Aniya: Scuse me... (poke, poke in my side) What's your name again?
Me: Miss Shannon
Aniya: Miss Shannon, you are very beautiful.
Again... why I teach preschool :)
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 08, 2008
growing up...
I made a comment on Friday to a little boy that I thought he'd grown 5 inches since I last saw him... and another little girl, Katie, heard the comment and as we walked out of music class she says to me,
Miss Shannon, I'm growing so much I have to limbo to get out the door.
The doors are 10 feet tall :) wishful thinking dear...i feel ya.
Miss Shannon, I'm growing so much I have to limbo to get out the door.
The doors are 10 feet tall :) wishful thinking dear...i feel ya.
Friday, December 05, 2008
the end of a class
Today was my last day at practicum for this semester... I've loved my kids on Fridays. They are 16 wild ones with beautiful imaginations.
Some favorite quotes from the last day:
I was "painting" with shaving cream with Merritt... I asked her, "What does it smell like Mer?"
Merritt: (thinks...thinks...thinks....) CLOUDS!
Then I was reading a book called I Heard Said the Bird to Kiki... which obviously is about rhyming... and as I was pointing out some words that rhymed like bird, heard, word... Kiki shouts with glee, "TURD!"
This. Is. Why. I. Love. Preschool.
Some favorite quotes from the last day:
I was "painting" with shaving cream with Merritt... I asked her, "What does it smell like Mer?"
Merritt: (thinks...thinks...thinks....) CLOUDS!
Then I was reading a book called I Heard Said the Bird to Kiki... which obviously is about rhyming... and as I was pointing out some words that rhymed like bird, heard, word... Kiki shouts with glee, "TURD!"
This. Is. Why. I. Love. Preschool.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Today!
Today we had Snowman Festival... its our Winter Carnival for Jumpstart...
picture 80 4 year olds and their enthusiastic and slightly anxious teachers descending upon UVA's campus to spend two hours downing hot chocolate as fast as it can cool, pouring glitter on glue soaked pinecones, chucking balls at an unfortunate snowman, and singing songs we made up on the fly...
then picture all of us Corps Members laying on the floor in delighted exhaustion.
it was fabulous.
My favorite quote of the day was as I was leading a group of students into the building and I was talking to two little boys.
Marlo: My birthday!
Me: When's your birthday?
Marlo: RIGHT NOW!
Me: No way! Today is your birthday?
Adrian: No, Miss Bremer... it's RIGHT NOW, not today.
:) that made my Right Now.
picture 80 4 year olds and their enthusiastic and slightly anxious teachers descending upon UVA's campus to spend two hours downing hot chocolate as fast as it can cool, pouring glitter on glue soaked pinecones, chucking balls at an unfortunate snowman, and singing songs we made up on the fly...
then picture all of us Corps Members laying on the floor in delighted exhaustion.
it was fabulous.
My favorite quote of the day was as I was leading a group of students into the building and I was talking to two little boys.
Marlo: My birthday!
Me: When's your birthday?
Marlo: RIGHT NOW!
Me: No way! Today is your birthday?
Adrian: No, Miss Bremer... it's RIGHT NOW, not today.
:) that made my Right Now.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Tommy
http://commongroundsonline.typepad.com/common_grounds_online/2008/11/in-memory-of-to.html
About two years ago I had the privilege of walking home with a man named Tommy. He told me was from North Carolina, that he loved Jesus and that he just had a problem with drinking. That was my first introduction to a man with a kind smile who I continued to catch up with on various street corners around Charlottesville, until recently.
Our church, Trinity Presbyterian, has gotten in the wonderful habit of displaying art and photographs and having openings for the different exhibits. This month, we have the privilege of hanging a handful of James Erickson's paintings of homeless men. James paints on HUGE pieces of cardboard, about 15' by 10', honoring these men and the beauty of their lives by making their portraits enormous... too big to be passed by or ignored, as we so often do on the corner.
Last week at the opening, I stood in the center of the gallery area just turning, turning, turning... in awe and in love with what I saw. James didn't just paint these men. He knows them. And he brought them to Trinity for the opening! Beside each man's portrait was a letter he had written to James... and beside that letter stood the men themselves. It was a cold night, and everyone was mingling without removing their coats and hats... so to be honest I had a hard time picking out who was homeless and who was a normal figure in the church.... which was BEAUTIFUL and as it should be. Fewer categories being formed, more stories being told.
I was getting ready to leave, when I came around the corner and there was the biggest of all the paintings. It hung from ceiling to floor in the entry to the worship room, full of color and life. Gentleness, humility, brokenness, and beauty. Tommy Parker. I stopped, and smiled. There was my friend!
