Make some snow of your own!

One of my students taught me how to make these pretty paper snowflakes.

We made giant ones using 8 x 8" squares.

Here's how you make them!

To make a paper star or snowflake

step 1:  Get ready.
You will need six sheets of paper, scissors, tape {stapler optional}

step 2:  Cut.
Fold paper to make a perfect square and cut off excess.

step 3:  Fold again to make a smaller triangle.

step 4:  Open triangle and make 5 - 6 cuts toward the center fold.
Do not go all the way to the fold; leave 1/4 inch uncut.

step 5:  Do the same on the other side.
{If you feel brave, you can make easier symetrical cuts by keeping the paper folded}

step 6:  Open the paper completely to reveal all the cuts.

Step 7:  Start taping.
Gather the centermost diamond and tape the points together

Step 8:  Flip the paper over and tape the next diamond together.

Step 9:  Flip again and tape the next diamond.

Step 10. Continue this until finished.

Step 11: Make 5 more...and gather all 6 parts and staple or tape them together.

Step 12: Roll a little tape {or staple} the sides together.

Here are a couple of YouTube links that will walk you through it.

They are so much fun to make!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gr23zSj9ro
and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gr23zSj9ro

Hang up your starry snowflakes from windows all around the house! 

Wouldn't they be great to hang in a room decorated for a winter birthday party!?!!

summer wings

Trading in my
t e n s e
end of school year shoulders for

summer wings!

Time to relax and get lots of family hugs everyone!
Getting a BIG hug from Jason real soon =)

Bless you all!

~Maria

What is Forgiveness? {lessons from those so young}

"light, love, and soup."

This is my second year reading The Tale of Despereaux with my sixth graders.

The theme of this book is forgiveness.
{Kate DiCamillo is brilliant.}

I asked them to write a few words on what they learned about forgiveness.

They always seem to teach me a few lessons too.

~

"Forgiveness helps get the hurt out.  If you forgive your heart will be pure."

~

"Forgiveness is a strong word that some people say with no meaning.  

When Despereaux’s father said, “Will you forgive me?” he said it with meaning.  

I think that is half the reason why Despereaux forgave his father."

~

"Forgiveness can be the only way to save your heart from breaking. 
Despereaux had to forgive his father to keep his own heart from breaking."

~

"If you did something bad to someone and you forgive them,
it’s like taking medicine for a cold; you feel a whole lot better.
Forgiveness can relieve stress."

~

"Forgiveness is a magical word, a word that can lift spirits.
Forgiveness can be little, however, it can also be big. 
It can change a life.  Even a little forgiveness can make a big difference."

~

"Forgiveness is power.
Forgiveness is being able to let go of what someone said or did to you;
being able to forgive is being able to move on.

Forgiveness is leaving the past, and moving on to the future...the next present."


~

"Forgiveness.
It’s like a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day.
Forgiveness.
It’s like a light in the darkness of hate.
Forgiveness.
It’s a kindness that can change the soul, mind, and heart of a mean person {or thing}...
Who can forgive?
Anyone."

~

"Forgiveness is a light which lies within all of our hearts no matter how evil or how bad they may seem, forgiveness can cleanse their heart and fill it with a bright shining light."

~

"Forgiveness is like having a weight lifted off of your shoulders.
When you are forgiven, everything goes good again.
When you forgive someone, you feel better, there’s no more heavy weight on you.
That is what I think forgiveness is, having a weight lift off your shoulders."

 ~

If my students hadn't written these in front of me,
I would have hardly believed that they were written by those so young.
~

Light, Love and Soup
f o r g i v e n e s s

needed by all

understood

by every

soul

~

Make a Mini Book

Twice a year my students make a mini-book.

In January, they make a mini-book based on a book they read in December.

*

April is Poetry month and they make a poetry mini-book that highlights six poetic elements:

simile, metaphor, imagery, alliteration, personification, repetition

We have so much fun making them and sharing them!

Here are two examples from January

...and the other one...

I was going to make my own video...

but thought I'd check YouTube first.

and Voilà 

Crayola had already created a video showing how to make the mini-book.

I actually learned something new ~ how to make little pockets for the mini-book. 

I think I'll make some mini-books for my nieces and tuck

little Auntie Maria notes in the pockets!

{Thinking of some of you with grandchildren or lil' ones of your own}

You'll have fun making them, no matter your age ♥

Sixth Grade OLYMPIC GOLD

What a wonderful week we had.
~

We prepared in many ways.

Every day there was a 'little something OLYMPIC.'

One of my students was busy dreaming up a Jello recipe.

It received a GOLD MEDAL for effort, taste and perfection!

There were BIG smiles when this was 'unveiled.'

We had our own version of passing the 'torch.'
We passed around our paper chains of OLYMPIC colors...

...and...
Miga, Quatchi and Sumi, the Olympic mascots, connected each student's chain.

Some of my After School Book Club students stayed a little later on Thursday to decorate the back wall in preparation for our OLYMPIC celebration day.
We'll be adding more flags when we return from winter break...
...and we will begin our Reading Olympics competition!

Several students took home extra crafts and even spent time making
OLYMPIC
mascot finger puppets!

Maria was busy making 48 cupcakes.

The Wonder Company made these cute pins ~ they became my cupcake deco's!

Wonderful OLYMPIC snacks to enjoy while I read the book Koralee sent me.

Thanks again, Koralee!

We had great fun at our OLYMPIC Extraveganza.

I hope you enjoy all the
OLYMPIC   FUN
That's about to unfold! 

Thank you Canada for hosting such an incredible event!

"A Thousand Tiny Surrenders" a school lesson by Robert Brault

There's a writer I enjoy reading.
Robert Brault
I have a list of his quotes ready to use for posters and bulletin boards in my classroom!
I revisit Robert's quotes just because...

They're great!

When I read this quote, I knew I needed to used it for school...
It's wonderful for character education.

After mentioning this to Robert Brault,
he offered the quote along with a lesson for the students.

Maria,
If you're making a poster for schoolkids, you might consider making a contest of it. Who can supply the missing words/phrases in the following: "You do not wake up one morning a bad person. It happens by a thousand tiny surrenders of _______ to ________." You could have the kids make up a list:

Examples:

"who you are"/"what others want you to be"
"what you know is right"/"what you know is wrong"
"integrity"/"popularity"
etc.

And... here's how it worked out...
I created the large poster, with the key phrases missing.
The students were asked to think about what might belong there...
When all the papers were in, I knew there would be a lot of "good to bad" responses (I teach middle school)...but there were some thoughtful ones as well. I put a sampling of their responses on the poster.

An opportunity came to talk about this quote again after a student made a bad decision
in my class . . .and then continued this behavior in other classes during the day.
"tiny surrenders"
They got it... they really got it!

Thank you Robert Brault!

* * * * * *

* * * * * *

* * * * * *

* * * * * *

I've been there myself... surrendering a little here and a little there...
but there's beautiful Saving Grace for a wretch like me.

I pray for my students, hoping their tiny surrenders will mostly be to what is
good and right and lovely.

* * * * * *
Thank you, Thank you Robert Brault!
~What a great lesson for all of us~