Discoveries from a 1st Grade Math Unit

Discoveries Today:

- Goats are amazing...and so are the people that raise them!
- Their milk is incredibly beneficial for health things (I would be more specific if I could, I only know it cured arthritis and I read it in a poem too)
- I like goat milk...it tastes really good!
- Some first graders discovered something wonderful today...some did not!
- They are a lot more excited to try something if the teacher tries it too!
- 1st grade is awesome!

The goat lady was a real person! This is one of the most wonderful books I've ever read and I found it at Chapters for really cheap. As I was looking up the information about goats and such for today I found an article about the goat lady as the booy is based on a true story. So cool!

Easter...

The culmination of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity. There is just a presumed savior that died on the cross just like all the other radicals, or criminals in Rome at that time. We know Jesus lived. Historically there is much to prove to that Jesus lived, and his living is important...but it's that whole raising from the dead thing that is so pivotal for our faith...yet as my pastor said today, and I thought it was so well put...we've heard the "punch line" so much that we don't seem to care anymore.

This guy read this poem before church even started today and it was all about how we should be dancing in the streets, and instead of wondering what to wear this morning we should have been dancing and singing and rejoicing...He is risen! Does it get any better than that? Is there anything sweeter than death conquered by our savior?

While I was listening to Rick this morning and trying to figure out where I lost the "magic" of it all, the wonder, etc. and I remembered a story told to me over and over to my parents. I was trying to decide if it's something I truly remember or if it's just the story pieces that have stuck in my mind. There used to be (and may still be) this garden in BC...I can't remember where but I think we went under a concrete tunnel thing and held our breaths (because that's what you do in tunnels!) to get there. Anyway in this garden were statues. And as my parents have an obsessions with gardens...VanDuzen gardens for LONG periods of time growing up...we used to go there a lot. The statues were of lots of things I think, but there were some depicting Jesus' life. There was an empty tomb on this little walk and I, as the story goes, was fascinated by this. I feel like I remember the sheer wonder and excitement of it being empty. I feel like I remember running in and out of it and being so excited that nothing was there, that he didn't die after all, it wasn't true, he was alive...and I was humbled for a moment. Where did that go? I want to be excited again, to feel wonder and amazement at this miracle. Who else has conquered death? In all world views there is death...and it's final. You don't come back alive from death, yes some people believe in reincarnation or life somwhere else...but it's not the same. Jesus ROSE FROM THE DEAD! Seriously. I can't even imagine what that would have looked like in the garden when people found out, or when he appeared to those people who loved him so dearly and were his closest friends and disciples on earth. How incredible...and some of the wonder is seeping back in because of my imagination but I want my heart to feel it.

http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/information/sermons/christ-is-risen-indeed/

So much to process and think about...and I wish I could remember the gardens name!

New friends...farm units...and no voice!

"I'm working with a not very well trained banker!"
- said Griffin as we were working on our new farm unit. You have to pay for the land and the different things you put on your farm, and I was the banker, as was my student teacher. Griffin felt that the student teacher wasn't making enough effort in this endeavor.

But this has been the coolest math unit. I have kids saying..."Yes it's math!" Now really, what teacher doesn't want to hear that?? And guess what they're doing? Counting by 5,'s 10's and 1's, using spatial reasoning to figure out where to put things, multiplying as they figure out how things cost, budgeting because they only have so much money...all in one unit, not to mention the geometry, map skills and such that they're using and reinforcing...have I mentioned that I love Bridges??

My job is wonderful, even when I'm tired and it's long and hard I love it! Today they did an awesome job of purchasing all of their farm and equipment and paying for it, I was so impressed! There were whispers of "5, 10, 15, 20, 25, " and "10, 20, 30, 40" and "15, 20, 21, 22, 23" and my favorite "No not like that, let me show you!"

I'll have to post a picture of their farms soon! :)

Frustrated Funk

I woke up this morning ready for a new day and almost immediately something else settled right into my emotions, it was sleeping and at bay during the night, but suddenly it awoke too, washing me in a funkish state.

There's clearly a battle going on in my head, and who knows where else. The emotional and rational are at odds again...which isn't so odd in my subconscious, to this extent however, it is different. I'm struggling between allowing this emotional piece to overtake me, or to overcome it and let it all go. There are so many pieces that would allow me to do one or the other, but it's the strangest feeling. I feel like Alice who is eating and drinking and shrinking and growing all the while wondering how in the world all of this occurred as you're not supposed to be able to grow and shrink at a moments notice. My rational side says that everything is fine. That I am not in control someone else is and that it will be fine. The worries that I have will sort themselves out, I will figure out how to live in a new reality if things do not go my way and that I am loved and supported. My emotional side wants my Mom! Is certain that things are not going to be ok and that they're going to be painful. Is anticipating new realities that I'm not interested in and is SO frustrated that once again my throat is sore, nose is running and coughing is still there.

What I need is always a bit of a foggy idea for me. I'm never sure if letting myself feel what I need to feel, then moving on to reality is the best idea or trying to stand strong under it and shoving it away is the best. I have done both successfully and I have tried both in the wrong circumstances resulting in current or delayed messes.

There are many times that I wish that I was 6, that I could curl up in my Daddy's lap and know that when I opened my eyes, everything would be ok. I've heard God likened to this more than once, but I just can't wrap my head around what that looks like without a physical lap. So I don't know what to choose...I don't know if emotional or rational will win...so, I'm going running in hopes that I can clear my head, or at least get involved enough that I don't think about the other stuff.