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Nov042009
POSTED AT 11:20 AM
Wow! What a great Fall Day! We have had a great morning. We finished all I had planned and that is a feat! I always plan more than we have time for. I don't want to have idle time with the class! We always move from one thing to the next.
We participated in the state wide earthquake drill. "Duck and Cover" was a little tricky for us but we mastered it. I can say we are prepared for South Carolina's next earthquake.
Recess was wonderful. I love the fall weather, cooler temperatures and sunny skies. Now, they rest to prepare for Plan, Do, and Review. Soon they will get up and share their plan and start working on it. It is amazing what they can plan to do and actually follow through with. They are passionate when they share their results with their friends.
This kind of day makes my workdays easy! Thanks for sharing your precious ones with me.
Mrs. Lipscomb
Oct272009
POSTED AT 11:05 AM
It is hard to believe we have had nine weeks together. It seems like just yesterday that I met these children and their families. One fourth of our time together is gone. Ohhh-so much done and so much to do....I always feel this way. I feel like this the first and last day of school.
We have done so much together and the children have learned so much. At the conferences, I had parents tell me their children were asking them to name a letter so they could tell them words that start with that letter and sound. Wow! Some days I think they aren't hearing anything I say. Some of it is sinking in! One parent tells me their child is writing all of the time at home. Hallelujah! I love to hear these stories. I get energized when I "see" or "hear" about that spark catching for a child.
I appreciate all of your help. The time and energy you put in for your child's foundation makes a huge difference. If we make this foundation strong and wide, the rest that we build on top, will be so broad and wide that the possibilities are unimaginable. I hope you keep me informed as your child grows. I expect great things in the future.
Love and admiration,
Mrs. Lipscomb
Aug142009
POSTED AT 06:50 PM
I met my new students today and I am very excited about this new year. The students were excited about the year and were very comfortable coming into the classroom. The parents were extremely nice and very positive about what their children would learn. They all held high expectations and were very supportive. I am so pleased. I know we will have a great year. It is amazing what a difference that makes in the outcome of the year. We will all make a great team. I look forward to Tuesday and our first experience altogether as a school family.
Princess Lipscomb
Jun022009
POSTED AT 11:45 PM
Every year I am amazed how fast the year goes. I have always been told that time passes faster the older we get and the more content we are. I must be getting very old and I must be very content. This has been one of the best years I have ever had.
This class of children became a family and cared for each other very quickly. If a friend was out for the day, the other children were worried and often asked me to call and check on him or her. If someone was hurt, they would come to their aid. They are truly loving and caring children.
I have enjoyed getting to know your families. I feel like I am a part of your lives. Your children share with me and I feel comfortable conversing with you. I feel like I can call you and share good news and concerns with you. I feel like we are a team working for the good of your child. I think I can call you and ask for your help and I would get it. I know that if you call me I would do anything I could to help you and your child.
I appreciate you and all of your help. I will miss each of you this summer and next year. I hope you will continue to keep in contact with me. I love hearing about my students later in their life. I love them and care about what they do.
Come see me in the fall and share your summer fun with me.
Love,
Mrs. Lipscomb
Mar092009
POSTED AT 06:08 PM
I am not at school this week. I am out of town for some training. This is the first day I have been gone and I am really missing my kids and my "normal, old, routine day". I guess I am a lot like my students. There is some unexplained comfort in knowing exactly what is coming next and what to expect. I get a little uneasy not knowing what we will be doing next and how much longer I am expected to sit in one spot and just listen.
The training is very interesting and I always learn new things to bring back to the classroom. Even after all of this time in the classroom I am amazed how much new information and research is available for consideration.
I find my mind wandering to our classroom and wondering if all of the kids are there. Is anyone out sick? Is Rachel doing okay with her arm? Has Leonardo had a good day? Did Mrs. Foster find that book I wanted her to read today? Did everyone bring back their library book? I hope all of the students returned the book bags. I wonder if it is as warm in Spartanburg as it is here. Then I hear something I didn't know and I am back here and learning new material again.
This week will pass quickly and I will be so glad to be back with my kids!
love,
Princess Lipscomb
Feb232009
POSTED AT 12:38 PM
Just when I need it, I get reminded of the qualities of children. As I was with my grandchildren for a few days, I was reminded how children learn. I know this. I have dedicated my life to knowing this. It is just that sometimes we get so busy "doing what we do" that it takes a dose of reality to set our feet back on the ground to remind us of "how" it really happens.
The first time, I gave Braeden,age 2 1/2 a plastic scorpion. Now, Braeden knows lots about diggers and machinery. When I asked him if he knew what that was, he studied it and turned it all around and finally said, "A digger". I looked and just waited. He pointed to the claws and said, "grapplers" and then to the tail and said, "a scoop". He used all of his 2 1/2 year old schema or prior knowledge and used it to figure out what it was. It just proved all that "book learning" I had. He was very proud of himself. He did learn the name and I finally convinced him it was a "bug" but he is sure it is a "digger" too'
As Adam left for surgery in Cincinnati, I told him to write me a letter. We often send each other e-mails. He said he would write me a letter and bring it back when he returned. When he got back he handed me a neatly folded piece of paper. I thanked him, hugged him, and told him how proud I was of him for writing me a letter. I opened the paper to find he had neatly written a giant "A" on the paper. He had written me a "letter A". Children usually do exactly what you ask them to do. I tried to explain what a letter was but he already knows what letters are. He told me I didn't ask for a note or e-mail. I just need to make myself clear about what I want--in his language, not mine.
