Showing posts with label The Joy's of Teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Joy's of Teaching. Show all posts
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
What's New?
I'm back to teaching!--Well, part-time at least. The center in Woodlands are short on teachers and caregivers so we offered to help out for the rest of April and May. I will be going over to help with the youngest ones in the afternoon. The "younger ones" are Brendan 1 1/2 and Charlie 11mo. It's so fun to be with them! Charlie can't talk and Brendan can only say a few words but we seem to communicate without any trouble. Brendan is very sweet to me now and he seems to remember me, he gives me hugs and kisses and is very obedient. It was very hard for me to leave Kiara and Brendan last year but this way I get to see them often and it's so nice to see how big they've gotten. Next time I go over I will bring my camera so I can take pictures of the cuties.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Children
How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.--George Washington Carver
When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.--Louis Pasteur
Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.--Pamela Glenconner
Photo of the Month!
Oooohhh they're just too adorable in this one. This picture got the most "votes" from people in the home. I love the adoring look Brendan is giving himself!
Brendan trying to hide under the desk.
Kiara seems to be into goofy smiles these days. Brendan looks like such a goodie-goodie boy with his hair combed to the side.
Trying to escape down the garden path...
Kiara and one of the smaller eland.
When I approach a child, he inspires in me two sentiments; tenderness for what he is, and respect for what he may become.--Louis Pasteur
Bitter are the tears of a child: Sweeten them.Deep are the thoughts of a child: Quiet them.Sharp is the grief of a child: Take it from him.Soft is the heart of a child: Do not harden it.--Pamela Glenconner
Photo of the Month!
Oooohhh they're just too adorable in this one. This picture got the most "votes" from people in the home. I love the adoring look Brendan is giving himself!
Brendan trying to hide under the desk.
Kiara seems to be into goofy smiles these days. Brendan looks like such a goodie-goodie boy with his hair combed to the side.
Trying to escape down the garden path...
Kiara and one of the smaller eland.Tuesday, October 6, 2009
My Work = My Life
“Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.”-- Albert Schweitzer
On our walk to see the zebras..
Kiara looking prim and proper.
The smile that melts my heart...:)
My little orange-juice-aholic! If you give him a cup of orange juice he'll down it in no time pausing only to breathe.Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Fun Times
"Hmmph! I know what they want. They want me to reach for the ball. But I'm not going to fall for their tricks."
Brendan having school. He loves reading books. His favorite part is turning the page. 
Kiara doing school games outside. 
"I can stand up all by myself!--well, almost." 
"I'm having so much fun!" 
"I can eat it all in one BIG bite!"Thursday, April 23, 2009
Being Mommy: Days 3,4
The days are starting to blur...Tiredness describes the way I feel for most of my waking hours. Last night's sleep could hardly be described as restful. For one, it was freezing cold. Then the kids: Kiara woke up crying twice, I can't count how many times Brendan woke up. But really, in the wee hours of the morning when he's wide awake, and he gives that irresistible smile and coo....you forget how tired you are, how your body aches, and that your eyes don't even stay open. It doesn't matter because you know you love him no matter what.
Today I took Kiara for a walk while Brendan was napping. I needed to clear my head a little, and I also wanted to do something fun with just Kiara. Steve kept an eye on Brendan for me so we could go out. We had so much fun together walking on the road, admiring the view and listening to the silence. It's so amazing how kids love so unconditionally and without restraint! Kiara was just purring with delight to have me all to herself. She asked to hold my hand and didn't stop telling me how much she loved me, how fun it was to be on a walk with me, how much she loved being with me. I of course felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I knew she meant every word. She wasn't trying to "butter-me-up" or gain "brownie points", which is what you would expect hearing things like that from any other mouth, she was just speaking from the heart. That's what made it so special. Needless to say I enjoyed our walk.
Now, Brendan absolutely adores Steve. Since Brendan was 5/6 months old they've had this little "buddy-buddy" relationship. It makes me a little jealous at times. I feel like, "Hey, I'm with you most of the day don't you love me too?" But in spite of that I do understand. It's also a nice reward/change for Steve because when we first got together Kiara was so jealous she really didn't like Steve. That was very hard for him as he was so nice to her, but she got it stuck in her mind that "he was talking me away from her" so she was quite mean to him.
