Our boat has been out ofcommission for two years now, so that wasn't one of our options.

He was silent for a few moments as he thought about it. "We could go to Beaufort or Carolina Beach... we haven't been there in years." I reminded him. It was true. Neither of us could remember when we last walked on any of the beaches of Pleasure Island (Kure, Carolina, or Ft. Fisher).    

                           

"Yeah... we could spend a couple of nights at Carolina Beach." He liked that idea.

"We could pack what we needed right now, jump in the car, and take off... nothing keeping us here. In three days, I'll be getting ready for VBS, and then school starts... summer is almost over," I reminded him.

His summers are not like mine. His workdays are longer than mine. He needed a break as well. We'd just gotten back from a family visit in Georgia and Florida, which was a great deal of fun. But we were both ready for some alone time. Middle of the week. It shouldn't be any trouble getting aroom right on the beach.

"Yeah," he said again. "Carolina Beach... we could go there. Relax. Walk around the beach..." he left the remainder of what he was thinking open.

"Then let's go pack the bags, load up the car and get on the road!" I said as I stepped in front of him. "Right now, let's go.Let's do something completely spontaneous!"

We packed everything we'd need for two days, and then some, and were on the road by 11:30 a.m.

                                        

It was fun... leaving like that. No cares, no responsibilities for the next three days and twonights. Just like those first three years of our marriage, before we became parents. Only this time, we could afford to take off. We didn't have to count pennies this time.

Responsibility and work and obligations were just three days away. But these three days would be ours.

                              

I took probably fifteen minutes of video... but shortened it to five for my journal.

If you would like a five minute respite, may I suggest visiting this aol uncut video anytime you desire to get away? I'd be honored to have you join me there.

Tags: JLand PhotoShoot#138, Carolina Beach, Early Morning Sunrise at Carolina,

For all the dog lovers

This video will make you feel warm and fuzzy. I think even cat lovers will love this. Puppies respond to the man as he sings to them... his voice lulls them into sleep. Too sweet! I love it.

I found it in an email from a dear friend of mine today. Thank you, Alan! I just had to share it with all my readers and friends.

                                   

(Closed Caption: As the man leans over the box, the pups are all making whiny puppy sounds, like they want some attention. He chuckles, then says, "Okay, let's go to bed...let's go to bed," and then he begins to sing... his voice has a deep sound, but he is singing low, gently. Imagine singing softly to your baby.The words are "Goodnight sweetheart, well it's time to go.... Do do do do doo.... I hate to leave ya but I really must go... goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight.... do do do do do dooo... and then he repeats it. As he walks away, a woman's voice says "They're waking up," and so he returns to sing another verse, almost in a whisper, until all the pups are sleeping. Then you hear a man's whisper "Let's go to bed." )

The little white Boxer puppy with the brown patch over its eye reminds me of Hermione, Marlene's dog.

Here is a picture of Hermione with Marlene, taken a few years ago. If you recognize the name as one of Harry Potter's friends, you are correct. That's where her name came from.

                                     

And thank you for all the birthday messages. I've had a lovely day, thank you!

 

                                 

Tag by D's Design

 

Tags: Puppies, Boxer puppies

Randy Pausch's legacy

Sadness. The first line of news I read as I logged onto AOL this morning was the news that professor Randy Pausch died today.

Just a month ago I had read his book,The Last Lecture. The book came about following a lecture he gave at Carnegie Mellon University where Randy taught. That was in September 2007. He looked healthy at the time. Healthier than the average guy.

Many professors have given last lectures. Generally, they are asked to think about their own mortality, and pass on valuable wisdom to their audience. What do we think is so important that we would want to pass it on?

Randy had to seriously think about it as he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer three months earlier. The book is his legacy, which he intended for his children to read, but which has no doubt inspired millions already. He wanted his kids to remember him, to know what was important to him, and to help them achieve their dreams. He knew he wouldn't be around to help them grow up for the next twenty years of their youth. The lecture and book were the answer to how to teach them to cope with life's challenges, to share the important stories that shaped their dad, and to present it all in a non-boring manner.

Randy is anything but boring. On the written page or on video. He talks and writes about playing football, being Captain Kirk, riding in NASA's vomit comet, creating virtual reality, being an imagineer at DisneyLand...much more. There's no "feel sorry for me" attitude in his lecture.

His funny, entertaining, and inspiring lecture, is on YouTube. It's over an hour long... remember it's a lecture, but it is far from boring. There's probably as much visuals to emphasize his words. Watch it when you have the time! You don't have to watch it here, though... you can click on the YouTube logo in the bottom right corner of the window and it will take you to the YouTube location.  I read the book first, but what I like about the video are all the pictures and images that he uses to illustrate and punctuate his stories.

                           

If you don't want to hear all the stories he tells, and would rather just hear the final words of wisdom that wrap up the lecture, just fast forward to the last eight or so minutes. I watched the entire lecture... like I said, it's over an hour, so bring your lunch and a drink! It's well worth it. Right up to his last two statements.

You can also read about Randy Pausch here.

He was only 47 years old, and leaves behind his wife and three young children.

Most of us will never be asked to stand on a stage, facing an audience of hundreds, and speak on an important matter as what matters most in life. But I don't doubt that any one of us could sit down and write our own personal 'Last Lecture' for our own children and grandchildren. After you watch this, you'll want to write yours!

Sometimes I think that's what the journal will be for me. Amidst all the words, somewhere in here (and amongst my paper journals) are a few pieces of really important stuff. Granted, someone would have to wade through some murky areas, or the trivial entries, but I'm certain that from time to time, I let the reader inside my heart and mind.

Randy lived a full, exciting life of learning and relating to others. Proof that you don't have to live a long life to live a full life.

 

Tags: Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture