PPBF: Nancy Bess Had A Dress

Happy December, dear reader; today I'm repurposing some of the food from our Thanksgiving feast. So far, the bone from the spiral-baked ham has become broth for our navy bean soup this week.

And that leads us beautifully into today's PPBF.

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So Very Thankful

Today I'm excited because I got this T-shirt on resale recently.

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Monday Made It: Scrabble Tabs

Today I'm feeling crafty, so I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics 

and sharing two things on Monday Made It.

Click image to see what everyone else is making.

Lately, I've had so much fun taking pictures and making them into inspirational minis. Last night I snapped this shot poolside.

My friend Jennifer Runde took this vacation picture and gave me

permission to use it as a slide in a workshop presentation.

You can create posters like these in Picmonkey or Powerpoint.

On Saturday I took a stab at making these Scrabble Tabs.

Here's a quick video tutorial.

John showed me how the edges of the tiles would serve as a tool to cut the magnet paper to the perfect size; we had the whole batch done in less than an hour. 

Easy Breezy, Lemon Squeezy! 

I took them to my classroom this morning, to try them out.

Here they are stuck on our Collaboration Station in Hero Headquarters.

I can't wait to play Scrabble. Or Boggle. Or Hangman.

We can also use the tiles to incentivize desired behaviors.

Students can earn letters for words like LEADERS;

move letters up to reinforce strong leadership choices.

When the whole word is in complete alignment,

it'll be time for a dance or some other fun.

Just for fun. Because fun is the ticket to engagement.

So that's what I've been up to, to beat the heat. 

What have you created lately?

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Monday Made It

Today I'm linking up with Tara's Monday Made It.

It's week 8; I thought it was about time.
Click her adorable graphic to check it out.

Here's what I've been making, 

inspirational-quote minis.

For my presentations.

Photo by Tena Roher; click {here} for post about Recorder Karate.

And to enlarge and use as mini-posters.

It's so easy-breezy to do at PicMonkey.

And it's free.
Here's what the page will look like.

I use the Open tab to pull in a picture from my desktop.

I use the little frame icon (third from the bottom on the left) to put some color around the picture and leave a little space if I want the inspiration to be at the bottom rather than on the photo. And I use the T icon to add words, using their fonts ... or my faves! When I like what I've got, I hit save and it's on my desktop.  It's not rocket science, and it's so much fun to see what you can create. 

Last week, I printed some of these out on card stock and cut them into pieces to make a fun activity - Find Your Missing Piece - for my friends at 

the Kindness Cure training. 

What have you made lately that you'd like to share?

Blogging buddy Mrs. Labrasciano linked up her creative idea 

for this Character Bracelet ... 

'cause she's gearing up to join Tiffani at Time 4 Kindergarten to review Chapter 5 tomorrow!

Head to Tara's blog now and link up before 

Made-It Monday goes on a back-to school-hiatus.

Oh, and Make It a Marvelous Monday.

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Mommy Moments

Happy Mother's Day!

I so enjoyed the last week in my office because I could hear the first graders practicing their song for their moms:

A you're adorable, B you're so beautiful,

C you're a cutie full of charm!

My favorite gifts ever are the homemade ones.

The caring coupons, 

the paper weights, 

the distorted portraits.

K you're so kissable ...

I was even chosen Mother of the Year twice,
when my college kids were seven and eight.

The notes inside these timeless magazine-cover cards are 
beautifully heartfelt and totally bring me to tears.
Where has the time gone?

As I was cleaning out closets yesterday, I couldn't help but wonder if I really need to save all of these treasures. I certainly treasure each and every one. And while I was able to pitch a few things, mostly I just savored the memories of my mommy moments gone by, dusted stuff off, and put it back on the shelf for another day.

I found this, too ... a picture from about fifteen years ago.

My sister Debra scheduled a photo shoot with our daughters

to give as a gift to our mom that year. 

In matching dresses.

Just like mom used to buy for us.

Sometimes our mix-and-match outfits were even reversible!

Click {here} for a Disney tribute to Moms
and {here} for a sweet clip from Wing Clips.

Don't you just love Mother's Day?

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The Yarn Angel

In the middle of the week last week, a fifth-grade girl who just got her cast off of her arm greeted me with an uncharacteristic smile and told me that she learned to make worry dolls while she was healing.

Intrigued by her new-found skill (and the fact that this is probably more conversation than she's ever engaged in with me in her six years at our school), I told her I'd love to see one and here's what she handed me the very next morning.

She wanted me to have it after explaining to me that you can also braid the skirt if you'd rather that your doll have legs.

So struck by how cute they were and the potential I instantly saw for hope and healing, I asked her how much it would cost to make a few more for me. She said she would make as many as I wanted but that she wouldn't charge me anything. 

Not. a. penny.

So I've already given this first one away and I've gotten requests for three more already, along with a plea to meet the yarn angel who's making these healing dolls for us.

The students in our third-grade Knitting Club are also yarn angels because they're creating caps, an essential tool to save the lives of preemies babies around the world. 

Here are some other projects I've recently learned about that would put your old yarn to use for good.

One Warm Scarf Campaign

Project Linus

Stitches of Love 

Knit Michigan 

Forever Warm 

Newborns in Need

Hatbox Foundation 

Knit A Square Care 

Knots Of Love 

Binky Patrol

Why 'knot' get the ball rolling 

by supporting one of these angelic opportunities?

Then follow up by reading and reflecting on this treasure
whose storyline has the most beautiful thread:

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Books, Crafts and Kids In The Kitchen

Who doesn't love the combo deal of a 

good book and good sale? 

Today I'm excited because Vivian Kirkfield's Show Me How! is available for a short time for $10.00. That's a holiday steal! Are you a parent, grandparent, teacher, childcare worker, aunt, uncle, guardian, older sibling, or kid person of some other kind? Then this book has something for you. With reviews of 100 classic picture books and a craft and recipe to go along with each story, Vivian's book has a recipe for success to connect with the children in your lives. Click the graphic to go shopping at Amazon to get your copy now!

Just for fun, I decided to try Vivian's formula:

We love the Amy Krouse Rosenthal sweet series about cookies. They're basically just written (and beautifully illustrated!) using character words and phrases that have to do with baking cookies. 

The holiday version is called Christmas Cookies: Bite-Size Holiday Lessons and it's scrumptious!

You know where this is going, right? 

We make our Sour Cream Sugar Cookie cut-outs every December.
 They always turn out so pretty. Get the recipe {here}.

And for a craft, we could use the cookie cutter to trace
an ornament onto card stock and decorate, personalize, and fancify it to use as a plate topper when we give our cookies away.
Ooooo, I might be on to something.

Thank you, Vivian, for your passion 

and this awesome resource.

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PPBF: The Music Inside Me

It's time for the 45th annual Musical production at Friendswood High School, and our son Jacob is playing trumpet in the pit band for the third and last time. I've hardly seen him this week as the rehearsals go past my bedtime. 

Guys and Dolls opens tonight and I can't wait! 

So it's music that connects me to today's PPBF pick at 
Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

Title: The Music Inside Me
Authors: Marvin Elementary School 4th and 5th Grade Students
Illustrators: Bill Henderson and Students of Marvin Elementary
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc., 2005
Suitable for: all ages
Fiction inspired by "afternoons playing at the seashore."
Themes: compassion, kindness, aging, elderly, music
Brief Synopsis: Charlie, an arthritic elderly man, is kind of creepy to the children who live nearby until, on a dare, one of them takes the time to hear the music in his heart.
Opening Page: When I was a young girl, I lived by the water on a street called Seaside Place. At the end of my block stood an old, weather-beaten Victorian house that was said to be haunted. In it lived a crotchety old man whose wife had died long ago. He was tall and skinny, with piercing blue eyes and a long, white, scraggly beard that hung over his worn-out clothes. Back then, to us, he looked like he was at least 105 years old. 
Fiction inspired by "afternoons playing at the seashore."

Resources:
Read a review from Good Books {here}. 
Learn more about the Scholastic Kids Are Authors Award {here}.
Research the educational benefits of music {here}.
Make a seashell (or sea glass) wind chime or mobile. Color or paint an empty toilet paper roll, decorate it as desired, punch holes to run thread and hang four or five shells. 

This one that our son made hangs in our guest bath.

For literacy extension, challenge your students to a scavenger hunt through this vocabulary-rich text.
1. Find an apostrophe error in the book. 
2. Pick out sparkle words. 
3. Look for new-to-me words.
4. Take note of musical words.
5. Uncover the idioms, metaphors and similes. 

Why I like this book: A book written for kids by kids ... what's not to like? And with music as its central theme, it gripped my heart so tightly that I had to choke back tears as I read it the first time. 

When Jenny loses a dare and has to go talk to the old coger, it took me back to my long-ago days on the farm and the two abandoned homes that always had that mystique of someone old and scary still living there somehow. When Charlie grabbed her with that one swift move, it momentarily took my breath away. Words so powerful that they can transport me to another time so seamlessly are a sure sign that there's something special that's about to unfold.

In this jewel, it's a friendship between a renowned but aging musician who can no longer play his cello and a "motley" group of friends who exchange their playtime to listen to the stories that keep the music in Charlie's heart alive. Each piece of sea glass in the cellist's collection holds a special memory, and as the intergenerational clan walks the seashore, they unearth the chance for each of them to connect not only to the sea glass they find ... but ultimately to one another. 

Be warned; you may never look at a piece of sea glass the same again.

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PPBF: Everyday Angels

So my life took a little detour and I've missed a few PPBFs but I'm delighted to be back with a lovely book about everyday encounters of the angelic kind.

