Thursday, August 28, 2008

Pictures of Activities this week






Things are going pretty well with the lessons, although, I have not been able to stick to the schedule. I work 3 mornings a week, and it's just difficult to get into any sort of routine. So, for now, we just have activity time when we have activity time. I hope that we get into some sort of routine soon!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

I Will Overcome

There are so many great things going on in my life, but I am (we are) struggling with some things as well. Those things are pretty big and strong and take over at times. Thank God that He is my strength.

"I Will Overcome"
by Charlie Hall

And I can see that my hands are trembling, I can see that my legs are weak
I can see that my head is spinning, but I will overcome
And I know that my heart is hurting, And I know that my soul it aches
And I know that it seems I'm failing, but I will overcome, yeah
Chorus:
O Lord I'm strong in You, O Lord I am wise in You
O Lord I can see in You, so I will overcome
O Lord I'm loved by You, O Lord I am free in you
O Lord I'm complete in You
So I will overcome, I will overcome, I will overcome
Bridge:
God listen to me shout, I'm so far from anywhere and I'm calling out
Lead me, lead me to the rock that is higher than I
You're my breath, You're my breath, You're my very life
Infinite, Holy King meets weak and frail Christ in me
And I will overcome not by my strength but by Your grace and love

Bulletin Board, Schedule

Here is Karis' Bulletin Board and a close up of her schedule:

Soon, we are going to transform her room into a sleep/play/learning room. We are bringing back her toddler bed because her full size takes up the whole room (she was using the guest bed... but we're going to put it away for now). She doesn't have any room to play in there! We are putting a very large shelf in there to put all of her toys, etc on, and putting this bulletin board in there. We will also create a calendar/weather area for her. I'm excited!!!

Karis' weekly lessons- first 3 weeks

Sorry that I haven't been around in a while!! Life is busy!

I have created lessons for Karis for three weeks, and I thought I would share (she is 2 1/2). I have them in a nice table on word, but I can't cut and paste that way into here.
Here they are:


Week of:
August 18-22
This week’s theme: Who am I?/All About Me
LETTER: A Number: 1 Shape: circle Color: Red
Art
· Decorating the letter A (on red paper) with apple stickers, animals
· Write A’s, 1’s and her name in red finger paint
· Make her face out of a paper plate
Music/Finger Plays
· “All of Me”-
See my eyes (point to eyes)
See my nose (point to nose)
See my chin (point to chin)
See my toes (point to toes)
See my waist (hands on waist)
See my knee (touch a knee)
Now you have seen all of me! (raise arms)
Discovery/Sensory
· Home made play dough- make the letter A
· Write the letter A and number 1 in shaving cream
· Practice writing her name in shaving cream
Fine Motor Skills
· Coloring/writing with crayons and markers
· Practice opening Ziploc bags, containers, doors
Gross Motor Skills
· Practice walking up and down raised surfaces by herself
· Allow her the opportunity to run around outside
Language/Literacy
· Read God gave us you
· Read in her children’s Bible
· “A” books- Alphabet, Animals
· Any other books that she wants to read- encourage her to read it back
· Make a letter A book
· Make a number 1 book (with A things)
Pre-Math
· Count using “A” objects- animals, apples,
· Sort animals into the different types
· Throughout the day, talk about the number 1, letter A, and the circle shape
Calendar
· Talk about the Month, Day
· Do the day’s activity (on the calendar, if possible)
Self-Help/Independence
· Allow her to walk without holding my hand
· Have her put her dishes in the sink/trash in the trash can
· Work on undressing/dressing herself


Week of:
August 25-29
This week’s theme: Who am I?/My Body
Letter: B Number: 2 Shape: oval Color: Blue
Art
· Hand prints/foot prints
· Decorating the letter B (on blue paper) with butterfly stickers, beans, bandaids, etc.
· Write B’s, 2’s and her name in blue finger paint
· Paper kids- trace her; label body parts
Music/Finger Plays
· “Head, shoulders, knees, and toes”
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
Knees and toes
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes
Knees and toes
Eyes and ears and mouth and nose
Head, and shoulders, knees and toes
· Act out this rhyme:Brown bear, brown bear turn aroundBrown bear, brown bear touch the groundBrown bear, brown bear reach up highBrown bear, brown bear tough the sky!
Discovery/Sensory
· Homemade play dough and cookie cutters- make letter B and number 2 out of play dough; use butterfly cookie cutter
· Play in the sand box
· Shaving cream
Fine Motor Skills
· Practice taking lids on and off of containers, opening Ziploc bags, and doors
· Coloring with crayons and markers
Gross Motor Skills
· Do exercises, explaining which body part we are using
· Practice walking up and down raised surfaces by herself
Language/Literacy
· Parts & Even More Parts
· “B” books- BINGO, Bible, Wheels on the Bus
· Any other books that she wants to read- encourage her to read it back
· Make a letter B book
· Make a number 2 book (with B things)
Calendar
· Talk about the Month, Day
· Do the day’s activity (on the calendar, if possible)
Pre-Math
· Count “B” objects- band-aids, bears, beans
· Throughout the day, talk about the number 2, the color blue, and the oval shape (pointing them out)
· Talk about how she is 2 years old- how many fingers is that?
· Weight/Height
Self-Help/Independence
· Don’t help her with things that she can do on her own
· Stop holding her hand so much when she walks
· Work on dressing/undressing herself



