Gifted Gab and the Classroom Corner--Book of the Week Wednesday!

Happy "Hump Day," everyone!  Just wanted to share a great book with you that I am reading to my 3rd graders to accompany our "Classroom Economics" unit.  This would also be a great chapter book for my 5th graders who study the stock market every year. 

 

The Toothpaste Millionaire is shaping up to be a great story.  We are using it as our classroom read aloud, and literally, my students cannot get enough!  Rufus and Kate are neck deep in toothpaste making, and I am just as eager to keep reading as my little ones are.  And can you believe Rufus is selling his toothpaste for just 3 cents a jar?!

 

What I love is that is easily lends itself so easily to other content areas as well:  math, science, communication, social studies...just to name a few!

 

 

I would definitely recommend this book to you and your little ones!  Enjoy!  Shannon :-)

 

Interested in checking out my economics resource pack?  Find it at the links below:

 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Creating-a-Classroom-Economy-Economics-Adv-Entrepreneurship

 

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/shannonbryant75/creating-a-classroom-economy-economics-advertising-amp-entrepreneurship 

 

 

Monday Moments with Mimi--Learning to "Push Through"

I hope you are enjoying these Monday Moments with Mimi!  I know I am!!!  This week's post is all about my Energizer Bunny of a "little" sister.  Read and enjoy!  And be encouraged!  As moms, teachers, humans--sometimes we just get TIRED!  But sometimes "pushing through" can lead to an even greater blessing!  Thanks for joining us on the journey!  Shannon :-)

 

Muffin Pans and Banners

Last night I received a picture from my youngest daughter of a banner with my name signed by her.  The banner was signed in honor of me at her annual Light the Night cancer walk.  I smiled and shook my head when I received her message—how does she do it all?   Soccer mom, ballet mom, supportive wife, church worker, household financial contributor, and wonderful daughter!!!    

 

I know what kind of a week she has had, and yet she still is going strong, just like the Energizer Bunny…probably stronger. 

 

Not too long ago I was at her house on a Friday evening.  And truthfully, I don’t know on that particular Friday night just how strong she was going, but she was still going none the less. 

 

I need to give a shout out to both of my girls in that they have an endless amount of “Doingness”—with a capital D (my word.)  Both of my girls are like the Energizer Bunny.  Even when all else are at rest, they are still marching and beating their drums in the wee hours in order to complete their intended tasks, as if on a marching and beating assignment. 

 

 

But as I reflect on this particular Friday, I am recalling the catch phrase, push through, that my youngest said to me a year or so ago when I was visiting. I do want to give you a bit of the back story of this night.  I was not just visiting her, but assisting her in a project with a sensitive, important deadline.   We had already had an extremely busy day.  The evening continued, just as eventfully, and I was fading fast. 

 

At last, we had the kids in bed and were finally calmly sipping coffee, drinking skim milk, and eating chocolate chip muffins that we had made. The day was drawing quickly to its close—for me.   Whatever we had left in disarray around the house could be straightened in the morning.

 

  I was fine, perfectly fine, with the few dirty dishes remaining on the counter, as well as a few dirty glasses left in the den. 

 

The dirty muffin pan on my daughter’s stove top did not produce in me any great anxiety as it sat there unwashed.  On the other hand, rinsing it and loading it in the dishwasher would not have given me any great sense of peace either.  I was totally neutral when it came to the muffin pan.  All household chores could wait for the dawn of a another new, busy, eventful day.  I knew that if I waited, I (as the proverbial Energizer Bunny’s assistant) would be recharged and ready for action again after a good 6 hours of sleep.

 

 But then to my surprise…my daughter started getting the kitchen ready for the morning.  Yes, she gathered all the dishes up, loaded them in the dishwasher, and the race was on again!!!!  Yet, it was not her tasks that were worth noting that night, but rather her words to me.  “Mom, sometimes you have to just push through.”

 

What I have to appreciate about these words is not their familiar reference to perseverance, endurance, and stamina.  I know these words and their meaning.  Most of us claim to live out these words in our faith and our lives over the long haul.

 

But it’s often the moments at hand that we are going through that are the places where we lose our push.  It’s the push to do the simple things…like finishing the next chapter of our Bible reading, placing the mail in its proper bin, or returning the scissors to the drawer at the end of the craft project…and yes, even washing the muffin pan that very night in order to make for a clean beginning the next day.

