I am SO enjoying my week with my family!
However, I have whispered prayers daily for my students and their families.
I am praying that they are each safe.
I am praying that they all have some kind of special dinner for Thanksgiving.
I am praying that they will be grateful for something and someone today.
I am praying that someone will be grateful for them.
I am thanking God for each of one of them.
I am thanking God for the opportunity to teach these very special children.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Pretty Coffee Filter Angel Ornament or Shelf Sitter
What You Need:3 coffee filters
3-1/2-inch foam cone, such as Styrofoam
1 round toothpick
1-inch foam ball, such as Styrofoam
12 inches of 1/4-inch-wide gold ribbon
White thread; hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks
1 gold plastic ring
Instructions:
1. Center one coffee filter on the top of the cone. Push the toothpick three quarters of the way into the cone and filter. Push the 1-inch ball onto the toothpick to add the head.
2. Center the second filter over the head. Tie a ribbon bow around the neck.
3. Fold the third filter in half and pleat at the center to form wings. Tie in the center with thread. Hot-glue the center of the wings to the back of the angel at the neck. Glue the ring to the top of the head for a halom. or use a gold pipecleaner, and you can attach it in the back and make the halo lift up above the head.
1. Center one coffee filter on the top of the cone. Push the toothpick three quarters of the way into the cone and filter. Push the 1-inch ball onto the toothpick to add the head.
2. Center the second filter over the head. Tie a ribbon bow around the neck.
3. Fold the third filter in half and pleat at the center to form wings. Tie in the center with thread. Hot-glue the center of the wings to the back of the angel at the neck. Glue the ring to the top of the head for a halom. or use a gold pipecleaner, and you can attach it in the back and make the halo lift up above the head.
These are very simple and expensive to make with children, but very beautiful. I made them 10 or more years ago, and they are still beautiful today!
for more fun Christmas crafts.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
THANKFUL THURSDAY
Yay! Thankful Thursday. . .my new favorite day of the week.-well, one of my favorite blogging days, anyway!
I am joining Sonya @ Truth 4 the Journey
http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/
and Iris @ Grace Alone
www.eph2810.com/thankful-thursday/thankful-thursday-life-4/
Iris' theme, for the 2 week old post that I somehow got to this morning was Trials. . .
James 1:2-4 (She posted verses 2 and 3 in ESV, I'm posting 4 also, using NIV.)
Consider it pure joy my (sisters), when ever you face trials of many knids, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I am also thankful for "trials of many kinds". I so want to be mature and complete, not lacking anything!
This week, I am thankful for. . .
1. the "drama" at work that is definitely developing perseverance, and hopefully maturity and better relationships.
2. the support from the school administration. (hopefully).
3. the help that I have gotten from paraprofessionals.
4. the privilege of getting to teach special children and the experience of working with their parents and teachers.
5. the joy of being a team with my husband, the love that he and our children give me.
What are you thankful for this week?
P.S. ! Iris's theme for THIS week is really LIFE. I am so thankful for the gift of life. There are so many all around us who have so much more serious health problems than we do, or have lost loved ones.
http://truth4thejourney.blogspot.com/
and Iris @ Grace Alone
www.eph2810.com/thankful-thursday/thankful-thursday-life-4/
Iris' theme, for the 2 week old post that I somehow got to this morning was Trials. . .
James 1:2-4 (She posted verses 2 and 3 in ESV, I'm posting 4 also, using NIV.)
Consider it pure joy my (sisters), when ever you face trials of many knids, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I am also thankful for "trials of many kinds". I so want to be mature and complete, not lacking anything!
This week, I am thankful for. . .
1. the "drama" at work that is definitely developing perseverance, and hopefully maturity and better relationships.
2. the support from the school administration. (hopefully).
3. the help that I have gotten from paraprofessionals.
4. the privilege of getting to teach special children and the experience of working with their parents and teachers.
5. the joy of being a team with my husband, the love that he and our children give me.
What are you thankful for this week?
P.S. ! Iris's theme for THIS week is really LIFE. I am so thankful for the gift of life. There are so many all around us who have so much more serious health problems than we do, or have lost loved ones.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
COMMUNICATION. . .a part of everyday life!
I have so much to share on this post that I don't know where to start. I need to be grading, (A LOT of grading) putting grades in the computer and finishing lesson plans, but I need to type out these thoughts in my head, too.
And. . .the dryer just buzzed. . .gotta go keep the laundry going, too.
And, type up a class newsletter,
go to evening church,
put new students into special ed. computer system, work on IEPs, . . .
and get to bed at a decent time, . . .
but I want to type out these thoughts in my head, and hopefully someone else will benefit from me sharing with you some things that I was reminded of last week.
First, I don't have a classroom aide, but I have 2 aides who come in my classroom with the one student that they are hired for, and 2 aides that I share with overloaded 1st and 2nd grade teachers. I am really working on my communication with them. I had an incident that had me in tears first thing Wed. morning, and then in the office with the principal and 3 of the aides. I think the one situation is better now, but. . . another one to work out.
Then, on Thursday, I went to a Special Ed. Teacher's Training, by the state department. One of the best parts, was a session that they just added on, by a parent of a grown special ed. student. This parent is on staff at the Oklahoma Parents Center that trains parents to advocate for their children and work together with the schools.
I really appreciated her reminders of family stresses, parents' needs, educators needs and Communication Buildrers.
Finally on Friday, that seemed a little more like a Monday, with a few incidents that happened with students and parents, I needed those reminders!
Family Stresses. . .
Lack of time to do what needs to be done
Keeping track of appointments
Managing the child's behavior and emotions
Financial burdens
Fear of the unknown
Loneliness
Communication Builders
Be a good listener.
Wait your turn to speak.
Try to understand each other's point of view.
Focus on a person's strengths rather than weakness.
Check for clarity and understanding to make sure you do not misinterpret anything being said.
Be aware of your body language.
Be open minded.
Give your full attention to others.
Speak up when you have an opinion or a question.
Focus on the present.
. . .
. . .(I missed 2 of the points. Hopefully, I will get them later, but wanted to go ahead and post.)
Pick your battles.
Always remember to thank people.
What are you learning? Leave me some "comment love". : )
And. . .the dryer just buzzed. . .gotta go keep the laundry going, too.
And, type up a class newsletter,
go to evening church,
put new students into special ed. computer system, work on IEPs, . . .
and get to bed at a decent time, . . .
but I want to type out these thoughts in my head, and hopefully someone else will benefit from me sharing with you some things that I was reminded of last week.
First, I don't have a classroom aide, but I have 2 aides who come in my classroom with the one student that they are hired for, and 2 aides that I share with overloaded 1st and 2nd grade teachers. I am really working on my communication with them. I had an incident that had me in tears first thing Wed. morning, and then in the office with the principal and 3 of the aides. I think the one situation is better now, but. . . another one to work out.
Then, on Thursday, I went to a Special Ed. Teacher's Training, by the state department. One of the best parts, was a session that they just added on, by a parent of a grown special ed. student. This parent is on staff at the Oklahoma Parents Center that trains parents to advocate for their children and work together with the schools.
I really appreciated her reminders of family stresses, parents' needs, educators needs and Communication Buildrers.
Finally on Friday, that seemed a little more like a Monday, with a few incidents that happened with students and parents, I needed those reminders!
Family Stresses. . .
Lack of time to do what needs to be done
Keeping track of appointments
Managing the child's behavior and emotions
Financial burdens
Fear of the unknown
Loneliness
Communication Builders
Be a good listener.
Wait your turn to speak.
Try to understand each other's point of view.
Focus on a person's strengths rather than weakness.
Check for clarity and understanding to make sure you do not misinterpret anything being said.
Be aware of your body language.
Be open minded.
Give your full attention to others.
Speak up when you have an opinion or a question.
Focus on the present.
. . .
. . .(I missed 2 of the points. Hopefully, I will get them later, but wanted to go ahead and post.)
Pick your battles.
Always remember to thank people.
What are you learning? Leave me some "comment love". : )
Friday, November 13, 2009
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. . .BOOKS ARE FUN
It's Week 6 of my friend Keelie's 12 Weeks of Christmas blog party with lots of great posts and great give-aways every week. Past week's have included great craft ideas and recipes. This week's topic is SHOPPING. . .not my favorite part of the season, but some other participants have written really fun posts about the joys of shopping! I do like to do some shopping in stores with my husband, but I also am always able to find some of the best gifts by just going in the workroom at the school that I teach at. (always. . .every year. . .there is always a BOOKS ARE FUN display, no matter where I'm working. ) It's not just books. There are all kinds of really good gifts.Books Are Fun, Ltd. is the world's leading display marketer of books and gifts. Books Are Fun is renowned for offering the world's best hardcover books, gifts, and educational products at savings of up to 80% off retail prices. Our book fairs and book displays have become known as "North America's Most Popular Employee Event," supplying innovative, premium quality products to corporations, schools, hospitals, and early learning centers throughout the United States.Books Are Fun has established a longstanding reputation for wholesome, uplifting, family oriented publications. Our formula is simple. We buy huge volumes of the world's best books and gifts directly from top publishers and manufacturers, and sell those products at deep discounts directly to end users through innovative display marketing events. We take it one step further by donating a percentage of the proceeds in books or cash to the sponsoring school or to a designated charity.
If a BOOKS ARE FUN salesman does not come to your place of employment, you can go to http://www.booksarefun.com/
If you didn't come here from Keelie's Red Writing blog, you must go there, now!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ANGRY CHILDREN?
I have several students who have anger issues, but especially 2 brothers. How can 7 and 9 year olds be so angry already? I know they do have reasons to be angry, but they can not take it out on other students or school staff. What are some ways that you deal with angry students? How can I help turn these boys and others around? How can I make a difference in their lives?
Monday, November 2, 2009
NaBloPoMo: Set an Example. . .Write Every Day!
http://www.nablopomo.com/
I'm joining other blogging buddies in the challenge of posting every day in November. I thought it would be easier to do it on my other blog, because I already have daily topics for that one. I decided to try to do both, so actually, I'll be posting twice every day!
This one may be a little shorter, but I'll try to write something every day. I am just going to begin Daily Journals with my special ed. students today. Most of them have journals in the general ed. classes, and don't write in them. So, I'm going to try to help them write something every day.
I am going to journal in class, too, to set an example.
So, I will add to this post tonight.
Have a Marvelous Monday!
Sandy
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Planning for this week. . .Tryng to Make A Difference!
This story is one from the 3rd grade reader that I am going to try to read to all of my students this week. Most of my students do not have a "traditional" family, but I hope that they will still get the point, that I try to tell them all the time, that they are all special and loved, and that if they have difficulty with something, to keep trying.
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