In my classroom we share things pretty openly. We're sort of like a little family here for eight hours each day. :) One of the young ladies in my room had missed a couple of days due to having severe/migraine headaches. I talked with my class about this and we were all concerned about her.
At the same time we are beginning a butterfly unit. We have spent quite a bit of time discussing monarch butterflies.
One of my sweet, little first graders went home and told her mommy that she was worried about one of her classmates because she was having monarch headaches. :) So cute... :)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Books, Books, Books
As a teacher who has a background with reading, I’m sure that you can imagine that I enjoy reading books. I love stories of all shapes and sizes, but I also really enjoy nonfiction. I thought I’d just share some of the books that I’ve read this school year. I’d love to hear about what you are reading.
In the Classroom:
I’ve read a multitude of picture books. One of my favorites is "My Little Sister Ate One Hare" by Bill Grossman. This is a highly amusing tale which ends with a very yucky conclusion.
I enjoy reading E.B. White Books: "Charlotte’s Web", "The Trumpet of the Swan", and "Stuart Little." All three stories are utterly delightful.
"Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary. I have several students who are struggling behaviorally this year. I have found that seeing the bad choices that Ramona made, helped them to begin to looking at themselves.
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. Each of my seven years of teaching thus far, I have read this book during Christmas time. We have traditionally read it as a family for several years. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend this story! This year I cried during the story because I have so many boys and girls that live the Herdman lifestyle.
"The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This is one of my favorite books of all time and my first grade students absolutely loved it this year. Our superintendent came to my class the other day and they got the chance to tell him all about it!
"My Father’s Dragon" by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This is the first time that I have read this book. It is truly a delightful tale and a wonderful book to use when teaching children about predictions.
"The Mouse and The Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. We are currently reading this book in class. My boys are especially into this tale!
Educational Reading:
"12 Powerful Words" by Larry I. Bell
"Results Now" by Mike Schmoker
"Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well" by Regie Routman
Personal Reading:
"The Shack" by William P. Young. This was a thought provoking book.
"Each New Day" by Corrie Ten Boom. There are some wonderful short nuggets of truth in this little book.
"The Firstborn Advantage: Making Your Birth Order Work for You" by Dr. Kevin Leman. This is a very interesting book.
"Completely His: Loving Jesus without Limits" by Shannon Ethridge.
"Answering the Guy Questions: The Set-Apart Girls Guide to Relating to the Opposite Sex" by Leslie Ludy. Eric and Leslie Ludy have written a variety of books. I have quite the collection of single girl books. I just got this one recently and my roomie is reading it now.
"A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael" by Elizabeth Elliot. This is what I’m reading currently.
There are other books that I read bits and pieces of, but here it this school year in a shell. So, what are you reading?
Jo
In the Classroom:
I’ve read a multitude of picture books. One of my favorites is "My Little Sister Ate One Hare" by Bill Grossman. This is a highly amusing tale which ends with a very yucky conclusion.
I enjoy reading E.B. White Books: "Charlotte’s Web", "The Trumpet of the Swan", and "Stuart Little." All three stories are utterly delightful.
"Ramona the Pest" by Beverly Cleary. I have several students who are struggling behaviorally this year. I have found that seeing the bad choices that Ramona made, helped them to begin to looking at themselves.
"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. Each of my seven years of teaching thus far, I have read this book during Christmas time. We have traditionally read it as a family for several years. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend this story! This year I cried during the story because I have so many boys and girls that live the Herdman lifestyle.
"The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. This is one of my favorite books of all time and my first grade students absolutely loved it this year. Our superintendent came to my class the other day and they got the chance to tell him all about it!
"My Father’s Dragon" by Ruth Stiles Gannett. This is the first time that I have read this book. It is truly a delightful tale and a wonderful book to use when teaching children about predictions.
"The Mouse and The Motorcycle" by Beverly Cleary. We are currently reading this book in class. My boys are especially into this tale!
Educational Reading:
"12 Powerful Words" by Larry I. Bell
"Results Now" by Mike Schmoker
"Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need to Teach Reading Well" by Regie Routman
Personal Reading:
"The Shack" by William P. Young. This was a thought provoking book.
"Each New Day" by Corrie Ten Boom. There are some wonderful short nuggets of truth in this little book.
"The Firstborn Advantage: Making Your Birth Order Work for You" by Dr. Kevin Leman. This is a very interesting book.
"Completely His: Loving Jesus without Limits" by Shannon Ethridge.
"Answering the Guy Questions: The Set-Apart Girls Guide to Relating to the Opposite Sex" by Leslie Ludy. Eric and Leslie Ludy have written a variety of books. I have quite the collection of single girl books. I just got this one recently and my roomie is reading it now.
