Banagram Champions

      It was softball day.  I am not into sports.  If I don’t stay inside and grade papers during lunch and recess, my house would never get cleaned, and my family wouldn’t have clean clothes-- much less dinner.  So I stay inside and grade papers.

     And so it was that while most of the school was outside playing softball, and three of my students asked me to come look at their accomplishment, I gladly did.

      They had used every one of the Bananagrams letters, and had even connected them all.  This is my favorite game, and it has become one of the students' favorites too.  Their vocabulary and spelling have increased greatly.  I was proud of them.  They were using their minds, working together, and having fun.  I took a picture of their work of art, congratulated them, and then sent them out to get some fresh air.  There is more to life than work and sports. 

Falling Off a Cart at the Store

      This picture really should have gone in my “working together” post, but it didn’t, so here it is now.  And here is the story behind it.  We had to go shopping to get all the food and decorations for the graduation reception and the last honor roll party that the 7th-12th graders were preparing for the rest of the students.  We arrived at the store, got a cart, and loaded up the humans.  You see, the other four upper-grades gentlemen had other plans that evening, and so it was that we ended up with just one gentleman.  And, being a true gentleman, he offered to give the ladies a ride while the cart was not yet full of groceries.  Things were going pretty well until he went around a corner and one of the ladies tumbled off and went splat in the aisle in front of a man and his family.  She was right in his path, and so he had to veer around her.  Fortunately, he was extremely good-natured and laughed and talked to us a bit.  Being the teacher here, I had to put an end to the fun as it was getting a little dangerous and I didn’t want any of the students in my charge to be run over by a grocery cart.  When you spend time with remarkable people 1.) it is never boring and 2.) it is always fun.  And my students are remarkable people.  

Attack of the Arthropods

     After heavy rains in central Texas, the crawdads appear.  I even saw one in the middle of the grocery store parking lot.  The more adventurous students pick them up and bring them in for morning science time.  Lovely.  

Checkmate!

     About three years ago my husband taught all of our students (grades 3rd-12th) how to play chess.  For some reason this year it made a resurgence.  Chess is everywhere.

There are chess sets in the classrooms,

in the school library,

and on the choir conductor’s stool,

and on our teaching table by the white board.

They play chess during study hall, 

during lunch, 

and after school out on the picnic tables.

They even play chess after church on Wednesday night.

Brother plays sister, 6th grader plays 6th grader, and 3rd graders play 12th graders.

It is great for their brains, great for their relationships, and great for school morale.

Viva la chess!  

Of Rats and Rain

                                    
     Every specific locale  has its own meteorological quirks, and one of those in our area of Texas is drought followed by deluge.  We had one of the latter this week, and it prompted an unusual series of events which ultimately affected our morning science time here at school.  Here is what happened.

1.  We received a deluge of rain.
2.  The rain infiltrated rodents' dens.
3.  The rodents evacuated their homes.
4.  Cats pounced upon the rodents.
5.  Cats brought dead, partially chewed rodents to their owners' doorsteps.
    (Whether the owners actually appreciate this or are impressed by their cat's prowess in hunting will remain undiscussed at this point in time.  Why the cats even do this, instead of eating their prey, will also not be contemplated yet.)
6.  Students at our school discovered dead rodents on their doorsteps.
7.  Students brought them in to get credit during morning science time.

    Yesterday morning we received two of these, a vole in a sandwich baggy, and a wet rat with one front paw missing in a bowl.  (How appetizing.)   Sorry about the blood on the history test; I needed a white background for the photograph.

Stinky, Rotting Bird on Student's Desk During Test

                                          
         My youngest son asked if he could get a dead dove he had found to take to school for morning "science time" the next day.  

       "Yes, you may get that dead bird out of our next door neighbor's yard.  But please don't touch it.  Use a shovel and wash your hands when you're done."  It spent the night in the freezer, inside a zip lock baggie, mind you.

        The next day I noticed the bird again, where it was not supposed to be.

       "Why is there a dead bird on your desk while you are taking your spelling test?" I asked.   I assumed he thought that was all right because it was frozen, but that was not acceptable at all.  I enjoy science, but dead birds on students' desks during spelling tests is not what I consider to be conducive to a good academic atmosphere, or any atmosphere for that matter.

       He gave me a strange look, like having dead birds on one's desk during school was just a normal everyday occurrence.  I tried again, "I know it is frozen, but it's going to start stinking.  Please put it outside after you've finished your test."

       Closing thoughts:  Yay for teaching.  Yay for science.  Yay for little boys.

The Third Day of School

     School has begun!   And with it, all the fun like having to rearrange schedules to make sure we have enough time for all of our classes, and morning science time.  This morning we had a brother and sister who both brought in beaver-hewn pieces of wood.  The brother was having fun "gnawing" on his, and the sister went along with the fun and "chewed" on hers too.  They got these from their grandparent's farm this summer in Indiana.  They got to see the beaver's dam too.  School is never boring.  

Coyote Roadkill and Tanning: Science Anyone?

      On the way to school one morning we saw an amazing road kill.  It was a coyote.  She was lying in the middle of the road with hardly a scratch on her.  I couldn’t resist picking her up and putting her on top of a trash bag I just happened to have in the back of our car.  As I did this, I waved for a man in a truck to pass us but he wouldn’t; he just waited.  I think he was being respectful as he thought I was some poor, bereaved woman picking up the remains of the family pet to take home for burial.  

 

     After we observed it at school, one of the students noticed that it was absolutely crawling with fleas.  Donning plastic gloves, two of the gentlemen carried it outside.

At morning break my science-loving son asked me if he could try and tan the hide.  “Ummm, . . . I guess so,” I muttered as I was pondering fleas, rigormortis, blood, skinning, and tanning.  “Put it in a trash bag and squirt water all over it,” I added as he smiled and ran outside.  Oh dear, what have we gotten into now? I wondered.  I should have known that those anatomy dissections last year might lead to this.  

That night as we headed out to a school board meeting around 7:30 p.m. the coyote was hanging from the back fence and two of my sons were beginning their task.  They were still at it, having moved to the garage when we got home.  Its heart was about the size of a large plum; its stomach was full of grass and a sparrow.  They made it to bed by 2:00 a.m. and the coyote skin was safely soaking in salt water-- ears, nose, and tail included.  

      Next we submersed it in a vat of water, salt, and alum.  The alum was something new we wanted to try that I read about from a Viking re-enactor.  (Yes, he does real-life Viking reenactments.)  After two weeks we took it out, washed it off, and kept it moving and stretching as it dried out.  He now has a lovely tanned coyote skin which adorns his piano bench.  And we had a unique opportunity to learn more about animals, anatomy, and tanning in the process.  

 

Charcoal Art - Spontaneity Part IV

    This is not your normal art project.  And, at the time, it was quite a mess.  But, after they had come inside and washed their hands, you would have never known what they had been doing.  I didn’t.  Someone grabbed my camera, took the pictures, and put it back on my desk.  After I had uploaded (or downloaded or whatever techno term it is) the pictures, I had to ask my husband what this was all about. 

 

      He informed me that they had found the leftover bonfire from a Pastor’s Appreciation Barbeque our church held a few months ago, and asked if they could use the charcoal for art, which he approved of.  He also told me that they were being creative and resourceful.  He was right.  

The Return of the Turbo Snail

After our lunch break one day, I walked into the orange room (as we call it) ready to teach the 3rd-6th grade science class.  As usual, I gave them ten seconds to tidy up their desks, put a few books away, make a trip to the trash can, and to have only their science books open on their desks, ready to pay full attention to whatever lesson we were about to tackle that day.  

       Then I noticed a school supply box open on one student’s desk.   A little perturbed, I instructed him to put it away.  

“But it’s my snail’s playground,” he asserted.  

“What?” I asked, half crazed, my frustration mounting.

“See; here is his ramp, and this is his island,” he excitedly replied.

I had to go over for a closer look; my intrigue was now mounting and the frustration was waning just a little.

Sure enough, there on his desk, was a snail playground.  This privileged snail had two play areas --both filled with water--, a ramp, an island, as well as dinosaurs and pumpkins with which he could play, if snails do play, that is.  

I complimented him on his creativity, and then reminded him that this was science class, and that he wasn’t supposed to have water at, or in reality, splashed all over his desk and the floor.  At least this time the Turbo Snail didn’t have to pull a wagon and work; I suppose he had earned a little break.  

Does Your Hair Count for Science?

      Every morning our students bring in “science”--anything from God’s creation-- to share with the rest of the students, and to earn a few extra fake dollars for the end-of-the-year auction.  They all learn more about science, it is interesting and educational, and our collection grows.

      Inevitably, after the gentlemen get a hair cut, we get the question, "Does your hair count for 'science'?"

         Yes, your hair does count for science.  They bring in handfuls of their own hair in little baggies.  It does get a little annoying, however, when they play with it at their desks, put it on other students’ desks, and draw little fake people with real hair on their fake heads, or use it to tape fake moustaches on their real faces.   Teaching is never boring.  

