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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I Made a 1st Grader Cry



I didn't do it on purpose, honest! 
It was supposed to be an easy half-day afternoon assignment in a 1st grade class. 

The teacher had several math related worksheets they were supposed to complete involving counting coins to equal a certain value. The only materials required were red and green crayons to color the correct coins. Most of the kids were busy starting the assignment when I heard a disturbance on the other side of the room.

"He ripped my paper!!"

It seems that one boy could not find the right worksheet on his desk and decided to take one from someone else's desk. Of course, that resulted in a tugging match between the worksheet owner and the thief.

I gave the little girl an extra worksheet and escorted "little thief" back to his desk where I pointed out that peeking out from under three papers on his desk was the worksheet he couldn't find.

A bit later it was: "He took my red!!"

It seems that "LT" couldn't find his crayons, so he was "borrowing" crayons without asking from inattentive classmates. Returning the crayons to the rightful owners, I escorted "LT" back to his desk and asked where his crayons were.

LT: I lost them
Me: Did you look in your desk?
LT: I looked, they aren't in there.

I see that his desk it totally jammed with books, papers bits of pencils, toys and junk.

Me: Maybe they are way in the back under all that stuff in your desk
LT:  I looked, they aren't in there. (a bit louder than I cared for)

Me: Let's check again. Let's take everything out and put it on top of your desk to check.
LT:  I did and they aren't in there!
Me: Let's do it again.

LT is reluctant but since I not moving away, he doesn't have a choice. Out comes all his hard books, all his soft cover practice books, some small stuffed animals and...a large box of 48 crayons.

Me: Well, it looks like we found your crayons. Now you can start the coins worksheet.
LT:  I don't have red.
Me: Open the box and let's check, ok?

He opens the box and it contains at least three different shades of red crayons.

Me: Pick one of those and use it
LT: (In a loud whiney voice) IT'S NOT RED!!

At this point, I have pretty much exhausted what patience remained. I selected one of the reds and one of the greenish colored crayons, and instructed LT to quit stalling.

"Sit down and get to work. No more delays and no more taking stuff that isn't yours!"

A bit later while monitoring the rest of the class and checking every now and then that LT was at least not bothering anyone else, one little girl approaches to tell me that LT is crying. 

I left a note for the teacher that LT had a hard day today and some tears were shed.

I talked with the teacher a few days later and she told me that it happens a lot with LT.



Monday, April 15, 2013

Miss Nelson is Missing (video)

You've read the book, now see the video...


Sunday, April 07, 2013

J.R.R. Tolkien's DVD Giveaway!

In a first for JAST, I am hosting a 2nd DVD giveaway this month...

Update: 4/7/2013 The winner is Stephanie!! 


 
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey coming to Blu-ray & DVD March 19th 2013!



J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic adventure follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an amazing quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.
From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the endearingly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

 

One winner till receive a copy of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Combo Pack! The deadline to enter is April 5!! 


           Are You 100% Hobbit Quiz! What has a tendency to be very brave, is around 4 ft. tall with sharp eyesight, little to no facial hair, and loves cake? If you thought we were talking about you, then you might be a Hobbit Indeed! Take the quiz to find out just how much of a Hobbit you are!

           Creatures of Middle-earth! Hobbits, Elves and Dwarves are just a few of the magical creatures that call Middle-earth home. Check out vital stats and unique features about each one!

           The Hobbit Handbook! Our Hobbit Handbook includes everything you need to throw the best viewing party in Middle-earth right at home!


 Are You 100% Hobbit? 

Just take the "Are You 100% Hobbit Quiz" and post your results in the comments section
-- or -- 
Post your favorite Hobbit Handbook activity in the comments section to this post and you are entered in the contest giveaway for one Blu-ray combo pack of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Either way you're IN! 
ONLY ONE entry per person please. Let's let everyone have an equal opportunity to win...

The deadline to enter is April 5!!  
  
The drawing will be held on April 6. and winner will be posted here.  The prize will be sent via FedEx or UPS. No P.O. Boxes please.

The winner will be required to supply a mailing address sent to KauaiMark@gmail.com on or before 4-9-2013.


Monday, April 01, 2013

Ready For the Truth?



The day before Easter, our 8yr old granddaughter Paige told her Mom that she had an important question to ask. She wanted to know the truth about the Easter Bunny & Santa Claus. Are they real or not?
Loss of childhood innocence is one of the hardest for most of us parents to endure but we all must confront it eventually. I know it was for me, 30+yrs ago, when our 5yr old son "wanted to know".
Unfortunately, for me he could not keep such an important secret to himself. He blabbed it to his younger sister and cousins. That singular childhood memory prepared our daughter to handle the situation much more carefully than I did.
J: Ok, but before I tell, you have to promise to keep it a secret and not tell anyone else. Not your brother, your cousins, not any kids at school, nobody. Ok?
  
J: Now, are you sure you really, really want me to tell you?
P: Yes! I really, really want to know the truth.

Paige's response after learning "the truth":

"I'm going to go to bed now and I hope I forget everything you just told me!!".