Sabi's Hip Hop class is being taped live this morning for a local news show. We have to be there at 6:30 am for a live taping at 7:00 and then again a 8:00.
Coolness!
Update:
Here is the link to a video from the taping this morning.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Stained glass cookies
Yesterday I made stained glass cookies. I was inspired by Chef Paz who made some recently.
The cookies are are procedurally fairly simple to make. You make a sugar cookie recipe, cut out shapes in the middle and then fill the cutouts with crushed hard candy. When the cookies cool, you have a sugar cookie with a hard candy center. The cookies and pretty to look at and tasty too.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Random Act of Kindness
My grandmother called me today after she went to church to check in. She said that after church was over she and a friend decided to go out to eat lunch at a nearby restaurant. When it came time to pay for the meal they were informed that their meals were covered by "that couple over there!" My grandmother said that she and her friend looked over at the young couple and didn't recognize them. Perplexed, they got up to leave and thank the couple but by the time they made it to the table, the couple was gone. My grandmother still doesn't know who did this for her but left with good holiday spirit as well as a full stomach!!!
That story made my day.
That story made my day.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
I'm Spicy!
I saw this link over on Xolo's site. Go on...try it... it will spice up your life!
Your Score: Saffron
You scored 75% intoxication, 50% hotness, 75% complexity, and 25% craziness!
You are Saffron!
Those other spices have nothing on you! You're warm, smart, and you make people feel really good (and with no side-effects!). You can be difficult to get to know and require a lot of those who try, but you're so totally worth it. *Sigh*
| Link: The Which Spice Are You Test written by jodiesattva on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test |
Second Night of Hanukkah
Another busy day. I haven't made it home yet. I'm at a tech class now and playing around!
Photo: Second Night of Hanukkah
by: Hotzeplotz
Video: Swinging Dreidel by Kenny Ellis.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Happy Hanukkah!
Today was so busy and I thought Sabi and I would never make it home to celebrate Hanukkah. We finally got home around 7:30. My mom was busy with adjunct duty at school so we were expecting to not celebrate the first night with her. Miraculously, my mom got out early and came home at the same time we did. That was our Hanukkah miracle! We ended up having enough time to light the candles, watch them burn and even play dreidel!
Chag Sameach!!!
Gelt Melts by The Leevees
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Just because it looks like funny money
In your pocket it's chocolate runny
Heat's the enemy, it's not your friend
Golden coins melting in your hand
Everyone knows chicks love chocolate
Fires them up like a bottle rocket
Rip the tin off right away
I think you know what we're trying to say
You gotta get it while you can
'Cause it won't last long
We don't claim to understand
But we're not wrong
And your good thing will be gone
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Don't throw it at your baby brother
Better run now, here comes your mother
Comin' at you with a wooden spoon
Still covered with her chicken soup
Grandma's couch with the plastic coating
Fifty coins later, stomach's bloating
If goys can eat a chocolate bunny
Why can't we eat chocolate money?
You gotta get it while you can
'Cause it won't last long
We don't claim to have the answer
In this song
But your good thing will be gone
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Gelt melts
Saturday, December 01, 2007
Wax On? Wax Off?
I collect Hanukkiah's. (Hanukkah menorah's) I didn't mean to collect them but little by little, the collection grew. It is beautiful to see all of the hanukkiah's together when they are lit. The one thing I don't like dealing with though is the wax. In an attempt to save money on candles (I need a lot since I have so many hanukkiah's) I bought cheap candles instead of the dripless kind. WRONG MOVE! The wax build up was so bad. I used tons of hot water and spent a long time cleaning the wax off of the hanukkiah's since I like the surfaces to be clean and spotless.
Last year I heard someone say that they don't remove the wax from their hanukkiah because the wax is a reminder of Hanukkah's past. That was a new concept for me. It would be a lot easier to live that way...no cleaning... I don't think I could handle it though.
If you celebrate Hannukah, tell me, do you leave the wax on or off? Inquiring minds want to know!!!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Hanukkah's Coming...
Hanukkah is coming soon...December 4th. Here's a clip of Sabina playing s'vivon (dreidel in Hebrew) last year.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
What I Love About Fall
The crisp, cool weather.