No Snow Days-- Will an Ice Day Suffice?

It rarely snows in our part of Texas, so a few flakes or some ice is really a big deal.  One morning it was drizzling, and by morning break there was ice all over the picnic tables.  We enjoyed it to the fullest.  We will probably not have a snow day this year, but we did get to slide around on the ice.  

Mud Trenches, Mud Islands, Mud Huts, and Mud Ants

There is a little space between the church and the ball field fence where we like to play one of our school’s favorite games, ultimate frisbee.  Adjacent to this is a little curb where a few of the people who aren’t playing sit and watch.  And drink water.  And dump their water out.  This made a little muddy place and the water ran down to where their feet were.  Two of the younger students decided to build a dam to keep the water from running down.  Then the third, fourth and fifth grade boys took over.  They added canals, bridges, and islands.  Then they put a hut on one of the islands, and the girls began making trees by the hut.  Next ants began climbing over the bridges and onto the island.  So, the students put food on the island by the hut for the ants to eat, which of course the ants did.  They seemed to enjoy the cookie more than the grape, however.

Eventually, the inevitable happened.  It was just too much mud.  I didn’t mind my classroom being a little dirty, especially around the boys’ desks.  I just swept it up and was a few minutes late to choir.  But the parents weren’t too crazy about it, and we got “the phone call”.  We knew it was coming, but it was still a little sad.  Yes, it made a mess, but it was so creative.  The canals and islands remain, but unfortunately the building project has come to an end.  

The Mid-Year Program and a Glimpse of the Future

Last week we presented our mid-year choral program.  Sprinkled in between the songs were stories about the students that had happened at school so far this year.  

In the entry way we had two tables full of great science stuff which you’ve already seen a lot of on the posts here.  On another table we had several of the interesting books we’ve read for history.  We also hung up some of the students’ art projects and a few snowflakes we’d made in the entryway.  

My favorite part of the evening wasn’t the singing, although I do love singing and the songs that we sang.  It wasn’t seeing all my friends and some family, whom I do love and was glad they were there.   My favorite part of the evening was seeing my students give me a glimpse of the future.  Here is how it happened.

After visiting with several of the parents and friends, we were over in the fellowship hall for cookies and hot chocolate.   I visited so much I never got one cookie or a cup of hot chocolate, but there were two plates full of cookies on my desk at the end of the evening. (Thanks Rose!)  I always want to know what my students are up to and I didn’t see too many of them around.  I knew they were not outside as I’d just been out there.  So I got curious and decided to walk over to the classroom.  

As I neared the door I noticed it was very quiet, except for one young lady’s voice.  Then I walked in and saw every desk filled.  Students were sitting quietly in rows, and the “teacher” at the front of the room (a fifth grader) was teaching how to diagram a sentence.  She was doing quite a good job.  She asked the students to fill in the blanks, and even took out a gerund so that they could do it correctly.  (Gerunds aren’t common protocol for elementary students.)  

It is fun to see students who could be running around eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate, or getting cold on the swings outside instead sitting in their seats practicing sentence diagramming.  

So, that was my glimpse of the future.  I hope that in the future there will be no teacher shortage around here.  

Spontaneity Part I: Genuine Spontaneity

To be perfectly honest, school has a tendency to get boring . . . IF you let it.  You are the teacher and you have the ability (and the responsibility) to keep it from becoming boring.  Yes, it takes a little creativity, but it’s really not that hard if you do two things:

1.  Take advantage of unusual things that happen to “pop up” during the day.

2.  Plan a few “spontaneous” activities on purpose.  You will know that they are coming, but the students will not, and thus the activities will have the same effect as something genuinely “spontaneous” to them.

The following post covers planned spontaneity.  This first post will focus on taking advantage of things that naturally occur without you planning them.  These are easy!  All you have to do is recognize when one happens.  Here are a few examples.

1.  One day one of students brought a doll to school.  It was a large doll and it was in the aisle.  I actually tripped over it.  I laughed and didn’t think much of it.......until the next day when there were about five dolls in school.  Then I said, “I think the dolls need to take a nap.”  They all smiled, obediently took their dolls to the “couch room”, and only played with them at lunch, after school, or when we gave them permission.  

They got quite creative.  The dolls began to turn in papers to be graded.  (Which we graded and returned, of course.)  One doll played kick ball during recess.  (Her owner actually had the doll kick the ball and then carried it as she ran.)  It was lots of fun and we didn’t do anything.  It was all the students’ idea.  Listen when they ask for  permission to do something unusual, and be creative when they do something.  

