I love Thursdays because it is our uninterrupted "Art" day where the creative juices can flow all day! We began with our morning circle which Titus led. This was followed by his Show & Share which was Astro Boy and the explanation that he was not wearing a Batman cape but his Darth Vader cape. The children were properly impressed.
Selene from Middle School came in this morning to share an Angel Tree project POP (People of Peace) is sponsoring. They pulled twelve year old Jasmine and two senior citizens named James and Alice. Jasmine requests only art and craft supplies. James
needs pants and a shirt and Alice requested a nightgown and Dove soap. Both adults also requested a gift card from Walmart. It makes you think doesn't it? Selene provided a decorated shoebox for any money the children brought in. I suggested they look in your cars, under the couch and chair cushions and in the laundry room. If your child raids your change, blame me, but remember it is for a very worthy cause.
Speaking of worthy causes, between Teams Eli and Peyton the class has already read 21 books. Don't forget to mark your child's reading card so we can reach our goal of 100 books.
We had a special moment this morning that I must share with you. We have a student who has struggled all year to open our very heavy door. She went outside to remove sand from her shoes and with shoes in her arms she began to once again struggle with the door. I could see the big moment was about to happen when one of our other children jumped up to assist. I stopped that child and explained that this was the day that our young lady would succeed. She had the door open about 6 inches and was beginning to move her body around it when Connie (from the office) walked by a threw open the door. You could hear an audible sigh of disappointment from the children. I explained to our young lady that we were waiting for her and were going to clap. Problem solving is not an issue in this room. The children told her to go out and do it again. That's exactly what she did. She walked out, firmly grasped the door and slowly swung it wide enough to push her body through it. Her classmates stood up, clapped and cheered! Her joy finished the story and we went back to our current discussion.
Now if that isn't a community pulling together, I don't know what is.
Today we worked on two art projects. First we painted glue to one side of a bell shaped piece of tag board and then glittered it either silver or gold. Tomorrow and Monday we will glitter the other sides. During this I individually painted one foot of each child to make a Christmas card for soldiers. We will later add a rack and the words "Merry Christ-moose!" It was a first time for painting feet in here so they prepared themselves for a ticklish experience. It can be tricky to paint a wiggling foot without wearing the paint yourself.
This afternoon the children began playing Santa's sleigh. They finally settled on who would be Rudolph when I produced a red flickering nose. A Santa hat promptly went on Santa's head and they were off. They did inform me I needed to get out my antlers for them. It was such fun watching them play and switching roles. It is days like this one that remind me why I teach.
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