My Favorite Group Activity (and you're invited)

Look into my basket of objects and find one that reminds you of something you like about one of your friends.

I'll go first.

The carabiner reminds me of Steve. He's strong. I can rely on him in dangerous situations. I take him with me on my adventures. And according to Wikipedia, carabiners are used for fall protection and rescue.

Your turn.

Outstanding Guest Speaker

The incredible Amy Thoreson, Flathead High School's athletic trainer, came to our health class today to teach us about the treatment of sports injuries. She had just the right amount of information with demonstrations to back it up. She knows her stuff and relates well to middle school students. Thank you Amy!

it's amazing what one plant can do

Week 1 - my little friend spent a lot of time under the table, under his desk, under most anything he could find. we came up with an alternative activity to escape the noise of the world.

Week 2 - i found myself under the music room piano telling him that i support him, i believe in him. we used new tools and made tiny steps forward.

Week 3 - we stayed out from under tables but were dragging our heals. he used the tools but he carried the weight of the world. it was stuck there with super glue, not much i could do. we were too turned around to tell if we'd moved forward or backwards.

Week 4 - while standing at my desk he suddenly hugged me. i said "thank you" and asked if it was for him or for me. the moment of hesitation gave him away, but he said "you looked like you needed one."

this morning i brought him a plant. i found a small, shiny, gold lid from a jar and i told him i had a surprise. "i have a special job for you. i noticed that you are really good at taking care of people and creatures, so i brought you something to take care of. will you help me?" he wanted to smile, but he held it in, looked at me skeptically and said "sure," like he was doing me a favor. when i showed him the plant and the cup his eyes lit up. i told him it would be his job alone to take care of the plant. we talked about how plants need water, but not too much: once in the morning and once before going home should be good. i showed him how to check the soil and we talked about how we all have hard times, plants included, and we need help to prune the sad parts. he gently plucked the dying leaf from the plant and we marveled at how much better it looked.

hard times can weigh us down but today my little friend stood taller and looked lighter. it's amazing what one plant can do.

thanks for the plant, it makes a great gift :)

My New Friend

This is my favorite time of year for so many reasons:

digging potatoes
picking apples
canning green tomato mincemeat
snow on the mountains
new school supplies
the comfort of routine
and lots of new friends

Here's one of my new friends. We get to start each week together. See why it's a joy to come to school!

LAFF in the Cafeteria

Love: hugs from kinders in the cafeteria
Achievement: 7th graders are no longer afraid to wipe down tables
Fun: rolling tacos for the kinders
Freedom: leaving the classroom to support the cafeteria workers

What I Learned at School Today

When I moved into the home ec room to teach my health classes, I discovered boxes of old film strips on everything from meal planning to sewing. There was one TWO WEEK unit on measuring. Liquid measure, dry measure, teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints and equivalents. At the time I thought how ridiculous it would be to spend all that class time studying measurement. Surely 7th and 8th graders know how to use measuring cups and spoons.

Well, today the 7th graders made stove-top energy bars, and I was wishing I had spent at least a day teaching measurement. Here's why:

The recipe called for 1/4 t. vanilla. I watched one boy measure the vanilla into a 1/4 cup. Luckily I stopped him before it was added to the other ingredients.

Three kids were trying to measure 1/3 c. of brown sugar. One student held the cup and the other two held the bag of brown sugar. I watched in disbelief as they tried to pour brown sugar into the cup from a small opening in the bag. Brown sugar doesn't pour.

The recipe called for 2 cups of oats. One student was convinced that three 1/3 cups equalled 2 cups, then couldn't figure out why his mixture was so runny.

This was definitely a learning experience for me. Next trimester we will have a measurement mini lesson before we cook. However, I think I will skip the filmstrip.

Achievement

Middle schoolers taught elementary kids about healthy habits.
Elementary kids illustrated what they learned.

Healthy Relationships

I'm doing a unit on healthy relationships with my health classes. It's good stuff and I want to give the unit a name but I don't like the name Healthy Relationships. It just sounds old and boring to teens I think. Any ideas from anyone who reads this blog?

I came across this quote by Mandy Hale in preparing for class tomorrow. I like it.

"A healthy relationship will never require you to sacrifice your friends, your dreams, or your dignity."

So, in addition to a zippy name for my relationship unit, I would love some more quotes. If you find a good one, send it my way, please.

Health Class Buddies

Eighth graders teaching kinders to sing, "If you're healthy and you know it and you really want to show it, if you're healthy and you know it, make new friends."

Awesome Responsibility

Every once in a while, a student will say, "I've never told anyone this but.." and they proceed to tell me a story that must be painful to tell because it hurts just to hear it. Right in my gut.

Every time I pray, "Lord help me to do the right thing right now. Help me to say something that will be even a tiny bit helpful. Help me to be a blessing in this student's life."

I want to fix it. I want to erase the memories they speak of. I can't.

I can listen. I can try to understand. I can say encouraging words. I can try to make meaning out of the pain. And hope that's enough for now.

Backyard Performance Headliners

Cousin Jane and Me 1962
(see yesterday's post)

Thursday's Health Lesson

Your dream is important. That was today's lesson. Staying mentally healthy is so much easier when you have a vision of good things to come. A new friend, a trip to somewhere, a day off of school or work, finishing a job, having time to create. (a few of my dreams.)

