This is courtesy of Mrs. Stewart, who sent it to us in an email this morning. This is SO true! “A simple compliment may not alter a student’s behavior immediately. But it does help get things moving in the right direction.” A quote from A. P. Witham
So often, as parents and teachers, we are caught up in correcting bad behavior rather than encouraging good behavior. As a mom, I am guilty of this one myself with my own two boys!Often times our kids are trying to get our attention, whether good or bad, and if they get more immediate attention by doing something bad, then they will take it. How often, if things are quiet and peaceful at your house, do you just sit back and revel in the peace? Or think, what are they doing if it is so quiet? It is not often that we would stop and say "Wow, thanks for playing so nicely together", or "Thank you for doing what you were asked to do."
Just like with God, He doesn't always remind us of what we are doing wrong, but instead, reminds us that he loves us no matter what, and that we are His and he loves us more than we can imagine. Ephesians 1:5 "I have been adopted as God's child". Aren't we so thankful for that?
I felt led to share this today. I know we all get busy and forget to stop and relish in the day God has given us. That includes stopping to give an encouraging word to the little people in our life that love us more than anyone else.
Have a great day!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Reminder Monday!
This is a busy week!
This is the LAST week for Salvation Army Canned Food Drive. Way to go, Sam, who went around his neighborhood collecting cans for the drive! So far today we have collected 20 cans. If we can get to 200 cans THIS WEEK then we can have NO HOMEWORK next week. Let's all participate to help the needy in our community, and show the Salvation Army that we are #1 in giving. Ask your friends, neighbors, family and bing those in! JUST ANNOUNCED--Mr. Mitchell says the class that has the best "average" per student on cans will win a FREE dress down day for the class. Bring in those cans!!!!
Friday is Apple Day. Thanks again for those of you who were SO quick to respond to my email about needing items for that day. You are all so awesome! If you could, please bring in your items either Thursday or first thing Friday morning. For those bringing the cut up apples for applesauce, please do not bring those until Friday morning so that they can be fresh.
Friday is also Market Day. The students may bring in their items Friday morning. Please make sure whatever they bring is appropriate for school. Their items will be checked by me before they can sell them. Market Day starts at 2:00 and will run until 2:30. Parents are welcome to come, but your student must run their own "store".
CREATION SCIENCE WEEKEND! This is your last chance to buy tickets! It will be an amazing experience and best of all--the proceeds go directly to FMCS! What a better way to hear the amazing truth about Creation! Get your tickets at the FMCS office TODAY!!!!
THURSDAY is Ident-A-Kid photo day. This is the program we use to make your student an "ID" card with all of their information on it. The information sheet comes home today.
DUE WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!! Money and permission slip for Slim Goodbody trip in November is due THIS WEDNESDAY! Chaperones and students are $13.50. If you are unable to pay by Wednesday, please contact me and let me know.
SCHOOL PICTURES are coming up October 1,2, and 3rd. We do not know yet which day will be ours. Stay tuned for that information.
That's all for now!!!
This is the LAST week for Salvation Army Canned Food Drive. Way to go, Sam, who went around his neighborhood collecting cans for the drive! So far today we have collected 20 cans. If we can get to 200 cans THIS WEEK then we can have NO HOMEWORK next week. Let's all participate to help the needy in our community, and show the Salvation Army that we are #1 in giving. Ask your friends, neighbors, family and bing those in! JUST ANNOUNCED--Mr. Mitchell says the class that has the best "average" per student on cans will win a FREE dress down day for the class. Bring in those cans!!!!
Friday is Apple Day. Thanks again for those of you who were SO quick to respond to my email about needing items for that day. You are all so awesome! If you could, please bring in your items either Thursday or first thing Friday morning. For those bringing the cut up apples for applesauce, please do not bring those until Friday morning so that they can be fresh.
Friday is also Market Day. The students may bring in their items Friday morning. Please make sure whatever they bring is appropriate for school. Their items will be checked by me before they can sell them. Market Day starts at 2:00 and will run until 2:30. Parents are welcome to come, but your student must run their own "store".
CREATION SCIENCE WEEKEND! This is your last chance to buy tickets! It will be an amazing experience and best of all--the proceeds go directly to FMCS! What a better way to hear the amazing truth about Creation! Get your tickets at the FMCS office TODAY!!!!
THURSDAY is Ident-A-Kid photo day. This is the program we use to make your student an "ID" card with all of their information on it. The information sheet comes home today.
