Yes, yes. It is.

Child: "Miss Ida, my mom and I saw pig's feet at the grocery store that people use for eating. Is that gross?"

Teacher: "Well, some people like to eat them. So it's not gross for people who like to eat them."

doot doot doot 24 Goals doot doot doot

1. Become Montessori.
2. Learn to play the mountain dulcimer.
3. Crochet things.
4. The bin of papers saved since first year of college: purge.
5. Less paper towel waste.
6. Walk to work.
7. In keeping with decreasing my carbon footprint, embarrassingly, RECYCLE.
8. Learn some sign language for my classroom. (If I get one?)
9. Quinoa and lycopene.
10. Attend more lectures.
11. Read the books I already own.
12. Have laundry done without using the last pair of underwear as a signal.
13. Eat more walnuts.
14. Consider fish oil.
15. Drink more vodka cocktails.
16. No, make that bourbon.
17. Quilt?
18. Fix the sewing machine.
19. Put art on the walls of my bedroom.
20. Start to learn Spanish (save money for Rosetta Stone?)
21. Give more homemade presents.
22. Write more handwritten notes.
23. Blog with pictures and links. That's more fun.
24. Laugh heartily and often.

Rabbit, Rabbit

It's the first of December and by far the weirdest weather I have ever seen. This morning, it was dark, windy and wet. By the afternoon, the weather was in the 70s and sunny. We had a fire drill at school. The fire department requires us to have one every month and Debbie thought we should squeeze it in when we know it will be warm so the children wouldn't freeze without jackets. Sure, they didn't freeze, but they almost blew over!

I led circle today. Fridays are my Appalachia day so I try to read a short story and tell a little bit about life in the mountains before interstates and supermarkets. Today I read a book Debbie found at the library called "Pioneer Children in Appalachia". It was published by a pioneer museum in West Virginia that recreates pioneer life, much like the Frontier Museum in Staunton. I also showed them a handmade topsy turvy Bo Peep/sheep doll I found on ebay. They were attentive and fascinated. So, I know I can captivate. I think the creepy weather made the children loopy because they had a hard time listening. I was bummed about that, but it's all a learning process. They aren't used to me in the authoritative role AND I haven't figured out how to be in that role.

The weather was the main catalyst. The children were off, my sinuses and joints ached and we spent a couple minutes thinking we weren't going on the playground.

One day at a time.


But it's December...which means birthday and Christmas! Hooray!!