English Teacher

In August I started teaching at a small private Montessori school here in Puerto Rico.  My homeroom is 2nd grade.  A classroom of 14 Spanish speakers.  They teach me Spanish everyday, I hope I have been teaching them some English.  It has been challenging understanding exactly what they might need to succeed. In any classroom setting everyone is learning at so many different levels.. it is difficult making sure everyone is getting all the learning needs they need personally. I do the very best I can.

This next semester I am making things more interesting, fun, and simplified.  I love to over do and over work sometimes.  I also teach 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grades.  I sure do love these students, and WOW I sure do love teaching.  I'm just afraid I love teaching my kids just a little bit more.  My kids are across the street learning all types of new things.  I know the Spanish, the relationship skills, and learning techniques are going to help them over new milestones.  I hope when I am teaching them again we can keep up the habits they've learning in school and in learning Spanish.

It's going to be super difficult leaving the school, and I'm not even sure when I will do that but I LOVE my own kids so much and this time apart from them has been difficult on my, on them, and on our wallet.

Truthfully, sending my kids to school, the school they need and being able to "afford" it has been too expensive.  From the tuition deducted from my pay, the uniforms, shoes, backpacks, lunchboxes, books, "casual days", other things the school might want, snacks time 5, and then trying to afford the gas to drive all around town dropping Adam off at school and then going to work in early morning traffic in Bayamon.  WOW!! It's expensive.

But wow, what a fun time we are having.  I've been making some fun relationships with the teacher and the students. We do some fun things.  I got to go on a field trip to Ariecibo Satellite. The largest Satellite in the world.  I didn't want to go at first because I didn't know what to expect but it was really great!  My efforts to be apart of Puerto Rico and live like them in some ways have been great!  I've learned cute Puerto Rican specific songs and chants.  I've learned the culture a bit and Christmas songs!  However, in my efforts of trying to be apart of Puerto Rico and discover the people and culture I feel like all I do is wake-up, go to work, go home, prepare for the next day and go to bed.  In reality I don't even have the time to discover Puerto Rico.  I hope in the next year or the following I can just discover the land and travel a little bit more!

Here is so a new year, and a good rest of the year teaching my classroom.  I have learned a lot about myself as a teacher, an employee, and a mother.  I AM more thrilled, confident, and excited to homeschooling my own children with the knowledge that I can create engaging, creative and meaningful lessons that will resinate and benefit them personally on their individual learning levels!!

Puerto Rico Chronicles: College Since Kindergarden

I often notcie in Puerto Rico how life will soon be in the US according to the progressive plans of the government and their programs. I understand what the medical system will turn into, the neighborhoods, and today it was hit me in the face (and the wallet) the elimination of Public School.

When I was student teaching a teacher said that her father, 20 years before saw the end of public school. I've ALWAYS had the desire to home school. I still do. However, for some silly reason I wanted my kids to experience the Enchanted Island of Puerto Rico, and be apart of it. I want them to have the chance to meet native friends and learn Spanish. No matter how many books I bought to teach Spanish and culture I just wouldn't do it well enough. We also can't afford tons of social activities or desired home school curriculum while we are living off student loans. With a primary size of only 9 kids socializing will be limited. There is also one library and you aren't allowed to take books home from it. WEIRD!! So, all the things I leaned on for a healthy schooling interaction for my kids is suddenly a little more challenging here in Puerto Rico.

I've been told several times you can't send your English speaking white kid to public school in Puerto Rico. First of all, its probably 90% of the public school kids are from really poor government housing families.  Which I don't judge those children but it just brings down the standard of learning.  Americans who have sent their children to public schools have told me that when they return to the states their children are 2 or 3 grade levels behind. The school usually do not have air conditioning. They don't have their have school books provided and since they aren't allowed to require the parents to buy books they don't have books. They don't have pull out programs for children who don't speak Spanish. They don't have substitute programs. If the teacher is sick, school is canceled. My friend couldn't even talk to her child's teacher or any faculty member because nobody spoke English. Which is odd for a Island that studies English from Kindergarten, I talk in English to 9 out of 10 people I meet in a day. Who is running these schools?

