Thank you, Stevie, for your great work! Definitely better than the school mug shots. ;)
Showing posts with label elementary school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elementary school. Show all posts
Saturday, September 14, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Last Day of School
Summer is upon us! It's official!
I slept in, and Ryan took the liberties of getting donuts for breakfast.
No better way to celebrate!
Tanner has done pretty well this year in school. I was slightly nervous for him, but he had WONDERFUL teachers.
We have a goal to keep him at the second grade reading level over the summer, so he can start out second grade on the right foot.
Hello, Library Summer Reading Program! We tend to fall off the band wagon around week two, but I'm determined to READ, READ, READ with my kids this summer!!!
We've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia at bedtime for the past 2 months, and we're ALMOST ready to start in on Book Four, Prince Caspian. :)
Anyhoo....I have good intentions for the summer....so wish me luck, and keep encouraging me!!!
I slept in, and Ryan took the liberties of getting donuts for breakfast.
No better way to celebrate!
Tanner has done pretty well this year in school. I was slightly nervous for him, but he had WONDERFUL teachers.
We have a goal to keep him at the second grade reading level over the summer, so he can start out second grade on the right foot.
Hello, Library Summer Reading Program! We tend to fall off the band wagon around week two, but I'm determined to READ, READ, READ with my kids this summer!!!
We've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia at bedtime for the past 2 months, and we're ALMOST ready to start in on Book Four, Prince Caspian. :)
Anyhoo....I have good intentions for the summer....so wish me luck, and keep encouraging me!!!
Friday, March 29, 2013
Leader in Art
Tanner's elementary school has been incorporating Stephen Covey's "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" into their curriculum. Throughout the year, they've worked on projects surrounding the seven habits, and have implemented them into assignments, recess, and daily activities.
A "Leadership Day" & assembly was held to honor those who have exhibited these habits and various students were asked to share with an invited audience just how neat the program has been.
Tanner was chosen to share in not one, but TWO areas! Six students were asked to share a talent. There were jump ropers, dancers, musicians, and Tanner was our LEADER IN ART.
He stood on stage and said the following:
My name is Tanner Poulsen, and I'm in the first grade. This is my boot in outer space. First I traced my boot in pencil, then traced over that in crayon. Then I used water colors to paint around the crayon. The crayon made it so the water colors didn't run together. And then he bowed, about three times. :)
We are so proud of our budding artist! Not only does he doodle at school, but is constantly crafting, folding, creating, drawing, and painting at home. If he's not making something with Legos, he's drawing an ocean scene, or coloring up a storm!
After the talents were shared, there were 20-ish students who were chosen to share their Leadership Binders. Each student has a Leadership Binder in which they track their attendance, test scores, assignments, and behavior. Tanner was one of those students! He chose to show and share his binder with his dad and I.
I've had the opportunity to help in Tanner's classroom with some testing, and it's fun to see the kids chart their progress in reading. It's also interesting to see how some of the binders are falling apart, papers are shoved in pockets, and sometimes, neither me OR the student can find the right paper for them to mark off their scores. We are so proud of Tanner for keeping such a nice and neat binder. He's very detail oriented, and likes things to be in order and organized.
We also had to opportunity to 'tour' two classrooms and watch these Seven Habits in action through teaching activities. It was fun to see Tanner interacting with his classmates and how these habits have been incorporated.
As I reflect on my own childhood and have observed Ryan in the years I've known him, it's evident that Tanner is our child! (not that we didn't think he was!) He probably spends way too much time organizing his desk, dresser drawers, and bedroom...just like his parents.
Way to go, little man!
A "Leadership Day" & assembly was held to honor those who have exhibited these habits and various students were asked to share with an invited audience just how neat the program has been.
Tanner was chosen to share in not one, but TWO areas! Six students were asked to share a talent. There were jump ropers, dancers, musicians, and Tanner was our LEADER IN ART.
My name is Tanner Poulsen, and I'm in the first grade. This is my boot in outer space. First I traced my boot in pencil, then traced over that in crayon. Then I used water colors to paint around the crayon. The crayon made it so the water colors didn't run together. And then he bowed, about three times. :)
We are so proud of our budding artist! Not only does he doodle at school, but is constantly crafting, folding, creating, drawing, and painting at home. If he's not making something with Legos, he's drawing an ocean scene, or coloring up a storm!