Your dream is important enough to tell it to somebody. And if you tell a healthy person, they will support and encourage the pursuit of that dream.

I told my students how fortunate I was growing up to have parents who supported my dreams. I loved to perform. Dance recitals were the best. I got to dress up in a costume and dance for an auditorium full of people. But an annual performance was not enough for me. When I wasn't performing I was dreaming about performing.

One summer day I said to my mom, "I want to put on a show." Mom didn't hesitate. She said, "Okay, let's get started!"  I called all my friends RIGHT THEN with an urgent message to meet at my house in an hour and bring their little brothers and sisters! By the time my friends and their siblings arrived I had dug out the tutus and sequined costumes, the record player and records and had a vision for the acts we were to perform. As we practiced our songs and dances, Mom made sandwiches and cookies and Koolaid. Dad came home for lunch and hung a big canvas tarp between the tree and the garage for our backyard stage.

We ate Mom's sandwiches, and were ready for an audience. We hopped on bikes and rode around the block stopping at every house to invite all the neighbors for a FREE afternoon show with a cookie and Koolaid reception to follow. And guess what? Most of them came! Makeshift benches on the lawn held moms and babies and a few old folks.

It was a magnificent afternoon of truly quality acts. (I will dig through some old photos and try to post one to prove it. ) And all because I said OUT LOUD, "I want to put on a show."

So take time to dream, share your dream, and support and encourage someone else's dream. It's just so much fun.

Today's LAFF

Love and respect: Introduced myself to the kindergarten classes as one of the helpers in the school. When I passed them in the hall this afternoon I got big smiles and excited waves.

Achievement: Made peach smoothies with the 8th graders.

Fun: Ultimate frisbee with the 7th grade.

Freedom: 45 minutes of quiet time to plan for tomorrow.

Tuesday's Health Lesson

Carrot Sticks!

Monday's Health Lesson

Last week when I was getting my back to school hair cut, Kay, my chatty hair dresser said, "Discipline is the key to success in anything you do in life." I immediately thought of what I wanted to teach my health classes this year. A perfect quote to share with middle schoolers, right? I jotted it down in my mind.

Today was the day to introduce the topic of goal setting and healthy habits, so I wrote Kay's quote on the whiteboard.  Instead of writing out the word "discipline" I wrote D_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. The students counted out the number of letters and started guessing.

"Depression?"
"Daring?"
"Dignity?"

Guessing got us nowhere so we played hangman. And when we finally filled in all the letters, this is what I heard:

"Discipline? That's mean!"
"What?"
"You're joking, right?"

So my lesson ended up being a vocabulary lesson on the meaning of the word discipline. They immediately thought punishment, while I was thinking setting goals and sticking to them.

Tomorrow's lesson might have to be paradigm shift.

First Week Highlights

L is for Love.
One of my quietest 1st graders walked up behind me and slipped her hand into mine. A sign of love that I will not forget.

A is for Achievement.
Introduced and implemented a classroom management system. So far, first grade R.O.C.K.S.! (respect, on task, cooperation, kindness, shine).

F is for Freedom.
When a student wanted to draw, we dropped the plans and grabbed the crayons.

First Day of School 2013

F is for Fun.
Rode my bike to school 2/4 days this week. Love waving to students as I ride home.

LAFF

L is for Love.
7th grader, in response to the oatmeal almond bar snack today:
"I love you Mrs. Ahnert! Can I have the recipe?"

A is for Achievement.
Thanks to Tanya, I made an email group today.

F is for Fun.
What could be better than football on a beautiful summer's end day?

F is for Freedom.
I got to be Minnie in Mickey Mouse Yahtzee.

How do you like the new acronym?

Lunch Buddies

Thanks to Robin, we discovered a great way to teach nutrition to middle school students and solve the problem of lunchroom choas... LUNCH BUDDIES!
Mostly it was a success. However, one seventh grader was appalled: "I told him NOT to eat grapes off the floor and he did it anyways!"

A Riddle

Who Am I?
I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest asset or heaviest burden.
I will push you up to success or down to disappointment.
I am at your command.
Half the things you do might just as well be turned over to me.
For I can do them quickly, correctly, and profitably.
I am easily managed; just be firm with me.
Those you are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with the precision of a machine and the intelligence of a person.
You can run me for profit, or you can run me for ruin.
Show me how you want it done. Educate me. Train me.
Lead me. Reward me.
And I will then...do it automatically.
I am your servant.
Who am I?
I am habit.

(anonymous)

First Day of School

How do you illustrate the power of cooperation to nearly 200 middle school students? Make a fire and have them put it out with water balloons of course. How do you teach the same concept to elementary students? Fill hundreds of balloons with helium, attach them to a viking ship,and watch as the balloons lift the ship to the gym ceiling. What a joyful way to celebrate the start of a new school year!

New School Year, New Attitude

Achievement: clean up the house
Respect: helped lead a successful meeting
Freedom: made a skirt!
Fun: cheered for my mom as she ran 13.1 miles!

Here's to a wonderful and ARFF-filled school year :)