It's probably grater than 75% of the children on the island attend Private Schools. We figured if I can work in Private school and be able to afford three tuition's and a little extra in our time of need, we could all have a grand new experience here on the island. I interviewed at a few schools, very expensive and quality Private schools. Tuition averaged $1,000 a month. However, those schools were offering first year teachers 16K/yr. 16,000!!!!  I about had a heart attack when she told me. That was about $8-$10/hr  for a 40 hour -10 month contract. Why the heck did I pay for an education? Those public schools that are also offered so little pay make $10,000 more than these grand private schools. Private schools can just pay their teachers less, even though there are SO many private schools on the island, and SO many children attending. I mean SO many!  With that income and the little tuition discount they were offering for the 1st year I could never afford it.

I found a Montessori school that caught my attention. It was from 2 years old- 6th grade. The only school I applied to where all my kids could attend and I wouldn't have to find a daycare for the baby. I make less than $10/hr and I only work 30 hours instead of 40. However, the tuition discount for my kids was greater, and I can afford it from what they are paying. Although it takes most of my income to pay for tuition, hopefully after the first 3 probationary months I can get a greater discount or a raise. Private schools, have a hard time keeping their teachers because Public School administrators offer them more money and steal them last minute from the mini privates. That won't happen to me because we are in a perfect situation and I don't speak much Spanish.

I choose the Montessori School because I love Montessori. I am excited to teach and for my children to attend. It is a very small school.  One class for each grade level. I was happy to get the discount so we can attend school this year but there is NO WAY I could do it the way everyone else does on the island. There is NO wonder why Puerto Ricans limit themselves to 1 or 2 kids. You really CANNOT afford any more. The government plans it that way.

I paid a few hundred for enrollment, and a few hundred for supplies. Then today I went to book store, because you have to buy your own books. My Transition to Practical Life student has 2 books, my Practical Life student has 9 books/ workbooks, and my Kindergartener has 10 books/ workbooks. They are all paperback, and I could only buy them NEW. Most students have to buy a $45 rolling backpack like the Zuca (which they sell them online for $140, odd). Students NEED rolling backpacks because they have so many books to bring with them everyday, and no where to store them at their desks or miniture classrooms.

It is a blessing that I only have Pre-K's and Kindergarten because there is no way I could afford books otherwise. Our 3 grade level of books came to $533 (tax free). With my 10% teacher discount it was just less than $500. I asked the lady behind me what she pays. She said her daughter is in 7th grade and books are $800 this year. The cashier told me I was only paying $500, and that's cheap! "CHEAP!!??" He explained that two children middle school and up would easily pay $1200- $1500 for books a year. I was honestly AMAZED!! I know that we have an unusually high rent and I'm sure it'd be different if we were natives, but most everyone else pays about $500-600 in rent. Still how can they afford SO MUCH in school supplies, books, tuition, and uniforms, and go shopping at the mall every weekend. I don't get it.

These Private schools have created monopolies in P.R. I could only get my books from one book store. I could try to order some online but shipping to P.R. is very expensive and who knows if I was actually getting the right books. I also can ONLY get the uniforms at ONE store. I thought I could get some hand me down pants.. NOPE, because even the pants have a label stitched to the side. I can only buy the uniform at one place. A white (YES WHITE!! ugh!) polo with their label was $16. INSANE!! Then I need pants and P.E. shirt and P.E pants. I got each kid one set of P.E. clothes, and 1 pair or pants and 2 polos for now. That was $250 with my discount. I know that doesn't sound like much when it comes to buying school clothes. BUT WOW!! The lady in front of my had one child and he had 5 pants, and 6 or 7 polos, a few pairs of gym clothes. Their total was $688. Imagine that times 3. Just another reason I want my kids to study in their PJ's..:)

Well, I'm SO broke, I'm so grateful for helping hearts who donated to my children s school funds this year.

Thank you for seeing the value in sending us to private school, and allowing us the chance to really get a fell of life on the island. KISSES to ALL KINDS of GRANDMAS!! We are going to be fine and I'm sure we will have all out needs provided! I'm grateful for this opportunity and I am just AMAZED by the value the island focuses on the Education of their children. The teachers are getting paid CRAP, and I just hope they are teaching good enough, at least on grade level, because these parents have been paying for college since Kindergarten.

