Goal-Day 3 (sorry, I skipped day 2)

I often reflect on several different encounters I had with the parents of one of my students. On one occasion, the father had come to my classroom before school started for the day and in a nutshell wanted to know why I was putting his son in time-out so much (according to the student). I very calmly explained to him that in my classroom we are always talking about and practicing our rules and one of those rules is showing respect to others. I told him that if I saw people not showing respect they would be in time-out. His next line completely floored me: "I don't send my kid to school to learn respect." Now, Diane says that he probably didn't mean it as literally as I took it, but she also wasn't there to hear his tone of voice and she didn't know the whole context of the story.

The talk by Sister Margaret S. Lifferth from the Primary General Presidency brought me back to this very situation (and others) with this angry father. Her talked was focused on respect and reverence. One thing that stood out to me is her "appeal...to parents, teachers, and leaders to work together to teach, exemplify, and encourage the standards of respect and reverence that will strengthen our youth...." Even though her appeal was more focused toward a church worship setting, it has definitely validated my teaching of respect for others in a school setting. Other instances where this father treated me, Diane, and others very badly made me sad that his son wasn't learning from his father's example.

Something else I really enjoyed was how she stated that "reverent behavior is not a natural tendency for most children." Agreed. They have to learn it and sometimes it takes a VERY LONG TIME! "But it takes time, patience, and consistency. Remember that we are not only teaching a child his first lessons in reverence, but the child may be mastering his first attempts at self-discipline." I definitely said amen when Sister Lifferth finished her talk.

Ideas for teaching and exemplifying reverence: 1) "Love those in your class. Often the child who is the most disruptive needs your love the most." 2) "Take the time to explain what reverence is and why it is important." This is something that we are working on in our ward Primary. I missed a training meeting a few weeks ago that talked about reverence. It's just like the song: "Reverence is more than just quietly sitting; it's thinking of Father above." Instead of saying "Johnny you are sitting so reverently" we say "Johnny I love how you are sitting so still and listening." We do this because the quiet sitter might not be "thinking of Father above." Their mind might be elsewhere. So, during music time (hi, that's me!) and sharing time we try to show and explain that reverence is feeling the Spirit of the Lord and thinking about Jesus. I don't know if it's working, but as Sister Lifferth said, it takes "time, patience, and consistency." Maybe one day we will be blessed to see the effects of our teaching respect and reverence in our Primary (and our schools). I hope that I can be an example of respect for God and others so that my children may learn to do the same thing and learn what reverence really is.

Goal-Day 1

So as I mentioned in my previous blog entry, Kory and I have recently started weekly goals. After much thought and wracking my brain for an idea of a second goal I could have for the week, I finally (I'm almost ashamed to say because it took me so long) came up with the idea of reading 1 General Conference talk each day. As I was pondering the talk I just read a few minutes ago, I decided maybe blogging about some of the talks I read will be good for retention purposes!

Tonight's winner was a talk entitled "Finding Strength in Challenging Times!" by Elder Allan F. Packer. His talk was mainly about having the capacity to receive personal revelation in our troubled times and strengthening our testimonies through knowing certain gospel truths. One par that got me thinking was when he quoted Doctrine and Covenants 9:8 "But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right." The thought crossed my mind at this point that this is what I encourage my students to do: Think about choices they are making or what they are writing in their journals or if the answer they have chosen makes sense with the test question. Now, they can't always ask me if it's right (like on the test) but they can ask for clarification and I guide and help them. I, too, apply this to myself when I think about certain things I want to do with my class or need to say to a parent of a struggling child and then I generally seek advice before taking the idea to the next level.

One other thing that enlightened my mind was when Elder Packer was speaking of noticing little "intimations" of the Spirit like a flow of pure intelligence that brings about "sudden strokes of ideas." I can't number how many times I have sat at my desk at school and thought about things that I would really like to change in my classroom, whether it be a routine or how my kids complete their Centers, etc. and ideas will just pop into my head as something I should at least try to see if I like it. The only regret from these experiences is that I have not written down everything that has been revealed to me. I have been able to recognize those experiences as receiving personal revelation and I am always thankful for those small moments when I can have "me and the Spirit" time to help me become a better teacher and even a better wife and family member.

I know I'm going to greatly enjoy having this goal for the week. More to come, I hope!

Resurrection

No, I'm not dead. Still surviving and the prognosis for making it to the end of this school year looks promising. I only have 3 more real days of school left, then Friday is our field day and I say adios to my little munchkins and breathe a sigh of relief. Who knows how "real" those other 3 days will be. our schedule next week is packed full of assemblies, faculty vs. staff kickball game, and yes, a party in room 106! Join us if you like!

School has been just crazy and I think I'm looking forward to the end more than anybody else in the school. I am so ready to be done. Everyone pray that this next week will FLY!

