In this Blog you will hear and see some of my families' boring and interesting moments. I have 2 girls that are 10 years apart and a wonderful husband. Of course we have the gorgeous, 6 year old, Sam the Dog. Today I want to share a few traits of our sweet (untrained) dog. He drives me crazy and I'll NEVER admit that I love him to death!

Is this real our Sam? Here are some personality traits I found online about Labs.

One of the most popular breeds in the USA, the Labrador Retriever is loyal, loving, affectionate and patient, making a great family dog. Highly intelligent, good-natured, very willing and eager to please, it is among the top choices for service dog work. Labs love to play, especially in water, never wanting to pass up the opportunity for a good swim. These lively dogs have an excellent, reliable temperament and are friendly, superb with children and equable with other dogs. They crave human leadership and need to feel as though they are part of the family. Labs are easily trained. Some may be reserved with strangers unless very well socialized, preferably while they are still puppies. Adult Labs are very strong; train them while they are puppies to heel on the leash, and not to bolt out doorways and gateways before the humans. These dogs are watchdogs, not guard dogs, although some have been known to guard. They can become destructive if the humans are not 100% pack leader and/or if they do not receive enough mental and physical exercise, and left too much to their own devices. Show lines are generally heavier and easier going than field lines. Field lines tend to be very energetic and will easily become high strung without enough exercise. Labs bred from English lines (English Labs) are more calm and laid back than Labradors bred from American lines. English Labs mature quicker than the American type.

Yes, Sam the Dog is loyal- so loyal it drives us crazy at times. Poor Steve is followed all day long. As I type this now he is barking at the door to go out to his daddy. Easily trained?  Not in our case; well maybe that was our fault right? Sam used to be destructive puppy  but I put an end to that! Yeah I just keep buying him toys!  Sam is a laid  back (lazy) baby

Thanks for reading my first post and please come back again and bring a friend!

Tying Shoes Part II

Here is a nice write up about helping your child tie shoes. 

Though most kids' shoes now feature Velcro closures, learning to tie ones own shoes is still considered to be milestone that children should master by 5 or 6 years of age. But, teaching a child to tie his own shoes can be frustrating; kids can lose interest quickly if they feel the task is too difficult, or they may seem to "get it" one day only to completely forget the next.

Have no fear, I've got a few tricks up my sleeves that can make teaching a kid to tie his own shoes a bit easier. All kids learn differently, so try a few of these methods and see what works best for your child.

1. Bunny Ears

Probably the most common method for teaching kids to tie their own shoes is the "Bunny Ears" method.

• Tell the child that he needs to make his shoe laces into "bunny ears."
• First, he needs to secure a knot for the bunny's head. Take the laces and cross them over to make an "X". Then, pull one ear through the bottom of the "X" and pull tight.
• Say, "Now we need to give bunny some ears." Loop the laces into "bunny ears".
• Tell the child that now we need to "make the bunny ears tight so they don't fall off". Then make another "X" using the "bunny ears", slide one "ear" under the "X" and pull tightly

2. Bi-Colored Laces

This is a great tip that can really make learning to tie much easier. Take two laces in two different colors and cut them down the middle. Then sew them together to make two bi-colored laces. Lace a pair of old shoes with these funny shoes strings. Using bi-colored laces can really help a kid who has trouble remembering his right from his left. You can use any learning-to-tie method in combination with your bi-colored laces.

3. Cardboard Cut-Out Shoe

Take a cardboard box and cut out an over-sized shoe shape. Have your kid decorate the shoe in any way he wishes. Using a pen, poke holes for laces. Use the bi-colored lace tip above, but instead of cutting the original laces in two, use two entire laces sewn together to create one long, bi-colored shoe string. Lace the shoe and use any teaching method, using this cut-out. Some kids find it easier and more interesting to practice on an over-sized model.

4. The Squirrel and the Tree

This is a fun method that utilizes a kid friendly story and movements that help kids understand and remember the basic steps to shoe tying.