Bubble Gum Day

(math)
Bubble gum, Bubble gum in a dish! How many pieces do you wish?

February 1st is Bubble Gum Day! We picked up this book from the library. It was fun to ready and rhyme about sticky animals. We practiced blowing bubbles but the gum we bought yesterday had a hint of mint and none of us liked it very much.

The we took the bubble gum bucket we had at home and played math. We had a sorting station and a pattern station. :)

Sorting

Pattens
The cutting board is inclined with those spill away groves.. they made perfect ramps for the next color!

I think everyone has sweet mouth and a sore jaw from chewing and chewing bubblegum today!

Hot (Herbal) Tea Month

In January we celebrates Hot (Herbal) Tea Month. Today we threw ourselves a "tea" party! You know we don't drink teas: black, grey, green, sweet, unsweetened  We just don't drink tea so several times during our Herbal Tea party I got to teach my children about the Word of Wisdom revelation of No Tea, No Coffee, and FOLLOWING THE PROPHET. We also got to learn about seeping tea bags vs. leaves in our drink, and why we still call it "tea". We also talked about 11's in England and "once's"  in Chilie.

It was all last minute, "Oh yea!! We're having a tea party today!" Good thing I had some  "tea". We made Cranberry Apple Herbal Tea and Red Raspberry Herbal Tea (yes, I had some left over from when I was patiently "waiting" for Lelee to make his arrival).

We made Cucumber Cracker Sammy's, Hot Tea, and Iced Tea.. we added way TOO MUCH SUGAR, and it was PERFECT! :)

The funniest thing at our tea party was when Daddy  said "Oh Regional, you're such a tease!" in a fancy England ascent   My 2 year old pointed to his cups and said "MY TEAS Daddy!" So much fun! Thanks Boys for helping Mommy today! YUM!

I can't wait for our next "Tea Party". I've got boys so once a year is just enough for us!

Teaching Baby to Crawl!!

Go and Get 'Em! :)

One to One!

Q is not allowed to play long in his rice box because he starts to throw it, so while J worked in his rice Q and I worked on One-to-One correspondence. I love to give him one extra ball that won't fit! I didn't take Q nearly as long of trading out balls as J before he figured there were just too many balls and he just needed to toss one off the table! :) Q, you are such a smart cutie!!!! xoxox

I love how he put all the same balls next to each other!

P.S. I love that lil' pot belly!!

Notes To A Teacher

I loved this.
Notes to a New Teacher.
If I even decided to go into the school system again!

