Coming soon...

to blog about when I have more time...

*bees game

*field trip?... maybe not here, but at least on my sensation second blog

*my new most exciting way to reinforce comprehension for my students...nothing earth-shattering, but I'm excited about it...

*Where the Mountain Meets the Moon ...great young adult book and the two life lessons it teaches...

(Think of this as one of those commercials... a sneak peak at what is coming)... but really it's mostly a way for me to not forget what's on my mind and to get it out of my mind so I can focus on some other things for the next day or two

two things

I've been thinking...if I could just teach one lesson to my kids, what would it be? What is the most important thing I want them to learn from me... I couldn't narrow it down to one but came up with two things. (Just have to throw in a side note that if I could include 3 things the 3rd would be to LOVE to read and read often!:) That can't make it in my top two, but it's right up there...not surprising if you know me.)
So here's my things:
1- To love God and have a testimony of Jesus Christ and the gospel
2- To love others, including those who are different, who have different values, who are from different backgrounds, etc.

I want to talk about number 2 for a minute because it is something I feel like I am struggling with a bit.

On Sunday, we had a great Relief Society lesson about turning to the Lord and our teacher, Ione, asked each of us to write down one question or problem we are having that we would like an answer to. The timing on this seemed just perfect because there is a concern I've had that I was happy to get some (great) input on...and since my index card with my question was chosen, I got some great suggestions...and of course, I know I can get more help through prayer.

As I'm teaching my children the standards that I believe in, I find it difficult for them to separate behaviors that we don't agree with from people. For instance, we believe that smoking is not wise or good. We are asked to dress modestly and live a chaste life. I believe firmly in these things. However, I have close friends who are not of my faith that have different beliefs and values. I have heard my children say things like "That person smokes. He is bad." or "Look at that bad person with a tattoo." And a couple of times those comments have been made about people that I know and love...and even when made about strangers, the comments have made me uncomfortable. I want my children to love everyone regardless of whether the choices others make are choices that we agree with... I recognize that some of this is a reflection of their age and that things seem very black and white to them. But I know that many good people live differently than I choose to. I also see how easy it is to put people into groups and label them (by race, religion, income or education level, immigrant, native language, and so on)... and I'm sure that we are all guilty of that at some level. But I work with so many good people who are of different faiths, so many good people who come from different ethnic backgrounds, so many good people who are immigrants and so on...I love people and I want that to be something my children learn from me. I hope that this will be learned from my example and hope that I am showing them that I love others. I also try to explain to them that if someone acts or believes differently than us that doesn't make them bad.

I don't feel like I'm being as eloquent in expressing my thoughts about this as I would like... but I have been shaped a great deal both by books I have read and by the experiences I have had teaching. I just completed a very thought-provoking book called "Black Like Me" and in this true book a white man uses medicine and die to turn himself black and travel through the southern US in the late 1950's. He was very courageous...and he was treated horribly. In some cities, he went through the city twice...once as himself, a well-educated, intelligent white man and once as a (still) well-educated, intelligent but now black man. The difference in the way he was treated was disheartening, sickening, and so saddening. He was the same person, but with different colored skin. I think that things have improved since then, although I still don't think we are where we need to be. Now I feel that in many ways we treat hispanic immigrants in a similar way... definitely not as terribly as back then but still as if they are second class citizens/less than us as human beings. I don't know how we, in our minds and hearts, can justify this. At the time, Justice Bok said, "I am annoyed by those who love mankind but are cruel and discourteous to people." I really think that the main reason we are here is to learn to love one another, and I often reflect on how I'm doing in that regard.

And I am not where I need or want to be. I hope that my children see me showing love and respect to others. I know that they don't see me helping others as often as I would like...I have a few neighbors that are so amazing and that I constantly see helping others, lending a helping hand where it is needed, and being so kind and friendly to others. I am not trying to make excuses but I am a little on the shy side and also work a lot and don't feel that I take the time/have the opportunities to serve as much as I could. But I do feel like my job is a service. I mean, obviously I get paid... but I put in a lot more time, thought, and prayer into my teaching than I am paid for and I love those kids and their families. I hope that while it doesn't make up for the time I am away from my children, I hope that I am able to help my children see that I am serving others as I strive each day to educate these children who are our future but whose futures do not always seem as bright as my own childrens' because of the circumstances into which they were born. I am constantly doing a balancing act of trying to meet the needs of my family and the needs of my students and I fall short...but I hope that overall, I am teaching my children to love those who are different, to love those who make mistakes (we all do!), to love everyone. And I hope I am providing an education to my students that will provide them with hope for a better tomorrow. I hope that in my own small way, I am combating social injustice and making the world a little better.

I still don't feel like I expressed my thoughts quite how they are jumbled in my head, but I hope that at the very least my children will know that I love them and that I love others.

kindergarten agrees with her!

Seriously, Ella loves kindergarten!!! Loves it. And is doing quite well. I have to admit that I had some worries before she started. Ella is often shy and reluctant in new situations. She really tends to be a homebody. She often cried and complained before going to preschool (although she liked it once she was there). She often does not want to go to church. And even though her babysitter's son became one of her best friends, there were even mornings when she would beg not to go there. So I expected more of the same when it came to school. I expected her to like it but to have lots of mornings when she didn't want to go. I expected that the first few days I would have to walk her into class and then peel her off of me, and I expected tears. Who would have thought that even the first day she would give me a hug and kiss and then line up with the other kids?! She doesn't have homework yet (it starts in 2 more weeks) but she regularly asks me to give her homework so she can do homework while Michelle is. She loves both of her teachers and she never complains about going to school! I'm so glad.