After the talents were shared, there were 20-ish students who were chosen to share their Leadership Binders. Each student has a Leadership Binder in which they track their attendance, test scores, assignments, and behavior. Tanner was one of those students! He chose to show and share his binder with his dad and I.
I've had the opportunity to help in Tanner's classroom with some testing, and it's fun to see the kids chart their progress in reading. It's also interesting to see how some of the binders are falling apart, papers are shoved in pockets, and sometimes, neither me OR the student can find the right paper for them to mark off their scores. We are so proud of Tanner for keeping such a nice and neat binder. He's very detail oriented, and likes things to be in order and organized.
We also had to opportunity to 'tour' two classrooms and watch these Seven Habits in action through teaching activities. It was fun to see Tanner interacting with his classmates and how these habits have been incorporated.
As I reflect on my own childhood and have observed Ryan in the years I've known him, it's evident that Tanner is our child! (not that we didn't think he was!) He probably spends way too much time organizing his desk, dresser drawers, and bedroom...just like his parents.
Way to go, little man!
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
{First Day of School} 2012
Tanner is so excited to start First Grade!!! We laid out his new clothes last night, and woke up early to make sure his lunch was just right and everything was loaded in his bag.
Gotta get a picture of my crew....aren't they cute?!
Taylor is super excited to be in my Pre-K class this year! Too bad I couldn't get him to hold still for a picture....this one's a bit blurry, but it'll have to do!
And there he goes!!! Tanner was so happy he got to ride his bike...I just hope he stops to look for cars and doesn't run anybody over.
Tanner left so fast, that I didn't have time to review his bike lock code with him, or tell him to walk home with his friend....so I did end up walking down the street to the school, just to make sure he got there and we met a few kids in his class.
Gotta get a picture of my crew....aren't they cute?!
 |
| "Thumbs Up!" |
 |
| "wait...wasn't I already doing thumbs up mom?!" |
And there he goes!!! Tanner was so happy he got to ride his bike...I just hope he stops to look for cars and doesn't run anybody over.
Tanner left so fast, that I didn't have time to review his bike lock code with him, or tell him to walk home with his friend....so I did end up walking down the street to the school, just to make sure he got there and we met a few kids in his class.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Reading Aloud
I have very fond memories from my childhood of my mother and father reading.
Often times, mom could be found at the kitchen table with her scriptures open, and a class manual close by. She had shelves of books, with her name written on the inside covers. Classics. Children's books. Family Development books. Church books. My mom studied diligently; with mechanical pencils, blue and black BIC pens and highlighters. Notes in the margins of her textbooks, the Ensign, her Scriptures, the Joy School lesson manual. Meticulous notes. Thoughts. References. Promptings. She was studious. I remember picking up novels and looking for the ones with the most notes...those were the ones I wanted to read under the covers at night...I thought her notes would make me more smart. Or tell more of the story!
For years, my father would sit at the top of the stairs on the landing and read to us from Black Beauty. Robinson Caruso. Little Women. Swiss Family Robinson. We were treated to a chapter or five, if we were good, as we lay in bed and he read. We listened. And asked questions, that he'd sometimes answer. Sometimes clarify. And often he'd hush us and say, "If you'd listen, you'd know." Most men have a den or a man-cave, but my father has a library. Walls of books. And stacks of books. And rows of books. He may need to start keeping a ledger where we check out his books...because for a long while, I had a stack of his books on my own nightstand. It started out as just a book or two, but by Christmas, I returned a good eight books to him.
I love reading. I love to sit on the floor in my boys' room between their bed and the closet and organize their books ...slowly... because I read them as I put them away. I'm kindof a nerd like that. Kortlen has picked up my love of books, and I often find him sitting in the middle of the hall, or kitchen table, or IN his closet, flipping through the pages. He will put it down and get another. And another.
I have a collection of books on my piano...some which I've read, others that I hope to. Most of those are thrift store finds, but classic nonetheless. Lovingly read and yellow-paged. They smell of old books. Together, Ryan and I have shelves and boxes filled with books that we've devoured. We have even kept our text books from college...we're that in love with books. You never know when you'll need to reference something to Food Science, Interior Design, or Business Management! Come to think of it, we even have books stacked in the corners of our bedroom closet.
This summer Tanner, Taylor and I read "Tom Sawyer". Every time we got in the car, they'd beg me to read it to them. I'm embarrassed to say that we haven't finished it...but when they see it, they love for me to read a few pages. My goal is to finish that book with them, but AFTER I finish our current read.
