Make a Difference...Care!

Do you ever sit down to blog hop and start writing a post because you feel so compelled? It is happening to me right now! I want to thank everyone who has said a prayer or left a word of encouragement during these sad days. You have shown me that you care.

You have shown me care as a noun, verb and its synonyms! Thank you. 













For that care I am eternally grateful!

My family and I love this book
This book makes us laugh because the cover looks like my husband at times! He quite often stands this way, but not USUALLY with that look on his face. I call him my Cranky Bear! In this book a sweet little sheep shows care to a bear and it makes all the difference in the world.

Every day we wake up and show care to those around us we are making the world a better place. Sometimes a smile is the care a child needs. Sometimes a hug. Sometimes a word well spoken.  When we show care as a verb and as a noun we make a child's world better and they learn what caring is, too. We all know that experience is the best teacher.

I'm linking up with

 

Thank you again for your kind words, prayers, thoughts! It shows you care!

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Monday Made it...Owls Of Course! Freebie!

I have been wanting to join
Monday made it for the last ten weeks! FINALLY I am linking up with two things that I have made.  First up is another two of my owls. I just love these little owls and my Cricut cutting mat has a permanent outline of this owl engraved into it! One of these guys is flying to Florida and the other is going to hang outside my classroom door. I'm going back to Joann's to get more of the handwriting scrapbook paper, so I can make more of these owls. 

I blogged about these a few posts back and was happy to send one to my new friend Lauren. She should get it in the mail any day now! I'm using these clocks in my daily schedule display. I can't wait  to take them to school and get them settled in this afternoon.

I teach with an incredible group of teachers. Yesterday at church I was blessed to be able to gather with them and cry, laugh and pray about our student who was tragically taken from us last Thursday. We are praying now for a little girl in serious condition who has received a new heart because of this tragic event. We also pray for the children that will receive new chances to live because of her kidneys pancreas and liver. Life will continue because of her gift. 

I want to do something for my teacher friends to let them know how much I love and appreciate them in my life. Thanks to my favorite Chickadee, I was inspired to create these with my MyMemories software. I wish I could share both of the pages I designed, but I must follow copyright laws! Thank you Laurie for your inspiration. I can't wait to share these at our first meeting. I plan on putting them in  frames. 

The top picture was designed using Christine Smith's design pack called Whooo Loves You available through MyMemories. Click on the bottom picture if you'd like to go to the link. JazzyPatterns is the designer of the clipart. JazzyPatterns has a store on Etsy that I love.

Thanks for hosting 4th Grade Frolics. I needed some prompting today!

Saying Goodbye

How can you help a child make it through the death of another child when you are having a hard time with it yourself?  There are always more questions about death than answers. When it is a child’s friend it makes it even harder.  When it is your own child asking questions you can’t answer it is heart breaking. I believe that what God has prepared for me is better than anything I can even imagine. I believe that when I am in the presence of Jesus my questions suddenly won’t matter or be remembered. I believe that every situation in life will draw us closer to our God or pull us away. Even in my anger, sadness and grief I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that God’s ways are not mine. “The world with its wisdom was unable to recognize God in terms of his own wisdom. So God decided to use the nonsense of the Good News we speak to save those who believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:21

This week I lost a special friend. A twelve year old who loved animals, had a sensitive heart for people who were feeling down, a child who loved to laugh has left a mark in my life. Knowing her has brought me more joy than pain, and more laughter than tears. Here sudden death has caused me deep pain and more tears than I’ve shed in a lifetime. I don’t understand, but I choose to hold on to what I do understand. God is in control. “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward.” Philippians 3:14

Here are some ways that we can help children cope with death:

Allow children to talk about their feelings. Listen to the stories that they tell about their loved one.

Don’t assume that children understand or view death the same way that you do. We all have different ways of thinking about death based on our own life experiences.

Grieving is a process that is different for each person. Don’t press children to resume normal activities before they are ready.

Help children find ways to express condolences to family or friends of the person that has died.

Allow children to see your own expressions of grief so that they learn it is natural to express feelings of sadness.

I have found this website very helpful for myself in understanding
 how to help my daughter through this difficult time:

http://www.nasponline.org/resources/crisis_safety/griefwar.pdf

This book is a great resource to have when helping a child through the grieving process. It allows children to write and draw their experiences and feelings to help them become whole again.