DUE WEDNESDAY!!!!!!!!!! Money and permission slip for Slim Goodbody trip in November is due THIS WEDNESDAY! Chaperones and students are $13.50. If you are unable to pay by Wednesday, please contact me and let me know.
SCHOOL PICTURES are coming up October 1,2, and 3rd. We do not know yet which day will be ours. Stay tuned for that information.
That's all for now!!!
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
It's a great day!!
Happy 5th week of school! Time is sure flying--yesterday was midterm already!!! I am proud of the responsible children your 2nd graders are becoming. They are doing an excellent job remembering homework, special items needed for Bible, etc. Speaking of that--let me know what you think of the "new look" of the assignment sheet. I thought it would be easier for you and your 2nd grader to read and understand.
We have started the Salvation Army Canned Food Drive. PLEASE bring in cans and non-perishable items. For every FIVE cans brought, your student will receive 1 Market Day ticket. Though this is NOT why we should want to do it! :) Even in our tough economic times, where things have hit almost all of us in one way or another, there are people in our community that cannot even feed their families or do not have a place to call home. Please consider donating (it's a good way to clean out your pantry, too!)
Next Friday, September 26th, there is ALOT going on. First, it is the Creation Science weekend and the kickoff starts with an Assembly for our students at 9:00am. Then, the 2nd grade classes are going to continue the day with Apple Day, a celebration of Johnny Appleseed's Birthday. We will be doing apple crafts, apple tasting, bobbing for apples, and much more! There will be a sign up sheet to bring in things for our celebration (and parent volunteers are needed too!) Also that day is the first Market Day!!! (Yes, we have a PACKED day!) Market Day starts at 2:00 and lasts until 2:30. The children are asked to bring in items they want to "sell", for example, stuffed animals, toys, cars, homemade cookies, packaged cookies, etc. They will "sell" them for tickets and learn how to run a store. It is a great event!
Did your student tell you about learning how to write their name in Chinese? I found this great website that translates names into Chinese characters. They practiced writing it yesterday and will paint it probably today. They were very excited about it because we learned about China while talking about the Olympics, and the Silver Group just finished reading a story about a girl who is Chinese-American, and they wrote a story with some Chinese characters. It was very neat!
Have a super day!
We have started the Salvation Army Canned Food Drive. PLEASE bring in cans and non-perishable items. For every FIVE cans brought, your student will receive 1 Market Day ticket. Though this is NOT why we should want to do it! :) Even in our tough economic times, where things have hit almost all of us in one way or another, there are people in our community that cannot even feed their families or do not have a place to call home. Please consider donating (it's a good way to clean out your pantry, too!)
Next Friday, September 26th, there is ALOT going on. First, it is the Creation Science weekend and the kickoff starts with an Assembly for our students at 9:00am. Then, the 2nd grade classes are going to continue the day with Apple Day, a celebration of Johnny Appleseed's Birthday. We will be doing apple crafts, apple tasting, bobbing for apples, and much more! There will be a sign up sheet to bring in things for our celebration (and parent volunteers are needed too!) Also that day is the first Market Day!!! (Yes, we have a PACKED day!) Market Day starts at 2:00 and lasts until 2:30. The children are asked to bring in items they want to "sell", for example, stuffed animals, toys, cars, homemade cookies, packaged cookies, etc. They will "sell" them for tickets and learn how to run a store. It is a great event!
Did your student tell you about learning how to write their name in Chinese? I found this great website that translates names into Chinese characters. They practiced writing it yesterday and will paint it probably today. They were very excited about it because we learned about China while talking about the Olympics, and the Silver Group just finished reading a story about a girl who is Chinese-American, and they wrote a story with some Chinese characters. It was very neat!
Have a super day!
Monday, September 8, 2008
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIERSTEN!!!
Today is a special day in our classroom as we celebrate Kiersten Comer's birthday! She is a very special, sweet little girl. She got spoiled today as her grandma came in for lunch and brought the whole class chocolate chip cookies! YUM! (I even got one too!)
I hope everyone had a great weekend and YIPEE that Ike is turning away from us! As much as we love Hurricane Days, it's much nicer for it to be heading elsewhere!