• Tell the child to create "tree roots" by making a starter knot.
• Make a tree with a long thin loop; hold the loop in the child's right hand.
• With his left hand, take hold of the lace and tell him that a squirrel runs around the tree and jumps into the hole under the tree and comes out the other side (he'll need to switch hands at this point which can be difficult for some kids).

Many parents prefer this trick because it teaches the kid to tie shoes with the single loop method.

Simple idea! Encourage students to be part of the Shoe Tying Team. Write your name in the shoe has soon as you get! I love how the poster has real ribbon or laces to make it pop.

To Tie or Not to Tie

Should teachers teach young children to tie their shoes? Should parents be responsible for this teaching their child to tie their shoes? While teaching first grade I have heard a few kindergarten thru second grade teachers saying that they have enough to teach beside wasting time tying shoes. I don't feel the same way. Teachers have the painstaking job of modeling and teaching a lot of what can be done at home. How to meet and greet a new friend, how to stand next to someone without touching them, how to knock before going into restroom etc. We teach all kinds of things that are not CORE curriculum! Tying shoes takes time but can be so rewarding. Everything is not so black and white- let parents know there is goal in the classroom and I'm sure they will help. Tying shoes can be a simple math center, a writing or reading center and a simple social activity among friends. This week I will develop 2 centers that focus on Tying shoes for Kdgn and first graders. Tying shoes Stay tuned.

The Shoe-Tying Song

Teach your students this catch song, and not only will there be lots of singing going on, but lots of

shoe tying too! This is sung to the tune of “Mulberry Bush.”

This is the way we tie our shoes, tie our shoes, tie our shoes.

This is the way we tie our shoes in kindergarten.

Take the ends and cross the laces, cross the laces, cross the laces.

Take the ends and cross the laces, as we tie our shoes.

Take one lace and loop it through, look it through, loop it through.

Take one lace and loop it through, as we tie our shoes.

Next, you pull the laces down, laces down, laces down.

Next, you pull the laces down, as we tie our shoes.

With one lace we make a loop, make a loop, make a loop.

With one lace we make a loop, as we tie our shoes.

Take one lace and wrap it around, wrap it around, wrap it around.

Take one lace and wrap it around, as we tie our shoes.

Grab the tip and pull it through, pull it through, pull it through.

Grab the tip and pull it through, as we tie our shoes.

Then we have to pull them tight, pull them tight, pull them tight.

Then we have to pull them tight; we can tie our shoes!

Pamel Kilrain—Gr. K

Helotes Elementary

Helotes, TX

Happy New Year

Blogs have taken over my online experience. Home, saving money, school, and children are topics that intrigue me. I am very interested in sharing ideas and special interest with the world. I have found a new site- Pinterest. It allows individuals to post pics/sites of their favorite pages on the web. I notice that many of us moms like the same types of things. Home improvement, crafts and cooking however  many of us will barely find time to complete in our busy lives. Well  today, The New Year is a great day to get started! Let's try this again. I will post something new my family has tried every week. will my daughter try her hand at cooking more this year? Will my husband wear out his new crock pot and will I write a fantastic book for children or adults? Only time will tell. Stay tuned.
Happy New Beginnings Blogging friends~  ANG!

What was your summer reading? Summer reading can be for professional development or personal enjoyment, and maybe even both. This summer I read  Mindset by Carol Dweck. It discussed expectations that we have on our children and students. It looks at how our thinking, our comments and our actions play a part on how others will react and value the need to do their best. One idea that I took from the book was that My words and actions will affect how my daughters view themselves and their worth as a learner. It makes me think about the words I use with them daily and if I had said something that has hurt their precious soul. Carol Dweck used the examples of a Fixed mindset ( this is all I got, I can't learn anymore, I am as smart as I can get) vs. the Growth mindset (you can always learn more, I am not smart today but can always continue to learn more). This simple but profound thinking will help Me, My students and My family- We are forever learning-I have a Growth Mindset!  Speaking of help...I read the Bestseller book, The Help, by a new author, Kathryn Stockett. There is a social debate about this book--It did not honestly show the pain and struggles that the black maid endured in Jackson, Mississippi, and it is racist in its depiction of white and black woman and how it holds no value in the life of woman today. Well all I know is that  I enjoyed the book! I felt the pain of the characters. I resented the treatment and prayed a thankful prayer for the job I have today and for what women endured in the past. A lifestyle that was only because of the family they were born to and their skin color. Stockett readers to see a life that we don't talk about in books during the civil rights movement. It hopefully shows how future generations have moved beyond the cycle of being a maid or the ignorant thinking of the wealth family. I honor the pride and devotion to do what is needed to be done for their family and their own survival. I enjoyed both books. I have grown as a mom and a teacher. I have grown as a black woman. I can appreciate what I have, where I came from and how I want to steer my beautiful daughters to go in the future.  I think I chose two books that were professional and personal growth for me. What reading journey did you take this summer?