"A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael" by Elizabeth Elliot. This is what I’m reading currently.
There are other books that I read bits and pieces of, but here it this school year in a shell. So, what are you reading?
Jo
Monday, April 13, 2009
It is Finished?
At the close of a beautiful, restful Easter Sunday filled with the love of my creator, I ventured out to a choir service. The melodies met me as I entered the church door and my heart swelled with wonder and amazement as my mind focused on Him.
The final song that the choir sang was "It Is Finished." I chose to focus on what my Savior had done, but my heart became heavy as I pondered statements made prior to the choir singing this old song.
The leader presented the prospect that if I give my life to Jesus the battle will be over, or finished. While I agree that as I develop a relationship with God, a desire to please Him is there so that I don't want to go against His best, the battle of our flesh and spirit seems to still exist. Maybe I'm just the odd one, but it is a daily choice to follow Jesus. I must consistently, consciously choose to give up myself so that He can form me to be like Him.
You see, I have layers, or areas that Jesus continually shows me as I walk with Him. I have a choice as to how I respond when presented with another area that needs work. I can take the easy route. I can blame it on others around me. I can blame it on my personality or the way that I was raised. I can reject it as truth and simply go on believing what I want to believe. OR
I can ask for forgiveness concerning this area that I did not see and with the help of God I can grow and change and move along to the next layer.
This to me doesn't seem like a battle that is over. Yet, a continual refining of me and continual trusting of my Lord.
Recently there have been several issues in my life that I have reexamined. I've felt a little out of the loop, sort of like an older woman. :) Here are the ideas of some other people who seem to think that the battle isn't over.
Ellen White
On one occasion I spoke in reference to genuine sanctification, which is nothing less than a daily dying to self and daily conformity to the will of God... Paul's sanctification was a constant conflict with self. Said he, "I die daily." 1 Cor. 15:31. His will and his desires every day conflicted with duty and the will of God. Instead of following inclination, he did the will of God, however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature.
Helen Keller
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
Oswald Chambers
“Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsoever toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God.... If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to the point of its death.”
If you follow this link, you will find a clip of Elisabeth Elliot speaking about dying to self.
http://faithvisuals.com/content/thecove/rediscoveringthefaithfulone/dyingtoself.html
I would love to hear your suggestions, comments, ect. I've found that often I can see things more clearly when it is contradicted by someone. :)
Have a great day!
The final song that the choir sang was "It Is Finished." I chose to focus on what my Savior had done, but my heart became heavy as I pondered statements made prior to the choir singing this old song.
The leader presented the prospect that if I give my life to Jesus the battle will be over, or finished. While I agree that as I develop a relationship with God, a desire to please Him is there so that I don't want to go against His best, the battle of our flesh and spirit seems to still exist. Maybe I'm just the odd one, but it is a daily choice to follow Jesus. I must consistently, consciously choose to give up myself so that He can form me to be like Him.
You see, I have layers, or areas that Jesus continually shows me as I walk with Him. I have a choice as to how I respond when presented with another area that needs work. I can take the easy route. I can blame it on others around me. I can blame it on my personality or the way that I was raised. I can reject it as truth and simply go on believing what I want to believe. OR
I can ask for forgiveness concerning this area that I did not see and with the help of God I can grow and change and move along to the next layer.
This to me doesn't seem like a battle that is over. Yet, a continual refining of me and continual trusting of my Lord.
Recently there have been several issues in my life that I have reexamined. I've felt a little out of the loop, sort of like an older woman. :) Here are the ideas of some other people who seem to think that the battle isn't over.
Ellen White
On one occasion I spoke in reference to genuine sanctification, which is nothing less than a daily dying to self and daily conformity to the will of God... Paul's sanctification was a constant conflict with self. Said he, "I die daily." 1 Cor. 15:31. His will and his desires every day conflicted with duty and the will of God. Instead of following inclination, he did the will of God, however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature.
Helen Keller
“Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through the experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.”
Oswald Chambers
“Jesus Christ had no tenderness whatsoever toward anything that was ultimately going to ruin a person in his service to God.... If the Spirit of God brings to your mind a word of the Lord that hurts you, you can be sure that there is something in you that He wants to hurt to the point of its death.”
If you follow this link, you will find a clip of Elisabeth Elliot speaking about dying to self.
http://faithvisuals.com/content/thecove/rediscoveringthefaithfulone/dyingtoself.html
I would love to hear your suggestions, comments, ect. I've found that often I can see things more clearly when it is contradicted by someone. :)
Have a great day!
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