Hilarious

One of the students asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told her I really didn't know and that God had blessed with everything I need. She said "You know what I want for Christmas? Real estate." HA! Hilarious.

Memories

What's your favorite Christmas memory? Is chestnuts roasting on an open fire? Our children talked about some of their favorite Christmas memories. Here is what they had to say...


"When my sister got her new bike, she was starting to ride it in the house."




"Every year my family makes cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas."




"My mom gave this really, really cool watch. It was the third watch and she always gives me watches because I always wind up losing them."




" Last Christmas my cat got a new hat and wore it all winter. "


"My cat climbed the Christmas tree."




" Every time my grandparents come me, and my dad, and my brother make pancakes and bake cookies with my grandma."

Grandparents' Day

First grade is looking forward to celebrating Grandparents' Day tomorrow. We had a wonderful time thanking God for the special memories He's allowed us to share with our grandparents.

Happy Grandparents' Day!

Fruit in our Room!

Today our students had a chance to watch a living advertisement when Mrs. Kinney, Ms. Mackie, Ms. Boyd and I came dressed as fruit to encourage our students to "Sell More Fruit". Our school fundraiser this year is the Indian River Citrus Sell and comes just in time for the holiday season. Stop buy to purchase a juicy fruit today!

Operation Christmas Child

Good Afternoon Parents!
I recently had the fortunate opportunity to visit Haiti. It was life changing to say the least. One of the most significant parts of the trip for me was to watch the face a little boy who had just received a gift from a family in the United States. He received a soccer ball and a new pair of shoes. I'll never forget the expression on his face. It was one of awe and wonder. More than that, however, it was one that was aware that he was loved.
You have the opportunity to do the same for another child. By participating with your child in this special event, you can share the love of God with someone who otherwise might not have the same good fortune we have in the US. Please consider joining us as we bring in shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. You'll never know how great would be your impact.

Shoe boxes are due Friday, OCTOBER 29th!

Miss Carde Recommends...

There is a wonderful book that I've been reading for years. I would like to say that it is because it's a book that I've read over and over again. Unfortunately it's because I hadn't picked it back up to fully read until THIS YEAR. However, I'm so glad I did. It's a book entitled "Kingdom Education" by Glen Shultz. If you get the opportunity, please check it out.

Homework Assignment October 18th

Good Afternoon!
Thank you for visiting our blog. Please continue to view it throughout the year. There will be lots of interesting and important information shared here.

Here's your homework assignment for tonight...

Write three sentence about a "journey" you have taken.

Remember to check your punctuation, spelling and capital letters.

Have a great night!

Miss Carde

Favorite Fall Recipes

Here's something you may not know about me...

I REALLY LIKE TO COOK!

I do. Ask any of my friends and they'll tell you I enjoy cooking more than going to a movie on a Saturday night. Having said that I'd thought it be cool to share some of my favorite Fall recipes. There's a special one right at the end that's near and dear to my heart. Hope you enjoy!

Warm Apple Sauce
This is a special recipe I made in class one year. It took all day, but it was worth it.

1 3-4 quart crockpot 12 Gala apples Cinnamon to taste Nutmeg to taste 4 tablespoons of butter 1/2 cup to 1 cup of sugar Peel and core the apples. Chop into bite sized chunks. Place as many apples in the crockpot as you can, and add just enough water to cover the bottom of the crockpot. Add half of the sugar and allow the mixture to cook down. As the apples begin to soften, add more apples and sugar. Cook for approximately 4-5 hours on low to medium. During the last 20 minutes, add the spices and butter. Enjoy with warm bread.

Cheesy Potatoes This is actually one of my favorite year round recipes, but it's especially good during the cold months. I eat it very sparingly, and once you look at the ingredients, you'll understand why...

16 oz. sour cream (Sour cream and chives)

½ cup milk

1 lb butter (melted)

½ lb Velveeta (cubed)

1 can cream of chicken soup (103/4 oz.)