 

See, it is not about unprecedented organization and complicated time management, but rather push through.  It’s tough when we are tired and want to stop. We really don’t want to push anything anywhere, much less keep pushing through our present moment of tiredness.  I left her kitchen that night—her clean kitchen—with a smile. 

 

I still smile even now, wondering how her kitchen really looks tonight.  With her last push through came not just a clean kitchen, but a clean end to our day.  More importantly and rewardingly came a fresh new beginning of the day to come.  We would begin again, not saddled with the leftovers of what remained from the night before. 

 

Sometimes we think the push through is about the challenge of finishing.  From her, I gleaned it was more about the fresh, shining, beginning.  It wasn’t about the close of that evening, but the beginning of our new morning.   

 

I ponder my own two precious daughters and their lives and their births.  What if when my doctor said “Push,” I said, “No, not any more.  There will be tomorrow, another day, and I am tired now.”   No, I pushed at that moment!  I chose to push through to a fresh, shining, beginning of "something wonderful."  

 

One of those "wonderful somethings" 32 years later signed my name, and then walked in my honor at a cancer walk on a week that was bursting with busyness for her. For most of us, the week would have been impossible to navigate through, but she succeeded.  I have learned from her that our victory is not just because we are determined to persevere to the end, but because we are also determined to push through the moment!!!!  If we want to be victorious, with a respectable finish, we should strive for a more respectable start as well!  Blessings, Mimi (AKA Anne)

 

 

1 Corinthians 9:24 "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run?  But only one gets the prize.  Run in such a way as to get the prize."

Gifted Gab and the Classroom Corner...Slashing Prices and Saying Thanks!

Hi, everyone!  Just a quick note to let you know that tonight I slashed prices in both my Teachers Notebook and Teachers Pay Teachers stores as a way to say THANK YOU to all of you for your support and encouragement!!! 

 

 

This "Silly Monsters" resource pack is just one example--now available for only $3.  You all are such a blessing, and I am so thankful to be able to exchange ideas with all of you.  Hope your weekend has been SIMPLY SUPERB!  Shannon :-)

 

Interested in the packet shown above?  Just follow these links...

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/shannonbryant75/silly-monsters-interdisciplinary-resource-pack

 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Silly-Monsters-An-Interdisciplinary-Unit-for-Elementary-Students

Ministry Minute and the Parenting Place--Fruit of the Spirit-Faithfulness

Faithfulness!  God has been so faithful to our family over the years.  Through happiness, sickness, sadness, and tragedy, his faithfulness has helped us weather storm after storm.  He has truly given us beauty for ashes, and we are so thankful for the joy He offers.  What He asks from us is faithfulness in return, and below is an overview of how I taught this important Fruit of the Spirit to my little ones.

 

After our traditional time of praise and worship and prayer time, we had a visit from Penny the Penguin who had gotten a bit wet on the way to church--yep, it had been raining.

 

 

This reminded Penny of a favorite Bible story--the story of Noah.  In spite of never seeing rain before, Noah demonstrated his faith in God by building an ark and preparing for the flood.  In return, God protected Noah and his family and was faithful to them because of their faithfulness to Him.

 

 

Sadie poses here in our story corner with this week's poster and coloring page.  I also found a reproducible Noah coloring page online.

 

 

As an additional craft we used a paper plate half to make a rainbow--a reminder of God's faithfulness.

 

 

 

I also wanted to share a great object lesson I found online about sharing our faith with others.  We used this in a follow-up lesson later in the week.  Check it out at http://ezinearticles.com/?Bible-Object-Lessons-for-Kids:-Fizzy-Faith-Bottle-Cap-Lesson&id=5979488.

 

Blessings, Shannon :-)

 

Interested in these coloring pages and posters for your own little ones?

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/shannonbryant75/fruit-of-the-spirit-song-posters-writing-and-coloring-sheets

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fruit-of-the-Spirit-Song-Posters-Writing-Act-and-Coloring-Pgs

 

Monday Moments with Mimi--Traveling with Children

This week's post from Mimi focuses on the danger of distractions.  It reminds me of all of those times that as a mother and teacher, I sometimes miss the forest for the trees.  Read and be encouraged!  Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy...  Shannon :-)

Traveling with Children

 

It is very interesting to travel with a carload of your grandchildren as they are narrating, commenting, and laughing about whatever it is they observe along the way.   

