Be Careful Little Eyes...

I feel like I need a I bumper sticker that reads, "I survived VBS". 
Yes, another Vacation Bible School is in the books - and it was wonderful.  I cannot wait to see my babies show the congregation their songs, moves, and memory verses during services tonight.
This year, a few things were changed - and change is good.  Our VBS was held Friday night and Saturday morning/afternoon.  This worked really well even with the big storm that blew in during Friday's activities-bounce houses can go airborne.  I usually work with the music - it's my love and I feel comfortable there.  However, this year I was assigned memory verses - yes, God got a good giggle from that I'm sure.
Our main verse was Mark 12:30 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength."  Not only was it important for the kids to learn this verse, but I wanted them to know what is meaning is in our world today.  We did an activity called Name 5.  We sat in a circle while the person in the mush pot closed their eyes and gave the start and stop commands as those in the circle passed around a tennis ball.  Whoever had the ball when the stop command was given had to name 5.  For our group, we had the kiddos complete the following: Name 5 ways we can love the Lord in school, at home, at church, at the store, and at the ball field.  I was amazed at their responses.  I was also convicted to make sure that I followed their suggestions.  Be careful little eyes.
This reminded me of something that happened many years ago when I was a real teacher (aka before I became a dyslexia therapist).  I have never been one of those teachers who raised my voice to get attention, silence speaks louder than words don't you know.  It was during one of these moments that I heard one of my students say to the class, "Y'all be quiet, Mrs. Hendrik is praying for us again!"  Kids may not always know what is in their lesson, but they will always know what's in your heart.  I guess what I'm trying to say is build those relationships and walk the walk. From these simple gestures, great lessons will be taught.
As the final weeks of summer approach, I cannot wait to build new relationships. While technology is amazing and oh so important, nothing can match what the human heart can accomplish.

Love & Blessings,
Puddin'


BTW...
The Name 5 Game can easily be incorporated into many subjects and levels.  It makes an awesome way to close a lesson or review for a test!  I like it because they have to have five answers instead of one - promoting deeper understanding!

Homework:
How do you build relationships with your classes? Please share your thoughts in the comment section :)

Speaking of relationships, I could not do what I do without my team!  Your teammates are your support system. I tell these ladies that no one else speaks our language.  I love them so :) 

Super Summer

Happy Sunday All!

Hopefully you are having a Super _________ (day, week, snack, you choose!)
Super can describe so many things that the word may even lose some of its super powers - but I hope not.  The idea for this post was born while on a hot date with the hubs!

We had gone to see the movie Superman Man of Steel.  (sidebar #1- I highly recommend this movie for several reasons: very exciting to watch, wonderful story line, no profanity or visual obscenities, & good overcomes evil.  sidebar #2 You know you are aging when your teenage matinee heartthrob is now playing the father of Superman!)
The moral of the movie was driven home again and again. We are all put here for a reason - find yours.

One of my favorite sayings is "I teach. What's your superpower?" If you are involved in education in any form-classroom or behind the scenes-you are a superhero!  I began to ponder what exactly my super power would be.  I automatically thought that my love for children was a superpower - but that's a given.  Anyone in education needs to love children or they should find another career.  So I thought a while longer and decided that organization and planning were my super powers.

When it comes to organization, you just need to find what works for you and stick with it.  One of the best organizational tools that I have is the SUPER binder.  Years ago when I was a "real teacher" (aka second grade teacher), I found that if I took all of the important documents, notes, memos, plans, and the like and kept them in one central location, I was more apt to #1 know where they were and #2 put the information to use.  Thus, the SUPER Binder was born!

Over the years, my binder has gone through many incarnations, and summer is the time of year when I usually begin putting my new binder together.  I will take you through how I create mine and feel free to use these ideas and by all means tweak them to fit your needs.  You can also find many binder packages for sale online.  These are amazing and oh so cute, but I prefer to create my own.

I begin by purchasing what I have found to be essential in binder building:
     *a 2" binder (Just like Goldilocks, I have found that 1" are too small and bursting at the seams by December while the 3" are too cumbersome)
     *pretty stationary - these can be purchased to go along with your classroom theme
     * sheet protectors
     *post it filing tabs
     *optional: label maker, pencil pouch, stickers and other accouterments.

Next, decide on what you feel would be the most important things to keep in your binder and create areas for these.  The following are the tabs I will use to keep mine organized this year: lesson plans, calendar, student information, 504 data, IEP info., Team Meetings, Staff/Faculty Meetings, Parent Communication, Important E-Mails, Schedules & Rosters, and Master Copies.  I will make a header page using my stationary and then load it into a page protector.  Then, I will create a corresponding tab to place on the outside of the page protector so that the information can be located easily.  I have found that this works better than using regular dividers as the dividers tend to get lost in some the things I keep in page protectors.

Once your binder is created, file things as they come in.  Don't let things pile up or you will never find it and will be doomed before you start.

Keep your binders from year to year for reference.  I generally label the spine with the school year so that information is easily assessable.

