Saturday, February 26, 2011

Women of God

Women of God can never be like women of the world.
The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined.
We have enough women of fame and fortune;  we need more women of faith.
We have enough greed; we need more goodness.
We have enough vanity; we need more virtue.
We have enough popularity; we need more purity.


Friday, February 25, 2011

I'm in the money....

   Well in a plastic sort of way.
  
   Non-teachers may want to skip this post.  I purposely don't say much about my school kids on this blog.  So much is confidential and I believe there is a line that shouldn't be crossed as a professional.  With that being said, this is by far my hardest year of teaching yet!  I'm dealing with a lot of maturity issues, several academic problems, and a few behavior issues thrown in.  Lets just say May 25 is sounding sweeter all the time!
    Our district uses Saxon Math which I really like but feel that it's weak in teaching money.  So I stopped the curriculum this week to do my own money unit.  I started Tuesday with a detailed review of all the coins and their value.  I noticed that several students were struggling so later in the day I pulled each child aside for a quick one-on-one assessment.  I used the basic four coins, two of each for heads and tails, and just asked them to tell me the name of the coin.  Not even the value.  I got a little light headed when I realized only 3 kids could name all 8 coins!  This is a KINDERGARTEN SKILL!  That's no reflection on previous teachers.  It's just these group of kids. 
     It's moments like these that all lesson plans go out the window.  How can you teach counting money if they don't know the coins.  So I changed my focus to simply learning the coins this week.


   The first part of my new game plan included sending home these simple flashcards that I whipped up.  I included a note about how this was a Kindergarten skill and they would need practice at home.


   Next we made a bubble chart about each coin.  I borrowed this idea from here.  






  Then, we played the stomp game.  I laid big cut outs on the carpet.  Two kids would compete at once.  I would stay things like stomp on five cents, stomp of the heads of a quarter, or stomp on Thomas Jefferson.  This is a classroom favorite!  The child that doesn't wins has to set down until the next game. 










   My final game I came across this morning here.  I called it broke.  The kids would pull out a stick with a coin hot glued on.  If they identified the coin it went into the middle, if not it went back into the container.  We kept going until someone pulled out a stick that said broke...then they all would go back into the container. 

    I'm hoping next week looks brighter in the money teaching department!  I have several centers from the teacher's clubhouse that I really like and hope we get to use them.


     Last year we used touch money.  I created this printable that I put on card stock and laminate for each child.  It works great!  After you learn where the dots are on the coins, you count the dots by five.  I think of it as a crutch.  If you need extra support use it, if not don't.  Third grade teachers have told us that their kids this year are so much better at money than kids in the past.  Next year may be a different story. 
    


Saturday, February 19, 2011

Yummy!!!!

I recently tried a new soup recipe.  And have decided it's a favorite.  I've cooked it twice in the last two weeks.   The best part it's only about 165 calories in a cup. Let me know if you try it. 


Skinny Mini Tortilla Soup
It serves 4-6.

1 can of fat-free refried beans
1 can of fat-free chicken broth
1 can corn with liquid
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 can of Rotel tomatoes
2 cups cheddar cheese, divided
Tortilla Chips

Combine all ingredients except cheese and chips in a 3 quart pot and bring to boil, stirring until refried beans are completely mixed. Turn heat to low and simmer 10-20 minutes. Add 1 cup cheese and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and serve with chips.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Biltmore Bust

     Last weekend I was so excited!  It's been awhile since Michael and I have had a long day together alone doing something enjoyable.  Some sweet friends gave us Biltmore tickets.  Last Saturday was to be the day.  Friday night we decided to go by the hospital to see Granny and then drive to New Port so we wouldn't have so far to travel on Saturday morning.  Plans don't always work out...the horrible stomach virus hit me early Saturday morning.  So we came back home where I spent the day asleep and feeling yuck.   Michael had our tickets upgraded to season passes so I'm expecting another date day in the near future sans the bug.   



Monday, February 14, 2011

♥♥♥♥♥Our Love Story♥♥♥♥♥

   Michaels,
    I can't celebrate a Valentines Day without thinking of Valentines Day 2007.  That date sealed things for me.  You made it so special.


     My grandfather was so sick. I would spend weeknights at his house taking care of him.  And go home for the weekend.  I had met you in August of '06.  The first time you called I was at his house.  You sounded so nervous.  We didn't talk for long.   
     It was now Wednesday February 14.  I remember what I was wearing.  I remember I was putting heart stickers on a craft with my Kindergarten kids when you walked into my classroom.  I was shocked!  I would never have dreamed you would have the guts to show up where I work.  
    Then there was the nice restaurant. (Even if my principal showed up a few minutes after we got there).  Our nice talk as you dropped me off at my car.  And the card.  
            I left there and went back to papaws with my flowers.  Those flowers traveled around with me alot over the new few weeks.  I could stand to leave them at home or papaw's house when I was staying at the other place.  Everyone laughed  at me.  


           I relived this story today as I was scrubbing the toilet.  I remembered all the details so fresh and true.  To so many this story will seem insignificant.  But I smiled as the butterflies still formed in my stomach.  It's memories such as this that I don't want to forget as I go through life.  It isn't always flowers and candy.  There's not always sweet cards and romantic dinners.  Scrubbing toilets and taking out the garbage must be done.  But it's so much sweeter knowing I have you to do it all with!