When I'm not wallowing in self-pity I love watching the look on Brendan's face when he sees Steve. His whole face lights up and you can almost feel his little heart overflowing with joy. Steve loves being with Brendan and they're always going off to play guitar or have some buddy time. It's so cute! I've never seen a little baby love someone that much.
Today I took Kiara for a walk while Brendan was napping. I needed to clear my head a little, and I also wanted to do something fun with just Kiara. Steve kept an eye on Brendan for me so we could go out. We had so much fun together walking on the road, admiring the view and listening to the silence. It's so amazing how kids love so unconditionally and without restraint! Kiara was just purring with delight to have me all to herself. She asked to hold my hand and didn't stop telling me how much she loved me, how fun it was to be on a walk with me, how much she loved being with me. I of course felt all warm and fuzzy inside. I knew she meant every word. She wasn't trying to "butter-me-up" or gain "brownie points", which is what you would expect hearing things like that from any other mouth, she was just speaking from the heart. That's what made it so special. Needless to say I enjoyed our walk.
Now, Brendan absolutely adores Steve. Since Brendan was 5/6 months old they've had this little "buddy-buddy" relationship. It makes me a little jealous at times. I feel like, "Hey, I'm with you most of the day don't you love me too?" But in spite of that I do understand. It's also a nice reward/change for Steve because when we first got together Kiara was so jealous she really didn't like Steve. That was very hard for him as he was so nice to her, but she got it stuck in her mind that "he was talking me away from her" so she was quite mean to him.
When I'm not wallowing in self-pity I love watching the look on Brendan's face when he sees Steve. His whole face lights up and you can almost feel his little heart overflowing with joy. Steve loves being with Brendan and they're always going off to play guitar or have some buddy time. It's so cute! I've never seen a little baby love someone that much.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Awww....
A little note from Kiara! Isn't she adorable?(I was quite sick with the flu this week and was in bed for two days. A few substitute teachers took the kids for me. I missed them so much those two days...I just had to post this note.)
Friday, April 3, 2009
Cherish The Children
I just read these cute stories about children and thought you'd enjoy reading them too! Especially those of you who have children, or teach and care for children like I do.
Author and lecturer, Leo Buscaglia, once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was: A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."
***************************************************
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, "I know all about adoption, I was adopted."
"What does it mean to be adopted?", asked another child.
"It means", said the girl, "that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!" ****************************************************
On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League base ball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile."Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged." "Discouraged?", the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face... "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."
**************************************************
Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. "Guess what, Mom," he shouted, and then said those words that will remain
a lesson to me....."I've been chosen to clap and cheer." **************************************************
An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, "My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!" "I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,"was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, you will be more comfortable now." As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her . "Are you God's wife?"
Author and lecturer, Leo Buscaglia, once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was: A four-year-old child, whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman, who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy just said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry."
***************************************************
Teacher Debbie Moon's first graders were discussing a picture of a family. One little boy in the picture had a different hair color than the other members. One of her students suggested that he was adopted.
A little girl said, "I know all about adoption, I was adopted."
"What does it mean to be adopted?", asked another child.
"It means", said the girl, "that you grew in your mommy's heart instead of her tummy!" ****************************************************
On my way home one day, I stopped to watch a Little League base ball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-base line, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile."Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged." "Discouraged?", the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face... "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."
**************************************************
Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott.Jamie was trying out for a part in the school play. His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it, though she feared he would not be chosen. On the day the parts were awarded, I went with her to collect him after school. Jamie rushed up to her, eyes shining with pride and excitement. "Guess what, Mom," he shouted, and then said those words that will remain
a lesson to me....."I've been chosen to clap and cheer." **************************************************
An eye witness account from New York City , on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, "My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!" "I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,"was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, you will be more comfortable now." As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her . "Are you God's wife?"
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Chubby Cheeks and Toothless Grins
Some recent pictures and updates of the kids during this last month. They grow so fast...sigh
Brendan: 7months.
So cute! The cutest baby in the whole world. He going through teething, he has two teeth now, and he's being weaned! I can tell you he does not like it one bit. He hates drinking milk bottles but tolerates water. He loves walking, whether in his walker or supported by one of us. It's one of his favorite activities and can keep his happy when nothing else will. He also still loves the great outdoors and can entertain himself for a long time just sitting on the grass.
The pose he likes to take when flirting.