Our school district just started a special project called "One District, One Book". Every family received a free copy of a 'mysterious' book...as the book's title was unknown until yesterday at a special assembly. The youngest child in each family that attends school was sent home with this book, and a reading schedule, so the book can be discussed in class, and as family and friends.
Last night we read Chapter 1: Sam. Aloud. Because we all know that "reading aloud for just 15 minutes a day can provide children with a lifetime of benefits"...says the flier sent home with said book. I agree.
I think we're really going to like this book! It's adventurous. Clips along at a good pace. Has Tanner captivated, and Taylor interested. The chapter lengths are just right. And Tanner is noticing some of his frequent words and points them out.
While I can snuggle with a blanket and a good book and read away my time...for hours on end...I really enjoy reading to my children. Especially when they listen. I like making the voices....changing the inflection with the story line...and critically thinking with the boys about what just happened, what will happen next, and so on.
I challenge YOU to read aloud to your children, if you don't already do so...they will fondly remember those moments, and it WILL benefit them in SO MANY WAYS!
Have YOU ever read "The Trumpet of the Swan"? Did you like it? What is your favorite childhood book?
Often times, mom could be found at the kitchen table with her scriptures open, and a class manual close by. She had shelves of books, with her name written on the inside covers. Classics. Children's books. Family Development books. Church books. My mom studied diligently; with mechanical pencils, blue and black BIC pens and highlighters. Notes in the margins of her textbooks, the Ensign, her Scriptures, the Joy School lesson manual. Meticulous notes. Thoughts. References. Promptings. She was studious. I remember picking up novels and looking for the ones with the most notes...those were the ones I wanted to read under the covers at night...I thought her notes would make me more smart. Or tell more of the story!
For years, my father would sit at the top of the stairs on the landing and read to us from Black Beauty. Robinson Caruso. Little Women. Swiss Family Robinson. We were treated to a chapter or five, if we were good, as we lay in bed and he read. We listened. And asked questions, that he'd sometimes answer. Sometimes clarify. And often he'd hush us and say, "If you'd listen, you'd know." Most men have a den or a man-cave, but my father has a library. Walls of books. And stacks of books. And rows of books. He may need to start keeping a ledger where we check out his books...because for a long while, I had a stack of his books on my own nightstand. It started out as just a book or two, but by Christmas, I returned a good eight books to him.
I love reading. I love to sit on the floor in my boys' room between their bed and the closet and organize their books ...slowly... because I read them as I put them away. I'm kindof a nerd like that. Kortlen has picked up my love of books, and I often find him sitting in the middle of the hall, or kitchen table, or IN his closet, flipping through the pages. He will put it down and get another. And another.
I have a collection of books on my piano...some which I've read, others that I hope to. Most of those are thrift store finds, but classic nonetheless. Lovingly read and yellow-paged. They smell of old books. Together, Ryan and I have shelves and boxes filled with books that we've devoured. We have even kept our text books from college...we're that in love with books. You never know when you'll need to reference something to Food Science, Interior Design, or Business Management! Come to think of it, we even have books stacked in the corners of our bedroom closet.
This summer Tanner, Taylor and I read "Tom Sawyer". Every time we got in the car, they'd beg me to read it to them. I'm embarrassed to say that we haven't finished it...but when they see it, they love for me to read a few pages. My goal is to finish that book with them, but AFTER I finish our current read.
Our school district just started a special project called "One District, One Book". Every family received a free copy of a 'mysterious' book...as the book's title was unknown until yesterday at a special assembly. The youngest child in each family that attends school was sent home with this book, and a reading schedule, so the book can be discussed in class, and as family and friends.
Last night we read Chapter 1: Sam. Aloud. Because we all know that "reading aloud for just 15 minutes a day can provide children with a lifetime of benefits"...says the flier sent home with said book. I agree.
I think we're really going to like this book! It's adventurous. Clips along at a good pace. Has Tanner captivated, and Taylor interested. The chapter lengths are just right. And Tanner is noticing some of his frequent words and points them out.
While I can snuggle with a blanket and a good book and read away my time...for hours on end...I really enjoy reading to my children. Especially when they listen. I like making the voices....changing the inflection with the story line...and critically thinking with the boys about what just happened, what will happen next, and so on.
I challenge YOU to read aloud to your children, if you don't already do so...they will fondly remember those moments, and it WILL benefit them in SO MANY WAYS!
Have YOU ever read "The Trumpet of the Swan"? Did you like it? What is your favorite childhood book?
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