Theme: Making a Difference

I know our weekly link is a Wednesday, but with the holiday we are going to post a little early!

We hope you have a great holiday week with your family!

This week's theme: One can make a difference
When we say "one" that doesn't have to be a person.

For the Love of Autumn by Patricia Polacco

Every time I think of one of my most memorable students, whose name was… Autumn.  She was in my class when I taught 3rd grade.  She loved that this book included her name.

And speaking of cats:

The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hesse

This book was one I just picked up off the shelves of our school library and said "I have to use this!"

Planting the Trees of Kenya by Claire Nivola

This is a book I bought at a Scholastic Warehouse sale.  It's so good!

The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter

This is a book I always read in our launching unit to teach the importance of books.  It is great to pull it back out for our discussion of theme.

The Can Man by Laura Williams

Such a good book to read when thinking about needs versus wants.

Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney

I love the idea that she wants to see things, go home and live by the sea, and make the world a more beautiful place.

Ellington was not a Street by Ntozake Shange

This book is written in verse which is perfect for teaching to the Common Core.

What books do you use to teach kids about making a difference?

EmilyK

Theme: Overcoming Differences/Injustice

Can you believe 2013 is almost over?!  

I am celebrating because my grad school class is OVER!

It's Wednesday, so that means:

This week's theme: Overcoming Differences/ Injustice

When I was teaching theme earlier this year, the kids kept telling me that this theme was "very serious."  Note that they are 10, and this class really likes light hearted books.

Smoky Night by David Diaz

Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles

The Butterfly by Patricia Polacco

Who doesn't LOVE Patricia Polacco?  If you don't follow her on Facebook you should!

Freedom School, Yes! by Amy Littlesugar

Fishing Day by Andrea Davis Pinkey

The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson

This book is a favorite for our friend and teacher, Tracy!

What books do you use to teach injustice?

EmilyK

Tis the Season for Christmas Linky Parties

Ok, so I going to link up with two links parties in the same post.

My House decor is first. Thanks Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge for hosting this!

Ok, when I say I  LOVE Christmas, I really mean it!
Every room in my house has some kind of Christmas decor.

Here are a few of my favorite things:

The most festive thing at my house!  Can't wait for my dog to wear this on Christmas Day!

And the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.
The red stockings are new!  (Kohl's)

I am big on nostalgia.
Ceramic tree was my grandma's, before she downsized.
Wood block letters were my mom's until I had my own home.
The pre lit tree is close to my heart.

The kitchen:

The living room:

The bathroom:

The little red tree was purchased at Target 2 years ago.    

Our trees:

Last, our outdoor lights:

Now the Christmas questionnaire.  Thanks Fabulous in First for hosting!

Hot Chocolate or Egg Nog?

Neither!  I am not a fan of hot beverages.  I do love cold Starbucks drinks, though!

Does Santa wrap gifts or just place them under the tree?

It depends on size.  99% of the time Santa wraps gifts, but a couple times the gifts were just too large.

Colored lights or white?

I am totally into colored lights (see above).

When do you decorate?

I usually decorate the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  One holiday at a time!

Real or fake tree?

Fake tree!  Allergies are rampant in my house.  Plus I hate to vacuum more than necessary!

What tops your tree?

I have been searching for the perfect tree topper and I still haven't found it, so for now it's a basic star.  

Favorite Christmas Memories or Traditions?

Shaving razors in my stocking!  (Since I was 13, every year they have been in my stocking.  My mom, sister, and I all laugh about it. It confuses my husband.)

Also, my hubby and I are from St. Joseph, MO.  Our parents still live there, so we go back "home" each year during December.  The local park is all lit up this time of year.  We love driving through to see the lights.  They collect donations for charity at the end.  (My father in law volunteers there during this time of year.) 

AND the best part is they give you a Cherry Mash (St. Joe's locally manufactured candy) for visiting. LOL… Cherry Mash are yucky!

Do you remember your favorite gift as a child?

There were two, I LOVED Barbie as a kid.  The first year my parents were divorced, Christmas was very different.  I wasn't at my house for Christmas but at my grandma's instead.  Did Santa even know where I was?  Yes, he left me a note saying my gifts were at my house.  

When I got home Santa had given me the Barbie Winnebago.  (Insert little girl scream of glee!)

The other is when I was 13, one of my great aunts gave me her treasured jewelry box.  She didn't have kids of her own and she said she knew out of all the great nieces I would take great care of it.  (I still have it today!)

Do you prefer giving or receiving?

Giving!  I love shopping… and it's fun to shop for others!

What is your favorite Christmas song?

This is tough… but I have always loved the "Carol of the Bells."  

I played violin as a kid and it was one of my favorites.

Also, if you haven't heard the song "Deck the Rooftops", you might want to give it a listen.  

The 8th grade choir came and sang for our 4th and 5th graders.  

They did Beyonce choreography.  It was cute!  

(I might be biased as 7 of my former students were in the choir.)

 http://youtu.be/dGVdQEaxEKM

Candy Canes.  Yuck or yum?

Tiny ones, yum.  Large ones, yuck.  It's too much peppermint!

Favorite Christmas movie?

"Charlie Brown Christmas."  Enough said.

Do you shop online or in stores?

This year online more than in stores, which is strange because this time last year I was on crutches and went and shopped in stores for everything.  What was I thinking?  

Photo card, letter, or store bought card?

I don't have children, so I haven't sent a card since I got married.

