Thank You, St. Cecilia - Page 69
Care Corner Photo Journal - volume 2 We told them it was a gift. A gift for the parents, the parish, Fr. John, Mrs. Piecuch and Mrs. Marshall. We couldn't go to the mall to buy them all something so our only gift would be this song. It had to be a good gift. Before the performance last night, right before we left the classroom, we prayed to St. Cecilia. We asked her to be with us, guide our singing and make our gift beautiful. She answered our prayer. A Blank Piece of Paper – Page 68
Care Corner Photo Journal – Volume 2 This pen pal project started in November with a blank piece of paper. It ended today with the gift of a story. Instead of pen pals helping us write letters to Santa this year (many of the kids already do that at home) we decided to write Elf stories. It helps the first graders understand story elements and helps the 5th graders work on many skills including writing, editing, keyboard work and creativity. In November they meet with that blank piece of paper and the first grader thinks about what story elements they want in the story including title, characters, setting and story sequence. The 5th grader then spends almost a month writing, editing and putting those story elements into a Christmas story. Then they prepare a final draft to give to the first grader. They did that today. The stories are amazing and so are these pen pals and to think it started with a blank piece of paper. Author’s Chair – Page 67
Care Corner Photo Journal – Volume 2 Author’s Chair is a special time…especially at Christmas. It is the only Writer’s Workshop story with guidelines and a deadline. It has to be Christmas story and everyone has to do one before Christmas. Maybe it’s the “Christmas” part that makes it special. Maybe it’s how some of them retell THE Christmas Story. Maybe it’s the magical stories about elves, or the ones about their Christmas trees or the creative ones where Christmas was canceled (Santa got sick). Maybe it’s how they wear the Santa hat in Author’s Chair. Maybe it’s how the audience claps when they are done. Maybe it’s the author’s smile when they hear that applause. Whatever “it” is…today was more special because of Author’s Chair. They Lined Up – Page 67
Care Corner Photo Journal – Volume 2 Kids bring money for the poor bank. I expect that. But I wasn’t prepared for a line up at the poor bank yesterday. I was confused with so many kids bringing money on the same day? Then they reminded me that it was the 12 Days of Christmas Kindness. Last week we made the 12 days of Christmas Kindness project. It starts on December 13th and everyday you do the act of kindness written on Santa’s beard. Once you have done the act, you cut off that part of the beard and place the paper in the nativity. You offer it as a gift to Baby Jesus. When the 12 days of Kindness are done, it’s Christmas Day! On Sunday, December 13, they had to write a love note to someone. And yesterday, December 14, they had to bring a coin for the poor bank. I had forgotten. They didn’t. And they brought a coin for the 12 Days of Kindness project and for Baby Jesus…so…they lined up. You Can’t See It…You Feel It – Page 66
Care Corner Photo Journal – volume 2 Some things are hard even for grown ups to understand. Who is the Holy Spirit? How do you even explain that to 6 and 7 year olds? I use a special lesson that I borrowed from a nun (Thanks, Sister Jackie.). When Jesus went back to heaven He sent us the Holy Spirit so we wouldn’t have to be alone. So we wouldn’t have to wonder how to do the things Jesus wants us to do. If you do something really kind your heart is happy. If you do something bad, your heart is sad. The Holy Spirit is in your heart to help you know right from wrong. How do you know the Holy Spirit is in your heart? To help them understand we decorate a white “Holy Spirit heart” with a white crayon. As they work, they realize they can’t really SEE the coloring. So I ask them to close their eyes and rub their hand over the heart theycolored. It is then that they FEEL the crayon. It is then that they learn the Holy Spirit lesson…you can’t see it…you feel it. Happy Birthday To You – Page 65
Care Corner Photo Journal – Volume 2 It’s like any other classroom party. Fun, games, activities, excitement, treats. That is no different than the Halloween Party or the Valentine’s Day Party. They are all pretty special and lots of fun. What sets this party apart from the others? We pray before we eat our snack. Oh…we do that at the other parties too. But for this prayer we softly sing the Happy Birthday song to Baby Jesus. And THAT is what makes this party more special than all the rest. 31 little voices praying…singing…a birthday song for Jesus. Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus. Happy Birthday to you. The Angel Package - The Lessons Tucked Within - Page 64
Care Corner Photo Journal - Volume 2 The package came with angels. Beautiful angels…34 of them…maybe 36. I put some aside for the absent kids and lost count. And the package came with beautiful wrapping and a Christmas greeting AND a check for money for our poor bank. But it wasn’t the contents of the package that was the most meaningful…it was the lessons tucked within. Lesson 1 – A kind lady they never met took the time to make them each an angel…their very own angel. Lesson 2 – Each angel reflects the time, treasure and talent of a very generous person. The time…I can’t imagine. The talent…unbelievable. Lesson 3 – Above and beyond making angels…she makes a special wrapping for each one. I wish she could have seen how carefully they opened them to save the wrapping and that special sticker she put on each one. Lesson 4 – Even more…the money for our poor bank. This December they will each have a dollar bill to put in the poor box at church…because thinking of the kids isn’t enough…she thought of our poor bank too. So my new angel is on our classroom tree and they each have an angel adorning their cubby. And our poor bank is overflowing now. But it really isn’t about the angels or the kind donation…it’s about the lessons tucked within each stitch, each shiny sticker, each poor bank dollar. She taught them things today I could never teach them. The gifts were amazing…the lessons even more so. In Good Hands - Page 64
Care Corner Photo Journal - Volume 2 Your sleepless nights are over. You don’t have to worry about the future anymore. After our unit on jobs and careers we made our share book about what they want to be when they grow up and, I am convinced, we are in good hands. Four kids want to be police officers and help people and one wants to be a spy. (Maybe they can work together.) Three want to be doctors and heal people (although one added “and make a lot of money”.) We have two future nurses including a baby nurse because her mom does that job and “it seems special”. There is one pro soccer guy and four NFL players including one who wants to play for the Redskins. There are two art teachers and four teachers including one who wants to “teach kids about Jesus”. One wants to be an electrician “like my dad” and another wants to be a chef and “give food to people”. We have creativity too including an illustrator, artist and writer. These kids will be on the move before we know it so be on the look out for the astronaut (who wants to “see the planets from space”) and the UPS driver who wants to deliver packages and drive the big brown truck. Sleep well tonight. No more worries. The future is in good hands. She's Here - Page 63
Care Corner Photo Journal - volume 2 She’s here. Our own Care Corner Elf. I have to admit when I first saw her I was a bit nervous. I am not an “Elf-On-The-Shelf” kind of girl. Oh, I get the excitement that families and kids have for their Elf…but it’s not for me. So after church today I found a surprise Elf in our classroom. I was a bit nervous opening the package but…it’s not an Elf On The Shelf…It’s Esmeralda…just an Elf who loves learning. We don’t have to worry about touching her or magical powers. She isn’t even watching to see if we are good or bad (All kids are good). She is just watching us learn. She even brought all the kids pencils because she heard they are “very hard workers”. How special is that? So…we will have fun with “Essie” and she will create her own magical memories this year. I am not sure who is behind this wonderful surprise I just know we are all glad and excited that…she’s here. |
AuthorI am Sheila Sims Iding and I am a first grade teacher at St. Gerard School in Lansing, MI. I named my classroom Care Corner and so I get to spend my days with the Care Corner Kids. How blessed am I? I want to share the blessings of the wonder and discovery in first grade through my blogs. I hope you ENJOY! For my writer's blog click here:http://writingprojects.weebly.com/ Archives
January 2020
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