And she is doing well. She was chosen as the student of the week on their first full week of school. She also received a principal's 200 ticket for good behavior in music class. The 200 tickets are given for good behavior outside of your classroom and are fun because they are numbered and the kids sign a chart (with 200 spots on it) and once 5 kids sign in a row those 5 get a special activity with the principal. Also, the school mails a postcard to the family. They aren't given out a ton, so it's a special honor. And Ella got one her second week of school.


The back of the postcard says,
"We are proud to announce that your child has received a principal's 200 ticket. Your child has shown Jackson Elementary how to be responsible, respectful, and safe. Way to be!! Sincerely, Ms. Edward"

Vegetables

I mostly like 'em. Alfredo mostly doesn't. Michelle and Ella eat the popular kids' vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, lettuce, broccoli, and a few others). But Gabby loves them! I mean loves them. She eats bell peppers (green, red or yellow) raw, without dip. She eats raw spinach. She says yum, yummy, yummy when you give her cooked broccoli and cauliflower. But yesterday just about stunned me. Aly gave us a zucchini. A huge one. But there was also a itty-bitty baby one that she gave us. And Gabby grabbed it and just sank her teeth into it. She took at least 5 or 6 bites of a raw zucchini, with nothing on it. I wouldn't even eat raw zucchini...and I think after about 5 or 6 bites she decided it wasn't her favorite vegetable either. But still...can't believe it! That girl loves vegetables, especially fresh/raw veggies. (She also really loves to eat. A common refrain around our house lately...and at Aly's... is "I hungry." In fact lately she wakes up most mornings about 3:30 or 4 and tells me "I hungry." I give her a small snack, hold her for a couple of minutes and put her back to bed....Then as soon as she wakes up, she tells me, "I hungry." Sometimes when I drop her off at Aly's, her first words are "I hungry" even though she's eaten no more than 15 minutes before.)

Yellowstone, Part 3... in pictures

Where? Where? Yellowstone, Part 2

On Sunday, we drove back to Yellowstone. The kids were especially excited to see animals...to which, Gabrielle would respond, "Where? Where?" No, actually she got quite excited about the buffalo, the chipmunks, the deer and the elk that we saw. The elk was a little ways away, so Alfredo stayed with the kids in the car with the windows rolled down and watched it. They all hung out the window with excited looks on their faces. That is the one shot I regret not taking (with over 200 other shots, even after I deleted the bad/so-so ones, I don't think I missed too many other shots!) Michelle likes to say that the elk charged but it didn't. It did stand up and take a few steps, but that's it. She misunderstands what the word charges means and won't believe my definition. :) We saw hundreds of buffalo, including one that was in the middle of the road. We saw quite a few deer, and a chipmunk came running at Michelle and startled her a bit. No bears or wolves and since it was such a short trip, we didn't go to Bear World or anything. But it was still quite fun. Oh and lots of different birds, which the kids didn't seem too impressed with. I have realized in the past couple of years that there are a couple of college classes that I wish I had tried harder in and learned more from (and that I'm grateful for even though I didn't like them at the time). One was a geology class where we studied, classified, and identified rocks. I hated it at the time but now I find geology and rock formations so beautiful and interesting and wish I had paid more attention. The other class was a zoology class where we studied birds. We had to spend quite a few hours outside watching for and identifying birds. I can't remember how many species we had to identify, but it was at least 50 or more. We had a guide and I spent time out near Utah lake as well as by the Provo River. I thought it was okay, but didn't really put as much effort as I could have into it. But nearly every bird's name that I know now is a result of that class, and when I see birds I don't know, I wish I did! Not that it it too late to learn... just there is less time/opportunity to study these things now.

Anyway, the animals:


We saw Old Faithful as well as many hot springs and other geysers:






We had lunch at the cafe by Old Faithful and then drove to the lake and walked around the lake and then the river. We took a walk along the river for a bit, but it was quite windy and cold. Then we headed toward the gorgeous waterfalls, both the Upper Falls and the Lower Falls. It was very beautiful and we all had so much fun! Some day we'll have to go back and spend several days or a week there.

Where? Where?

AKA: Yellowstone, Part 1:

On Labor Day weekend, we drove to Yellowstone. We spent most of Saturday driving and pointing out sites to the kids. All weekend, Gabrielle would ask, "Where? Where?" as we pointed out things. Even if she could see what we were pointing out. Hence the loads of laughter in our home now when we hear the word Where?! :)

On Saturday, we drove to Big Sky, Montana, which is about an hour north of Yellowstone. It was gorgeous! I mean, absolutely beautiful. Up in the mountains with fresh air and a beautiful pond. A nice hotel. Pine trees and fresh air and beautiful surroundings. I think we could have stayed there for several days and been happy and we definitely want to go back sometime.

We swam. We ordered pizza. We walked around for a bit, but then it began to pour rain. So we watched a movie and enjoyed the view.

Michelle talked about moving there. She said she'd create scrapbooks to send me of where she lives with her kids and that I could come visit so I won't miss her too much.

act it out

Until Michelle (and Ella) begin going to their afterschool program next week, Michelle is coming to my school for about an hour each day. She is here today, reading poems in my big book of poems that go with our reading materials. She is reading the poem for lesson 1, the lesson she is on in class. She asked me to look at her as she read it and acted it out. I watched and she had these cute actions to go with the poem "When You Can Read" by Bobbi Katz. I'm watching, thinking, "Wow, she has a clever teacher to put actions to the poem. I'll have to try that with some of them." So I asked, "So your teacher taught you those actions?" She said, "No. I"m pretending I'm the teacher and here is my class sitting at the carpet. I'm teaching them the poem with the actions." And her actions were darling... just perfect for the poem. Clever little girl... maybe she needs to help me write my lesson plans for second grade!