2 tbs chopped onion- or more if you'd like

2lb bag of hash brown potatoes (thawed) (southwest)

1 package of bacon (cut into pieces and sautéed)

1 box Corn Flakes- to sprinkle on top

1 packaged of turkey bacon- cooked

Mix first six ingredients and then add hash browns. Fold in turkey bacon pieces. Place in 9X13 pan with crushed corn flakes on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Get a fork and enjoy!

Grandma Carde's Butter Cookies

1/2 pound butter
1/2 cup of Sugar
1-1/2 cup of Flour
1-Teaspoon Vanilla
A whole lot of love

Cream butter and sugar. Add other ingredients. Drop from teaspoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in 350 degree oven for about 12 minutes.

A Special Birthday Chapel

     We had a wonderful chapel program this morning. We celebrated Mrs. Heiskell's 92nd birthday. It was full of special messages, music and tears- mostly from me. I realized how fortunate it is for the students and myself to hear how this incredible school began and the rich history that surrounds the Heiskell Family. 

     The most impactful moments occurred when Mrs. Heiskell played some of her favorite hymns as the children sang along. From "Jesus Loves Me" to "He Lives", the journey of her Christian walk was clearly communicated. I certainly pray at the end of our lives, we all would have lived a life so passionately devoted to our risen Savior as Mrs. Heiskell has. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MRS. HEISKELL

Atlanta History Center- Abraham Lincoln Exhibit

Our first field trip was full of surprises - from the fire drill at the beginning of the day to the incredible information we learned about Abraham Lincoln. It was truly a special experience. There were many things I learned that I had not known. I am glad to know I'm not the only one. Here's what your students had to say:

What did you like about the Abraham Lincoln Exhibit?

"I like how he won the civil war."

"I like that they talked about each thing."

"I like where he talked about the man who had a scroll and the other commander picked it up."

"I liked when they showed us each picture of Abraham Lincoln when he had a beard and when he had no beard."

"I liked when he showed us what Abraham Lincoln wrote. That was really cool."

"I like when they showed us the statue on the video of Abraham Lincoln."

What did you learn about Abraham Lincoln?

"I learned that Abraham Lincoln grew up in Illinois."

"I learned he took advice from a little girl and that even a six year old can change history."

"I learned Abraham Lincoln ran for president twice, I thought he only ran for president once."

"I didn't know that Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer."

It was a memorable time; one I pray we will not soon forget.

Miss Carde

P.S. Thank you to our field trip drivers- Mrs. Hinton, Ms. Funderburk, Dr. Henry, Mrs. Seay and Mrs. Albee for making our trip a success.

Fathers...a message from your sons.

We certainly hope you are able to attend.

Abraham Lincoln Cabins

Hi Parents!
FYI... Abraham Lincoln Log Cabin Letters went home today. Be sure to take a look!

Our First Field Trip

Well you've been waiting and it's finally here! Our first field trip is to the Atlanta History Center this THURSDAY, OCTOBER 14th. In conjunction with our Social Studies lessons on great people of America, we'll be visiting the Abraham Lincoln exhibit.

Please have your child dressed in their DRESS UNIFORM. We will leave that morning and return with lots of stories to share over lunch.

Stay tuned...Lincoln Log Cabins are coming to a first grade class near you.

Father and Son Retreat

Hey Dad!
Wouldn't you like a special time with your son? Please sign up for the Father/Son Retreat which is taking place November 6th and 7th at the Blue Ridge Camp. The cost is only $90 per person and includes three meals, lodging and ALL activities.

The camp has over 64 activities, including a climbing wall, canoeing, hiking, riflery, archery, a low ropes course and a full gymnasium. All boys are encouraged to attend with their father, grandfather, uncle, or a close friend.

The payment deadline is TOMORROW, OCTOBER 8th.

Fall Festival

Hey Parents,
Please join us for our Fall Festival THIS SATURDAY at 4pm. Come dressed in your finest festival wear and ready to play, eat, and dance the night away. We look forward to seeing you there!