 

During this particular road trip, I was not lost.  (I never am.  I was just not sure of my exact location as it related to my destination.)  Actually, I was just traveling in the wrong direction on the right road with three of my grandchildren, while on the way to meet my other two grands in an unfamiliar city in the rain.

 

I had given all three of my young traveling partners precise, intense instructions.  They were to close out whatever else they were doing and put on their “open eyes” in order to watch the roads and help me find the Chick-Fil-A that was our rendezvous point.  

 

And you never know…you might even find something VERY interesting when you have your eyes wide open.  All of a sudden out of the back seat came these words of excitement, “Look at that big gun!” 

 

Well, you can guess that statement got my attention!  “Where?” I questioned.  “Right there!” my grandson answered. 

 

Can you envision this moment with me?  I am a Mimi who is responsible for her precious cargo, so I ask myself Do I have a passerby in a tall truck armed with fire power, or perhaps a sniper on a distant roof with a really big gun?  Or worse, have we been called to war in this unfamiliar city that we are not really lost in?  

 

Truthfully, none of those scary scenarios really existed.  It was only an extremely large billboard advertisement with a HUGE gun displayed for all to see.  What I almost had, however in the midst of this imaginary crisis, was a very REAL precarious scenario of my own.  The traffic in front of us was stopping for the traffic light, and I was still interested in finding the armed assailant that I needed to guard my precious three grandchildren from!!!  

 

Tate had indeed discovered “something” with his “open eyes,” exactly as I challenged them to do.  Obedience at its best.  None of the other passers-by were noting the exciting billboard except my three and me.  Nothing of any significance happened as I quickly applied my brakes just in the nick of time to stop safely.   

 

Nothing, that is, until my phone and traveling directions slid from the front seat to the floorboard under my feet.  Nothing, that is, until I instructed my oldest (Tucker) to lean over and quickly pick them up for me.  He tried, and in his haste, he became locked his own seatbelt from his jarring effort and experienced one of those funny cramps in his shoulder from the reach.  He was now frozen.  Obedience at its best. 

 

Then from the back seat comes Tate over the front to the rescue saying. “Mimi, I can get it.”  And he tried.  Obedience at its best.   

 

What just happened here and is worthy of today’s simple story? Could it be a lesson of how quickly chaos can erupt because of my loss of focus?  In that moment in my car, all of my little passengers were acting exactly in line with my instructions.  They were very clear and quite obedient, but I was the one that had become distracted, not them.  I was the adult ordering the directions and soliciting their help.  Yet I was the adult quickly distracted by the small voice from the back.

 

Yes, the day was a success, and yes, we safely arrived at our destination. But let’s be reminded that in life there are many little ones depending on our maturity, our guidance, and our discernment. They are depending on us to not get distracted by fictitious armed assailants in passing cars.   They are depending on us STAYING FOCUSED!

 

In this case it was just a loving grandson excited over something interesting.   But in other cases the distractions can be more deliberate and even disastrous.  

 

Let’s never become calloused as to how easily and how quickly our eyes can be taken from the road by what we hear excitedly from the backseat.  Let’s never forget how others can be affected by our moments of distraction.  Let’s keep the journey happy and the destination safe for all—and keep our focus!!!!!!  Little ones are often ready to jump at our commands, so let’s stay the course and help them land safely!!!!  Blessings, Mimi (AKA Anne)

 

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.  2 Corinthians 4:18

Celebrating Columbus Day with a SALE!

Happy Friday, everyone!  Just a note to let you know that EVERYTHING will be on sale in my teacher stores this weekend.  Have a great Columbus Day weekend, everybody!!!! 

 

Also, if you haven't already, head over to Facebook and LIKE our Bryant's Brain Train page there as well in order to stay updated on all the latest posts, news, sales, and products.  Shannon :-)

 

https://www.facebook.com/BryantsBrainTrain

 

 

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/shannonbryant75

 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Shannon-Bryants-Brain-Train

Monday Moments with Mimi--Wooden Boxes for Teeth

Today Mimi's story is one of my favorites.  It's one she has told to me, to my children, and I have even had the opportunity to share with others.  Read and be encouraged!  God is always listening to the prayers of his children!  Shannon :-)

Wooden Boxes for Teeth

As I was reading my devotion this morning on an answered prayer from a young teen’s point of view, I remembered that my own first, bona-fide answer to prayer came at a very early age as well, and in the strangest way!  It was not answered by way of a local VBS or a church revival or even an altar call.  It came by way of box—a wooden box all the way from the shores of Jacksonville Beach, FL.