Title: Everyday Angels
Author: Mark Kimball Moulton
Illustrator: Susan Winget
Publisher: Ideals Children's Books
Date: November 15, 2003
For ages: 4-8
Themes: kindness, joy, caregivers, angels

Simple Synopsis: An angel reveals herself to the narrator to discuss the existence of angels all around in everyday life. 

Opening page: 
One day as I lay resting
In quiet countryside,
I wakened to a wondrous sight
A vision by my side.

Resources:  A Good-Reads book review {here}

I didn't find many resources for this particular book, but here's what I might do with it. Read the book aloud, pausing periodically to inquire about a phrase. When the author says - "Often times you'll see us in a newborn baby's smile or hear us in the laughter of a beautiful young child." - what do you think he means? Can you give an example of this from your own life? He also says "...we send a first grade teacher the patience of a saint." How can that be? Repeat this method of inquiry with a few of your (or their) favorite phrases, then finish reading before making a T-chart of all of the caregivers whom the author refers to as angels on one side and all of the things they do for us on the other. What other people and other deeds might your class add to that list and why? Finally, have students select an ordinary person who is an Everyday Angel in their lives and write him or her a 

thank-you-for-being-an-angel-in-my-life letter. 

Attach one of these paperclip angels to the letter as a 

gesture of gratitude.

Make this angel with a large paper clip, a little bead,
a ring for the halo and some thin ribbon.

Why I like this book: This beautiful book connects to me personally because I have experienced the loving care of so many Everyday Angels during these past three weeks of recovery, healing and hope. "Inspired by the unselfish dedication of all of the caregivers in the world," a copy of this tale was presented to me by a kindergarten class as a get-well-soon gift last week. Its uplifting, rhythmic message made me reflect with gratitude about the people who are angels in my life; its soothing illustrations brought me joy and peace. Give this inspirational treasure as a gift or keep a copy on your shelves for times when your energy is wearing thin and you need a pick-me-up. 

Miracles happen when compassion takes wing.

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Festive & Fun

There was so much crafting and creativity going on at school as we launched into winter break. Our character cam caught Heather Krail creating this festive handprint keepsake to give as a gift to each of her kindies. 

I can practically taste those tempting treats.

First graders got to experience the Polar Express - 
Well, ya comin'?

We celebrated our very own maintenance man, Mr. Fred, with a special 
Fred Day for his birthday. We all dressed like Fred, we gave him a copy of The Fred Factor book, and we made a bulletin board in his honor:

And finally, this picture that my brother snapped last year 
makes me laugh. It's also special because Mark made it a little contest and offered to donate money to the favorite charity of the person whose caption made him laugh the hardest. My son Jacob was one of the winners and Mark sent $100 to support Camp Lonestar on his behalf.  
In the end, generosity wins. 

My heart is so happy!

I'm going to be unplugging for a bit, so I'll wish you all joy and peace through this holiday season. Thank you for continuing to stop by the Corner. 

Have a Caring Christmas and a TeRRiFiC 2013!

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Elf Respect

So I had a lot of fun at school yesterday, reading my favorite holiday treasures to my students and visiting with my little friends about their winter break plans. The cutest thing I saw yesterday has to be this clever Tee with its play on words, perfect 'cause it cracks me up and who couldn't use a little laughter this week!

One of my knit-club mentors, Laura Danielson, gave me a new book for my collection, a gift that totally jumpstarted my day. Click the graphic to go to the book's website for more information about this new title that chronicles how young Annie overcomes obstacles to end up with a scarf.

Walking around school makes me feel festive. Our bulletin boards deck the halls with glitzy character messages. Second graders, for example, wrote about the greatest gifts underneath these lift-the-flap giftbox facades. It was heartwarming to read about their moms and dads, friends and pets and 
joy, caring and love.

In small group counseling classes, we used Ashley's delightful dice design from School Supply Addict to make small boxes. The girls left the lids unglued because they wanted to be able to put stuff inside; the boys glued all sides shut so that they'd have dice that they could play with or give away.

At lunchtime, I went off campus to watch my husband John conduct a class via Skype with some fifth graders in Missouri. What a memorable experience, I thought, to get to chat with a space scientist who works in Houston at NASA as if he were right there in the room. Thank you, Jordon, for giving him this opportunity to keep the passion for the space program alive and the dream for one day returning to the moon burning in our 
21st century learners.

After school, I had a blast as the guest chef at the gorgeous home of a student who's new to our school this semester. They hosted a candy class and and I got to teach four fifth-grade girls (and one adorable little brother!) how to make peanut butter balls. Such a delicious gathering! And then, as if I needed one more treat, a few school friends put the cherry on top when they stopped by my place to sing Christmas carols that totally put me in the holiday spirit.

I can't wait to see what today has in store for me!

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