Obedience

Mrs. Pat says the most important thing we can teach a child is to obey. It amazes me how profound is that simple lesson. Today, I saw it in action. There is a rule that students cannot pass certain boundaries around the playground, even if it is to retrieve a ball or other playtime material. During our recess time the ball was kicked into the "forbidden" area. Two students headed quickly toward that area and immediately stopped. One ran instead to me to ask if it was okay to retrieve the ball. This simple act of obedience was just the encouragement I needed, and a gentle reminder that the best lesson I could teach a child is to obey.

Seasons Change

As we're ending our weather theme in Reading class, I find it ironic that the weather outside is changing. I stepped out this morning exhaling softly in the wind and caught a glimpse of my breath in the crisp morning air. Brrr!

I encourage you to send your child with cold weather gear. Nothing too big, just a sweater or fleece. Your child will thank you. Oh, and don't forget to label it! Thanks so much!

Miss Carde

Love Me with your whole heart

Yesterday, during our Bible time, we were discussing the reasons why God would want to destroy the earth. We mentioned how people started worshiping idols. I asked, "What are idols?" to which one of the students replied, "Idols are the things children love more than God like toys and animals."

Amazing.

Western Day 2010

Well we've do-si-doed and corralled ourselves into some fun today. What a wonderful day we've had! And to top it off, we had a special visitor read us a story. (Ask your child about "Two Bad Ants") We love Western Day!

Check out our Western Day slideshow!

P.T.C.A. …Just say NO!

Well, I’m guessing that your first question is “what on earth is P.T.C.A?” P.T.C.A is parent teacher conference anxiety. As the time approaches and the wheels begin to turn, I don’t want P.T.C.A to take over. First and foremost remember…we’re playing for the same team! I love your child. I want to do everything that I can to partner with you to help him/her continue to develop into the individual God has created him/her to be. We have some pertinent information that may be a help to you to alleviate any apprehension you may have. Let this be a chance for us to work together, and make First Grade a great year! I look forward to seeing you soon.

Conference Anxiety

Even the term "parent-teacher conference" can raise anxiety in the hearts of parents, particularly when your own mom and dad came home from such conferences with a need to "lay down the law."

What are some of the reasons for the dislike of conferences?

First, many dads and moms see parent teacher conferences as an evaluation of their parenting skills. "If my kid is having a hard time at school," we reason, "it must be because of us."

We also worry about the notions the teacher may have about us based on our children. "I can't wait to meet Cindy's mom and dad!" we imagine the teacher thinking from time to time.

Education is still overwhelming to many of us, despite the fact that most of us spent at least 13 years in the system. The teacher in most cases has the advantage over us in this setting, and we can feel a little intimidated if we don't know what to expect.

What Parents Can Do About PTC Anxiety

Relax and Get Comfortable. Maybe the upcoming conference is the first for you, or perhaps you have just let your kids' mom handle this trivial detail. Parent teacher conferences are not intimidating; in fact, teachers often go the extra mile to make sure you feel comfortable.

Talk to your child before the conference. Ask some pointed questions in a cordial interview such as "What do you like best about school this year?" and "Are there school activities that you'd like to spend more time on?"

Ask for specifics. Men, in particular, have a tendency to deal better with specifics of behavior; often our partners will be more attuned to the abstract issues. If the teacher raises positives or negatives about your child at school, ask for specific circumstances. It will help you understand the teacher's perspective as well as give you a head start on an action plan.

Use the teacher as a resource. If problems surface during the conference with your child's performance, ask the teacher for suggestions of what might help at home. Rather than being defensive, taking the approach of an active listener can be really helpful.

Make a plan and schedule a follow up. If there are issues that need addressing, take the initiative to create an action plan. Discuss what things might help the situation at home, at school, and in the student's homework time. And then set up a time in the future to come back and address the results of the plan and do some fine-tuning.