Today in Bible we talked about how God has protected you from disaster in your life. I shared stories from when my oldest Carson was a year old and was in the ICU for a week, how my youngest Caeden was in one of those Little Tykes plastic cars and FELL in our pool last May and was terrified for months of the water (it was sinking and I had to jump in with all my clothes on to get him!) They enjoyed hearing my stories and I enjoyed hearing theirs. There were examples from being protected from falls, sports injuries, being blessed with a new parent, and the most recent one--Payton being saved from falling from a horse! What a trooper. It is SO true that God protects us from so much, things we are not even aware of. Our Bible verse this week was amazing to my 2nd graders. "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16. When we started our discussion on the verse, of course they had all kinds of guesses on what it meant. When I started to explain that God knows everything about you, from way before you were born until you die, he knew what your name was, who your parents were going to be, and that he even knows what you will do with your whole life! They were shocked. I related it to God going to his bookshelf and taking out the book of your life and reading it, or putting your DVD in his TV and watching your movie. That of course got giggles from them, but it IS so amazing. Ask them tonight about our discussion today on God's plans for them, and how neat it is that he knows every single one of us. We talked about how their parents would always remember every single thing about them, because they loved them, and that God is the same way, he remembers every single one of us because He loves us so very much.
I hope that your Sally Foster/Entertainment Books sales are going well! I can't wait to see them when they come in Friday. I know you will all do great things to bless our school.
If I can, I have a personal prayer request I would like to share and hope that you can keep our family in your prayers. My husband Cameron has been out of work for two months. He just got a job offer on Friday (which is a HUGE blessing!) but it requires him to work 2 hours away for the entire week (and stay there), only coming home once a week. This will be until December. Please keep our family in your prayers as I deal with this huge change, and as well all cope with life without Daddy around! :)
Thanks for letting me share. You are all such a blessing to me.
I hope everyone had a great weekend and YIPEE that Ike is turning away from us! As much as we love Hurricane Days, it's much nicer for it to be heading elsewhere!
Today in Bible we talked about how God has protected you from disaster in your life. I shared stories from when my oldest Carson was a year old and was in the ICU for a week, how my youngest Caeden was in one of those Little Tykes plastic cars and FELL in our pool last May and was terrified for months of the water (it was sinking and I had to jump in with all my clothes on to get him!) They enjoyed hearing my stories and I enjoyed hearing theirs. There were examples from being protected from falls, sports injuries, being blessed with a new parent, and the most recent one--Payton being saved from falling from a horse! What a trooper. It is SO true that God protects us from so much, things we are not even aware of. Our Bible verse this week was amazing to my 2nd graders. "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." Psalm 139:16. When we started our discussion on the verse, of course they had all kinds of guesses on what it meant. When I started to explain that God knows everything about you, from way before you were born until you die, he knew what your name was, who your parents were going to be, and that he even knows what you will do with your whole life! They were shocked. I related it to God going to his bookshelf and taking out the book of your life and reading it, or putting your DVD in his TV and watching your movie. That of course got giggles from them, but it IS so amazing. Ask them tonight about our discussion today on God's plans for them, and how neat it is that he knows every single one of us. We talked about how their parents would always remember every single thing about them, because they loved them, and that God is the same way, he remembers every single one of us because He loves us so very much.
I hope that your Sally Foster/Entertainment Books sales are going well! I can't wait to see them when they come in Friday. I know you will all do great things to bless our school.
If I can, I have a personal prayer request I would like to share and hope that you can keep our family in your prayers. My husband Cameron has been out of work for two months. He just got a job offer on Friday (which is a HUGE blessing!) but it requires him to work 2 hours away for the entire week (and stay there), only coming home once a week. This will be until December. Please keep our family in your prayers as I deal with this huge change, and as well all cope with life without Daddy around! :)
Thanks for letting me share. You are all such a blessing to me.
Friday, September 5, 2008
It's been awhile!!
I'm very sorry! It has been awhile since I have posted (have you been coming to look?) This week has been SO busy that I haven't had time to come post! But I had to post today because I have the MOST adorable picture to share of the cutest 2nd grade class in the universe!
Yesterday, we were outside with our toothbrush activity (did they tell you about it?). It just so happened that the church was looking for a class to take a picture with the Entertainment Book, so that was that!
We were learning this week about the Hebrews being slaves in Egypt, and the 2nd graders got to feel what it was like to be a slave and have to do a job with the wrong tools. I took them out to the parent pick up line, gave them their toothbrushes, and told them to clean it until there was no more dirt. The looks on their faces? Priceless. Of course they thought it was fun to scrub with a tiny toothbrush. I stood there pretending to be their "master", yelling at them to do better, work faster, get it done. Finally, I had them sit on the sidewalk and we talked about the Hebrews having to make bricks without straws and having to work in grueling conditions. They didn't think THAT would be too fun, especially in the hot sun.
They will continue to learn how God provided for the Hebrews when they asked to be delivered from their slavery in Egpyt. Next week we will be talking about Moses, and how God protected him throughout his life so that he could be the next leader.