Life is precious. Tonight my friend won’t get to say goodnight to her child. She won’t shake her head because her socks were left stuffed in the couch. Her father won’t call her in from the backyard and kneel beside her bed at night to say prayers. I will and I will treasure the time knowing that we don’t know what a day might bring. I need to tell and show the people in my life how much they mean to me.

Thank you for allowing me to grieve in your presence. I ask that you not leave a comment, but use that time to say a prayer for a family who is feeling torn apart. Please pray for a school that has had their heart broken by sadness.

Boo-Hoo: Final Chapter and Two Free Mini-Posters

I cannot begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed this book study! It has been an eye-opening study and I am coming away with so many great ideas from not only Katie, but also all of you, friends! I have enjoyed all of your insights, encouragement and friendships! Thank you to all of you who made this such a great study. I won't cry because it's over...I'll smile because it happened!

This was probably one of my favorite chapters. I love the predictability of picture books and they bring a certain level of comfort and familiarization to my young readers, as well. I remember quite clearly one of my students stopping me as I began reading a book to ask who the book was dedicated to. Several of her friends nodded in agreement with her question. Yes, they all wanted to know who the book was dedicated to! I paged back to see who it was that the book was dedicated to and read the dedication page aloud as my listeners wondered who that could be. This class was so attune to the  layout and design of books and they taught me about the importance of taking time to notice these important details. Katie says, "Whether they are conscious of it or not, readers respond to the layout and design of texts." Yes! They do! As we study illustration to help young writers we need to make our writers aware of the subtle details illustrators make as they design their pages.


We all do it. Bloggers are visual. We think about how things will look. If I see a blog with lots of text and few pictures, I rarely linger very long unless the subject is of great interest to me or if it is your blog. The way a blogger lays out their page can either draw me in or turn me off. I hope I haven't turned you off, yet! Helping children see possibilities in text/illustration layout strengthens their decision making skills and helps them to keep their pages interesting.
Laurie Keller's books are great illustrations of visually appealing text and illustration.
I had the pleasure of attending one her speaking events, as she lives in the area! She is a wonderful entertainer as well as author and illustrator!
The dedication page is hilarious...

Have your students write dedication pages...It is so heartwarming!

Laurie designs print to convey meaning. (Technique 43!) I love the fonts and colors in the book Do Unto Otters.

Laurie designed a cover that drew me in and highlights all the main characters of the book. I love going back to the cover after reading it to talk about how each character played an important role in this book about manners.

Technique 40:  Designing the Placement of Words and Pictures
Katie recommends that children be taught the vocabulary of page design. This kind of design vocabulary is important for children to understand in many kinds of texts. I have been having so much fun with My Memories software for scrap booking. I have tried using it to make mini-posters and thought that this might be a way to make a visual to teach children these vocabulary words.

Click on either picture to go to Google docs and print your own set! Also available for free for a limited time on TPT!

Thank you everyone for the memories and insights!

Want to see more on this topic? Hop on over to... 
Thanks for hosting, Kindergals!

Vista Mania Mini-Poster Freebie!

Yesterday was a day for me to waste two hours on Vistaprint creating some really sweet items. I saw the offer  on Groupon to buy a certificate for $20 worth $80. I had to check this place out. Off I went with no idea what Vistaprint was. It took me a while to fill my cart with $80 worth of original designs using some of my favorite Digital Bakeshop owls. Yes! I could fall in love with this store. I was all set to check out, so off I went to purchase the certificate from Groupon...You know what I'm going to say, if you use Groupon...SOLD OUT! For about five minutes there was a big black cloud hanging over my head!

Not one to let things get me down for too long, I returned and kept my favorite items in the cart. The deal wasn't as sweet as I had hoped, but at least I was able to come up with some great things for my classroom and for my students.

Ready for the big reveal? Here it is...

This large car magnet will be hung on the door to my classroom. I'll write student's names on the owls.

This small magnet will go home with each student at the
open house we have prior to the first day of school.

I'll wait for a good coupon or deal to print this poster...No moreimpulse shopping for me...this week!

This morning I had to play with my newest toy.  Digital Bakeshop's Hoots and Tweets Back to School. I love these owls and look at the poster that is saved in my porfolio:

If you would like a copy for yourself you can get one HERE Google Docs or find it free at my TPT store. Thank you for following along! 



Haven't seen Vistaprint? Check it out and sign up for e-mails to get great deals and free stuff!


Need more reasons to love Vistaprint? I'm headed over to link-up and check out other Vistaprint creations. A fellow Michigander is hosting this party, and I love to party!

Ten Frame Freebie in my PJs!