Nothing much else is happening. Kory and I have started making weekly goals. Some weeks we have been better than other weeks at fulfilling our goals, but it helps us keep things in perspective. The last few weeks have been so busy we have just kept our same goals. We write them on an index card and stick them on the bathroom mirror. I must say this time around Kory and I have both been better at completing our physical goals than our educational/school goals. Getting grad school stuff going has been like pulling teeth and I think it will still continue that way for Kory. My excuse for not studying every day for the PRAXIS is quite lame and somewhat valid. I need professional development books to study so that when I do the practice exams I'm not just pulling random ideas from my head. Finding those books has been harder than anticipated. Hmmm.....I take the test in 3 weeks. We'll see what happens.

Fun story

This new background is a lot of orange. Not sure if I like it but we'll give it a shot.

Spring once again has teased us here in Utah. The whole week it was absolutely GORGEOUS weather--like mid to high 70's and even up to 80 degrees on a couple of days. Today, it's raining a whole heck of a lot and Kory said it was snowing a little bit. UGH! I am so sick of this.

A while ago, my mom showed me how to make baby blankets from two pieces of fabric and some thread. I've been addicted ever since, though the blankets, if you look really close, are not perfect by any means. But, I thought I would show off a little of my so-called "talent" (hah!) and post picture of my two favorite projects, which both happened to be constructed in the last 2-3 weeks.
Without further ado:


This pink flowery one I made for a dear friend from my last single's ward before I got married. If you look how at the picture of it folded, you can see that it's slightly uneven. I tried my darndest to make it straight. Just didn't happen!

The one with the lions I just finished on Thursday night for a baby shower at school on Friday. One of the third grade teachers and her husband have been trying to have a baby for 10+ years. She couldn't get pregnant, and I guess the adoption process wasn't working out either. About a month ago, she sent us an email saying she was getting a baby and that the adoption was pretty much guaranteed. We were soooooo thrilled for her; in fact, I get goose bumps and chills just typing this story. I'm sure the whole school prayed and prayed that the adoption would be finalized when the birth mom had the baby. At that time, we didn't know the sex of the baby because he wouldn't cooperate during the ultrasound! Little twerp! Anyway, at the beginning of this month, Laurie was in the workroom and as I put pieces together from different conversations that were going on between her and other people, I realized that she was getting her baby about 3 weeks sooner than expected. The birth mom had called her I believe the night before and told her that the doctor was inducing her in the morning because her blood pressure was so high. So, frantic Laurie was trying to finalize last minute substitute plans and pull herself together so she and her husband could go to Idaho and meet their first son. We were all ecstatic for Laurie and couldn't wait to see the little guy. Finally, we got info and pictures. Laurie was a mommy to baby Jonathan-5lbs. even and 18 inches, I think. He is so precious and I knew I had to make him something special. So, I did! Laurie says he is so good-natured. I got to hold him yesterday, then I had to give him back so everyone else could pass him around. He is just a teeny little thing, but growing, so that's good. The lion blanket is super special.

There is a good amount of snow on the ground this morning, but it is NOT snowing. There are scattered clouds and the sun keeps trying to peek out of the clouds. I'm hoping my lunch date with Rachael is still going to work out.

I stole this quote from a very good friens/former mission companion and thought I would put it on my blog as well. It's funny, but eerily true at the same time and could therefore cause depression in some people. Proceed to read with caution.

***NOTICE***

Due to the rising costs of electricity, gas and oil, as well as current economic conditions, the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off.

I need to be rescued! It's a freaking snow storm outside and according to weather reports, its not supposed to let up until Friday. Yeah, today is Wednesday, the first day of my Spring Break. Boooooooooo!

Hmmm.....what else is there to say? Uh, nothing! Oh, but my students are getting so much better at behaving themselves and actually following directions. I am so very proud of them. Maybe the last 6 weeks of school will actually go by quickly. We can only hope, right?

Well, for some free entertainment, here is a video of Jase singing the BYU fight song. We were at a volleyball game in the ghetto Smith Fieldhouse. He just kind of started catching on and started clapping along with us so I had to get video of it. He doesn't sing, but it's still REALLY cute! Enjoy!

37 days of school left, and counting. The thing that makes me most crazy...we're still getting SNOW! For crying out loud, can it quit already? Oh wait, this is Utah. It could snow in June, because it has before! *sigh* Things at school are starting to feel like they're winding down. Talk of testing, testing, testing seems to be the main topic of conversation in meetings and casual passing. It almost makes me want to test all of my kids right now. They are SO smart and I'm anxious to see their test results.

Kory and I are officially scheduled for Hilo, Hawaii in July. As an early birthday present, Dad cashed in many of his miles for Kory and I to go to a family reunion on Lynne's side that just happens to be in Hawaii every 3 years. Each day, I am so thankful that I married into this in-law family of mine. Hawaii visits and potentially gorgeous kids--yeah, I'm pretty spoiled.

No other excitement going on around here. BYE!