1/26/15 A Day of Inspiration

Today was a special schedule because of MAP testing. I can't seem to escape the MAP testing! It is very nice to have individual laptops for students to test on. They drop their laptops off before lunch and I load the test up. They return from lunch and take the test. Its nice that the whole school takes the test at the same time. There is no month long testing of students that I have experienced in the past. 

The new schedule means extra time for labs. I have only a few pics of the hands on activity before we started conduction/convection and radiation labs. 

I know there's a layer missing, but its all good. They had to peel and label it in their notebooks. 

And what is this lovely piece of art work? 

I mentioned that it was extended class time. I had an hour and 20 minutes of prep time. My copies are ready and my portfolio is updated. I took the opportunity to draw something to add to my bulletin board outside my classroom. I am so tired of looking at blank cork board. It needed something! 

I am going to add some more pictures of drums and dancing to it. I just need a caption to tie it all together. What do you think it should be? 

Sunday Drive and Party!

We like to take a drive out to the gravel pits. Here's the pictures that we look on 1/25/15 about noon. 

The ocean is on the right side. Sadly there isn't any multi-year ice out there and the ice is thin. I'm worried for my junior whalers this year and I pray for everyone's safety. 

I like this picture and it might be going into my favorites pile to get framed. 

We have friends that have twin boys. We were invited to their 6th birthday party. It was fun! The white thing in Abi's hair is her snowflake hair clip she made earlier that day. 

Coolest Cake Idea! Each boy got his favorite superhero on one side! Hulk and Iron Man!

Here Comes The Sun!

We like going to Crafternoon! Today was super special because we saw....

The Sun!!!!

I am so happy that I got to see the sun again! I took a lot of pictures of the sun because it feels like I've been living in darkness forever. I was so excited that I didn't realize that I had been staring at the sun for quite some time. I couldn't see correctly for a few minutes. I saw many elders standing outside, basking in the sunlight. Its an amazing feeling and I feel blessed to see the sun again. 

Family Fun Day!

Emily has a job!

Emily works hard for the money....

I saw this dog on top of a frozen boat and had to take a picture. By the way the white mountain on the back right side is the ocean. 

So its -48 with windchill and my fingers were cold just taking this picture. 

Career Expo

My school had a special Career Expo at it. Students from across the Slope came to Barrow to learn about great opportunities. I was lucky that I was in a room with the Biologist and Vet. An awesome biologist drew this on my board and I couldn't erase it! I kept it on the board for two days. It was a great talking point and I used it as part of my bell work assignment. 

Circus Time!

Someone talked me into checking out the box of toys at the library. It contained several jump ropes for kids and adults, rackets, scoop rackets, scarves, bean bags, plastic circle mats, various balls and a parachute. I'm sure that I'm missing some items from the list, but this is what I could remember picking up. 

We have a common hallway upstairs. Our neighbor put up the gate for her smaller children. Now the kids can play in the hallway during bad weather conditions. I think that it looks like a circus exploded in the hallway. 

We have played several different games in the hallway. The kids get out their old Halloween boxed outfits and play with them. The girls have all played with the plastic bow and arrow target set out in the hallway. There is room to bounce balls and run amuck. I think the important part of the hallway is that its a change of scenery of the kids. They get bored in the same environment. They get cabin fever too! The pictures on the wall help adults too! They are pictures of Greece. They are blue and look warm. It makes it nice to have something other than white walls to look at. 

Keeping kids busy is important up here. This goes beyond text messaging friends all day long or playing video games until you fall asleep. Its being physically active and learning life skills. Cooking, sewing and weaving have been life skills that the girls have been learning. 

In the meantime, I will continue to check the toy box out of the library on a regular basis. Georgia really enjoyed playing with all the materials. Hey, its free!