Why I teach...

I'm starting something new. We'll see how this goes like my Tuesday's Treasures I haven't kept up with. I've been a little preoccupied with my family and school... which I graduate in about 5 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO EXCITED :) Anyways I'm a very reflective person as I'm sure you know. I look at most situations and ask myself how could I do that better? That's the teacher in me. I write and journal so much during my student teaching experience because I want to remember the days that were tough and that days that ROCKED. 

I just started a Poetry Unit with the Fourth Grade Class I'm in. The kids are loving it. I'm loving it it's probably my favorite thing to teach so far. Some of my students aren't very motivated and I think life is really rough for them, school is a good safe place for them most of the time. One of my students didn't come to school because they ran out of gas and didn't have enough money to get more to get to school. Breaks my heart, however, when going to meet with the social worker as the student does weekly, the student said that he couldnt' meet today because he didnt' want to miss poetry! I have some of the most amazing little writers in this room. I'm empowering them to feel as if they ARE writers. I know that I can't change the student's out of classroom experiences, but as a professional I do strive to support these young writers and make a difference in their lives from within the classroom. 

So to my big teddy bear fourth grader that loves his poetry keep going buddy loving school will get you far in life :) 

Here is a poem one of my students wrote... gives me goosebumps something I will keep forever. 

America

America the great

I really don't hate

Even though the economy is small.

In a time of low money

There's a surplus of honey

 From the bees way up tall.

From the ground to the sky

Happiness in high

In great, America the beautiful.

This is energy I tell ya. This gives so much purpose to my teaching which is what it's all about. This is something so far removed from the test scores and writing promts and worksheets and scripted curriculum guides... You don't get THIS there. 

THATS WHY I TEACH 

My Official First Teacher flowers...

I got these at recess today. I got my first Flowers :) Love my job!

I don't know that many jobs where you get free flowers :)

What's Brinn Wearing Wednesday: Floral and Stripes again!

We are really into stripes and floral right now... just like the rest of the world. I got Brinn's summer clothes out! All of it fits again which is so rewarding. She really doesn't need anything for this summer... of course that doesn't mean I won't get her anything! It's too fun shopping for her!

She was a little drama queen when I was taking these pictures ha ha it's quite funny you see her little personality more her little attitude!

She loves to read!

I must have done this upside down sorry! 

Happy Birthday Jonathan Michael Sage!

I think so many things in life are worth celebrating. A child learning to read and Birthday's. Celebrating you! So we celebrated today. It all started for me at 5am. I went down to Rebekah's to pick up the bike I had snuck down to her house before Jono got home. We love bike rides in my family and I believe they are great memory makers! Brinn and myself have as you know had our bike for awhile now. Since Jono is home we kept wanting to go out and Jon would have to run with us. I thought what a great gift to give something that he could use to be with us and we could all go just like we would do when I was little.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are of course growing up at ski tourney's on the weekends and second definitely bike rides, my Dad was pretty professional in the biking world. He would ride up steep huge hills (which no offense dad are not that large anymore... oh I love how big things are when you are small!) he would peddle and pull my bike with me on it up these huge hills. I know pretty amazing. I told Jon he'll have to live up to that... :) 

Anyways here was our day: 

Ha ha yes this is what my husband looks like in the morning. I love it!!

Our traditional breakfast in bed 

As we were eating Brinn said hey Daddy Birthday Bike. Yeah she kind of told him little stinker :) 

Our First Family Bike Ride... March 23, 2012 

Then gift time. Brinn made Daddy a book. She colored the pages all on her own! I asked her what her pictures were and we made a little story. Inspired by Brown Bear Brown Bear :) 

Ended with the Happy Birthday Book. So grateful for this man.

Happy Happy Birthday Love

DIY ABC letters

Brinn's been learning her alphabet song. So I thought it would be a good time to get a nice set of letters. I almost bought the woden Melissa and Doug puzzle which is great and I think she would still love to have because she is a puzzle girl. I found these on pinterest and was hooked! I've been wanting to do this for so long and finally had the break and time to do them. They didn't take as long as it looks I started it during a nap and finished it that night when Brinn went to bed so a couple hours is all :) 

Happy Sewing :) Love you all! Happy Thursday Tomorrow is Jono's Birthday we can't wait :) 

What's Brinn Wearing Wednesday: Polka Dots, Stripes and Florals.

I love mixing prints and thats kind of the thing these days I guess. I let Brinn play in the rain last night because it was soft gentle little rain and didn't think it could hurt much. It was fun to watch her curls ring tighter and tigher. 

The first outfit got kind of wet so we changed shirts when Daddy got home to help in the garage.

Love patterns!