Surprises and Celebrations

Birthday fun with my sweet kids.Mrs. Dyer read us a special story when rotated to the "food room" for our party.



Surprises! Aren't they the best ever? Today will forever be included in my list of wonderful surprises. Not only was I blessed with our wonderful fourth grade moms creating a fun Christmas party for us, but I was surprised for my birthday. My dear class sat around me on the floor and each gave me words of encouragment and described something meaningful regarding me as their teacher. Wow! Now that is a moment EVERY teacher savors. Each had also taken time to make me beautiful cards that were so dear to read aloud. They truly enjoyed hearing the words on each card and seeing the care with which they had designed the cards. On top of that, they blessed me with a gift card tree filled with cards to favorite stores and restaurants of mine. How fun it that!!! And did I mention they sang "Happy Birthday" twice to me---once in the morning and again at the conclusion of our day. Thank you dear students and parents. I cherish each one of you.

One Way We Do Christmas in Rm 207

Mrs. Leadford gives us a visit to encourage us in our endeavors to bless Linwood students. Her words mean so much to us.


Sixty six sacks ready to go to Linwood Elementary

Some of our cheerful elves loading up the cars for delivery of the sacks.

I love traditions, especially at Christmas. In my family I HAVE to bake tons of cookies, open our new pj's on Christmas Eve, enjoy a big breakfast on Christmas morning while we SLOWLY open our presents, and on and on I could go. In my classroom, I have traditions too. I always read loads of Christmas books to the kids and put up my little tree, my nativity bulletin board and set out my collection of nativities. Lights twinkle as they hang from the ceiling and Christmas music plays in the background. I cherish the daily Bible lessons where we discuss the many miracles surrounding God's plan for baby Jesus to make his earthly entrance in Bethlehem.

A newer tradition in room 207 involves blessing a particular elementary school in Oklahoma City at Christmas. We collect gently used stuffed animals and books from our closets at home and then use some of our alloted party money to purchase some gloves, socks, games, crayons, and candy. Each fourth graders decorates a sack and fills it with goodies. It is precious to watch our students carefully prepare a sack and know that it is going to mean SO much to the receiver. In fact, it may be the ONLY Christmas present they receive. We pray for the students receiving them knowing God can and will use these tokens of love to communicate His love in ways we can't even comprehend.

Magnetic Field Experiment

Our class loves doing science experiments. This particular day we had to take several types of magnets and determine the strength of their magnetic field.We had a team leader for each group.
We took turns testing the magnets and followed our leader's directions
The paper clip was used to test the magnetic strength using a measuring tool in our activity manual. We could move the magnet slightly to face the paper clip but it had to remain on the starting point at all times.
We recorded our observations in a chart. We found that the size of the magnet did not necessarily determine the strength of the magnet.

Colonial Home Tour

Today we took our tour of an eighteenth century Cape Cod style home right here in Edmond. Scott and Debra Duncan graciously allow fourth grade to tour their private residence each year during our colonial studies. Bad weather forced us to reschedule from mid November until today and we were blessed with a perfect day! We learned how the house would have been built in stages with the right side of the house being completed first. The left side would be added later.The kitchen has a beautiful fireplace that can be used for cooking. The warmth it generated was so inviting.
This leather bucket was full of sand or water to put out the occasional fire that may erupt.
A mortar and pestle was used to prepare the fresh rosemary from the garden. The fragance was wonderful.
Debra is showing us how to use this reflector oven for cooking meats.
Our moms helped serve us the oatmeal prepared in a dutch oven in the fireplace kitchen.
So many details were part of cooking a meal for the family.
The authentic colors used in the house are from a buttermilk based paint. The colors stay true for years and years.
A demonstration of a flint-lock rifle. Wow, was it ever loud when Mr. Duncan shoot it.
Thank you, Duncans, for yet another marvelous glimpse into the everyday life of a middling family in the 1700's. I believe the parents were as impressed as the children. And to think, it is right in our backyard here in little old Edmond, Oklahoma!!!!

Christmas Cheer with our Book Buddies

Today we headed down the hall to the world of first grade. We enjoy our book buddy time with the classes of Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Nelson. Instead of reading today, we took some time to create an ornament together. Earlier today we had colored the nativity scene to expedite the assembling of our ornaments. When we got together, we cut out the red and green circles, the bright star and the pipe cleaners to hang it. Each first grader proudly took home their completed ornament. The fourth graders also gave them a Christmas themed cup with some fun Christmas goodies inside. Happy Birthday, Jesus! We will especially enjoy celebrating you in a variety of ways this month.

Minuet and Feast

Here is our fine Town Crier, Mr. Michael Brown, giving us plenty of news and entertainment for our Colonial Days. He kept us informed about all manner of news including a runaway cow, births of babies, and even slaves who had escaped from their masters. Each student enjoyed having a colonial name.
A feast of turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans, stuffing, homemade rolls, bread pudding, cobbler, pies, and cake were enjoyed by students, parents, administration, and enrichment teachers. The students had colonial conversation and manners. What a delight to watch!What wonderful dancers they were at the minuet The parents clapped and snapped cameras while the dancers twirled around the gym. Charming!
Though very tired, the class commented that they wished Colonial Days lasted longer. Their journals are full of their impressions from three full days unlike any other they have ever had. Huzzah (Hooray) for Colonial Days 2010!

Johnny Cakes and Fried Apples

Johnny Cakes were a cornmeal type of pancake eaten by the colonists. The students had to first grind the corn prior to making the batter for their tasty treat. Yummy!
The fried apples were prepared by first coring their apples and then adding sugar and butter to fry up a sweet treat. The aroma throughout the hall was delightful.

Colonial Days

We started our day with a formal tea that included scones, clotted cream, butter, jam and piping hot tea.
Our ladies in waiting were beautiful!

"Shall I have one or two sugar cubes?"
What handsome gentlemen!

Chalk Spelling

Taking advantage of our pleasant fall weather, we headed outdoors to practice our spelling words for this week. Each student grabbed a piece of chalk, a section of pavement, and away they went writing out antonyms. Who knows... without any rain in the forecast, the lower grades just may have an opportunity to practice reading some of our words at recess.

Colonial "Twenty Questions"

Our colonial unit has begun! Included in this multi-faceted study, we play a daily game called "Twenty Questions". The students are shown an object from the 1700's and are asked to guess what it is. Our first object was the bird bottle that Brooklyn is holding. It was mounted to an exterior wall of a home, kitchen, or stable and served to control the insect population. Small birds, such as wrens, find these to be quite cozy places to build a nest.
On another day, we had to guess this earthenware object that Grant is holding. This is actually a Thumb-Controlled Watering Pot and a student was able to figure out what purpose it had. The pot is immersed in a bucket of water to fill it, and by holding one's thumb over the top hole, the pot can be carried around to water plants in the ever-popular colonial gardens. When the thumb was released, a steady stream of water could flow from the tiny holes on the bottom of the pot. Pretty cool invention, don't you think?

The Surprise!

What a grand surprise I had yesterday when this fabulous puzzle table and stools arrived in our classroom. It fits PERFECTLY in the corner by our two windows. I can just see the kids sitting on the stools putting together a puzzle, playing games, drawing or talking with each other. It is bound to be the favorite hang-out during social break time! The class is now coming up with ideas for decorating or labeling the table in some way as to reflect them. It will be a treasured gift for future fourth graders to enjoy. Special appreciation to all the parents who made this possible, especially Nathan Hitchcock who contructed the table, and Glennda Hitchcock and Lisa Burgess who orchestrated the surprise. Maybe we should call them "Partners in Crime".......