Week of:
September 1-5
This week’s theme: Who am I?/Family and friends
Letter: C Number: 3 Shape: Square Color:Orange
Art
· Use paint and blocks to “stamp” onto paper, focusing on the letter C and number 3
· Decorating the letter C (on orange paper) with cheerios
· Write C’s, 3’s and her name in orange paint
· Draw a “picture” of mommy, daddy, and brother
· Color with Chalk
Music/Finger Plays
· Clap to the beat of the music on CD
· Clap and Count (sung to Row, Row, Row your boat)Clap, clap, clap your hands,Clap them one, two threeThe more you clap,The more you count,All the way to three!
Discovery/Sensory
· Homemade play dough- make letter C and number 3 out of play dough; use cow cookie cutter
· Shaving cream
Fine Motor Skills
· Coloring with crayons and markers
· Painting/stamping
· Practice opening Ziploc bags and doors
Gross Motor Skills
· Practice walking up and down raised surfaces by herself
· Move like her favorite animal that starts with a C
Language/Literacy
· Read books about families (from library)
· “C” books- Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar, Cookie’s First Book of Numbers,
· Any other books that she wants to read- encourage her to read it back
· Make a letter C book (with an orange cover page)
· Make a number 3 book (with C things)
· Read in her Bible
Calendar
· Talk about the Month, Day
· Do the day’s activity (on the calendar, if possible)
Pre-Math
· Count using “C” objects- cheerios, crayons, coins, cotton balls
· Count and sort coins (emphasizing the number 3)
· Throughout the day, talk about the number 3, the color orange, and the square shape (pointing them out)
· Make a square out of blocks- what shape is a block?
Self-Help/Independence
· Don’t help her with things that she can do on her own
· Self cleaning after meals
· Practice dressing/undressing herself

Friday, August 15, 2008

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while!!

Hello! I promise, I am still alive :). Life with a toddler and newborn is a lot of work! Plus, I have started yet another part time job.

A few weeks ago I interviewed for and was offered a job as an 8th grade English teacher! It is at a college prep school in Marble Falls called Faith Academy. The school is what's called a University Model school. It is very similar to the schedule and as intensive as a university. I teach on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9:30-11:30 (one class, split into 2). Parents are highly involved in it, because on the days that they aren't at the school, they are working on things at home. The parent is called the co-teacher.

I am very excited, but nervous. The lesson plans are already done for me for the whole year. It's great that I don't have to write them, but it is very intensive, so I'm still having to really study them. It is a lot to learn, because I'm having to reteach myself the grammar rules (I know them, but I just know how to apply them... not the specific rules). We're also doing a LOT of reading and writing. The writing is new to me too, because they use a specific formula. I was given about and hour of training on it! So, pray for me!! We had our first thing with parents last night and I feel as though a lot of these parents are wondering about me :). Because I was JUST hired, there were several questions that I couldn't answer for the parents. I had one parent (jokingly) ask to see my driver's license. She said that I look like I should be a student there. At least I was able to tell them that I'm 26, not 16! But, I already lack a certain amount of confidence that's necessary for being a teacher, and that didn't help! So, this year is going to be a huge challenge. I really feel, though, that I will learn a lot and become so much more confident in myself by the end of the year.

Ethan is growing, fast. Many people think that he's about 3-4 months, not 2! He just turned 2 months yesterday. He's a sweet baby. He's slowly getting easier... he still doesn't like to sleep though. He is not a napper like Karis was. Although, I'm not sure if she was a napper at this time either. So, he may get better at it. I absolutely need him to start napping more because I do all of my work from home! I can't get much done. Karis is also wanting more of my attention lately (because I give it to brother), so I feel like I'm constantly going. I love it, but don't think that I want any more children :). I think we're good with 2! We have a boy and a girl! We'll see what happens in a few years. I don't want to say that I never want more, because I may not have a choice. God is in control of that!

Anyway... life is GOOD. God is amazing. Everything has happened so perfectly. I wouldn't be able to work at FA if God hadn't worked everything out so well. I have childcare lined up, and it's perfect! I'm so excited to see how this year goes! Pray for me!!
Let me know how I can be praying for you!!!

Here are some pictures: