Today I read my kids poetry I wrote in 2002-2003... it was beautiful. For them. And possibly more for me.


:-)

Healing. Childhood. Pain. Love.

LOVER COVERS ALL.

Miss B.
<3

"each of you reflect God's goodness and faithfulness.
each of you capture my heart.

life was meant for loving!

and I live to love you."


-from the beautiful heart of a teacher

"The day-to-day that forms the tapestry of our lives."


So blessed with these kids. . .

Reflection

Pastor Jeremy:

"You are like an Esther there."

Esther's Hidden Strength
Esther was a lonely orphan who developed within herself the unusual qualities of piercing through veils and touching all hearts.

Esther's inner light was a composite of two forces as well -- fiery sun-like passion and the cooling nurture of water. Because she had developed her own spiritual nature so completely, she could reach out to anyone and find within her the capacity to connect. Her "greenness" was the spiritual symbol of humility, responsiveness and sensitivity.
When we are able to peel away the layers of nonsense and glitz that are today's remnants of Achashverosh's palace, we will find the part of us that -- like Esther -- can pierce through any armor, even our own.
And then we will see God where we never believed He could be found -- in our hearts, in those of others, in the day to day events that form the tapestry of our lives.

Progress Made

old to-do list

So humbled. Blessed. Grateful. Thank You, God.

+ copies of all SFA blackline masters, SOLO forms, Level 3 Assessments
+math hw
+math sheets
+subtraction problems
+cursive
+check SFA journals
+science word wall
+DONORS CHOOSE:
paper clips, staples. journals, clip boards, pencil holders, stickers, dry erase markers. big sheets, borders, college-ruled paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, sharpies, staplers, clear tape, pencils, awards, certificates, printing ink, paper towels, erasers, clips, folders, ink pad, stamp.

~~~ Internalize science instruction. ~~~
*Before daily lessons, read curriculum for that day *

11-20-13

One day,
The barista will call your name
And you will be unaccompanied to pick up your drink

11-19-13

11-19-13
We are souls
Not bodies that ache
Sores that bleed
Muscles that spasm
Stress that’s felt
Anxiety
Oh, anxiety abounds in professions like this
We’re all working from home too
Feeling unappreciated
So new and uncertain
The answers will come
The tests may pass

Percent of children in poverty in Detroit:

57.3% in 2011

Day #59

Today,
I apologized to my kids for being kind of "nasty" last week.
I was trying to explain how I love them like a mother,
and sometimes when you care so much about someone, you can get angry.
I was trying to connect it to them caring after younger siblings, and how you just want to protect them.
I asked them for their forgiveness,
and they said they forgive me.
I was attempting to explain my actions further and how I would be different,
but our sweetheart Karrington raised her hand and asked,
"Can we get back to learning now?"
I accepted their forgiveness and moved on.

Haha,
Grace.
Mercy.
They are so beautiful, gracious, and merciful to me.

Love,
Miss B. That's me!

11/15/13

Number Line Subtraction

Tianna and Kaleb, please come up to the board. Show us how to to use a number line to solve subtraction problems. Please do 8-2 and 9-3. Not only do I get the correct answers, but a whole lot of lovin. *Blessed*

First Snow Today!

Yes, I am excited! Been waiting 10 months and 4 days for this. I pray everyone stays safe in this weather.

Endless Grading in Ann Arbor

Worship until you pass out.

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/5-tips-to-recognize-and-honor-your-needs-in-relationships/

Detroit Life as of Late

One of the most touching days ever 10/18/13

I get a call from one of my student's mother during class and she asks if she can bring a treat in around 2 pm. I say yes of course, what is it, informing her of allergies. I ask what is the occasion she said she just appreciate her son's classmates and me, his teacher. It was the most incredible thing ever. A minute after I got a call from the front office she had arrived, the class got 5 more class points for working so excellently so they reached their goal of 60 for the week. I told them a surprise was coming if they reached their goal and shortly after, the amazing mother walks in with a stroller and two bags of goodies. I told the kids to close their eyes and that in 3, 2, 1 the surprise would come to them. They all had their eyes covered and they were so sweetly excited to see a beautiful woman holding 20 tubes of skittles with a purple bat on the top. She also had Halloween-themed juices for each of them. It blessed me so much. She overflowed with appreciation, and I explained to the class again the result of their respect and obedience to their teacher. She chimed in as well and thanked the class for being so loving. She also got out a Target gift card and put it on the desk and said, "You have a good teacher." And with that, she walked out with her stroller. What a sweetheart. My how she teared me up. How the class teared me up. What a community of tight love we share.

So humbled and blessed.

~Miss B.

The light-heartedness of children.

The fact is, everything hinges on your ability to build relationships with your students.

It’s your relationship with your students that makes the greatest difference.

When you build trusting rapport with them, which anyone can do, you then possess a tidal wave of influence that can change their behavior, improve their academic performance, and profoundly impact their lives.

Never give up

No matter the behavior, don’t give up on trying to reach that student…the negativity may be a defense for something deeper. Keep up the good fight!

"I felt like I was failing my kids so hard, but now I feel like I fought a battle for them, and came out on top. "

Midnight

9/29/13

So much has happened and there's so much to share so bite-sized shall my posts be!

I love my kids so much and they love me. We have created a beautiful space where we learn and love. I am so blessed at my school: the materials, the curriculum, the teachers, the resources, the procedures, the ideas, the garden, etc etc.

It's all summed in this:

LOVE.

Being More Childlike

“Children see magic because they look for it.” ~Christopher Moore

What’s the hurry? What can I appreciate right now? What opportunity has this delay given me? What am I really being impatient with? What am I missing by being this way?

What would a child do right now? What’s truly important to me and what action should I take that I haven’t been?

Powerful questions ground us. They make us reflect, think, and discover. They get us to challenge our assumptions and confront our thoughts.

Do something childlike on every journey you take. Skip to the supermarket. Sing in the elevator. Stop and look all around you. Just see, hear, and appreciate. Life can be beautiful if you let it.

“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” ~Howard Thurman

As you begin this school year, remember Ana Grace. Walk with courage, with faith, and with love. And don’t let them suck your fun circuits dry.


http://www.buzzfeed.com/mikehayes/mother-of-school-shooting-victim-writes-powerful-letter-to-t

Day 6 of teaching accomplished! The messiest my classroom has been yet, haha! That's from digging into the material.


Oh gosh... the things some of the things my babies are saying... TFA would be so proud. Today:

"Please quiet down, I want to learn."

"I need water to recharge my battery."

"We are growing our brains."



My star student... it's amazing how much he's internalized!

<3 Miss B.

First grade is the time students move from "pretend reading" to conventional reading.

As we explore the natural world and discover beauty and
power in sacred places, so too will we explore the inner
world and discover beauty and power within ourselves.

East Coast style home in the Midwest.



home.

more fun times with Amira

Featuring the DIA and the Heidelberg Projct

8 - 6 - 13 first meeting my baby

to be named once we get to know each other more :-)

8/8/13 My Studio and Car!!!