What a throwback....

From my old scrpbooking days (which I miss greatly some times!!)

http://sisterhoodofscrap.blogspot.ca/2007/05/sketch-saturday-week-4erica-hildebrand.html
http://jeanmaries.blogspot.ca/2007/09/inspiration.html

 

I forgot how much fun it was to use that creative element inside of me to make something beautiful and meaningful!!

Reflecting..

In the midst of about 4 million things that are going on in, around, and involving me I sometimes need to take a minute to remind myself that it is okay to slow down, to enjoy the little things, to stop pushing myself to do more and content myself with doing things that are pleasing not just obligatory.

Read a book slowly and savour the characters, the settings, and the dialogue.

Write poetry and savour using language

Read a story to my kids making sure all the voices are just right before they go to bed even if it means being 15 minutes late. 

Play the Die Rise map on zombies with my husband even if it means staying up 45 minutes later to finish some marking.

Take the time to really listen to a student’s story so they know I really care. Give some advice and hope it means something.

Spend a little time in the word getting to know the only one who will never leave, hurt, or forsake me.

Drink my coffee while it is hot.

Rule 46: Enjoy the little things.  

 

:o)

It's a new day....

I have not actually blogged in a looooong time. Does it count that I had great intentions of blogging?  I feel like so much is going on but I really have nothing to say.  That is a humbling experience for someone like me - who always has something to say. In fact right now I have a combination of "Yo, my name is Nicholas and this is ridiculous, got mad gummy money... and the lines of Charlotte Smith's Sonnet LXXXIII. The Sea View - THE upland shepherd, as reclined he lies; On the soft turf that clothes the mountain brow, Marks the bright sea-line mingling with the skies; Or from his course celestial, sinking slow, The summer-sun in purple radiance low... sloping off of my tongue as I type.  I am a deep well.... :o) 

I a very much enjoying teaching my grade 7's this year.  It helps that I have known most of these kids since preschool since they are in Freedom's class.  We have a lot of fun - they show me great videos and talk to me about poetry and theology. 

I have been hard at work creating my new units for grade 7.  I am teaching fractions and Earth's Crust.   I am STOKED about the Earth's Crust - being a geology/geography major and all.  I get use my first degree for something other than impressing people in passing conversation.  I have created the first portion of the unit - soil, soil profiles, rocks, minerals, and mining.  I get to work on volcano's, plate tectonics, rifts, subduction ..... the good stuff basically.

My first portion is completed and can be found here: The Earth's Crust.

The 34 page student use pack covers the composition of the earth, its layers, rock and mineral properties, classifications, and uses, the rock cycle, mining, mineral deposits, soil formation and profiles, as well as a 2 possible extending learning projects.

The student use pack includes:

• Brainstorming sheet
• Worksheets and links for two Bill Nye Videos
• Vocabulary Group Project
• Hands on activities like Rock Cycle Fudge, Properties of
Minerals Stations, and Mining Chocolate Chips
• Diagrams, worksheets, information pages
• Rock cycle sentence strip and poster project
• Property Word Search
• Crossword Puzzle Assignment
• Extension Assignments and Activities like design your
own cookie mining invention, create your own cross
word, etc.

As well as a 37 page teacher resource pack with answer keys, teaching suggestions and important links, images, instructions, scripture verses for biblical integration, vocab sheets, as well as a quiz, adapted quiz and answer keys.

Works well with Hands on Science or Nelson Science and Technology 7. However, relevant information is provided in the booklets so they are not necessary. Resources are referred to as "extending learning" activities should you wish to include them.

Potential!

I found this message by Rick Godwin when I was looking for something to motivate me.  His message is about untapped potential.  Potential that is hidden, unrealized, buried, or untapped.  This message was for ME where I am at right now.  But, I think it is for everyone who is a teacher. In our classrooms there lies tons of potential that has been overlooked, undervalued or has been quashed by a students daily life.  It is our job to see them for the unique, amazing, valuable individuals God made them to be.  We need to overlook behaviours.  Do not misunderstand, we need to deal with behaviours but those behaviours should not change how we value them or encourage and empower them.  We need to see through the shy child and find the leader.  Hear the voice of natural leaders and allow them to lead in a  right way with strategies that we equip them with.  We should VALUE our students and VALUE their potential as the next generation of world changers!!  Enjoy!

Homework song for Bible

http://youtu.be/rzPkRrfD_fw. 

This is a working URL of the song we are to listen to as homework.  

Tales of an awesome Mom...

Was sitting on the car a few days ago in the dark, in the quiet,  and decided to blow my coaches whistle really loud as Chey was getting ready to drive. 

Scared the bejesus out of Cheyenne who jumps and yells,  "Save it for the gym coach!" 

I reply  very matter of factly, "I don't use it in the gym".

She says " Then where so use it?" 

I replied "In the car."

Ha.

The importance of sleep and other stuff...

This post is about stuff, stuff and things.  If you ask any of my students those are my favorite words when all else fails me.  Which happens often. I most likely owe this to my lack of sleep since I have a rather staggering vocabulary from years of reading and university.

I have been working on report cards for a few days now.  It has been insanity trying to fit in correcting, report cards, three kids in volleyball, coaching, parenting, me time, devotion time - TIME!  Yet, in that chaos there is a stillness that can only come from God.  I should be at wit's end, but I am not.  I should be very tired, but I am not. I should be overwhelmed, but I am not.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

It is amazing what God can carry you through and you don't even realize the chaos that has been going on around you because he has so well protected you.  It like coming out of a storm shelter after a tornado.  You know it's passing, you know it's going to be crazy, you can hear the wind and feel the pressure but it is only when you climb out from that shelter that you truly realize what you have lived through.  

I do not know how people who do not have faith cope.  I know I am not strong enough, good enough, or wise enough to be who I was created to be.  It was Him that me made more than enough.  

I challenge you to think about the hardest times in your life and consider how you felt - tossed and thrown or a stillness that to the natural mind is unnatural?  If you were tossed and thrown maybe it's time to pray for some protection from life's storms from the only source of strength that delivers on His promises.