Moments That Matter Most

I'll be short and sweet today but I just want to say how thankful I am for the time we have on this Earth and the knowledge that I have of life after this Earth. I hope that we may all work to make the best of our situations and learn to devote our time to others! Here are a couple of videos that I have loved this week and I hope you enjoy them too...

Heartbreak...

My heart hurts…

I was on the internet today to check my email and I saw the news. There was a shooter at an elementary school. There was not yet any news about how many had died but there was news that one shooter was dead while another was at large. After reading that article I continued to search for further information concerning this tragedy. I later found that the counts were high, so high that the deaths are much greater than the Columbine shooting. (here is the CNN report)

20 children and 6 adults…

First Graders I can’t imagine how devastating this is for the parents and families of those who were killed in this massacre. I am sick to my stomach at the thought of this happening in an elementary school where we strive to make our students feel safe.

I am heartbroken at what has happened and I am praying for those immediately effected by this tragedy. I know that Heavenly Father is looking after everyone involved and that his angels are helping the families and the children. I was talking to a woman today who shared with me her idea of the other side of things: “I often imagine the other side of things can you imagine how Heavenly Father and Christ are up there breaking the news of what has happened and preparing a welcoming for these poor children and adults who are soon to be arriving?” I think that that is a sweet image to keep in mind. I want to focus on the fact that those who have died are being taken care of on the other side. It is okay to mourn their loss but it is also important to accept that they are now in the hands of the Lord and he will take good care of them.

I just saw there was also a stabbing in China, I just feel so sickened.

I just saw this video that someone made and thought I would add it (Rather than take out the other)...

Almost there/Catch up

As for the countdown from last year (seen here) I am behind but I have finished 6 of my 7 tests... The 7th will take place Friday morning. Until then I have lots of time for work and cleaning and then I can enjoy my 3 week break!!!

By the way, last week my ward had a talent show I did something with my group (somehow the sound got off) and then I did a solo (I didn't have much practice but here it is)

P.S. I miss my first graders!!!!

Writing to kids

The last three days in my literacy class my teacher had a special assignment for us. Two days we got to be Santa's helpers and one day we edited a students paper... These kids were so cute I thought I would share.

The paper that I edited was titled "Bob Likes Banana's" It was a story about a monkey named Bob who loved to eat bananas but ate them with the peel on so when his cousins Elvis and Presley decided to come visit he was nervous that they would laugh at him because of the way he ate bananas. He explained this to his best friend Marley who said that Bob's cousins shouldn't care how he eats the bananas because it is his choice. Bob agrees and invites his friend to come visit while his cousins are in town. In the end Bob, Marley, Elvis, and Presley all eat their bananas together. How funny is that! From a third grader... I can't wait to have my own class.

On the second to last day of class we wrote letters to some second graders answering their letters to Santa. One student addressed his letter "Dear Santa (Mom and Dad)".  These students were asking for the craziest things and the sad thing is I bet most of them will get what they want and it is all electronics! Do we really need that much technology cluttering our lives? I understand it to a point but when it is the only thing you want I think it is a problem. (Sorry got sidetracked)

The Last day of class we were asked to answer letters from a fifth grade classroom. I know what you are thinking but they all wrote the letters to Santa. In the letters they explained what they wanted for Christmas and why they should get it. At the end of the letter I read the girl asked what Santa's favorite cookie was so that she could make it for him, so cute! But I think the funniest letter was the letter that my friend had to answer. The student had asked for a Blue Ipad mini, a smart phone with unlimited data/talk/text, and a large pillow pet. She said she should get the Blue Ipad mini because blue is a good color and it is cheaper than a regular Ipad. She deserved the phone because she didn't have one and she deserved the large pillow pet because she had a small one but she wanted a big one. Sounds like some pretty good reasoning, right?

I just think it is funny what students come up with and I am so excited to get the chance to work with some older students next semester and have those new experiences!

