kind words from one of my 3rd graders

so it was raining today and it NEVER rains here!
it never snows either...so I told myself that if it ever rained and I had class, I would let them run in the rain for the last 5 minutes of class. So today was the day and I told the 3rd graders that they would be able to play in the rain at the end of class. So the time came and all the kindergarten parents were standing outside under the porch and saw us dash outside to run into the play yard...well apparently one of the 3rd grade moms was standing there and was VERY upset that I would let kids go out in the rain with out their jackets on. this made for a bid discussion and all the parents agreed with her or if they didn't they didn't say so. So I brought back the class and the main lesson teacher said "I am already getting complaints about your run in the rain" So I went to the office and one of the moms (who I thought was my friend) just had it out with me...so I told her my feelings on the matter and she said hers (we were loud) and that was that. I went to the administrator and told her what happened and she said this happens every year and I am not alone in feeling that rain is good for the kids and getting wet and drying off in class is part of the experience.

So about 30 mins later one of the 3rd graders came up to me and said "did you get in trouble for letting us play in the rain?" I thought about it for a second and said "yes I did" and he said, "you shouldn't have, you are a really good teacher and you were just being nice to us."
I was so touched, I smiled at him and said "thank you"
I did NOT expect that from this child, he is usually making mischief in my class, maybe that is why he could relate, my action was mischievous and he liked it...or maybe he was right, I felt like I was being nice...cause you know I wasn't running in the rain for my own enjoyment.

thoughts for the newsletter

I didn't write it but I do believe it.

Handwork opens windows into a world that has almost been forgotten, Eugene Schwartz, author and Waldorf teacher once wrote “we cannot underestimate the self-esteem and joy that arises in the child at the result of having made something practical and beautiful- something that which has arisen as a result of a skill that has been learned. In an age when children are often passive consumers, as Oscar Wilder once said, “know the price of everything and the value of nothing” leaning to knit can be a powerful way to bring meaning into a child’s life”.

waldorf doll for school store

roving angel, knitted farm and plant dyeing

plant dying

OMG I did it!
my first skein!!!! yellow and bright.... I used alum and turmeric powder.

projects

I knit this little farm when I was stuck in the car with the 8th graders for 4 hours... the 8th graders were totally into this little farm and wanted to make one for themselves...I guess that was the purpose...to make something that was fun for me, occupied my time and that inspired those youth around me.
its not done...I need to make the barn and the animals and a pond.

This is my boiling of sweaters for my 5th grade class. They are making slippers from this material. they cut out a pattern. tracing their foot on paper and making an upper from this pattern on Martha Stewart living site. its not exact, but we use the idea from her site. http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pdfs/pdf2/feltslippers.pdf

flagstaff waldorf school

Blackboard drawing in the 6th grade classroom....its for a play they are writing.
Flagstaff handwork room. very nice!


THe 8th graders came up with us

One of our school policies is for teachers to observe another teacher in the same class (field), this is a form of furthering our education by evaluation. We get 2 paid days to go to another school and check them out…..so the Wood work teacher, the 8^th grade and I went up to Flagstaff (2 hour drive from us) and we played and observed.

We had a great time! Beautiful School and wonderful kids and teachers.....Actually I would say they had exceptionally well mannered students!

I believe that our 8th grade and their 8th grade will be going to each others Middle school dance....That will be sweet.

felt making

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ0uojUHYdA

feltwork

I have been working on my felted person for the example for 7th grade.

check it out

http://www.feltmaking.com/

rocking cool site for felt people

sick in bed

yep, the one thing about working with kids is that you get sick more often. I am just recovering from 4 days with strep throat. This is my 3rd time with strep in 13 months. before that I had never had it. My body is getting stronger with each time I get it. But it sure knocks you out.

I have been shaking hands with about 80 kids per day....as they walk into the Handwork room I shake their hand and say good morning/ afternoon ...I am thinking about taking that out of my routine. As nice as it is, I forget to wash my hands after each class and I think I am just getting too many germs from 8 different grades... I mean a Handwork teacher is often working in very close contact with each child...germs!!!!!!!!!!

yep!

and pollution in phoenix ...mix it together and what do you get....strep throat, flu and a head cold.


I feel like I am sounding too harsh...but being sick will do that.