Laurie says she's at her aunt's, but I think she came to hang out with me!

 It is almost 11:00, I am still in my pajamas, and lovin it! Tomorrow is August, and for me that means That Which Must Not Be Named! I'm going to spend the day doing some of the things I love...Blog hopping, game playing, bike riding and bird watching! My new house has a wonderful location for my feeders. The birds come right up to the window to talk to me! I think of Laurie from Chickadee Jubilee often because of all the chickadees gracing my yard!

Speaking of birds and games, look what I found at Mejier on clearance. I had to get it. I am Mo Willems number one fan! I made My 13 and 17 year old played with me last night. We had so much fun I think I'll make them play again.  they'll beg me for more tonight.

The cards are zipped inside the pigeon!

Even though I lost, I love matching games!

I spent the morning playing with my clip art. I love clip art and got started making fun ten frames and couldn't stop! I made five sets of ten frames each with a different graphic. I'm so excited to use them and plan on displaying this one in my classroom. I think this will really help students visualize each number and its relationship to ten. I would like you to grab these owls here or at TPT. The preview at TPT includes the whole owl set that I made using a familiar looking owl! If you click on the owl it will take you to Google Docs. If you click on the advertisement, which I paid myself for,  you can buy the whole package and help me send my kids to college!

No Quick Fix! Clip Chart Freebie!

My oldest daughter is home for the summer before finishing her final year in  college. She is studying chemistry and biology. She has an amazing brain and she has the ability to think things through in a way I have not been gifted with. She does tend to lose things like cell phones, keys, and wallets, but as long as she doesn't lose her mind, she's going places. Her goal is to go to planet Mars someday. Her name happens to be, Mars! Many people don't know this, but I'm letting you in on a family secret. Her real name is Margaret. She was named after my mom and sister. Since she discovered the planet Mars at the age of three, everyone has called her Mars.

Kpm Doodles!

Mars is working in childcare for the summer. The last two years she had been working at a place she lovingly nicknamed "Stinkins Adventure". She is really good at coming up with nicknames! At this job she threw food to people who complained loudly about its cost for the amount of food they were given. She really didn't have any control over this. She followed the rules and people got mad at her. She couldn't do it another year, so she stepped out in faith and quit before her first day of work. When a job came up for her in childcare she jumped at it.


I had never imagined her in childcare. I've seen how caring she is towards her brother and sister. I watched her frustration with me and her father when she's had to lovingly explain or teach us something. Sarcasm is dripping here! She'll be the first to admit that she doesn't have a lot of patience. Guess what! You guessed it! She is doing a wonderful job working with toddlers. She thinks they're funny. She is a case study in God giving us what we need at the right time. I've seen her in action. She is loving, kind, caring and warm with these wonderful little people.

So she came home from work one day this week and asked if she could read my Conscious Discipline book. She wants to help a couple of her charges learn to behave in a more appropriate way. She is trying to get inside their minds and figure out how they work. Uh-oh, she's invested in these little cuties. She has only a month before she heads back to school. I love Conscious Discipline and I would  have gladly handed her the book, BUT it isn't a quick fix guide. I would love for her to read it. I think it is a wonderful guide not only for teachers, but also for parents, bosses, mentors, anyone in leadership! The draw back for her right now is that  CD isn't quick. It is a life changing retrain of our brains. We have to "see" situations differently. Chapter 1 on composure is opening my eyes to see how I can create an environment in my home and classroom for my family and owlets. The first four principles are easy to remember:
1. Self control is necessary when disciplining children.
2. No one makes us angry unless we give them permission.
3. We must have a plan to reduce stress for ourselves and those around us.
4. Everyone in the classroom has the job of keeping the classroom safe.

These are wonderful principals for us all. I am so excited to start using CD language in my classroom in the fall. I haven't thought a whole lot about my physical classroom structure, but I have been praying for my students everyday and I have been thinking about how I can use Composure to make my classroom environment best for student learning.

Back to Mars. I wanted to give her a quick fix. I've never used a clip chart, but I thought it might help her little ones learn some composure! We talked about it and she got pretty excited. So, I've made her a clip chart for her little monsters little cuties. Even though owls are my theme in the fall, I'm thinking about trying this in my room. I would hate for my owlets to get tired of owls. I want them to remember O(only) W(with) the L(Lord's) S(strength) we can do all things.

Click on picture to go to Google Docs! Also available for sale at TPT!

 Let me know what you think!

Don't forget I'm looking for a home for this owl!