1.Tell kids you love them as much as you can. You might be the only one saying it.
2.Teach what you care about. If it doesn’t move you, it’s probably not going to move the students.
3.Parents are sending you their very best so treat their child that way.
4.As teachers we are planters, not harvesters. Just because you don't get to reap the fruit of your efforts doesn't mean that your effort was wasted! 
5.You teach children before you teach standards.
6.Different does not mean wrong. This applies to your teaching, your kids’ products, your colleagues’ opinions . . . you get the picture.
7.Don’t get angry with kids who don’t have supplies. Their parents might have had to choose between food or pencils.
8.Always have a back-up plan. 
9.Technology fails . . . frequently. Be prepared for that failure, and the technology will work beautifully. 
10.Your kids are amazing teachers. Take time to learn from them. They know lots of amazing stuff that they want/need to share.
11.Don't ever let a 12-year old make you cry or intimidate you. 
12.Say yes when you can.
13.Giving a middle school student a 0 for a homework grade means nothing compared to losing recess time to complete that homework.
14.Having a good lunch will make your afternoon go better.
15.Arguing with a kid will make you look foolish and usually end badly.
16.Even though a middle school kid’s body is large, there is still a child inside.
17.Your textbook is not the curriculum.
18.It’s okay to have days when you let students answer the questions at the end of the chapter. 
19. Master the art of reading aloud and kids will LOVE you.
20. Even if you’re not a “game person,” learn at least one good game that kids will love.
21.Eating in class is not a crime. 
22.Keep food in a drawer for that kid who needs something to eat. There will be many of them.
23.Sometimes kneeling next to a child’s desk and having a few quiet words with a child will be your most effective moments of the day.
24.Get to know your colleagues – those down the hall as well as those online. These people are powerful and knowledgeable and will likely become family to you.
25.Lock the door of your classroom if you arrive really early or stay late. It’s just common sense.
26.Always place your teacher desk in a corner where you cannot be seen from the door - so you can have a few quiet moments if needed.
27.Having a good attitude is contagious and will spread to those around you. 
28.Never meet with an angry parent without an administrator or counselor with you.
29.Always be nice - especially to the cafeteria ladies, your custodian, the computer repair people, the librarians and to that kid in the hall who’s having a terrible day. 
30. Read lots of children’s and young adult lit so you can put good books in the hands of kids quickly.
31.Some things are meant to be said over the phone or face-to-face but never written down in an email.
32.Read emails repeatedly before sending them to parents. The tone you intend might not be conveyed.
33.Kids who are quiet and polite in first period are likely to be loud and obnoxious after lunch.
34.You can get fired easily over handling money and children. Keep your hands away from both as much as possible.
35.Some kids need a hug, so master the art of the one-arm hug – especially with middle school boys. 
36.A bug or mouse in your classroom can make a middle school boy cry and ruin your entire teaching for the day.
37.A little humor goes a long way.
38.Don’t let kids get away without saying the pledge in the morning. There are soldiers risking their lives to preserve the right for these kids to say the pledge.
39.Kids need to hear it AND see it AND do it if you really want them to learn it.
40.Let kids move as much as possible.
41.Advance your degree as quickly as possible to get yourself in the highest pay scale quickly.
42.Get your National Board Certification as soon as possible – even if the state is not offering a stipend. It’s worth it. Believe me, I would do it all over again even without the stipend.
43. Open a 401K soon and aggressively save for retirement. You can get a loan for a house, but you can’t get a loan for retirement.
44.Take advantage of your summers. Try not to work and use them as a time to renew yourself.
45.Don’t complain about your job. The community doesn’t want to hear it, and it gives teachers a bad rap. Besides, it’s the greatest job in the world.
46.Make yourself valuable to your principal – especially in difficult economic times.
47.Solve problems that you see happening in your school rather than whining about them.
48.Whether you like it or not, you will be seen as a role model. If you don’t want to live like one, choose another career.
49. Make wise decisions in your private life so that your professional life will run smoothly.
50.As much as you might dread calling a parent, afterwards you always feel better and wonder why you didn't do it sooner.
51.Take pride in your school. If you see a piece of trash in the hall, pick it up.
52.Get to school early to get your thoughts straight before the students come in.
53.If you grade everything your kids write, then they are not writing enough.
54.If you need to confront a boy about an issue, speak side-by-side with him rather than face-to-face.
55.If you need a boy to do something quickly, make it a race and you will be shocked at how quickly it will get done.
56.Kids crave structure and they want to know what to expect from you. Be stricter and more structured than you need to be and it will pay off in the end
57.Whenever you’re weighing an important decision, the answer should ALWAYS be whatever is in the best interest of the child.
58.During the moment of silence, ask God for his Grace, and He will walk you through your day.

Last Lesson.

Today I teach my last Relief Society Lesson. I am being relocated!! It was a fun and challenging calling. I learned a lot preparing and participating in class! Although it was a short calling, I only taught 5 or 6 times, I really liked it. I am excited for my new calling. I am still teaching and I hope they like me. I am weird about team teaching because I am a control freak and I like structure and consistency especially with children. Okay, so I gave it away.

Today we are doing the 3rd lesson in the Gospel Principles Manual.


JESUS CHRIST, OUR SAVIOR AND LEADER!!
What a perfect topic for Valentine's Day. Last time I taught I was reminded in a kind of strong way that Charity and Love is really what "it's all about". I don't know why this came as a surprise to me. I guess I have a lot to learn still concerning Charity but charity is the pure love of Christ and I think it's perfect for today!

I am going to share with you some of the exciting points I want to talk about today in class!

First, I am going to write the Words JESUS CHRIST on the board. Then we are going to write the things that come to our mind. I tried this out with Adam like I always do in all my little experiments and the very first thing he said was LOVE. (How Perfect!) The list continued... sacrifice, friendship, teacher, Master, Savior, the Son, Creator, advocate, elder brother, example.

