self-portrait tuesday: peace-out 2005

second week of v-a-c-a-t-i-o-n!

i need to relax.
lay on the sofa for a day
and watch movies and
try to kick this
cold that has been
trying to take over my lungs.

i wonder what the shorties are doing.
i see each face and try to picture
how their christmas was.
how their break is going.
i miss them.

looking at the pictures
from december,
i am so proud of how
far they have come since
the beginning of third grade.
now we are halfway through fourth and
they are truly embracing
our only class rule:
"we take care of each other".

they worked so hard together
to learn "o little town of bethlehem"
in spanish.
they worked even harder to perform it
in a round.

we filled our pinata and whacked at it
until it exploded everywhere.
and they shared.
they actually offered candy to one another
rather than greedily stuffing their
pockets.

we made tacos and they all waited until
everyone (including me) was seated with their
food and ready to eat.
that takes willpower for a ten year old!

we practiced our sign language song
with a passion.
each child worked on their part until
each movement was perfect.


they have grown to value peace.
to value friendship.
to really understand their part in
a peaceful community.

i know that i have to teach them
academically, too.
but if you can't get the peace-thing
down...then none of the rest matters.

but my shorties...they have it all down.

have a peaceful new year.
everyone.

december challenge: reflective surfaces.

self portrait tuesday

ms. kathleen's photos