Family -Grandparents

This year I lost both my grandparents. Grandma passed sleeping next to Grandpa in August and Grandpa left 10 months later in June 2011. I probably shouldn't call it a lost. I had the pleasure of spending every holiday of my 43 years with them. I have been able to cherish and honor their marriage of 69 years during my own wedding. I was allowed to care for my grandmother during her last 5 months of life. It was my honor to care for the lady that cared for our family for so many years. She called me Sweet-Patooty and my daughter and her first grand, Sweety-Pie. My grandmother loved being with her friends to play cards, travel, walk and even swim until she was 72. My grandmother loved to read and reading was pasted on to her daughters and myself. she loved mysteries and a daily crossword puzzle. Her humor and simple come backs were a joy to hear. My grnadmother started repeatng herslef and retelling the same stories when we realized she was failing. My heart pains just writing this. My love for my grandmother is only a tenth of the love my grandfather had for her. She protected us from his tempers. She soothed the beast when it got out of hand. She loved him beacuse he deserved to be loved! My grandfather weathered the depression as a child and supported his family as a pre-teen. He set high standards for working hard as a salesman, business owner and inventor. He was never rich. He rarely showed affection, but I know he loved his family by his demands and expectations for us to be together during hoildays. My grandfather taught me to ride a bike, influenced me to always do my best no matter how tough the task, the color of my skin or what others said about me. He taught me to investigate and never get cheated out of a fair deal. My grandfather walked me down the aisle  and said this was one of thes happiest day of his life. He was my only daddy. Today I honor my grandparents and their love for each other and family. Today I remember them and their laughs and lectures. Today I am missing my grandparents- Edward Todd and Theresa Jean Carson.

Teacher Blogging

"Never give up!" I tell that to the Parker Penguin kids everyday. "It may be hard today, but each practice it should get easier!"  Well I didn't take my own advice. I want to say hello and I am back to start this blogging thing again. I was a bit intimidated with all the wonderful bloggers out there. Then during my first reawakening moment, I realized I have to start somewhere and develop my blog to fit me and My Style. There are some beautiful blogs out there. First grade classroom teachers sharing their passion for technology, development of ideas and the chance to share it with peers around the world. There are discussion blogs that have sparked my own interest in blogging and then those crafty ladies with idea after idea to do at home or in the classroom. My style is to share the love I have for all the above. Today I share my blog with 6 friends but hope to expand. Any suggestions welcomed. Here I go again! 

Teaching is a passion. We teach for the kids. We teach to share a dream. We teach to contribute to someone else's life. We teach to educate. We share a passion of reading, math or science. Teaching has so many rewards that only the educator can explain.  Teaching provides a stable life that is rewarded with late nights, long weekends, judgemental parents, workshops, professional development and college classes for the life 20 + years. Teaching provides little salary increase over the life of our careers. Teaching can be stressful, saddening and satisfying all in one day. Teaching is rewarding. It is always changing-technology, best practices, and assessment requirements. Teaching must be done with a passion. If you don't have a passion for teaching and creating an environment that is rewarding and satisfying for each new group of youngsters then you are inthe wrong career. Teaching is a passion regardless of the government and its decisions to cut public education. Teaching is a passion and I love it!

