Little SDA Teacher

      This past year I had to go to Denver, Colorado for a few months and get a second stem cell transplant because my cancer, Hodgkin's Lymphoma, had returned. It was hard to be away from family and friends and the kids. I hated not being able to teach. I also had to stop teaching the kindergarten Sabbath School class at my church. I missed the kids a ton and was so excited when I was asked to record a children's story on video so the kids could see me.       Here is the link to my video on my YouTube channel if you can't view it on my blog. 

     When I was teaching 5th & 6th we read the book Small Steps: The Year I Got Polio by Peg Kehret. This was an interesting book for me because my mother had polio as a child as well as my grandmother. When my son had to read the book, he did an interview with my mom about her experience. You can't hear his questions very well, he was being shy and quiet, but you can hear my mom tell her story.      I thought I would post the YouTube video here if anyone could use it as a resource while teaching this book. She was a good sport. 😀 Here is the link to the YouTube video on my channel if you can't view it from my blog. 

     Of course my goal as a teacher is for students to learn, but my father once told me that all teachers should inspire students to want to learn. I love that idea. I want my students to want to learn. School should be fun and exciting.       I used to visit Disneyland with my parents during the summer because my grandparents lived near there. I remember the rides, smells, food, and most of all the fun family memories. Disney knew how to attract kids and make an experience for each guest. When I think of wanting to go somewhere, even as an adult, I think of Disneyland.       What makes me want to go back? I had an experience. I got to laugh, scream, and be a kid. I loved the smell of all the sweets, the music that I knew every word to, the stories for each character, and where all my favorite rides were.        Can I take a tip from Mr. Disney as a teacher and create an amazing experience for each stu...

          Meet Bob. When I was pregnant with my youngest son I was a teacher's aide to an amazing mentor teacher. I don't know how many years she had Bob. The year that I taught with her, the kids named Bob and he went on adventures with different members of the church and school community. They would take him on vacation or just small adventures around town and take pictures so the kids could see where he went. They loved it. Some people got really creative and had him pose by signs. It was fun.                       For me, the greatest adventure Bob went on that year was coming with me to meet the new baby, my youngest son.                       Boy, I love that kid. He has grown up way, way to fast!            When my mentor teacher retired, she gifted Bob to me. He is precious to our family now as he is in so ...

          Except for my student teaching, I have always taught in a multi-grade Seventh-day Adventist classroom. This year I will be teaching just 1st grade. I'm so excited to have a one grade classroom! I've been looking through the NAD (North American Division) standards and the set curriculum and my creative side is just bursting with ideas.                      I was out of school all year last year due to a reoccurrence of Hodgkin's Lymphoma, which I have fought twice now, so I feel like I've had a lot of free time to dream and plan. Now that school is out for the summer, I have been sneaking into my classroom and dreaming away.                       I hear I have quite the group headed my way....lots of energy. I love that! (Maybe it will rub off on me!) That being said, I feel like I need a lot of prep for this year.      ...