Putt-U Adventure

Today was the last day of school for most of the elementary students. We celebrated the end by going miniature golfing. A personal greeting on the Putt-U sign made everyone's day. :)

The students were separated into 4 groups and then staggered throughout the golf course in order to prevent extensive waiting for other groups to finish. It worked out pretty well. There were 5 adults for 4 groups, so I got to be a "floater" and go from group to group taking pictures and seeing everyone's progress.

Of course the balls were whacked all over the place. Eventually they made it into the holes. :)

This particular golf course involved water. I think the balls spent more time in the water then anywhere else!! Thankfully, there were nice long scoopers for the children to retrieve their poor drowning balls.

This group was anxious to raise their flag :)

Of all the students, these 4 were probably the most excited to be finishing up their school year. I have never seen a group more excited to be moving up to 7th grade!! No more elementary days for them!!

The Love of God

We sang this song in church the other week. Although I have heard this song many, many times before, the words of this particular verse really jumped out to me as we sang it.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above
Would drain the ocean dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure—
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Textbooks = Excitement??

My textbooks for my online classes came today in the mail!

According to the estimated delivery dates, they weren't expected to arrive until May 24-28. This had me a little concerned seeing how my classes start on May 24. There is just something secure about having the textbooks in hand on the first day of class. ;-)

When Andy informed me that a rather heavy package had arrived in the mail today, I shouted "Hallelujah!" much to my brother's amazement. He was like, 'You are THAT excited about textbooks arriving?'

Well, I am sure once classes start and the official studying begins, I might not be that enthusiastic about having my textbooks, but for now, its one more thing to check off my list as I prepare for college life once again.

I Will Never Stop Learning

Officially, as of today, I am a college student again. Why am I a college student again? I have no idea.

No, that's not true. I do know why. I am not done learning.

If you would have asked me 3 years ago when I graduated with my Early Childhood Education degree if I would ever consider taking more classes, I would probably have answered with an enthusiastic "NO WAY!"

However, something has changed inside me. I find that I WANT to learn new things. As I help a student at school study a Science or Social Studies test, or go over a math concept, I find that I enjoy learning along with them. Didn't I do that curriculum about 10 years ago? Well, yes, but I don't remember much. I would study the concepts, pass the test, and then move on, promptly forgetting most of what I studied.

Now as I help students with their work, I am envious of them. I honestly wish at times that I could work through our 1st grade curriculum all the way through our 12th grade curriculum just so I can LEARN.

What is wrong with me??? :)

I try to get students as enthusiastic about learning as I am, but for the most part, it just doesn't work. I understand only too well. I was sitting where they were not too long ago. Doing schoolwork day in, day out, when all you wanted to do was socialize with friends. History? Science? Algebra? Who cares!!!

Even when I went to college right out of high school, I found myself in the same trap. Oh, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed most of my classes, and gleaned much from my education classes especially. However, I still had the mindset - study hard, take the test, get a good grade- the end. Nothing wrong with getting a good grade, I know, but I wish I could have a "do over" - still get the good grades, but also retain more of the knowledge that I had crammed into my brain!

Anywho, back to the first sentence of this blog entry. I registered for some online classes at Lehigh Carbon Community College today. I had been debating back and forth about taking some Accounting courses ever since I entered the "Accounting world" this past summer. I put it off because, really, I wasn't sure I wanted to go back to "college world" again, filled with homework, studying, and tests. However, I have discovered over the past number of months that I REALLY enjoy Accounting. I am in my own happy, organized world when I do Accounting. Well, as long as everything balances in the end. :) Also, I have been learning a lot about the small business world, and I am finding it fascinating. Sooooooo, one night I was chatting with my parents and nonchalantly mentioned that I was considering going for an Accounting certificate at LCCC. Although I was still in the "mulling-it-over stage", I knew that if I was going to do it, I just had to make the decision to just DO it. So I soon got in contact with an advisor, and after a 5 pm. meeting tonight, I am officially back in the college world.

It felt soooo weird to walk on college campus again. So many things have changed since I was there 3 years ago. I entered the building, and the familiar "college smells" greeted me, and it was an overwhelming moment. I felt like I was travelling back in time. What am I doing here? College days are over...that was a whole other life. But, no. I stuck my ground and walked on through the familiar, yet strangely different, hallways of the campus to meet with my advisor.

Yes, this is going to take some getting used to. It's not like I am going to be travelling to the college each day and sitting in a classroom. This program can be taken completely online, so as of right now, my plan is to take 1 or 2 classes per semester through distance learning. No rush - I just want to learn more about the wonderful world of Accounting.

Going on the college website, these words greeted me....

I am finding that life is indeed a classroom, and with determination and perseverance, I will never stop learning!!

A Day at the Canal

Today the elementary students went on a field trip to learn all about canals, canal boats, and what life was like back in the early 19th century.

We got to ride on a canal boat pulled by two (very slow!) mules.

After the canal boat ride, we split into two groups and went to different work stations throughout the park. The first work station my group went to was the "Make your own Canal Boat" station. They were given a long piece of aluminum foil, popsicle sticks, straws, pipe cleaners, and tape. From these materials, they had to make a canal boat that would be able to hold lots of cargo (in this case, washers!) I was with a younger group, so I had to kind of spur their creativity along a bit (and mine was sadly lacking as well!) We were given a time limit to complete our boats, and then they were placed in water. Our guide then kept putting washers in the "boat" until the boat decided to sink. Our "boats" did extremely well, in fact surprising me with how many washers it held.

Here is a short video of the kids counting as our guide put the washers in the one boat. There was a whole scientific explanation for why the boat didn't sink, but I can't recall all the details at the moment. :)

Next, the children had a "physics" lesson about weight, gravity, and friction. While I am sure much of terminology went over their heads, they still enjoyed watching the result.

Notice what seems to be a tug-of-war game in this picture?

They were pulling this big canal boat!!!

What strong muscles they must have :) Actually, the guide was just explaining the scientific reasoning why just 2 mules could pull such a huge boat filled with cargo. Amazing how everything has a scientific explanation :)

Next, we went to the work station learning about "Simple Machines". Each child got to use the pulley system to pick up a rather heavy bucket.

They then got to make their own catapults by using Tinker toys. Quite a fun, and, at times, frustrating experience for them as they learned that if at first they don't succeed - try, try again!! Inventing and creating is hard work!

Enjoying a lunch break...

During lunch break, the kids enjoyed the nearby playground...

After lunch, we again went to our separate stations. We learned all about how people washed clothes back in the 19th century.

It was a perfect, blustery day for hanging out the laundry! Those shirts probably were dry in minutes :)

They had a chance to play with 19th century toys. Here the girls are playing with wooden dancing men. :)

They learned how to harness a mule...

They even learned how to blow on conch shells to make them sound like horns. Both Stephen & Jacob caught on quickly :)

One of the last activities of the day was visiting the blacksmith shop. Even I got a chance to be decked out in safety glasses and gloves as I hammered an S hook into shape, and kept the fire sparks burning strong. I had been standing there with camera in hand, ready to take pictures of the kiddos, when the blacksmith asked me if I wanted to make one. How could I turn down such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?? ;-)

On the way home, I looked in the back of the bus, and I saw that Jordan had come up with a cool idea for his S hook. Soon the entire back of the bus had turned into a coat rack!

What a fun - and exhausting - way to start a new week of school! Only three more weeks to go before summer break begins. Where did the school year go?!