Teaching Passion Part 1

Every morning I rise to a cup of Joe. I see my reflection in the dark drink and wish the rest of the day could move so clamly. I quickly carry my friend Joe around the house to find clothes that are appropraite for the day ahead- Will I see parents? Will I paint? How many times will I have to get on floor? Do I have an after school meeting?  I swallowed my last drop of Joe. As I am driving in my thoughts of my own health and family issues fade away. I wish I had one more cup of Joe but I never bring that quiet peaceful friend to school. My day doesn't move slow again until I am back in my car 7-8 hours from now. I forget to drink my water, I don't use the bathroom, and can't wait for lunch so I finish something I didn't have time to do in the morning. As a teacher we are moving so fast that we forget to take care of our own well being. I ran across this book years again but never took the time to read it. I plan on reading this book. I hear it gives a wonderful insight and reflection sof a teacher's everyday thoughts. Read it with me for the month of April my friends.

Learning Attribute of the Month

Promote your children to be thinkers. Encourge them to become independent learners through the action of thinking. Seems easy enough! What is a Thinker?  They must learn to ask questions about the world and their human relationships. Ask your students or child to say-- I think about the actions--they are my own desicions. I think about what I say before I say it. I keep intregrity and kindness in the fore front of my actions. It's important to give children various learning attitributes to be successful learners. We know about inquiring, taking risks and being knowledgeable, but it all comes with the action and conscious thinking of our actions and their effects on self and others. Today encourage your young learners to ask questions, examine their answers and thoughts. Encourage thinkers in the most literal but simplest from.  Today is the first of many blogs that will allow us to discuss learning profiles that they produce a well rounded citizen of the world --Thinker, inquirer, balanced, principled, knowledgeable, open minded, reflective, and more.  What are you thinking about today?

Stump The Teacher: I Resign From Teaching

Stump The Teacher: I Resign From Teaching: "To Whom It May Concern: Consider this my letter of resignation from teaching. After much deliberation and intense research, I now see the ..."

So insightful and refreshing to see teachers writing about their life in the classroom. Every minute we are making decisions that impact others. Teachers are continuous learners but stride to make our students the best learners of the world. We have to let them think, inquire, take risk and become knowledgeable citizens. I like this blog. I resign with him!! ok maybe not totally but you know what I mean!

Snowy Day

Sitting at home on a Snow Day here in Michigan. Thinkng of all the many projects kindergarten and first graders can do related to snow. A few favorites include Roll the Snowman, melting ice cube or snow in a bottle experiment, cottonball snow art, "How To" Build a Snowman and so much more.
I like to start our snow day or week with this great story or DVD by Ezra Jack Keats. Share some of your favorite snowy day projects that you do with your kiddos in class.

You Know you're a Mom when your child...draws a picture that is unrecognizable and you see hearts and words all all over it
You Know you're a Teacher when you... can figure out anything one of your student writes that noone else can.  (ihd a god tim at reses)
You Know you're a Dad when you...see that little girl of yours smile and you melt.
You Know you're a Good Cook when your... kids stop playing the Wii to come eat.
I Know you're a Friend when I...  call just to hear your voice.
You Know you're Poor if you... know what ghetto steak is. (husband's input  LOL)

You know you're a blogger when you want to share..just about Anything with strangers.   Happy blogging!!

Cultural Reading for the classroom

Ok it's a new year! Starting a blog, keeping family first and reading more. I took a class called Parents On You Side through Lee Canter. I took a few ideas from this class --- one that I thought helped me and my families would be to read more literature about cultural and traditions to better undersatnd my complea mix of families in the classroom. I have families from Germany, Middle-East , China and India and they all have different values in regards to family, education  and social interaction. I hope to learn more. So today I will begin my Inquiry into family life through books. So I  found one book that might be a great start...What do you think?

Day #1

Today is Saturday, Jan.29, 2011. I am so excited to be writing first blog. I asked my self what will I write about? I can share about teaching reading, places to go shopping, great deals, keeping a positive attitude when things are looking down, keeping a loving and faithful relationship with friends and spouse. How to work with a teenage daughter, a four year old learning to be independent in MY house and finally just a moment in my day. Today I think I will share that I am truely happy and excited to be able to share with my many new friends. Please post a postive encouraging comment to help me in my new adventure of blogging.
I feel accomplished today!!