Today's first map test went great! I was proud of them that they learned all four states, capitals, and abbreviations with only a four day week. We worked HARD this week, so give your student a big hug and say WELL DONE! Next week will be two more states and capitals.
This is your LAST weekend to sell Sally Foster/Entertainment Books! Everything is due back next Friday the 12th. Please make every effort to sell something, I would love to see 100% participation in our class.
Starting next week, on Wednesday's, I'm going to have a student a week bring in a healthy snack for everyone. We have lunch early on Wed's, so it makes for a long afternoon without a snack for their thinking minds! Thanks for your help. I will provide the first snack next week, and then the week of September 15th will be COLE AMES week (it will go in alphabetical order). Suggestions are: peanut butter crackers, fruit, granola bars, etc. Drinks are not needed.
I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend!
BONUS: If you post a comment or send me an email that you read the blog, your child gets TWO Market Day tickets on Monday.
Monday, August 25, 2008
It's Monday!!!!
I hope everyone had a GREAT weekend! It never seems long enough, does it??? We are delving right in today to our regular weekly work. Tonight's homework will be Spelling words two times, and Bible verse written once. There will also be Math homework tonight.
Tomorrow night--OPEN HOUSE! Please try to come. Even if you have more than one student, just stop in, say hello. It will be an important night full of information. If you really cannot come, I will have a packet of information for you that will come home.
I know from speaking to some of the Parent University parents that we are in need of ONE more room mom. Thanks to Mrs. Goguen who was the first to step up. Think you don't have time? You can give whatever time you have, even if it is just making phone calls or emails at home! Please let me know if you are available.
Thanks for everything! You are a blessing!
Tomorrow night--OPEN HOUSE! Please try to come. Even if you have more than one student, just stop in, say hello. It will be an important night full of information. If you really cannot come, I will have a packet of information for you that will come home.
I know from speaking to some of the Parent University parents that we are in need of ONE more room mom. Thanks to Mrs. Goguen who was the first to step up. Think you don't have time? You can give whatever time you have, even if it is just making phone calls or emails at home! Please let me know if you are available.
Thanks for everything! You are a blessing!
Friday, August 22, 2008
TGIF!!!!
Well we've almost made it through our first week of school (minus Fay Day, of course). Yet it is STILL raining! :) I truly hope everyone has a relaxing, enjoyable weekend together. I plan on (hopefully) spending it by the pool with my boys.
Today we finish up our lesson on "The Giving Tree". It didn't take long for these smart 2nd graders to figure out that the tree is like Jesus, always giving and giving and giving. If you have not read this book, go to the library and check it out. It's a good lesson for adults too!
We also were talking about "The Golden Rule" and how to show others God's love through our actions. (Luke 6:31).
The Olympic articles are POURING in!!!! Thank you! We are having a blast learning about ancient and modern Olympics. Our Olympic spelling words were fun too!
**Next week starts our regular Reading curriculum, including spelling words. We will also have a Bible verse and test next week. All tests are on Friday's (with the exception of Math, which can be any day of the week, just depends when it falls). You will always have notice of these things on your child's assignment sheet. Speaking of the assignment sheet, there will normally be homework everynight but Wed & Fri, but it should NOT take very long! In fact, your student may finish it in parent pick up or after care, but make sure you check it when they get home!
Also starting next week: ACCELERATED MATH!!! We are SO excited to be launching this program starting this year in 2nd grade (all the way to 6th grade!). We will be spending one day a week on AM (in replacement of our Math lesson that day).
**Coming up soon: After our study of the Olympics, we will be diving in (ha-ha) to learning our 50 states and capitals. Get out those maps and start preparing!
IMPORTANT EVENT: Please make sure to come on Tuesday night to Open House. It is at 7pm in the brand new gym! Mr. Mitchell will be speaking, then you will be released to come to the classroom and see your child's work from the first week, check out the curriculum, and I will be presenting about what to expect this school year, etc. Come with questions!
Thanks for making it a GREAT first week of 2nd grade. God Bless!
Today we finish up our lesson on "The Giving Tree". It didn't take long for these smart 2nd graders to figure out that the tree is like Jesus, always giving and giving and giving. If you have not read this book, go to the library and check it out. It's a good lesson for adults too!
We also were talking about "The Golden Rule" and how to show others God's love through our actions. (Luke 6:31).
The Olympic articles are POURING in!!!! Thank you! We are having a blast learning about ancient and modern Olympics. Our Olympic spelling words were fun too!