The changing colors of leaves on the trees. (and ground)
The need to wear a light coat or jacket.
Listening to the wind blow through the leaves .
Driving around town with leaves falling from the trees like rain.
Friday, November 09, 2007
Flat Stanley Blog
I started a Flat Stanley Blog to track the adventures of our dear friend around the globe. Check it out here: Room38is great.
Monday, November 05, 2007
Guess Who???
Guess who only has one more day of Intersession?
Guess who will officially be on vacation at 2:00 tomorrow?
Guess who is looking forward to not being on a schedule?
Guess who is going to just hang out and "chill?"
Guess who will officially be on vacation at 2:00 tomorrow?
Guess who is looking forward to not being on a schedule?
Guess who is going to just hang out and "chill?"
ME!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Bully
I have a bully in my room. He is just plain mean to the rest of the kids in my room. He pushes, hits, says mean things to others and lies about it all. When he is confronted about his behavior by an adult, he cries very convincingly and blames it on the other kid.
I have tried all kinds of things with this boy. I have done class meetings trying to focus on good behavior, being kind, etc. I haven't focused on the bully, just talked/problem solved about these topics as a group. I have also contracted with him, talked to the counselor and his grandma, hi caretaker. All of these have been useless.
The bully's behavior has been escalating. He has chosen one victim in particular to harass, another boy in my class. He threatens that he will get him in trouble and he uses him as a punching bag regularly. The victim is obviously scared to come to school and is beginning to hate school.
On Monday, the bully was finally suspended. What a peaceful day that was. The next day he came back with a vengeance and found his victim. He blamed him for his suspension and started to verbally harass him again. I immediately sent him to the office. It was our last day of school so he wasn't suspended but he also didn't return to class. What a nightmare.
After school, I went to talk to the victim's mom. She has been so amazing through this entire process. While she is concerned and protective of her son, she also is concerned for the bully. I told her about the day's happenings and she told me that the day before, the day that the bully was suspended, her son came home so happy because the bully was not at school. He of course didn't know the real reason why the bully was absent so he drew his own conclusions. Right before bedtime he told his mom that he wanted her to help him pray to G-d to make sure that the bully didn't come back to school. The mom responded by saying that she would pray to G-d but that she would instead ask G-d to help the bully to be happy and able to play well with her son and all of the other children at school. She told her son that all children have to go to school, even the children who have problems. What a nice response.
As for the bully, yes, he has lots of problems. He lives with Grandma because his mom is in prison and he dad checks in when he feels like it. He is left alone with video games and tv because grandma can't be bothered. I hate to call home when he misbehaves because I know that he will get a huge beating.
I have requested that the bully receive counseling services. I have also asked to have the bully removed from my room and placed in another classroom so that the boy being victimized doesn't have to live in fear.
I have tried all kinds of things with this boy. I have done class meetings trying to focus on good behavior, being kind, etc. I haven't focused on the bully, just talked/problem solved about these topics as a group. I have also contracted with him, talked to the counselor and his grandma, hi caretaker. All of these have been useless.
The bully's behavior has been escalating. He has chosen one victim in particular to harass, another boy in my class. He threatens that he will get him in trouble and he uses him as a punching bag regularly. The victim is obviously scared to come to school and is beginning to hate school.
On Monday, the bully was finally suspended. What a peaceful day that was. The next day he came back with a vengeance and found his victim. He blamed him for his suspension and started to verbally harass him again. I immediately sent him to the office. It was our last day of school so he wasn't suspended but he also didn't return to class. What a nightmare.
After school, I went to talk to the victim's mom. She has been so amazing through this entire process. While she is concerned and protective of her son, she also is concerned for the bully. I told her about the day's happenings and she told me that the day before, the day that the bully was suspended, her son came home so happy because the bully was not at school. He of course didn't know the real reason why the bully was absent so he drew his own conclusions. Right before bedtime he told his mom that he wanted her to help him pray to G-d to make sure that the bully didn't come back to school. The mom responded by saying that she would pray to G-d but that she would instead ask G-d to help the bully to be happy and able to play well with her son and all of the other children at school. She told her son that all children have to go to school, even the children who have problems. What a nice response.