Also as a sidenote... Look at this cake I made for Megan Mitton's surprise party! It is a (homemade) three layer devils food cake with an almond frosting and marshmallow fondant and it was delicious! The black square on the front was going to be a missionary nametag but I'm just not that talented ;)

Ignorance is bliss...

...but only if you are the ignorant one. Practicum has been amazing but really busy it really is quite the struggle to get a bunch of 6 and 7 year old's to do what you want them to! I have lots of stories to tell but no time at the moment. I just really wanted to post about a conversation I had with a friend while I was doing my math homework (probabilities) and my perspective (which may be a bit biased).

Friend: You know some people come to college and work while some people come to college and play games.
Me: My major is not that easy!
Friend: My homework problems take me an hour for each problem.
Me: Just because your problems take a long time doesn't mean that mine don't take a long time. Once you solve a problem it stays solved, nothing changes. Once I solve a problem (plan a lesson, help a child) I have to figure out a new solution every time and often I have to solve the same problem more than once. Just because what I'm doing looks easy does not mean that it is actually easy!
Friend: But your homework doesn't take so long.
Me: Thinking: maybe lot but there is a lot more to my major than homework!

And to close my "teachers work harder than you think" post a little humor, I saw this on the web at one point in time and thought it was hilarious!

Are you sick of highly paid teachers?
     Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!
We can get that for less than minimum wage.

     That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours).

     Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.
However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.
LET'S SEE....
That's $585 X 180= $105,300
per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).

     What about those special
education teachers and the ones with Master's degrees? Well, we could pay them minimum wage ($7.75), and just to be fair, round it off to $8.00 an
hour. That would be $8 X 6 1/2 hours X 30 children X 180 days = $280,800 per year.

Wait a minute -- there's
something wrong here! There sure is!
The average teacher's salary
(nation wide) is $50,000. $50,000/180 days
= $277.77/per day/30
students=$9.25/6.5 hours = $1.42 per hour per student--a very inexpensive baby-sitter and they even EDUCATE your kids!) WHAT A DEAL!!!

Disney Rocks!

I saw this the other day and thought I would share. I love that Disney produced this and I love the message it represents. My only grievance is that there is not a video for the boys. I feel like these characteristics are not only valid for girls (the princesses) but also for boys (the princes) in my future class it is important to show my students that I care about them and it is important to understand that each student can contribute something to the classroom daily! One week until practicum I am so excited... I found out a few days ago that I will be at Spanish Oaks in a 1st grade classroom!!!!

Conference Weekend

I am a Member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and  we had General Conference this last weekend. For those of you who do not know what conference is here is a video that the Church put out to help advertise the conference.


I loved watching/listening to conference this year and here are some of my favorite parts.

• Conference started off with a new announcement concerning the age of missionary work. Previously young men were not allowed to leave until they were 19 they can now leave at the age of 18 (if they think they are ready for a mission). Young women were not able to leave until they were 21 but they are now able to leave at the age of 19. This was quite a shock but I am so grateful for this revelation! I feel so blessed to know that we have a prophet who can receive revelation for us in this day and age! If you want to you can read, listen to, or watch the announcement here.
• Sister Dibb gave a talk encouraging members to be examples of their faith. The big quote that came from her talk is "I'm a Mormon. I know it. I live it. I love it." If you would like to look at her talk you can find it here.
• Elder Oaks gave a talk concerning children and helping to protect them, you can find that talk here.
• Elder Christofferson gave an impressive talk directed to the men of the church but we can all apply it to our lives. We just need to remember "that we have work to do." Find it here.
• President Packer gave a great talk concerning the Atonement you can find it here.
• Elder Clarke of the 70 gave an impressive talk concerning taking the sacrament you can read it here.
• President Eyring gave a great talk to members of the Relief Society concerning strengthening each other through service. You can find it here.

I only included one talk from each session of conference but the whole thing was amazing if you have the chance to look through each session you can find those links here. I am so thankful for the opportunity that I had to listen to the prophets for this day and age over this past weekend. I love the church and the gospel (refer to Elder Hallstroms talk.). I know that it is true and I am grateful for the opportunity I have to be a part of this wonderful church!