**Next week starts our regular Reading curriculum, including spelling words. We will also have a Bible verse and test next week. All tests are on Friday's (with the exception of Math, which can be any day of the week, just depends when it falls). You will always have notice of these things on your child's assignment sheet. Speaking of the assignment sheet, there will normally be homework everynight but Wed & Fri, but it should NOT take very long! In fact, your student may finish it in parent pick up or after care, but make sure you check it when they get home!
Also starting next week: ACCELERATED MATH!!! We are SO excited to be launching this program starting this year in 2nd grade (all the way to 6th grade!). We will be spending one day a week on AM (in replacement of our Math lesson that day).
**Coming up soon: After our study of the Olympics, we will be diving in (ha-ha) to learning our 50 states and capitals. Get out those maps and start preparing!
IMPORTANT EVENT: Please make sure to come on Tuesday night to Open House. It is at 7pm in the brand new gym! Mr. Mitchell will be speaking, then you will be released to come to the classroom and see your child's work from the first week, check out the curriculum, and I will be presenting about what to expect this school year, etc. Come with questions!
Thanks for making it a GREAT first week of 2nd grade. God Bless!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Cartoon of the Day
I thought this was very funny and cute (and SO true!) Today was a rainy but productive day! We are getting used to be RESPONSIBLE, RESPECTFUL 2nd graders (I told them, those are their words for the year!)
Thanks to all of you helping them be R&R!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Welcome back!!!
I'm glad to see everyone back at school today, and glad everyone was safe during Tropical Storm Fay. Can I just say, I LOVE these kids? They put a smile on my face and just make my day. Today being our first full day of school, I can say it has been a GREAT joy to get to know them. Today when they shared their red bags with 5 things about them, it was so neat to see their interests and talents.
Do NOT worry about Tuesday night's homework; we took care of it in class. Tonight being Church night--relax and go to church with your family. We will resume the homework sheet for Thursday night. Please be aware that homework MUST be turned in, or your child will receive a "W" for work not turned in.
Thanks to all of you that have picked things off of our 2nd grade "Giving Tree". If you have not, please come up and pick something! I appreciate all of your help.
Speaking of the "Giving Tree", we will be reading this story in class tomorrow and doing some activities with it. It is such an amazing lesson of selflessness that is vital for our children to learn.
We are loving learning about the Olympics. Today we are learning about Ancient Olympics, and your child is completing a mini-book that tells them about the history of the First Olympics. Thank you for the articles that were sent in; you can continue to send articles in; we will be doing something in class with them.
BONUS FOR READING THIS BLOG::: If you post a comment before noon tomorrow, your child gets an extra Market Day ticket!!!
Have a great rest of the week! Check my blog daily for brags, updates, and information!
Do NOT worry about Tuesday night's homework; we took care of it in class. Tonight being Church night--relax and go to church with your family. We will resume the homework sheet for Thursday night. Please be aware that homework MUST be turned in, or your child will receive a "W" for work not turned in.
Thanks to all of you that have picked things off of our 2nd grade "Giving Tree". If you have not, please come up and pick something! I appreciate all of your help.
Speaking of the "Giving Tree", we will be reading this story in class tomorrow and doing some activities with it. It is such an amazing lesson of selflessness that is vital for our children to learn.
We are loving learning about the Olympics. Today we are learning about Ancient Olympics, and your child is completing a mini-book that tells them about the history of the First Olympics. Thank you for the articles that were sent in; you can continue to send articles in; we will be doing something in class with them.
BONUS FOR READING THIS BLOG::: If you post a comment before noon tomorrow, your child gets an extra Market Day ticket!!!
Have a great rest of the week! Check my blog daily for brags, updates, and information!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
My Class List
On Monday, August 18th, I will welcome to my 2nd grade class:
- Cole Ames
- Carsyn Baxter
- Aidan Bennett
- Alex Bryant
- Alexandra Chlumksy
- Kiersten Comer
- Alex Crouch
- Alanna Dukas
- Samuel Goguen
- Meghan Kline
- Nicholas Sanabria
- Lindsy Smith
- Payton Stockman
- Brianna Wilcox
I am looking forward to meeting everyone and socializing together at our FMCS Barbeque after the first day of school (which is a 1/2 day!)
It is going to be a great year!!!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Welcome to 2nd grade!!!
Welcome to 2nd grade!!!!
I am SO excited to be starting the 2008-2009 school year with my new second graders and parents!
We will have many exciting things happening this year, and I encourage you to check this blog daily for student spotlights, classroom activities, and upcoming events.
I will even post surprises every once and a while, so keep coming back!
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