I bring these lessons back with me and I am happy to be back with your children. The surgery went fine and all of my grandchildren are well. I am blessed again!
Mrs. Lipscomb
Feb022009
POSTED AT 06:18 PM
It is already February! I am having great difficulty believing it! And today Phil saw his shadow!! How depressing--6 more weeks of bad weather! I am ready for a good snow or SPRING!! I am tired of the YUCK!! The children want to get outside and run and play. Keeping them inside is definitely no fun.
When February comes, I have to stop and start taking stock. Are these kids almost ready for first grade? Can I, in good conscience, send them up to first grade without blocks, dress-up, and sharing time? Will they be able to sit and work independently for longer stretches of time? Are they ready to go all day without a hug from me? Do they know all they need to know? After I have mulled it over for a while and I know they do or they will by May, I get down to the real problem in my head, can I let go of them in May? Can I go without that hug everyday? Can I go without hearing about the puppy or the horse or the little baby brother? Am I ready to let another teacher get to know your child as well as I do? Do I want someone else to be the target of the love and affection I have been receiving? No, I don't but I know I must. And I will. But I won't like it one bit.
I will treasure these next 4 months. I will listen to every story and I will remember. I will treasure each hug and I will remember. I will steal hugs next year and I will steal conversations with your child. I will stay connected. I want to hear about your child years from now. I want a graduation invitation and a wedding invitation and a baby shower invitation. I want to hear good news and I want to hear unfortunate news. I want to help when I can and pray when I can't. I want to celebrate for your child.
I am not a native of Woodruff or even SC. It is the one place I never saw my self living. It is funny how your plans are not always God's plans. I am rooted here. I have students and students' children I keep in contact with. I respect them and I am proud to be a part of the community. I want to thank you for sharing your children with me and making me a part of your family.
Princess Lipscomb
Dec042008
POSTED AT 12:27 PM
I thoroughly enjoyed my Thanksgiving Holiday. Two of my daughters and all of my grandsons and son-in-laws came to spend time with us. My mother-in-law spent the day as well. Thankfully all were well and happy. We counted our many blessings! I "glow" in the presence of my grandchildren. I glowed all weekend. We played and wrote and read and cooked and sneaked treats that only come at Grammy's house. It was like living in the "gingerbread house" with sweets always around. It becomes a little difficult with one grandson wearing an insulin pump! (That pump is another of our blessings!)
After five days off, I began to think about returning to school and your children. I am constantly amazed as they learn and grow. When I am working so hard and they can't grasp what I am trying to say, I think, "Why aren't they getting this?" A little later, they surprise me and say something that makes me know that they are getting it! Just not in my time but in their time. Then a big "ole grin" spreads over my face and I grab them and squeeze them and they look at me like I am crazy! That's the payoff! That is why I can get excited when the clock goes off on cold mornings. That is why I can get excited about glue sticks on sale for 33 cents! That is why retirement isn't as appealing now as it was 10 years ago! That is why I am here everyday!
I am still having my Thanksgiving!
Princess
Nov202008
POSTED AT 12:47 PM
As I watch your children rest, I think about how thankful I am. I am thankful for each of them. I ask you to write why you were thankful for your child. I appreciate your answers and I appreciate that you were willing to share with me and others who may read them. They are all precious and special in so many ways. It is amazing how much they enrich my life and bring so much to our classroom. It makes me know that the world is not so awful and there is such good that will come.Sometimes I look and them and try to imagine what they will do with their lives. I have such great hopes and dreams for them.
I am thankful that I am here, surrounded by loving children. I am thankful that I can teach them and inspire and encourage them. I am thankful that I have the children to teach and inspire and encourage me. Where could I work where it was perfectly normal to receive hugs, love notes, kisses, and compliments everyday? Where could I go to be told things that build me up and make me feel wanted, needed, and loved all of the time? Where could I work that allows me to dance and sing in the middle of the day? I am thankful that you are willing to trust me with your children. I am a very lucky person. And after a long, hard, tiring day, I get to go home to a wonderful husband and three great grandsons! I am truly blessed!
Princess Lipscomb
Nov132008
POSTED AT 06:24 PM
Well! Here I go! I am not too much for BLOGGING, but I have decided to give it a try! Some days, I have so much to say about our day that I feel like I need an outlet and other days I am better to keep my day to myself. I guess I am much like you and everyone else. I have decided that after all of these years, I should give my husband Doug a rest at night and try to "vent" the good things to you! Unfortunately, he might still get to hear the "rants" occasionally!
Today was one of those great days! You know the kind...the ones that make you know it is worth the late afternoons and the early mornings. The ones that make you feel good about the runny noses and wet shoelaces you tie. The kids were awesome today. They "got" the workshops and they "loved" the stories and they "listened" to the group lessons. But, more importantly, they really liked everything we did and they were so enthusiastic about learning today. Their faces were awake and alive. Their eyes were wide and they were eager to participate. I hope you can see through my description what I saw in your children today! It was a GREAT DAY!
Thanks for listening and thanks for sharing your children with me today. When you put them down tonight, give them a special hug and kiss. Give them one for me! They are special kids.
Princess Lipscomb
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