Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Don't Want Any Cats Killed....


...And since curiosity tends to do that to those poor harmless creatures, I guess I will reveal what these interesting objects are! I think I stumped everyone. Some told me that they looked like pipes, others told me that they looked like large pills, and others had no idea!!!

Well, I gave you a clue at the end of my last post about me having "teacher" on the brain. I first saw these objects at the teacher convention I attended in October. The lady was advertising some of the products they were selling at the convention, and this was one of the objects she held up. She called it a "phonics phone."

As children are being introduced to the sounds that letters make, they sometimes mix up the sounds that sound similar. As a teacher I try to sound out the letters carefully, but when the children repeat it, they may think they are making the same sound that I have made, but in reality it is totally different.

I remember learning in choir practice during high school, that in order to hear your singing voice better, you should cup your ears forward as you sing. When you sing out (or speak out), it sounds different to you because your ears are behind your mouth and the words/sounds are being projected forward not back towards your ears. Cupping your ears forward helps you to better hear what you actually sound like!

Anyway, back to the "phonics phone." When children hear what they sound like, they will *hopefully* be quicker in catching on to the letter sounds, and later as they begin to read they will be able to concentrate more on how they sound. Plus, when all you hear is the sound of your own voice, the distraction of other sounds in the room are minimized. I tried it out, and all you have to do is whisper into the phone and you hear your voice loud and clear directly in your ear. Pretty cool, huh? I can't wait to try them out in the fall with my new kindergarten kiddos!!! But until then, I will enjoy hearing the sound of my own voice... (hahaha...just kidding :D)


Sunday, January 24, 2010

Name That Picture


Any ideas what these are used for?



I'll give you a clue - I still have "teacher" on the brain!!!

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

TV Causes Teacher Inspiration


Can't you just see that title making headlines? :)

Sometimes throughout the week, I like to take a moment or two and just peek inside the Kindergarten classroom. As much as I am glad that it is being used for Sunday School, chapel and some other classes, I really miss claiming it as my own! Today as I was glancing inside the room, my eyes lighted on something new sitting in the corner of the room. The old, OLD TV had been replaced with this one!!!



It has both a VHS and a DVD player!!! Yes, I realize that you probably don't feel the excitement as much as I do, but let me tell you, I am excited!! Considering the fact that the old VCR literally ate the video I showed at the elementary Christmas party, I wasn't sure what I was going to do about this coming year. My kiddos really enjoy watching Bible videos during rest time!

Needless to say, seeing this new TV started my mind swirling with all sorts of plans for this next school year. Yes, I realize its still months away, and there are still lots of decisions to be made before that time, but it sure is fun to reminisce and start Kindergarten planning in my mind once again!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Happy 50th Birthday, Mom!!!


In case you had NO idea who was turning 50 today after seeing my last post, the title of this blog entry should have filled you in. :) It was a special day of celebrating!

Of course no 50th birthday would be complete without "nasty" signs hanging up everywhere :)





Signs were hung up everywhere on the way to my Mom's office, and when she got inside, she discovered more. :) She was such a good sport about it though! :P


A bunch of ladies were able to get together for lunch today at Louie's Bakery to celebrate my Mom's birthday. Thanks, Anne, for being the perfect hostess! :) (and yes, the pierogi casserole was DELICIOUS!!)


Balloons, roses, cake and presents - can't get much better! :)



Ah, yes, Mom's lovely birthday cake which decided to split and sag in the middle. Hey, I was just going for the whole "50 is old" theme, so I wanted to make a cake that sagged....rrrrrright :)



Opening presents :)



My sweet Mommy who just keeps getting YOUNGER and more beautiful every day :)

Guess Who's 50 Today!!!



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Old Farmer's Advice


A friend sent this to me through email the other day. Some of the advice was pretty good so I thought I would share!



Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.

Keep skunks and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.

Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies; it messes up their heads.

Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.

It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You cannot unsay a cruel word.

Every path has a few puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.

Don't judge folks by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life...then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.

Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't bothering you none.

Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a Rain dance.

If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.

Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.

The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

Always drink upstream from the herd.

Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

Lettin' the cat outta' the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.

If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around...

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Friday, January 8, 2010

A Great Recipe for Every Day


A friend gave my Mom a list of things that you should do every day to make up a "great recipe" for that day. I am just going to list a few of them that really stood out to me!


~ Try to make at least three people smile each day.

~ Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

~ Life isn't fair, but it' still good.

~ Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

~ Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

~ Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

~ What other people think of you is none of your business.

~ God heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

~ However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

~ Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.