We then divided the list into 2 catergories: Titles and Qualities.
A couple of years ago I looked up the word MASTER in the dictionary because I love to discover the hidden meaning in words. What I found was amazing. Christ's apostles often refereed to Him as Master and for so many reasons. This is the definition of Master from two sources. I hope you think about each section carefully, it will surprise you!

Master:
* A person with the ability or power to use, control, or dispose of something. [creator]
* An expert
* Male head of the household [elder brother]
* Male teacher, tutor
* One whose teachings or doctrines are accepted and followed
* A victor or conqueror [Redeemer]
* One who defeats another
* A workman qualified to teach apprentices and to carry on his trade independently
* A man eminently skilled in something
* An assistant judge who takes testimony, makes a report [advocate](i love this one!!)
BUT MY FAVORITE IS...
* An ORIGINAL, which copies can be made!!!!

The rest of the lesson includes how Christ mission was set from the beginning. How Lucifer wanted to go and take away agency, The War in Heaven, and Christs qualities and how we can follow His example, work on becoming like Him, and accepting Him in order to return to our Heavenly Father.

It is going to be a talkative, open day about Jesus Christ and even though I don't have a lot to say like usual I just know in my heart it is going to be a Fulfilling, Happy and Energized topic.

Oh, I also made the ladies a farewell gift. I only have 32 so I hope the numbers are down today. I might have to give them away to the first people who arrive. It was really hard finding all the charms I needed without spending too much money and then i ran out of pearls. Oh well. They are bookmarks for their manuals. A little motivator to bring them!! They have a KEY on them to remind us of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Master Key, in which copies can me made!!!

Lesson 38: The Wentworth Letter

If you don't know me yet, I'm a little over and beyond. Tomorrow is my first day teaching Relief Society. I know I may be over the top and these ladies are gonna think I'm crazy but I just like to teach nontraditional, i guess. Any who- I am trying to focus my teaching for the chicas (the newbies to R.S.). I am gonna do an FHE approach. Fun, (I haven't thought of an H word), and Energized. Then I hope to have some type of idea they can take to FHE to their kids, husbands, friends, or siblings that week.
So, this week we are memorizing the 13 articles of faith. I am sure everyone knows them but like our little kid-a-dees where they can recite word for word, do they know what they mean, to them?! That's my goal tomorrow, along with reviewing the history of the church through Joseph Smith's example when he was asked about the church in The Wentworth Letter.

*When I say "A" what object comes to mind?? an apple perhaps. What about "B".. a banana. As babies we learn facts by pairing them to something else and making worldly connections. That is the technique I am going to use. It works. It took me 3 weeks and I know the articles of faith. Yes, I was familiar with them and that is very important but now I know which is which and what it really means in my own words.

The idea is to pair the article to a simple drawing. This is the TV I will pass out tomorrow and then we will fill in the pictures as we read through the Letter and pause to fill in the incidence proving each article of faith (5-12) . The object is to make a picture that comes to you when you read the article you're trying to remember. I hope it works!!



WE BELIEVE:
1. 3- The God Head; God, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost
2. A man (Adam) crossed out- Reminds me that we will be punished for our own sins not for Adams transgressions
3. An Angel- Reminds me that only through Jesus Christs Atonement can I be saved and receive salvation.
4. FiRst BeLieve- Reminds me of the FIRST ordinances of the gospel are; Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the Laying of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. Phone- Reminds me that men are called of God and then set apart by the laying on of hands to preach the gospel.
6. Chapel with an A for the roof, P's for the door, E for the stairs and T for the chapel cross- Reminds me that the church is organized the way the first church Christ organized was with Apostles, Prophets, Priests, Teaches, Evangelist, etc.
7. An Eye and Tongue- Reminds me that we believe in the gift of tonges, and interpretation of tongues, in visions, in revelations, etc.
8. A book with 2 B's and writing on one side- tells me we believe in the Bible as long as it is translated correctly to be the word of God and that the Book of Mormon is the word of God.
9. WOW with 10 cents in the O- Reminds me of the Word of Wisdom and the Law of tithing which were revealed to Joseph Smith; so we believe that God has relieved and will revile many things to build the kingdom of God.
10. A world with 10 people around it- Reminds me of the literal gathering of the 10 tribes of Israel, that Christ will come to rule the earth and the earth will receive its glory.
11. A brain inside a heart ( did you get that one LOL!)- Remind me that we love people so much that we allow and respect everyone to worship God with their own conscience, however and wherever they want to.
12. A crown- Reminds me that we believe in kings, presidents, majesties, and rulers and that we will obey the law of the land.
13. The TV entitled- Paul's All things HCB TV; We want to be honest, chaste, benevolent, trustworthy, and virtuous. We follow the admonition of Paul to believe in all things, hope in all things, to endure many things, and hope to endure all things. That we want do things of good report which include the things inside the TV.

