Thursday, July 26, 2007
I'll Be Back!
I'm an aunt... again! My sister just had her baby so I'm heading out of town for a few days to go meet my new niece. I'll be back to posting again next week!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Scarecrows!
Cheekwood Botanical Gardens will be hosting an exhibit this fall called Scarecrows. To create the exhibit they are asking people (individuals or small groups) to create scarecrows to be displayed in the gardens during the fall months.
I think this would be so much fun for my Literacy Launchpad students to participate in! We could create a scarecrow, and then have a special Saturday where we meet at the gardens for a storytime and scarecrow tour.
The challenge here is how do I have a large number of preschool children all help create a weather durable scarecrow? Any ideas? I would love to hear them!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
"There's my reading teacher!"
Ran into one of my kiddos at a local eatery on Sunday afternoon. I love when this happens, because it always takes a moment for the kids to process seeing me outside of "school." Processing who I was was especially challenging for this child on Sunday because I had sunglasses on, and my hair has been cut and colored since the last time he saw me. So it took him a few seconds, but he figured it out and said (pointing at me), "There's my reading teacher!" I love that!
Mom came over and introduced herself, and we chatted a bit. These chance run-ins are always nice because I get to actually meet parents - something that rarely happens. I'm trying to think of some ways to remedy that... I'll keep ya posted on what I come up with!
Mom came over and introduced herself, and we chatted a bit. These chance run-ins are always nice because I get to actually meet parents - something that rarely happens. I'm trying to think of some ways to remedy that... I'll keep ya posted on what I come up with!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Already Finished?
If you're already finished with HP7 and wondering what to do now, go visit Shelfari and check out the contest they have going on!
Farewell Harry... (No Spoilers!)
I had a fabulous Friday evening participating in the Harry Potter fanfare that was going on nationwide... and beyond! A few of my book club pals and I met-up at our local Barnes and Noble around 9 p.m. for some partying - Harry Potter style! I have to say, Barnes and Noble did a great job hosting the event.
When we entered we were given some ultra-hip (somewhat small), white, Harry glasses. We sported our cool spectacles as we made our way around the festivities. First we dropped our raffle tickets into the Goblet of Fire (a large jar). We then made our way to Diagon Alley (the music section) and made some sharp-looking wands and amulets.
Next it was off to the sorting hat! The Sorting Hat was done for fun, and was also an attempt to organize people for book-puchasing. They did not acheive the latter goal, but pulled off the former very well! A very authentic looking Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on our heads, as someone peeking out from behind a bookshelf a few rows back spoke the house name into a microphone (the speakers were hidden under a table behind the sorting hat). The bookstore employees really got into the sorting: I saw a boy visit the Sorting Hat, apparently for a second time, and the hat told him, "You have been here before and the answer is STILL Ravenclaw!" ...Awesome!
A couple of the gals in our group took their O.W.L.s (trivia), and did us proud! We all had our photo taken at Hogwarts Castle (a backdrop in the children's section). And a couple of us each had a school crest painted onto our arm.
Some minor chaos began when they attempted to sort us into our houses and line us up for the book-selling. This effort failed, and it basically turned into an unorganized mass of people attempting to get as close to the cash-wrap area as they could. Very hot (not in the good, Paris Hilton-ese way)! Very uncomfortable!
The count down was great though! Better than any New Year's Eve party count down I've ever been to! The anticipation in the air was palpable. And it was exciting knowing that everyone there was friends with my Harry too, and was just as eager as me to find out what he and his friends are up to next.
Spent all day Saturday, and half the day Sunday, reading the book aloud with my husband. But I promised I wouldn't spoil any of it for those who are still reading, so I will end my blog here for now.
When we entered we were given some ultra-hip (somewhat small), white, Harry glasses. We sported our cool spectacles as we made our way around the festivities. First we dropped our raffle tickets into the Goblet of Fire (a large jar). We then made our way to Diagon Alley (the music section) and made some sharp-looking wands and amulets.
Next it was off to the sorting hat! The Sorting Hat was done for fun, and was also an attempt to organize people for book-puchasing. They did not acheive the latter goal, but pulled off the former very well! A very authentic looking Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on our heads, as someone peeking out from behind a bookshelf a few rows back spoke the house name into a microphone (the speakers were hidden under a table behind the sorting hat). The bookstore employees really got into the sorting: I saw a boy visit the Sorting Hat, apparently for a second time, and the hat told him, "You have been here before and the answer is STILL Ravenclaw!" ...Awesome!
A couple of the gals in our group took their O.W.L.s (trivia), and did us proud! We all had our photo taken at Hogwarts Castle (a backdrop in the children's section). And a couple of us each had a school crest painted onto our arm.
Some minor chaos began when they attempted to sort us into our houses and line us up for the book-selling. This effort failed, and it basically turned into an unorganized mass of people attempting to get as close to the cash-wrap area as they could. Very hot (not in the good, Paris Hilton-ese way)! Very uncomfortable!
The count down was great though! Better than any New Year's Eve party count down I've ever been to! The anticipation in the air was palpable. And it was exciting knowing that everyone there was friends with my Harry too, and was just as eager as me to find out what he and his friends are up to next.
Spent all day Saturday, and half the day Sunday, reading the book aloud with my husband. But I promised I wouldn't spoil any of it for those who are still reading, so I will end my blog here for now.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Ah-hem. Ah-hem. Is this thing on?
Welcome to my first blogging experience! It was quite the ordeal to get this thing up and going... Took a while for me to figure out that I needed to use a different browser than Safari when blogging.
But I'm here now! And so are you!
But I'm here now! And so are you!