I would love to see your holiday decor and hear about your holiday traditions!

EmilyK

Theme: Perseverance

It's time for another week of our Theme linky!

This week's theme: Perseverance
There are a lot of books that might fit this theme.  Here are a few of our favorites:

Akiak by Robert Blake

Every kid loves a story about dogs!

The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss

I know this book is usually used with the younger kids, but it is a great book to start teaching this theme.  Plus I love when a character can exceed other character's expectations.

Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting

Who doesn't love Eve Bunting?

The Champ by Tonya Bolden

This book is written in verse, which is great where Common Core is concerned.

Zora Hurston and the Chinaberry Tree by William Miller

John Henry by Julius Lester

You know we are Aimee Buckner, so how could we not include one of her favorite books in this theme.

Is there a book you like to use when teaching perseverance?

EmilyK

Honoring Nelson Mandela

After hearing about Nelson Mandela's passing I knew I wanted to do something to honor his life in my classroom.

I bought this book this summer at a Scholastic warehouse sale.

Nelson Mandela by Kadir Nelson

The artwork is amazing.
The story does a nice job explaining a complicated life to children.

I read it with my class then students completed a compare and contrast chart with Mandela and Martin Luther King.

Are you planing to honor Nelson Mandela's passing?

EmilyK

Theme: Family

Ok, so the best laid plans…
I had thought I would be able to make this theme link a weekly thing.
Then, life happened.
Our garbage disposal exploded.  (No pics, too much rushing water.)  Good news, hubby installed a new one, and installed a new sink before Thanksgiving, since we were hosting!

Now I plan to get back on track.

This week's theme: Family

Annie and the Wild Animals by Jan Brett

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto

Nine for California by Sonia Leviton
I do love that this book also has a repetitive quality.

Do you have a recommendation for a book with the theme family?

EmilyK

Last Currently of 2013

It is the last Currently of 2013!?!

We have had a busy year, and can't wait for 2014.

For this Currently Emily is green.  Antoinette is going to join in later!

Being a Kansas City resident doesn't mean you have to be a Chiefs fan.  In fact most times, I don't watch NFL games.  But the Chiefs have had a decent season.  BTW, they lost.  
After all, they aren't the Missouri Tigers.  
That is football a MO resident can get excited about.  
My dad is going to the SEC Championship next weekend.  So jealous!

I love my family and my hubby.  This time of year we spend a lot of time together.
My family and the in-laws.  It never ceases to amaze me, how our two families are so different.
In fact, Farley, we just had family pictures!
Just waiting to see the images.

I am not a fan of winter.  A few snowstorms and I am done.  The prediction for our area is an extendedly long cold winter.  Can you say, inside recess?

There is something about house projects.  I get really geared up for them in summer.  I get too busy to finish them in the fall.  So when December rolls around, I get my DIY mojo back.  Somehow it always involves painting in the garage.  (This year is no exception.)
Right now, it's repainting the table on our deck.

I need some peace of mind.
Hubby and I have been going through fertility treatments on and off for a couple of years now.
The issue is my endometriosis.
We decided to do our last procedure in November.  It didn't work.
The doc says we could keep trying.  We decided we were ready to walk away.
I have gone through all the stages of loss, except denial.  (There is no denying it when the test says 'Not Pregnant'.)  I have had a LOT of anger.  (BTW, hammering a scrap board is a great stress reliever.)
I have bargained with God and myself.  I have been depressed.  (Ok, this one was because of a medication.) 
For now I am at the stage of acceptance.  (At times that means 'Fake it 'til you make it.')  
Peace of Mind is hard to find.  
I wanted my infertility journey to be over by the end of 2013, one way or another.  And it is.  

I am done with medical procedures by my and my hubby's choice.  That gives me power to go on. 
2014= a fresh start.   

For the most part infertility is a roller coaster no woman would ever choose to ride.  If any of you need a person to 'listen' please email me.  Because fertile people just don't understand. (Sorry fertile people!) 
**PS.  I love Antoinette for many reasons, but one of them is she has been a great sounding board for me on this journey.  She has many sisters, so she is well versed in navigating fertility issues!

And to end on a fun note.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas. 
Growing up, Christmas was always a big deal and my mom is the BEST gift giver.  
I have never needed to write a list because she gives you amazing gifts you never knew you wanted. 
The razors in my stocking started when I was 13.
My sister was born that year in October.  This was a big deal because there is no one in between us.  
It re-energized our Christmas traditions.
You remember being 13, Santa no longer exists and Christmas is all about wanting expensive things.
Well that year, my mom, as a nod to my growing older, put razors in my stocking.  (After all Christmas is also about getting gifts of necessity.)  As a joke my mom gave me razors the next year, and the year after that. 
When my sister was 3 she became a big believer in Santa, and was for many years.  Each year as a joke mom would give me the razors 'from Santa.'
Well the joke continues today.  But now it's not just me who gets razors it's my sister too.  
Yep, 17 years of stockings with razors in them.
In fact the last couple of years, my sis and I will pull out all the stuff in our stockings and find the razors first.  
(While my husband is gawking at us, like we are from another planet.)
Santa has traditions: eating cookies, drinking milk, and leaving razors in my stocking!




On a final note.  We have started a weekly linky about theme.  We hope you will join us to talk about picture books and theme!

Have a great end to 2013.  Don't forget to link up with Farley's Currently!

EmilyK & Antionette