I also keep a household super binder where I file bills, receipts, insurance and IRS information. 

Another "SOUPER" idea for the summer is Fruit Soup!

If you have found that the wonderful fruits of the season often begin to spoil before you and your family have eaten them all,  this is the perfect way to use that yummy produce.  Simply take whatever fruits that you have and blend them with a little fruit juice and voila - fruit soup!  This week I blended honey dew melon and fresh pineapple with a little lime juice.  The result was so cool and refreshing - perfect for breakfast, dessert, or just a little afternoon treat on a hot summer day.

Praying that you have a Super Week!
Love & Blessings,
Puddin'

Homework: What is your teaching super power? (please leave your answers in the comment section)

You Need to Add a Little Spice

I LOVE lists.  Some of my lists have lists.  I will even do a rough draft of my grocery list and then revise by the layout of the store. I LOVE lists!
As a teacher, lists are a big part of what makes me productive - the more that I can check off, the more productive I am!  In the summer my list making takes the month of June off (except for that grocery list), but with July upon us, the lists go into what my kids call BEASTMODE.
Side note... July is also the month that the school supplies begin appearing in the stores (July 5th to be exact).  This is one of those days that I live for.  You can keep your Black Friday shopping in November - I am happily at home for that- but give me school supplies in July!  I went the other day and take a look I what I found...

I now have colored plastic folders in six different colors for my six groups (plastic may be bad for the environment, but it's a godsend for elementary folders).  I also picked up a cute spiral for personal note taking (I still prefer to take notes the old fashioned way) and a purple 2" binder so I can begin building my 2013-14 Super Binder (more about the Super Binder in a future blog).
The spiral is where I take notes from inservices, workshops, faculty meetings, conferences, etc... I like to keep all of my notes in one place so that I will always know where to look.  Each school year begins with a new spiral!  The spiral begins its new life beside my bed.  Let me explain, beginning around the end of June I begin having the school terrors that will wake me up in a cold, sweaty panic.  They usually involve an idea or a list of something that I will need to do or want to try in the upcoming term.  With my trusty spiral beside my bed, I can jot these things down and go back to sleep.
After 19 years, I still do this.  Teaching must never become rote, so teachers must never become stagnate or believe that they don't  have time to improve.  I change something every year (often many things).  Even after 2 years of indoctrination to become a language therapist where they tried to kill the teacher living in my heart by drilling that therapy is best when it's super structured and never changes.  Don't tell the therapy gurus (love 'em), but my teacher's heart beats loud and true. I tweak my therapy classes a bit each year and in turn, each year is a little better than the last. It all starts in the spiral.
Don't be afraid to spice things up, make some changes, try something new.  What's the worst that could happen?  It might not be successful, but your kiddos get to see how well you respond to fooboos.  That is a LIFE LESSON!
Go on now - grab a spiral, make some changes, spice it up!

Speaking of spice...
I have a recipe to share.  These are the perfect little something when you are in need of a chocolate fix. Most of the ingredients are typical, but there are a few that I have marked with a * in case you want to spice it up.  If you do, the changes are subtle but spectacular!

Brownie Cookies
1 box brownie mix ( I use dark chocolate)
1 1/4 C AP flour
1/4 C brown sugar
2 eggs
1/2 C butter (melted)
2T water
1 C chocolate chips (any type, I use semi-sweet)
1T espresso powder* (intensifies the chocolate flavor)
1t vanilla*
1t cinnamon*
1/8-1/4 t cayenne pepper* (trust me)
combine all and cover and chill for 2 hours
preheat oven to 350 and drop the dough by tablespoonfuls onto a parchment-lined sheet pan
flatten slightly
bake 10-12 minutes
yield 60 cookies

Before you leave, here's a homework assignment:
How do you plan to spice up your class this year? please leave a comment

Love & Blessings!
Puddin'

Who Is Puddin?

Well, Puddin' is what my family and friends generally call me (unless I'm in trouble). I also go by the names GayLyn, Mrs. H, Hon, and in some cases "mama" (I teach elementary kiddos so that last one pops up every now and then.  I know I'll hear granny one day. Prayers will be needed).
Other things you should know about me are:
1. I am an only child - Yep, I'm spoiled.
2. I am an only child that was raised on the family farm - I believe in  working hard for the pleasure of a job well done.
3. My grandparents & great-grandparents were my daycare- learned far more than my ABCs.
4. I am married to my high school sweetheart - I am blessed
5. I am a teacher/Dyslexia Therapist - I am living my dream
6. I work for the same district where I attended grades 1-12 - I ride for the brand!
7. I am OCD - My Mama calls it being persnickety
8. I love to cook, craft, and decorate - Probably because I never got to take Home Economics in school.
9. Church is more than just a Sunday activity- I try to walk the talk
10. I love to laugh and try to keep a smile at all times- If you are as blessed as I am, your face had better show it!


Well, that pretty much covers it!  I hope that you will drop in on this blog to see what I'm pondering on.  I'll also be posting recipes, quotes, and other neat stuff!