My family was on a wonderful summer vacation at the beach, and we only had 3 more days left on our trip.  I had become brave in the ocean by this time, and my parents had dropped their “safety guard” somewhat with me.  On this particular morning, my mom and I had drifted way too far from the shore on a float, and I was completely unafraid (brave soul that I was).   Admittedly our venture into the open sea was too soon after a stern warning from my Dad, and it was much too soon after his warning for me to be bragging of my bravery.   

But the drifting was not the only problem we faced.   In addition, my mom could not swim with any strength, nor could she see without her glasses.  So in truth, the problem was not really the innocent drifting at all, it was that I (a little girl barely as big as a whisper) was in charge on that float that day!!!

But “all was well” because I THOUGHT I was a strong swimmer, and I knew I could SEE perfectly well.  I knew exactly how far we were out, and I was ecstatic riding the waves.  I really had gone too far though…far enough that my Dad was now standing, shouting, and motioning us back! 

See, there was one detail that I had overlooked.  I had not considered the strength of the undercurrent combined with the pace that we were drifting out in the ocean and down the beach.  The reality that I am here writing this today is a miracle that I will share in another story, but the answered prayer for today’s tale is not about our safe arrival to shore.  Instead it is about my Daddy’s new teeth—his expensive new teeth—his new set of false teeth.

Life guards were too far away for my dad to get help for us, so he did what great dads of his day did.   He jumped in, swam hard, and rescued us with a crowd on the beach watching anxiously.  The only non-heroic happening that day was that in the commotion, he became winded, opened his mouth for air as he reached for mama, and his false teeth fell into the Atlantic Ocean!!!

  We were rescued, but boy oh boy, I was in trouble!!  Not only was the fun day rapidly brought to an end, but my sense of bravery was just as quickly squelched.  After a long night, and even longer morning, my parents decided to leave two days early and stop by my aunt’s in Valdosta, GA .  From there they would try to get in touch with their dentist and see about new teeth. 

(Can I just tell you that our trip back home was the polar opposite of my fun family trip going south to the beach only 5 days earlier???)  Momma fussed at Daddy:  how could he lose his teeth?  Daddy responded by fussing at Momma:  how could she lose her mind and let me get us so far out?  I tried not to cry because it seemed to be all my fault, and I could only understand part of Daddy’s words—because he had no teeth.

I wanted Daddy’s teeth back because by now the cost of them had risen to well more than my family could possibly ever afford to pay.  Maybe that is not entirely the accurate recollection of the complete event, but I clearly remember reasoning that if the teeth were not floating in the Atlantic on their way to Africa by now, all would be well.  I was sure of that. 

Oh, how shallow we can be sometimes.  I was shallow, but sure…sure that the floating teeth warranted my specific prayers and sure that God would hear.  So I prayed that Saturday night—hard!  I don’t remember giving thanks for our safety, for traveling mercies, or for anything else pertinent to my life at the time, but I remember specifically petitioning for the teeth to be found and returned.  It’s funny how even at eleven you just go to God with the heart of the matter—the lost teeth.

As I reflect now, I smile because I have perfect recall of exactly where everyone was sitting in the den that very Sunday night 45 years ago when the call came. The hotel phoned and told my mom that the teeth had been found by a vacationer several miles down the beach. With that answered phone call, my family’s relationships were immediately repaired and my family’s finances were quickly restored. The teeth were in a wooden box, and on the way to our house.   

Greater still that night, a young girl realized that she had made a special call of her own, and it was answered in a mighty way. I can still remember my mom walking into the den, sitting in her spot on the sofa,  and saying to my Dad, “J.A. you are not going to believe this…somebody found your teeth!”  She might as well have walked into the den and said to me, “Anne, your prayer was answered.”

Through the years, I have matured in realizing a precious thing—the teeth were never lost.   God was just looking for that special wooden box to return them in, so that I would forever be reminded of that call I made to Him that Saturday night.  Or is it that I am forever reminded how quickly He answered my prayer? 

Blessings, Mimi (AKA Anne)

 

Psalm 17:6 "I call on You, my God, for You will answer me; turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer."