Menu Plan Monday

Monday again. . .almost summer vacation for us teachers! Just a few more days. . .

Monday- Blueberry Pancakes and Breakfast Sausage

Tuesday-Tacos with Salad (seasoning recipe)

Wednesday-Wraps or Leftovers (or wraps using leftovers!)

Thursday (CP)-Asian Shredded Pork, coleslaw, buns

Friday-Soup and Sandwiches

Saturday's Snack- Cool Veggie Pizza

Sunday-BBQ (I'm bringing a salad. . .ever had Committee Salad? It's yummy!!!)

So. . .I linked all the recipes this time. . . they are all pretty basic this time. . .no recipes to type out here. . .

BTW: I'm busy looking into OAMC. . .not necessarily to use every day, but to at least have one or two freezer meals a week. (I know, the school year isn't even over and I'm thinking about the busyness of the Fall!) Up to this point, many of the OAMC recipes I have used have turned out quite soup-y, or I've been overly nervous about not cooking things all the way. . .especially meat. My success has been in doubling casseroles and freezing them. That's it. So. . .I'll let you know what I discover and decide to do. If anyone out there has any great input, please leave a comment!!!

Words from Wednesday (Devotional)

At the End of the Year

It’s the end of the school year. Things are winding down. I’ve collected all the assignments and projects. I've written some grades and comments on the report cards. I’ve made my page of ideas to help the students continue learning over the summer. I’ve made my "memories bookmark" for each student. In just a few short days, this school year will be over.

As I was thinking about this, I’m hoping and praying that the things that I have taught my students won’t all get lost in the busyness of summer or float off in the warm breeze or splash away in the oceans and pools. I’m hoping some of it sticks with them.

I am reminded of Jesus and his disciples. He invested so much time into teaching them about His Father: about His grace and His love. He taught them using the Scriptures and parables; as they sat to eat and as they walked about. Teaching, teaching, teaching. If any one wanted what he was teaching to stick, it was Jesus! I think of the many times He had to sit back and re-explain his teachings and the teachings they grew up with. Or tell His disciples that they were thinking of their own agendas, not God’s plan. Or tell His mother, Mary, that His time for glory had not yet come.

I wonder if He had moments like this—where He prayed everything would just stick with them. That they would get it. That they would have grown because He had invested in His disciples.

They must have finally gotten it, because He sent them out to tell the rest of the world that same message for which He had even come to the world. “Then Jesus came to them and said, `All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’” (Matthew 28:18-20)

So now, at the end of the school year, when I am thinking of what will stick with my students, I am reminded of my great God who sent out the disciples with confidence that His salvation message would spread to all nations. I am reminded of my God who said to His chosen Israelites, “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip form your hearts as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them . . . so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” (Deuteronomy 4:9-10) and He still says this to us today. I am reminded of a God who has His Holy Spirit working in the hearts and minds of the people who hear His saving message and believe. And I praise God that His message sticks.

Other passages to read: John 8:31, John 14:23-27, and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17


*I found this poem at a site available to teachers. It's a little "gushy", but I thought I would share anyway.

This Hand I Hold

This hand I hold I touch it now
For all eternity,
And the knowledge that I share
I give from me to you.

In hope that all you do and say
Reflects the lessons learned,
And all the awards that you receive
Are ones that you have earned.

I am your present teacher
And your true friend,
But when the year is over
My thoughts of you won't end.

For in my dearest memory
Forever you will be,
And when you go I hope that you
Will take a part of me.

This hand I hold I touch it now
For all eternity,
And the knowledge that I share
I give from me to you.
(Poem found at http://www.canteach.ca/elementary/songspoems56.html)

Menu Plan Monday

Oh well. . .a little on the late side again today. The benefit of that is that I tried the Chicken Bacon Pizza (Monday) and it is de-lish! Mine even looked like the yummy picture from the link! (And with my garden starting to grow like crazy, I used all the herbs from there!)

So. . here is what my week looks like:

Monday-Chicken Bacon Pizza (from last week), corn salsa

Tuesday-Honey BBQ Salmon, rice, mixed veggies

Wednesday-Sirloin Veggie Stir Fry (A Rachael Ray Recipe!)

Thursday (CP)- Hot Chicken Sandwiches (see below), cut up veggies

Friday--Last Day of School!--left-overs or out

Snack for Saturday-Pizza Muffins

Sunday--Father's Day--BBQ

2 recipes for you today:

Pizza Muffins

I know I linked one, which looks good (never tried it yet!), but here is one I love:

2 c. Jiffy Baking Mix

3/4 c. milk

12 cup muffin pan

Filling:
1 jar Spaghetti Sauce

1 can sliced mushrooms, drained

1 small green pepper (I use coloured ones)

1 package sliced pepperoni, cut up

1 package shredded mozzarella

*Preheat oven to 400F. Spray muffin pan and set aside. Blend baking mix and milk to make a soft dough. Turn out onto a floured surface. Knead about 20 times. Roll into rectangle about 1/8" thick. Cut out circles with 4" cookie cutter. Press circles into prepared muffin pan. Combine sauce and filling ingredients (not cheese). Spoon in each dough-lined muffin cup. Sprinkle on cheese. Bake 15 minutes or until brown. Makes 12 treats.

Hot Chicken Sandwiches

*This recipe came from my friend Mandy, back in our visiting days (can't wait 'til this summer!). It's easy and quick!

8 c. cooked chicken or turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 c. chopped celery

2 c. mayo

1 c. cubed American cheese

Buns

1. Combine all ingredients (except for buns) in crock pot.

2. Cover. Cook on high for 2 hours.

3. Serve on buns.

*You can easily half the recipe. Cooking times may be less.

Enjoy. . .I'm posted at http://www.orjunkie.com/ again!

Final Reading Responses

First. . .pretend it is still Thursday! Oops . .just a little late this time. :)

Then. . .here are some ideas to use at the end of a novel study. These ideas came from a colleague of mine. He said they were originally from a book of long ago (that I just can't site because we don't even know what book it came from!), but changed to suit his novel studies. These are great ideas to use instead of a "final test" as they cover the same kind of information, but are done in a more creative way.

This first one is called a "Title Summary." It obviously works better for books that have longer titles, such as Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat. For younger grade levels you can also use this idea to write information about the theme you are studying or a math concept.

Similar to an Acrostic, this activity requires the student (or the teacher on a page--see below) to write the title of the novel vertically down the page. Then, each student needs to write a sentence about the novel that begins with each of the letters. After this is all completed, the students should have a summary of the events or themes in the novel.

Here is what a sample page might look like:

Here is a close-up of the instructions my colleague made:

The second idea focuses on the characters in a novel. Using the categories Intelligence, Honesty, Friendliness, Obedience, and Sense of Humor (or any other traits related to the novel your students are reading), each student needs to assign a letter grade to the character, and then under the comments section, they need tell why (give proof as to why) the character deserves the grade assigned. What events in the novel show the character displaying this trait? What was the character thinking about? Why would you assign a high or a low grade to this character?

When I have used this, I asked my students to write page numbers in brackets behind each "proof" if they could (which can also be used as an enrichment, because it was difficult to do!)

So. . .just two quick ideas to use in your novel studies or themes of study. Sorry, no finished pages to post just yet! Stay tuned. . .

Words from Wednesday (Devotional)

A Coffee Date

A while back a friend of mine posted her status on FB as this: “{This person} is having coffee with a good friend. God is good!” For some reason that status statement struck a cord with me—did she mean she was having a coffee with God?

And the sad reality is that my next thought was: “I wonder what that would be like.” Yep, that was a reality check for me. Obviously I am in need of more one-on-one time with my Saviour! But imagine with me for a minute what it might be like . . . to actually have a coffee—or tea, or ice cap, or whatever you want—with God. Sitting right there on the chair across from you. Maybe He would get to use your favourite mug, or maybe you’d still save that one for yourself because He’d understand, right? Would I sit in utter awe of his presence or would I dive into my LONG list of questions I have for him? Would I be smiling with contentment or filled with guilt over the sins I haven’t confessed yet? Would He reach over and take my hand or calmly reassure me with His words that He still loves me, even still, even more than I can understand?

That is when I opened my Bible to Psalm 119: 9-48—a wonderful bunch of verses to reflect on for some quiet time with God. They were very fitting for the writer of this Psalm, but also for me today. How can I keep my ways pure? Live according to God’s word. Seek Him with my whole heart. The writer of this psalm continues to meditate on God and His law in the verses that follow. So I sat and read these verses and then read them again.

And I came back to those first few verses. How can I keep my life right? To live according to His Word and to seek Him with my whole being. It’s that simple. But simple is also asking me to not just read these verses, but meditate on them daily. Simple is asking me to actually live out Ephesians 6:18—“to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Simple is asking me to “pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Simple is asking me to stop trying to be my own best friend or filling my time with other people and projects, but instead let God fill that space. It is asking me to give up planning, controlling and manipulating things that I have no control of and placing my fears and anxieties on Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). It’s asking me to be still, and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10).

So, I now have a coffee date—not with my husband, an out-of-town guest, or my girlfriends. I have a long-overdue coffee date with a Good Friend. God is good!

Menu Plan Monday

This week. . .we might be a little heavy on the chicken. All these recipes just sound so yummy as I am doing my plans. . .and most of the stuff I have on hand. That means one less trip to the grocery store. That sounds nice. :)

Monday- Peanut Chicken Stir-fry (lots of veggies!), noodles, pitas

Tuesday- Chicken Bacon Pizza , salad

Wednesday- Spaghetti

Thursday (CP)- Taco Soup

Friday- Chicken Breasts With Sage and Mozzarella (BBQ Cooking) or left-overs

Snack on Saturday- Chocolate Chip Strawberry Shortcakes

Sunday (BFS)- Breakfast Wraps--or probably a BBQ :)

Snack for Saturday. . .I linked this recipe, so no recipe here. I made these with my sister and SIL (she had the recipe. . .again!) last summer. . .and they were phenomenal!!! We loved them. And they looked so-o-o nice. I felt a little gourmet! So, if you are having company or want to impress your spouse or just need to treat yourself. . . and they aren't actually that tough to make!

Creative Procrastination

So. . . I have a bazillion other things to do as the weather warms up and the school year winds down, but I was home alone on a Saturday night (ya, ya, poor, poor, pitiful me!) so I decided to use my new materials. I don't claim to be a super good card-maker, but I do still enjoy it. So. . .before I shy away from posting these. . .here is what my "new-to-me" stuff can do! (Stamps and paper are from Inkadinkado and Michael's.)

It's hard to tell with the bad pictures, but the pink I used in these two cards is actually an irridescent kind of paper.

A Great Find

I went to the Salvation Army Thrift Store this morning before work. . .and look what I found!!! Yes, half of it is still all in its original sealed packages! I couldn't believe it! I picked up 4 stamp sets, one single stamp, one corners scissor, a pack of card stock, one punch, 3 Fiskars embossing templates (I have the box that goes with it already!), a chalk set, a foam cutting board, and over 100 blank cards & envelopes!

Here are a few close-ups of some of the products--they are all "never-been-used stamps!

(Oops! This photo is kinda blurry! But these are those clear stamps.)
And. . .guess how much i paid for it all?? Less than $10!

Now i have to find some time to use it all . . .

So Tara and Hilda . . . when is the next scrapbooking night? I have a few things to bring along!!!

Enjoying the Heat

My friend invited us to join her and her kids st the Water Park. What a blast! We went nice and early--before the rush and before it got too hot!

My son enjoyed it and was running off with his friends in no time. He made up names for all the different places the water came from. . .most of them were the "fireworks" and he especially enjoyed the "candy cane" one (see, way in the background?).

My daughter, on the other hand, didn't like the idea of getting wet. ("No wet!") She would rather laze around with us moms and watch the whole ordeal.

Eventually she did go in, but just the small puddles. I was kinda thankful that she didn't have any unexpected "fireworks" sprays!

And then when we came home. . .what better way to cool down from the heat than SMOOTHIES!!! I had raspberries and bananas handy, so. . .that was our treat for the day!(Gotta love my Magic Bullet!)
I think the treat went over well. No left overs for me. So we had to make another batch . . . or two!

Poetry Books

I recently updated THIS POST about Grammar, and making Silly Sentences using the basic parts of speech. I added some pictures there of the finished product. Check it out if it interests you.

Today I am posting some pictures (the product) of THIS POST on Poetry. We finally finished up our work on poetry and making small anthologies. Here is my bulletin board (it was such a small space!!!) and the poetry books that the students made as a result of the poetry unit taught. (I just finished grading them all! Phew! That was a lot of work . . . but you can see that they obviously did a lot of work!!! We spent class time, computer time and art time working on this. Some of the kids also spent some homework time on it!) All the books are hanging on tacks so that we can read/look at the work done by our peers.
So, here are a few of the inside pages. First the table of contents (And, my students have the correct spelling of Biographical Poem in their books!)
And the following are some examples of the pages: the poems and the layouts that the students chose. They were required to include 10 poems, but the way they laid out the pages was completely up to them. (BTW, I have some future artists and scrapbookers in my class! Yay!)
Don't you just love some of these pages? The creativity in the decorations and the imagination in the pictures? Oh, it makes me so giddy as a teacher!!!

So. . .another idea or two for you. Enjoy!