No matter how many suggestions, Parent Teacher Conferences can be stressful for both you and your child. Before attending the conference, be sure to let your children know how much you love them and that you will love them no matter what may be said. Let them know that conferences are not for the teachers to "tattle" on children, but for parents and teachers to work together to best help them succeed.

http://fairviewministries.net/209600.ihtml

We've Been Learning About the Weather

We've been talking about the weather and what a special treat it has been. The students have been learning about the differences between the cirrus and cumulus clouds, the different types of rainy weather (drizzle, shower and storms), and much more. Ask your child what he remembers about our class times. Give them this simple quiz:

What are the names of the clouds you've learned? What is the difference between them?

What is a drizzle? shower? rainstorm? How do they sound?

What is the name of a snow storm? For what is dry snow useful? wet snow?

What kind of weather do you find in the desert? What do the animals use to get water?

Try these cool weather links:

http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/index.html- This one has a cool experiment on its "activities" page.

http://www.theweatherchannelkids.com/- This site also offers a parent section including activities you can do with your students in all seasons.

http://www.wxdude.com/kidres.html- This is a general weather resource page for children.

Remember all these things come from the hand of God. We're so glad we get to learn about God's awesome creation.

"By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew." Proverbs 3:20

Sweet Time

Our students have been studying the story of Creation during our Bible time. We have had a wonderful time talking about how special God made each of us, and how wonderful it is to be created in HIS image. We discussed how important it was and that God entrusted us, the crown of His creation, with great responsibility. We finally ended that what God really wants us to do is two things: (Parents please ask your child what two things God wants us to do).

After we had settled and begun our snack time one of the students mentioned he wanted to read something to the whole class. I didn't realize at the time how appropriate it would be:

Psalm 100

"1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. ²Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. ³Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. ⁴Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. ⁵For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

(Answer- God wants us to love Him and obey Him).

Have a wonderful rest of the week.

PTF

Parents,
I really enjoyed connecting with you during our Parent Teacher Fellowship. Thanks for your commitment to your children and your partnership with us. It is GREATLY appreciated.

Miss Carde

Fall Uniforms

Parents please remember the wearing of Fall Uniforms begins TUESDAY, September 7th, 2010. A handout with proper uniform attire will be sent home.

The Things Children Say

After discussing God creating the sun, moon and stars one student asked...

"When did God make Jupiter?"

After another student asked were Adam an Eve the only people on earth when God made the world, another student answered, "Yes, and then they had children, and they had children, and they bore children..." and so on. Quite funny!

Well, it's the end of our second week together. And I'm smiling thinking about the students as they become more comfortable with their new surroundings. How exciting it is to watch as they learn a new concept and hands all over the room are raised! Their confidence is building and the classroom is charged with joy. I am humbled that God would choose to use me to make an investment in the lives of these children.

Thank you Lord!

What a Wonderful Week!

WOW! What a wonderful week we've had. It's been full of lots of learning. I've been learning about my students, and they've been learning about me.

As I reflect over our first week, it amazes me that the students have already overcome many challenges. Eleanor Roosevelt said "You must do the thing you think you cannot do." I'm sure many of us, no matter how young or old, can think of something we were not sure we could do. What impresses me most about the students in my class is they continue to try. From the smallest things such as learning to stand in line quietly to keeping a neat desk, our class has continued to move forward and offer their very best. That is a WONDERFUL thing!

Stay tuned for more news and events from Miss Carde's First Grade Class

A New School Year

FAREWELL and WELCOME!

We are leaving summer behind and entering into a new school year. This new year will be full of new beginnings-- new experiences prayerfully inspired by God used to draw us closer to Him.

I am thrilled to be at The Heiskell School as a first grade teacher again this year. Delightful thoughts bounce around my mind as I think about the new class that will enter my door next week. I think about the wonderful things we'll discover this year. Parents, now is the perfect time to prepare your child for their big transition next week. Talk with your child about the first days of first grade. Perhaps you might check out a library book about it . I think you'll find talking about what new things your child will experience this year may alleviate your little person's back to school jitters (and perhaps yours as well). I certainly pray this will be an exciting year and that God's blessings will continue to rest upon us all!

Miss Carde