Toothless no more! Take a good look and you can see two little teeth peeking out.
"Baby in a basket." Anything new is totally awesome in the eyes of a little tyke. It also gives me a few extra minutes to clean up any disaster that was made during snack time.
The Princess
Licking frosting of the candles
Look at that serious little face!--so pretty, so cute.
Brendan: 7months.
So cute! The cutest baby in the whole world. He going through teething, he has two teeth now, and he's being weaned! I can tell you he does not like it one bit. He hates drinking milk bottles but tolerates water. He loves walking, whether in his walker or supported by one of us. It's one of his favorite activities and can keep his happy when nothing else will. He also still loves the great outdoors and can entertain himself for a long time just sitting on the grass.
The pose he likes to take when flirting.
Toothless no more! Take a good look and you can see two little teeth peeking out.
"Baby in a basket." Anything new is totally awesome in the eyes of a little tyke. It also gives me a few extra minutes to clean up any disaster that was made during snack time.Kiara: 3 years.
We celebrated her birthday on the 22nd on this month, but it's actually on the 18th. There was a big plan for a party with all her little friends but one of the homes have measles and are in quarantine. Her parents made the day as special as they could and she had fun.
She's the best little student a teacher could ever have. She reads and writes so well. This last week she has really overcome her shyness barrier with reading to others. I found her showing off her new skill to a few people in the home! (I'm so proud of her) We try to do French every afternoon. It's so cute when she tries to pronounce the words. When she gets into it she starts asking me for the French names of objects, then she shows of to others at meal times. She's kind to Brendan and acts like a little mommy for him. I ask her to help watch him and the other day I let her feed him. She really enjoyed that! Sometimes there are little bouts of jealously especially when she sees the interesting baby thing he has. She wants to try anything that's his: his bottles, his baby mush, new cup,..etc.
And she's still very affectionate. She's always holding my arm, kissing it, or asks to give kisses and hugs.
The Princess
Licking frosting of the candles
Look at that serious little face!--so pretty, so cute. Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Toothies
Brendan has his first tooth!! Well, it's not completely out, just poking out of the gum. It's so amazing and I'm so happy and proud of him. I saw it this morning when I was feeding him some snack. I was so surprised I fell back in shock. It's exciting to watch him grow and get cuter and smarter every day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
School Days...
"School days are happy days, learning can be fun!" I love teaching. It's especially fun with the two little students I have. They're both so cute and smart, and so eager to learn. I must be the happiest teacher in the world!
Here's a picture of the two cuties in the classroom.
Brendan--he's always the center of attention. It's not hard to figure out why. He's just the most adorable "man-cub" around! (Check out the rolls of blubber)
Here's a picture of the two cuties in the classroom.
Brendan--he's always the center of attention. It's not hard to figure out why. He's just the most adorable "man-cub" around! (Check out the rolls of blubber)Tuesday, February 24, 2009
My Cuddle-Bug
Kiara is such a cuddle-bug. Sometimes during school time, like while we're reading, she will hold my arm and hug it and kiss it. One morning after she read a few pages in her reader I started to praise her, and tell her how proud I was of her. I put a sticker on her page, (she loves stickers!) then I cuddled her and gave her tons of kisses on her cheek. She just giggled and smiled, soaking in all the love. I turned around to get back to reading when she grabbed me...
Kiara: "I want to give you kisses too."
So she held my face and smothered me with kisses.
Me: "Oh, thank you. My love cup is so full now."
Kiara: "That's because I just love you!"
Kiara: "I want to give you kisses too."
So she held my face and smothered me with kisses.
Me: "Oh, thank you. My love cup is so full now."
Kiara: "That's because I just love you!"
Saturday, February 21, 2009
A Smile...
Today during our meeting, Brendan was sitting across the room on someones lap. He was staring at me with his "blank day dreamy" stare. (he daydreams a lot!) I smiled at him and tried to get his attention by shaking my head. I didn't work so I just blew him a kiss...
That did the trick! He smiled; his big, beautiful, irresistible smile and then gave a contented sigh. "Ahhhh!" Joy and Steve were the only others who got to see that. But it was so cute, so special it melted my heart.
That did the trick! He smiled; his big, beautiful, irresistible smile and then gave a contented sigh. "Ahhhh!" Joy and Steve were the only others who got to see that. But it was so cute, so special it melted my heart.
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