So, what do you think? Will I be the laugh of the Relief Society? I hope it works and we all learn. I want to teach a new technique to the sisters that they can use many times in memorization. My goal is during time Christmas when they see an angel they are reminded that Jesus Christ died for them so they can receive Salvation as long as they live in accordance of the gospel!!

Wish me luck, its a tuff crowd! It's really a review day but I hope the spirit allows there to be truth heard in the hearts of every sister and that my approach never takes away any of that.

Tell me what you think?

Facebook Inbox.

"mrs. E you should come to our dance festival. Everyone really misses you. even conner the one you allways yelled at wants you to come back.

love, A
p.s uvu rocks!"


march 08: jade. jessie. alexa

Doesn't this melt your heart times a million!!! awe... I miss them!! This is why teaching is so fulfilling and I want to be in the classroom instead of at my mommy job! Darn I love them kids!!

License Plate Match

Can you match the people to their personalized license plate?
*Fast Finishers*

People
1. Miss Magenta, a librarian
2. Colonel Mustard, retired army, breeds dogs and horses
3. Professor Peach, science teacher at the college
4. Sergeant Tuesday, head detective at the police
5. Mrs. Maypole, mystery writer
6. Mrs. Flaming, debutante tennis player

License Plates
a. 10SNE1?
b. HOO DUNIT
c. NO1COP
d. BRDSNBS
e. NML LVR
f. KWYET PLZ

Leave me a message if you think you can solve this puzzle! ***UPDATE: Answers in Comments****

Middle School Music

i heart middle schoolers. I subbed the past 3 days for a music class. On Wednesday she had her 4 choir classes copy major's somethings on blank staffs. She said the two 6th grade classes will have a book and should be reading. I didn't think that was fair, just because I'm musically challenged they had to read. Then Thursday and Friday she had nothing, when I asked her about it before she left for all-states she said, It'll be like a study hall. My attitude in extracurricular classes is so different from core classes. This is their escape time, there break from vigorous work. I am not a music teacher but I did bring some music to listen to. My little treat to them! I am not an easy walk all over teacher, I am nice but I have structure and I think the kids recognize that and appreciate that!
THURSDAY
My Choir classes wanted to show me there talents so we decided to have an American Idol day. In each class I had the license plate match for a challenge. (see if you can solve it!) They had the option to read a book, finish homework, or sit quietly. Too many Ipods were out, I'm not usually that sub but I DID just look the other way. Everyone else played Scattegories with me!
The 6th graders came after lunch and after my HUGE planning time. They are hyper and can be out of control, and I was getting tired. However- they know how to obey there teachers, it's because they are afraid of getting hit. (I always wondered why these southern kids were much more well behaved than students in Utah, its because of capital punishment, and it broke my heart hearing the teachers at the lunch table! *details in future possible post*) When I speak they obey and it had to stay that way. On this day we would try to start something and they would loose control and we couldn't continue. It happened too many times and I felt like I lost control the last period on Thursday. I was not going to let that happen again. After the 6th graders I was so glad to go home.
FRIDAY
The Choir classes were excellent! Those 7th and 8th graders were such a delight. Those who were brave enough to perform had great voices and once they grow into their voices they will be even greater! It was a real treat seeing so much talent! After our talent show we played family Cranium! Everyone participated and everyone stayed on task.
The 6th graders had a much better day! It was much more structured than the day before, I made sure to set specific directions and of coarse they followed. We also played Cranium and had a blast. The only thing about 6th graders are they are still babies with TONS of emotion, tattling, and bullying. Since things were planed and organized the day went by much faster and I really enjoyed all the classes!
ABOUT ME
I was on day-quil the whole time. Once I stepped into my house and ALL night I felt like trash, runny nose, stuffiness, and soreness. Each morning I had an OJ, took those pills and I was glowing for the rest of the day. All my pain went away while I was in the classroom. I am so glad I studied education. I loved college, I love teaching, and I love those kids.