   

Here is a doll “showing” his shell for science time.  

CAUTION:  Always use good judgement.  While bringing dolls to school is harmless, having a “mohawk” day is not.  

(Not to break the flow of the writing here, but there is a little story explaining the above photograph at the end of the post if you are still reading at that point :-).   

2.  Stop by that really interesting church built in the late 1800’s on the way home from a field trip and read the historical marker out front.  Take a few minutes to go inside it if you can.  Take a picture to remember it by.

3.  If students bring in an interesting live animal for “science”  (see post “Morning Devotions and Science” HERE), let them bring it to class or keep it in the schoolhouse if possible.  We’ve had cats jump up on fish tanks to take a drink, cats get lost inside our couch, birds sitting on fingers and shoulders, and snakes get loose on accident.  With good rules always enforced (see “rules” post HERE  ) it never got too distracting or chaotic, and it was a LOT of fun.

4.  Look for unusual happenings.  Stop what you are doing and enjoy the moment.  One day at recess one of our 3rd graders took off his coat and threw it up in the air.  It flew in the wind and stuck to the backstop fence up in the air.  The students laughed.  The teacher told more of them to throw their coats up in the air. They did, and more coats were stuck fast to the fence.  Then the teacher came and interrupted a history class (mine) and had all the older students go outside and throw their coats up in the air also.  All the students in the school were outside throwing coats and enjoying the pretty “art”.  We all had a great time and it made a great memory. 

5.  If something unusual is going on outside, take a few minutes and let the children look out the window, or go outside to see what is happening.  We’ve gone outside to watch the geese flying south for the winter and listen to their honking, looked out the window every time the big truck delivered oil, and opened our window to talk to and watch the bricklayers putting bricks on the outside of our schoolhouse.  (We also practiced speaking some Spanish that we’d be learning and asked them if they’d add some of our big fossils into the limestone on the front of the school-- which they did.)

  

6.  Especially in the winter, take the class to a different room.  If you don’t already move their desks around fairly frequently, start doing that too.  Move the entire room around if you can.  Have them write their journals anywhere inside the school they want to.  Tell them to go and sit in front of a piece of art or furniture and describe it.  On the first nice day of spring take your reading books outside and sit in the sunshine.  They will still get their work done and you all will have really enjoyed the day-- and probably learned something too.

The day the brick layers came the workers were banging some sort of supports into the walls.  They were banging and banging away.  Even my extremely loud voice wasn’t overpowering it.  We decided to go over to the church house (which already had the bricks on it) and did school there-- on the pews, under the pews, wherever they wanted to as long as they were quiet and did their work-- and they did.  :-)

7.  If the students ask to help, or even “teach” the class for a few minutes and you trust them, let them.  Last year the sixth grade boys would begin every social studies class for me by putting in the Geography Songs CD and then using the pointer to identify the countries while I got my books together.  (This is a great CD to use to memorize all the states and countries [from audiomemory.com.  There is also an a capella version also if you ask for it.])

8.  Listen to other’s ideas.  One year we were having the most difficult time finding 40 plus yards of matching fabric for our end-of-the-year program dresses.  Someone suggested that we wear Chinese jackets instead.  We’d been learning about China, eating with chop sticks, making scrolls with Chinese calligraphy . . . why not?  We did.   They were about the same price as the fabric and we didn’t have to sew!  

(And here is the story explaining all the Amish dolls you saw earlier.)

One year it was nearing the last auction of the school term, where the students get to spend their hard-earned fake money to buy items donated by church members and the school board.  Because it was the last auction of the year, and because we had wonderful students, I was determined to get EVERYTHING they had written down in their journals that they would like to see at the auction.  (They may suggest three items.)  We had gotten just about everything on the list, except the last item . . . Amish doll clothes.

I wondered where on earth I was going to find these.  There were no Amish around for miles.  I thought about sewing them.  It was the last week of school.  We had the program, report cards, awards, auction, and the last day of school to plan for.  There was no way I could sew some.  So, I decided just to let it go and not worry about it.

The next week we traveled to a wedding in Ohio.  It was five hours away and we arrived a little early.  It was a Saturday and we had time to stop at just one garage sale.  It just so happened that it was an Amish family having the garage sale, and they had a clothesline full of beautiful little dresses-- all very reasonably priced.  I got enough for all the dolls.  

God knows when each sparrow falls, He knows the number of hairs on our head, and He knows when we really don’t need Amish doll clothes, but He loves us and provides them anyway. 

To read part II, click HERE.