Here it is Saturday and I'm looking at a 2 week break from school. Of course I'll be up there working on lesson plans and so on a couple of days. The end of the school day doesn't mean the end of work! My kiddos went home happy after the Christmas party yesterday. During the week I provided ingredients for them to create gifts for their parents/caregivers. They included cards, a candle and two ornaments. One was a 3D paper ornament either made from pertty patterned paper or self decorated, their choice. One was an applesauce and cinnamon ornament. Sounds weird doesn't it? Other than the thiness our ornaments looked like these.
These applesauce and cinnamon ornaments went home with my students to decorate their trees. The kids enjoyed making them. We had a lesson on measurement (we tripled the recipe) as the ingredients were prepared in the mixing bowl. The resulting dough was rolled out on a table and each student chose from a variety of cookie cutters I had on hand. They cut the dough, removed the shape to a square of wax paper, cut a hole at the top of each ornament with a straw, and placed them on a bookcase to dry. With 20 of them drying the room sure smelled good for awhile! I purchased some pretty shiny ribbon for the children to thread through the hole once the ornaments were dry. We discussed the fact that these would not be edible once they were ready. ("edible" was added to the academic vocabulary folder)
Christmas trees are my favorite Christmas decoration. No two trees are alike. Looking at friend's trees is always a treat. I've seen some really beautiful theme trees and have thought about doing one, but can't bring myself to leave my old treasured decorations in the boxes. I like to think of my tree not as a hodge podge of decorations and of styles, but as "eclectic." Many of the decorations were given to me by students. I write the name of the student and year it was given if there is a place. Others were given to me by my sister and nieces. (See the Gossamer monster near the top of the tree.) Many I picked just because I liked them. I've been trying over the last few years to find lamb ornaments. I call it my "Lamb of God" collection. My sister is always on the out look for them as well. Hanging inside the tree where it isn't visible is a replica of a nail from the cross. There are candy canes that tell the story of Jesus. Small glass fruit ornaments hang on the tree, each one naming a Fruit of the Spirit. Several cross ornaments are there, also. "Manger" nails hang from many branches, unseen unless you know to look since they are not colorful. Some were my mom's ornaments, familiar and loved since childhood. Won't be going to a theme tree any time soon. They are beautiful, but my "eclectic" tree holds so much meaning for me.
It was! First there was a bus safety video to view. It was mainly for the bus drivers, but state law said the little ones had to view it. Then we went outside and participated in a bus evacuation drill. Soon after that we loaded the buses again for the short trip to the nursing home. The kids sang Christmas songs for the residents, who seemed to enjoy it. The kiddos made cards that the staff there passed out among the residents. Then cards, that had been made by the residents and staff, were given to the students. We had time enough for a little phonics and reading before lunch. Whew! Math after lunch, reviewing carrying.
Then after school the School Board and Administration gave a reception for teachers and staff at the Central Office. It was very nice! Great wassail and the eats were good, but those of us from the primary school couldn't indulge too much because......
The Primary School faculty and staff Christmas dinner was tonight at the Country Club. Great food! Great company! We brought white elephant gifts (no, I didn't regift) and read a right-left Christmas story to exchange them. We presented the principal with her gift and she liked it.
At this point I'd like to say that I saw something on Mrs. G's blog that I want. I'm going to try to make one for next year and that is a WHITE ELEPHANT. It is a stuffed toy elephant (white of course) and I think that would be a lot of fun to pass around as a white elephant gift!
I love these cookies and so do the kids in my family! It is an old recipe so you probably already have it, but here goes:
The second grade Christmas program was last Thursday. I was so proud of my kiddos, they did a great job!
This was a very different kind of program for us, the seven second grade teachers. Usually we practice with the kids, rehearse on the stage, discuss time and sequence, practice more, it goes on and on. Then the night of the program we gather our little chicks up in our rooms and take them as a group to the stage, monitor, encourage and take them back as a group to our rooms. I don't think that, up until this year, any of us has ever seen an entire program.
THIS year was different. Our new music teacher did all the practicing during music time in her class. She instructed the kids to stay with their parents on the night of the program and come to the stage when she called the individual classes. She wanted the teachers to sit in the audience and enjoy the program! Well having had our cheese in one place lo these many years we were worried at having it moved into such a different place. Would it work? Would the kiddos get up there and back? Was it possible for the show to go on without us? Guess what? It was wonderful. The kids got up there and back, they knew their parts, they did a great job, we saw the entire show (hearing however was a different story), and all was well with the world!
The kids did great!! It was the parents who didn't do so great. There was talking throughout the entire program. We could barely hear the music teacher give instructions. At the beginning of several songs she had to remind the audience that the kids had worked hard. She asked for the audience to settle down. (She was very polite and asked in a kind voice.) They didn't and some were actually offended that anyone thought that they should show the simple courtesy of hushing while the children were performing.
Oh well. Such is life! The kids enjoyed doing it and that is what counts. Their smiles were radiant and they were beautiful.
It is getting to be that time. Usually I do a turkey and dressing, or ham and dressing. My nieces love my dressing and fake giblet gravy. This year my husband has to work and my sister has moved to Kansas (where they are freezing their patooties off) so I'm going over to a friend's house and have been requested to bring my sweet potatoes. They like them a lot. The recipe calls it a souffle' but it's not. So here it is:
The monthly meeting of the Stampin' Up card making club I belong to was held yesterday evening. Four of us attended. Instead of learning a new technique or working with a new stamp set we made Christmas cards to send to troops who are recovering from injuries. We worked in an assembly line to put together 20 cards. The inside was sponged with red and green, stamped with a verse and signed. The envelopes were decorated as well. We had a lot of fun chatting and catching up as we worked. Plenty of snacks were eaten and sweet drank. Can't beat a good, cold glass of sweet tea.
After we finished the cards we played a game I had never heard of: One Hundred. It was simple, quick, and fun. To play 100 you need a die, a pencil and each person needs a piece of paper. Each person rolls the die and the one with the highest number rolls again. this is "THE NUMBER." You take turns rolling the die and when a person rolls "THE NUMBER" she grabs the pencil and starts writing numbers from one on up while the others continue to roll the die. You must write fast because as soon as one of the others roll "THE NUMBER" they will grab the pencil from you and begin writing. Continue in this fashion, don't slow down on rolling the die. The first person who writes all the numbers from 1 to 100 wins.
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