As for the bully, yes, he has lots of problems. He lives with Grandma because his mom is in prison and he dad checks in when he feels like it. He is left alone with video games and tv because grandma can't be bothered. I hate to call home when he misbehaves because I know that he will get a huge beating.
I have requested that the bully receive counseling services. I have also asked to have the bully removed from my room and placed in another classroom so that the boy being victimized doesn't have to live in fear.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Flat Stanley Update
Our Flat Stanley's have all been sent out. Many friends and family members volunteered to host our story book character. THANKS!
I am going off track in a few days so I will see if I can make a new website to track Flat Stanley's travels. In the meantime, check out Shelli's FLICKR to see Flat Stanley in Brooklyn and Guusje's blog to see Flat Stanley's amazing adventures with her. He has been getting around!
Here are some other places on Flat Stanley's itinerary:
Outside of the U.S.
Mongolia
The Cayman Islands
Panama
Japan
England
Greece
Fiji
Germany
Australia
In the U.S.
All over California
New York
Texas
Michigan
Illinois
Florida
Ohio
and more... (I just can't remember them all right now!)
Monday, October 22, 2007
I've Been Robbed (Again!)
Remember when this happened? Here is more on that event.
Well, it happened again. I walked in my room this morning to find that my newest computer was stolen. Interestingly enough, all of the cables were left behind as well as the printer, older computer, laptop, document camera and projector. The only other missing items are some CD's from my ELD program and my Core reading program.
The school will be replacing my old computer and CD's. As for who robbed us, I don't know but it looks very shady. My windows have metal rods in the frame to keep people from opening the flimsy windows from the outside. They can only be opened from the inside. Guess what? The rods were out. The alarm didn't go off either. That means that the theft was an inside job. The only other people who have access to my room are the night custodians otherwise known as Team Cleaning. This group of people changes from day to day. There are always different people in and out of the room. Too suspicious for me...
What to do?
Well, it happened again. I walked in my room this morning to find that my newest computer was stolen. Interestingly enough, all of the cables were left behind as well as the printer, older computer, laptop, document camera and projector. The only other missing items are some CD's from my ELD program and my Core reading program.
The school will be replacing my old computer and CD's. As for who robbed us, I don't know but it looks very shady. My windows have metal rods in the frame to keep people from opening the flimsy windows from the outside. They can only be opened from the inside. Guess what? The rods were out. The alarm didn't go off either. That means that the theft was an inside job. The only other people who have access to my room are the night custodians otherwise known as Team Cleaning. This group of people changes from day to day. There are always different people in and out of the room. Too suspicious for me...
What to do?
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Appreciation
Two weeks ago was National Custodian's Day. To celebrate that day, my class, and the rest of the second grade classes wrote a letter to our custodian, Mr. Bobb. I made up a template where the kids could draw a picture as well as write about 5-6 lines about our custodian. When all of the letters were done, I bound them into a book and the kids presented it to Mr. Bobb that afternoon.
This week Mr. Bobb found me and told me how much he appreciated the book. He said that he took it home and read it with his wife and they had the most wonderful time reading the letters. These were his comments:
"The kids wrote such hard words. They weren't spelled correctly but they really tried their best to write really hard words like appreciate." (spelled uprishayt)
"The letters made me feel so good. They gave me great hope for the future."
"I told my wife that when I die, I want these letters read at my funeral."
Mr. Bobb was so moved by the book. I am glad that the kids were able to express their gratitude for our wonderful custodian. I am also touched that he found the book to be so meaningful.
This week Mr. Bobb found me and told me how much he appreciated the book. He said that he took it home and read it with his wife and they had the most wonderful time reading the letters. These were his comments:
"The kids wrote such hard words. They weren't spelled correctly but they really tried their best to write really hard words like appreciate." (spelled uprishayt)
"The letters made me feel so good. They gave me great hope for the future."
"I told my wife that when I die, I want these letters read at my funeral."
Mr. Bobb was so moved by the book. I am glad that the kids were able to express their gratitude for our wonderful custodian. I am also touched that he found the book to be so meaningful.
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