Roses and Thorns

Summer camp anyone? As a camp counselor for a few years one of my favorite bedtime activities was to play roses and thorns with the kids (works elementary through high school +). Each person shares one rose, or high, exciting, good, stellar, praise point etc. etc. part of their day, and one thorn, the hard, negative, low, challenge. etc of the day's events.

I love it because it's a time for them to safely vent, problem solve where needed, and check in with what's bothering/challenging your kiddos that you were unaware of,  but at the same time celebrate the positive. It was also a good time of the day to give a "way to go" for each child in how they either handled their thorn or related to their rose. (Praising publicly like that is said to be magnified by 10- and we all want to praise our kids more than we correct them! Plus it encourages a culture of honoring one another where it's due!)

One of my favorite campers ever- Miss S!

So on that note,

My thorn for the day is that I am VERY annoyed by politics/dynamics in the work place (that includes schools/universities) that make people act and respond in awful ways to each other!!!

My rose for the day is that I am in love with teaching!!! It is so wonderful to get those little hugs, see those light bulbs flash, and be a part of a child's growth, development, and discovery!

I encourage you to try this with your family or friends- I guarantee you'll learn something more about them!
Roses and Thorns,

WILW- Teacherly Edition

Happy Wednesday everyone! Happy beginning of Lent to those who celebrate the 40 days as well.

I'm actually posting early for once because I decided to use the "schedule post" feature on blogger. It's the little things in life...that or I'm procrastinating writing another unit plan right now.

Things I'm loving...
Writing letters back to my students about their reading journals. I love that some of my 2000s kiddos are reading books like Pippi Longstocking and Pollyanna.One drew me an adorable picture stick-out braids, monkey on the shoulder and all! (I also learned today that my Asian kiddos have seen Pippi in Korean- who knew that was a fad there?!?)

I'm cracking up that a few of my boys are getting dates confused. One asked me if I lost my husband at D-Day. Hahaha. Well munchkin, 1, Ms. W is not married hence the Ms. and 2, If D-Day was in the 1940s and it's now 2011 do I really look like I'm 85+?!?!? (I'm 24)

On that same note, in Guided Reading groups some of my higher readers just finished Snow Treasure by Marie McSwigan and we made the text-text connection to Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. When I told them I loved that book at their age one of my more cynical ones said "Man, Lois Lowry must be over 100 if you read her when you were young...." Ahem, what are you implying child?

I'm loving that this musical was broadcast on PBS this weekend. And oh yes I belted out half the songs from my couch! Can't wait until the Nat'l Tour comes to my city this Spring. Some grads of my university are performing and I am so there!

I'm getting excited about my Arts and Writing Realistic Fiction unit that I'm launching this week. I'm using this program for a few of my lessons- check out these amazing books you can produce- from crayons and watercolor!I can't wait to dive in to planning, writing, and publishing w/ the kiddos.

I'm loving that I will be paid to teach next week for a few days while my CT is out of town. (I'll be the official sub). Bonus! I get paid to do what I love. Lots of classroom library shopping in my future.

I'm loving my diet coke as usual- and my new weirdly delish (but awful for me) caffeine fix- half sugar free french vanilla cappuccino/half hot chocolate from the automatic machines. I'm burning the candle at both ends this week so don't judge.

Okay so maybe you can judge. Late nights + insane amount of papers/planning/work may equal leads to  some webcam distraction :-)

Have a good week,

What Faith Can Do

Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it’s more than you can take

But you are stronger, stronger than you know 

 Don’t you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

 

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard

Impossible is not a word

It’s just a reason for someone not to try

Everybody’s scared to death

When they decide to take that step

Out on the water

It’ll be alright

Life is so much more

Than what your eyes are seeing

You will find your way

If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds

You don't have a chance

(That’s what faith can do)

When the world says you can’t

It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

That's what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes

You will have the strength to rise

 

Praying for strength and healing for some very special people in my life tonight. And I have seen miracles happen- join me in asking for some now :-)

WILW- sick edition :-(

Day 3 of being home w/ the stomach flu. Not fun, and I feel super guilty missing student teaching. 

On the bright side, it's still What I'm Loving Wednesday and 2 days til the weekend!

I'm loving that I can see glimpses of blue skies out my window- February grey is over!
I'm loving that I had some wonderful ladies over on Sunday for an Oscars party.

I'm loving my subscription to:

I've currently been watching past seasons of Grey's Anatomy.
A couple of the actors came straight from Broadway...including Sara Ramirez who plays Callie Torres. (Like literally straight from Broadway, after ABC saw her Tony-winning performance in Spamalot they called her up and said pick any show and we'll write you in. I have lots of friends in showbiz and that.doesn't.happen. She's amazing! Plus she plays an orthopedic surgeon on the show...maybe I'm a little biased ;-)
Here are a couple of videos of her performing that I've been watching this week :-)

I'm loving that it's March and my local Great Harvest Bread Co. makes the most amazing Irish Soda Bread!  I used to have my mom mail it to my dorm when I was at boarding school it's that good :-)
Goes perfectly with my diet of Sprite and bread this week.

Well off to take yet another nap, praying that I'll be good to go in the morning.
Happy Wednesday y'all, I hope you stay healthy!

WILW-Random Edition

Welcome back to "What I'm Loving Wednesday!"

I'm lovin'.....

This glorious week off for mid-winter break! (and it's still winter...we went from 60 degree weather last week to 8 inches of fresh snow and ice! Hello, Midwest. I think it's put me in laid-back snow day mode, and that's just fine with me!)

If you read my post on Time, this is a great book that poses and answers some deep questions! The Three Questions by Jon Muth (adapted from Leo Tolstoy) is a great book for all ages, with beautiful illustrations, and a positive message. I can't wait to read it to my class each year, and may in fact read it to my high school girls next small group meeting!

Diving back in to my research/work in dancer health and wellness. I'm part of a team planning our second annual Performing Arts  Medicine Conference (Dancers, Figure Skaters, Gymnasts...) 

More details on that soon!

Monday night Bachelor's night. Silly, I know, but it's great to get together with a bunch of ladies- from high school on up- to have a fun dinner, dish on the show, make delicious desserts...I love starting the week off right spending time with my girls. (And for those watching...I'm so rooting for Emily, although, I don't know if Brad can actually commit...sigh)

I'm also loving getting back into thrifting! I found some great sunglasses and an adorable tank/tunic today at Platos...think I'm willing SPRING to come once and for all! I've also been hitting up the book sections to build my classroom library. Any favorite book suggestions? (I will hopefully be teaching somewhere in the K-3 range)

And to round out the randomness for this WILW Edition, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes...

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us most. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and famous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in all of us. And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

                                                                                                                                      ~Nelson Mandela