We decided it is like reading in a nifty ice cave.
Smile with me
FOCUS!
MVCS’s theme for the new school year is FOCUS, and our class is going with a rock climber analogy as we discuss and live it out (thanks to my Vertical Dreams niece Gloriana’s inspiration). Huzzah to my sister for this suggestion for our little garden (side note–replanting after the squirrel took out all the sunflowers by jumping on them). The frog belaying the gecko just cracks me up!
The Day Miss Blessing Got Mad
So you learn pretty quickly when you start teaching that you just don’t know what students will say about you at home. From the day I prayed for a missionary ministering to orphan children and heard the next day that I had decided to have some babies (single though I be) to the times when parents hear, “That’s not how MISS BLESSING says to add/subtract/multiply/divide,” it can all be pretty hilarious.
Well, with multi-age, students get to know you even more deeply. There’s no hiding. I pray every day that I will be consistently kind, have loving words, and reach out with a tender, compassionate heart.
So when I heard that one of my old students regaled his sisters with tales of the time I got really, really mad, I was trembling to hear what this was all about. I feel like I’m pretty even-keeled, and I never yell (except when I’m reading out loud! ha ha!).
So here’s the picture he made of the day I got mad. With an ominous tone, he told them, “I was so naughty, and Miss Blessing LOOKED at me!”
My mother, with her famous stink-eye, would be proud. I’m still laughing!
The Day Miss Blessing Got Mad:
Sizzling
What can you do when your brain is sizzling from this string of 90 degree, humid days like a fried egg in a scorching pan? We choose to make the best of things. At morning meeting this morning, we did the Ice Fishing greeting! Don’t you feel cooler?
Green!
With a wink to my beloved winter, I present some enthusiastic Grass Angels!
April Fool’s Day
There were some pretty hilarious moments all around the school today, as students and teachers enjoyed funny (but not unkind) April Fool’s Day jokes. Jadon laughed at his mama’s cleverness to fill his chip bag with carrots and to disguise it so well, but all day long he muttered, “Oh, I really wanted those Cheetos!” We laughed every time! (Hopefully, the Cheetos were at home waiting for him this afternoon!)
How-To Writing
All week we have been practicing different skills needed for clear, understandable direction writing as the students prepare for big “How-To Writing” presentations next week. How about order words? Spicy word choices? Sensible order of details? Topic sentence and a wonderful ending?
Well, yesterday an unexpected surprise woke up all the writers. They wrote a practice piece giving directions for cooking and topping a pancake. Ho hum, right?
Never! When they got back from music, the restaurant was open, and Miss Blessing followed exactly what was written. You should have seen the big eyes when the first piece said, “Take your bag of chocolate chips and pour tons of it on each pancake. Be sure to flip it over.” Those flipping chips rained down everywhere in a chocolate shower. Surprise!
“Put syrup on them and whipped cream.”
“Take it off the stove and flip it three or four minutes.”
Could someone please include a spatula in their directions?
“Put on whipped cream and maple syrup, . . . .
”
” . . . . and swirl it!”
“Last, put on whipped cream in a thick heart and pour on maple syrup.”
Hopefully, this is the picture these students will have in their minds every time they sit down to write directions. Their hoots of laughter and precious comments were unforgettable. They were fans of the writing, but they did comment that perhaps Miss Blessing shouldn’t enter Iron Chef anytime soon. Stay tuned to their blogs for their “How-To Projects” next week!
Big Love
Poor Mrs. Shedd had the flu, and we haven’t seen her for a whole month. Do you think we missed her a lot, a super lot, or a gargantuan lot?
We’re glad you’re back at MVCS, beloved Mrs. Shedd!
We Love it Here!
Wow!
Our birdfeeder stand kept tipping over in the gusty Vermont wind. Mr. Ralph tried several solutions, but it kept tipping. However, Mr. Ralph would not be defeated! I cracked up all day long after coming to school and seeing this sturdy oak outside our window. We love it!