Helping Liz

Today I helped my little sister for 8 HOURS with her project. It's not even due on monday. I am not complaining too much because I had tons of fun. She had to make all these shapes and decorate them. We were all creative!! It was a blast!

Nursery Board

This was the first project I did for the Nursery. It is designed to keep track of all the kids. This way I know who is with me and when they leave, etc. It was crazy when parents would come and then there kid is gone and the door is open for escapes, and other kiddo's are getting sad because their mom isn't there. Luckily I had a solution, I read this idea on sugardoodle while doing all my nursery research. They had an apple tree and apples. I choose to do sheep in a field with a shepherd.
Every Sunday morning when I get there I put the board outside of the classroom. Luckily we have two doors in our nursery class. I labeled one to be the ENTER door and the other to be the EXIT. When the child comes to Nursery they remove their sheep from the "Missing" side & place them in the field. A lot of the parents allow their children to remove their own sheep which helps them recognize their name, and they get to see their face underneath. When everyone is in I know who is on the board and who is missing for the day. We can then go over who is here and who is missing, and then return it to the table outside. (We never do because play hour is first and they are too occupied, but we could do it before our prayer.. which is a great idea since we have all little ones for the new year!)
When it is time for pick up the parent removes their child's sheep and slides it under the door. We make a big deal about the sheep & whose name it is. We then have time to gather all the childs "stuff" and we walk them to the EXIT door while the children are gathered on the other side, waiting for sheep and playing group games. It is super easy and has been really helpful. I don't feel worried about the kids leaving, and I have control on when the doors open and close.
Plus, it has our schedule posted and what the lesson was for that day. Everyone loves the sheep board.

Reverence Books

We had TONS of old manual pictures in random closets throughout the church. I asked the Primary President if I could have some so I could make the nursery kids a Christmas gift. I put together a book of pictures that they can look at and later write stories about during sacrament, and then use for talks in primary, and...okay so I am still making the "things you can do with a reverence book" list so they know more ways to use them! I think they will be great!

My Day at Work

Substituting went really well. I still got it!! I love being with the kids and playing and learning all day long. It was so much fun. It made me want to get a job in January or even next year. Then I came home after a long day! My feet ache and I see my smiling baby! I sat and played with him and his rings for a little bit. When I left to get changed upstairs, Adam called me back down in a hurry! I came running in and J was calling my name... Maaa maa... Maa maa, and reaching out for me.

I keep thinking about my day and I can't help but feel in my heart that I CAN do great things in the walls of my home.

The Ten Commandments on My Hands

*** These hand gestures are actions. I am going to attempt to explain each gesture with it's action and explination. Along with accompanying the primary hymn "The Commandments", pg 112.***

Thou shalt have no gods but Me.


point up


Before no idols bow thy knee.


show two fingers and then have them bow there knees to pray


Take not the name of God in vain.


show three fingers and then bring them to your mouth


Do not the Sabbath day profane


hold up your pointer and pink on both hands, bring them together to make a chapel


Honor thy parents all thy days


Hold up your hand, this represents the family the thumb and pointer are mom and dad, the others are the kids


Take not life in wanton ways


Hold up the family and make a gun with the other hand (this makes 7), then shoot the dad (now you have 6)


Be faithful in thy marriage trust


Hold up the family and a mom and dad on the other hand. Touch the thumbs and pointers to make them kiss


And never steal or be unjust


show four fingers on each hand and have one hand be a knife cutting off your thumb for stealing


Always tell the truth-and love it


Hold up the family, then hold the four fingers on your other hand up to your chin, wiggle your fingers and tell lies about the family behind their back


What is thy neighbor's, do not covet


Hold up all ten fingers and then pretend to grab things with them because the families are being greedy


And the greatest commandments of all: With all thy heart, love God above; And as thyself thy neighbor love.