I wondered why he wasn't present that night... but figured I'd see him around town.
Then a friend informed me that Tommy had passed away in October, and I got to read the end of his story here: http://commongroundsonline.typepad.com/common_grounds_online/2008/11/in-memory-of-to.html
I am thankful to whoever provided him a bed to rest in, and to James for making his smile larger than life. And to Tommy, for introducing himself.
About two years ago I had the privilege of walking home with a man named Tommy. He told me was from North Carolina, that he loved Jesus and that he just had a problem with drinking. That was my first introduction to a man with a kind smile who I continued to catch up with on various street corners around Charlottesville, until recently.
Our church, Trinity Presbyterian, has gotten in the wonderful habit of displaying art and photographs and having openings for the different exhibits. This month, we have the privilege of hanging a handful of James Erickson's paintings of homeless men. James paints on HUGE pieces of cardboard, about 15' by 10', honoring these men and the beauty of their lives by making their portraits enormous... too big to be passed by or ignored, as we so often do on the corner.
Last week at the opening, I stood in the center of the gallery area just turning, turning, turning... in awe and in love with what I saw. James didn't just paint these men. He knows them. And he brought them to Trinity for the opening! Beside each man's portrait was a letter he had written to James... and beside that letter stood the men themselves. It was a cold night, and everyone was mingling without removing their coats and hats... so to be honest I had a hard time picking out who was homeless and who was a normal figure in the church.... which was BEAUTIFUL and as it should be. Fewer categories being formed, more stories being told.
I was getting ready to leave, when I came around the corner and there was the biggest of all the paintings. It hung from ceiling to floor in the entry to the worship room, full of color and life. Gentleness, humility, brokenness, and beauty. Tommy Parker. I stopped, and smiled. There was my friend!
I wondered why he wasn't present that night... but figured I'd see him around town.
Then a friend informed me that Tommy had passed away in October, and I got to read the end of his story here: http://commongroundsonline.typepad.com/common_grounds_online/2008/11/in-memory-of-to.html
I am thankful to whoever provided him a bed to rest in, and to James for making his smile larger than life. And to Tommy, for introducing himself.
Merry Christmas?
Chris was playing with some farm animal figurines this morning. He had them all lined up and grouped by type of animal... I wandered over and we were having a grand ole time making animal noises together.
Chris decided that since we went on a fieldtrip to a farm to see animals, the animals were coming on a fieldtrip to see us at school!
One of the cows fell over, and I said, "Uhoh, Chris... what happened to the cow?"
Chris replied, "Oh, somebody shot it. Santa's not gonna be happy that someone shot his cow."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After recess (a chilly 35 degrees) the adults in the classroom were making some tea. Jaqueline asked, "what's that?" and we explained that it was tea. She said, "My mama drinks that, but it's black." And we said, "Oh, is it tea or is it coffee?"
Jaqueline replied, "She drinks coffee! But everytime it makes her go to the bathroom bad."
Chris decided that since we went on a fieldtrip to a farm to see animals, the animals were coming on a fieldtrip to see us at school!
One of the cows fell over, and I said, "Uhoh, Chris... what happened to the cow?"
Chris replied, "Oh, somebody shot it. Santa's not gonna be happy that someone shot his cow."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After recess (a chilly 35 degrees) the adults in the classroom were making some tea. Jaqueline asked, "what's that?" and we explained that it was tea. She said, "My mama drinks that, but it's black." And we said, "Oh, is it tea or is it coffee?"
Jaqueline replied, "She drinks coffee! But everytime it makes her go to the bathroom bad."
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Big G
a few quotes from one of my little boys...
Yesterday Garrett told his mom he didn't like school. She said, "Yes you do! You love school, you always come home talking about what you did. What do you not like about school?"
Garrett said, "Miss Betsy always makes me do these 20 hour long art projects and I'm just tired of it!"
:) apparently our art lesson was a little intense this week.
In music class today Garrett climbed up on my lap, wrapped his lil 4 year old arms around my neck and whispered in my ear, "It's going to be a very long time until I let you go, Miss Shannon."
makes. my. day.
Yesterday Garrett told his mom he didn't like school. She said, "Yes you do! You love school, you always come home talking about what you did. What do you not like about school?"
Garrett said, "Miss Betsy always makes me do these 20 hour long art projects and I'm just tired of it!"
:) apparently our art lesson was a little intense this week.
In music class today Garrett climbed up on my lap, wrapped his lil 4 year old arms around my neck and whispered in my ear, "It's going to be a very long time until I let you go, Miss Shannon."
makes. my. day.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
a bilingual lunch with team awesome
Team Awesome
Every Tuesday and Thursday I work with an organization called Jumpstart. It's an Americorps partner organization whose goal is to work towards the day when every child enters Kindergarten ready to succeed.
Our team works with a local elementary school's two pre-k classes two days a week one one one with some fabulous children! I can't show any pictures of the kids... but trust me they are ah-dorable.
We end our time with the classes by having lunch with a select few children. The teachers are always on the lookout for "good citizens" and children who are "listening with their whole body" to come have lunch with us in the common area.
Well today's lunch was extra special. We had two boys eat with us (and some cute girls too)... I'll call them Evan and Jose. (none of the names on this blog are the actual names of the children)...
Well Jose is a Spanish-only student... he's learning a lot of English, but is pretty silent most of the time. Evan, however, speaks entirely in English at school and in Spanish at home. We were trying to talk to Jose during lunch, asking him questions, trying to say "apple sauce" in Spanish. How many adults does it take to make a complete sentence in Spanish? In this case, four :)
There we were piecing together sentences to talk to Jose... and when we finally got one correct, he bursts into this "alaksdhfklasjdhfklasjhdfklajhsdfkasjhdf" of Spanish to us! We all looked at each other and said, "uhoh. What in the world did he say!?"
Then we realized Evan could translate!! Jose repeated what he said to Evan, who threw his hands in the hair and exclaimed, "AI!"
When we asked Evan what Jose had said he grinned and said, "I don't know."
Riiiiiight. That's when we knew we were in trouble :) Before we knew it the two of them were chattering away, pointing at various members of our team and laughing. Trouble :) The most we could catch was them calling Lanita a Water Head (we think because her hair is wavy) and the rest of us Apple Heads.
When Lanita tried to ask Evan a question, he sighed and said, "You always say everything wrong."
Well... at least we tried. This girl needs to keep taking Spanish.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Mondays
I start off my Monday mornings with practicum at one of the county schools. I work in a pre-K class that serves at risk children and children with identified disabilities... and it's really a FANTASTIC way to start the week.
Today I left my house at 8:10am, and normally it takes me about 10 minutes to get to school, but there was a rather large accident on the way so I didn't arrive until 8:50am (whoops). My kids were already in music class so I just jumped right in singing "Five Fat Turkeys" with them and was greeted with many hugs.
Our morning message always says "Good morning! Today is..... and then a sentence or two about our days. Today's was already up on the whiteboard in the class and it said:
Good morning!
Today is Monday.
Today we have music.
One of the little boys asked to add a sentence that said: Miss Bremer is here today!
:)
And then at recess one of the boys from the other Pre-K class ran up to me and said, "You look beautiful today!"
Now THATS the way to start off the week.
Today I left my house at 8:10am, and normally it takes me about 10 minutes to get to school, but there was a rather large accident on the way so I didn't arrive until 8:50am (whoops). My kids were already in music class so I just jumped right in singing "Five Fat Turkeys" with them and was greeted with many hugs.
Our morning message always says "Good morning! Today is..... and then a sentence or two about our days. Today's was already up on the whiteboard in the class and it said:
Good morning!
Today is Monday.
Today we have music.
One of the little boys asked to add a sentence that said: Miss Bremer is here today!
:)
And then at recess one of the boys from the other Pre-K class ran up to me and said, "You look beautiful today!"
Now THATS the way to start off the week.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
being a grown up...
Qui'Nazhia: I'm a grown up, Miss Shannon.
Me: Oh really? What makes you a grown up?
Q: I tell people what to do.
:)
Me: Oh really? What makes you a grown up?
Q: I tell people what to do.
:)
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Special guests
Today at Jackson-Via we had some musicians come and play for our two preschool classes. One particularly enthusiastic girl announced, "Oh I LOVE munitions!!!"
Hilarious.
Hilarious.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Today I walked into my Monday morning practicum site and first of all was greeted with a sweet hug from one of my little boys. There's nothing like starting the week off like that!
Then another little boy who is almost entirely a Spanish speaker came running up to me and announced, "I am having a happy Halloween!" Its Oct. 27th :)
It's the first sentence I've EVER heard him speak! He usually just says "Yup" and "Whats'at?" repeatedly. It's so fun to see how much his vocabulary is expanding... today he also correctly named Circles and Squares in Colorama (you know you wish you got to play that game).
Happy day...
Then another little boy who is almost entirely a Spanish speaker came running up to me and announced, "I am having a happy Halloween!" Its Oct. 27th :)
It's the first sentence I've EVER heard him speak! He usually just says "Yup" and "Whats'at?" repeatedly. It's so fun to see how much his vocabulary is expanding... today he also correctly named Circles and Squares in Colorama (you know you wish you got to play that game).
Happy day...
Friday, October 24, 2008
Some choice quotes from the week...
My Shannon is weird.
-- Annabel
You smell like an airplane!
-- Jaylyn
Ania: I saw the real Cinderella. Her sisters made her do all the work. That wasn't very nice.
Me: That's true. What could Cinderella have done about that?
Ania: She could pack up her stuff and leave.
Me: Why do you think she decided to stay instead?
Ania: Because the prince was there of course.
Me: Liv, what did you like about the trip to Whole Foods last week?
Livia: The goat cheese! It tasted like clouds.
-- Annabel
You smell like an airplane!
-- Jaylyn
Ania: I saw the real Cinderella. Her sisters made her do all the work. That wasn't very nice.
Me: That's true. What could Cinderella have done about that?
Ania: She could pack up her stuff and leave.
Me: Why do you think she decided to stay instead?
Ania: Because the prince was there of course.
Me: Liv, what did you like about the trip to Whole Foods last week?
Livia: The goat cheese! It tasted like clouds.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
a fruitful weekend
It was the annual apple festival at Carter's Mountain Orchard this weekend!
Ellen and I headed up the mountain in lil rojo with some of our favorite ladies...
We wandered through the trees in search of the perfect apples... and it ended up that we picked 20 pounds of apples!!! So we came home and got baking...
Ellen and I headed up the mountain in lil rojo with some of our favorite ladies...
We wandered through the trees in search of the perfect apples... and it ended up that we picked 20 pounds of apples!!! So we came home and got baking...
Apple Pie 2008
The lovely Lauren came over for dinner and brought her ice cream maker so we enjoyed delicious vanilla ice cream with our pie!
Then today after church we decided to put a few more pounds of apples to use in the neighborhood...
Homemade applesauce & molasses cookies
Then today after church we decided to put a few more pounds of apples to use in the neighborhood...
Homemade applesauce & molasses cookies
We wandered around the street meeting new neighbors and inviting them to our Pumpkin Carving Party later this month! I'm looking forward to it... and to more pie. :)
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Let's Play Football!
I have two practicum sites this semester where I basically observe children in preschool programs and help the teachers in any way I can. So my Monday and Friday mornings are spent in two different schools in C'ville, and I always come home with stories.
Last Friday, during indoor recess one of the little boys in my class asked me to play football with him....
G: Miss Shannon! Will you play football with me?
Me: Well sure! Do you want me to be the quarterback or do you?
G: (looking confused) No, here's how we play... you throw the ball and I catch it. Then I fall down, and the other guy helps me up. Thats how you play football.
Me: Sounds good.
I proceed to throw the ball... which G attempts to catch :) He then ignores the ball and proceeds to flop his four-year-old self on the ground. I pause... he opens one eye and with a frustrated tone says,
G: Ok! Now you're the other guy. You have to help me up.
Which I did... because thats how you play football :)
Last Friday, during indoor recess one of the little boys in my class asked me to play football with him....
G: Miss Shannon! Will you play football with me?
Me: Well sure! Do you want me to be the quarterback or do you?
G: (looking confused) No, here's how we play... you throw the ball and I catch it. Then I fall down, and the other guy helps me up. Thats how you play football.
Me: Sounds good.
I proceed to throw the ball... which G attempts to catch :) He then ignores the ball and proceeds to flop his four-year-old self on the ground. I pause... he opens one eye and with a frustrated tone says,
G: Ok! Now you're the other guy. You have to help me up.
Which I did... because thats how you play football :)
more anne
Anne Lamott is one of my all time favorite authors... beloved for her wit, honesty about brokenness, and charming reliance on Jesus. I just started her latest book Grace (Eventually) and read this the other night...
I would be fine with life's contractions if they would simply pass when I am ready for them to, so I can be okay again and remember what, after all, I'm doing in labor. Being human can be so dispiriting. It is a real stretch for me a lot of the time.
Anne (we're on a first-name basis) is referring to childbirth and how the pain is worth the end result, much like the sufferings of our faith bring eventual glory. I just love her honesty here... you can hear her clench her fists and stomp her feet a little because life is just frustrating sometimes. Call it what it is!
I would be fine with life's contractions if they would simply pass when I am ready for them to, so I can be okay again and remember what, after all, I'm doing in labor. Being human can be so dispiriting. It is a real stretch for me a lot of the time.
Anne (we're on a first-name basis) is referring to childbirth and how the pain is worth the end result, much like the sufferings of our faith bring eventual glory. I just love her honesty here... you can hear her clench her fists and stomp her feet a little because life is just frustrating sometimes. Call it what it is!
absent...
I am so bad at posting on this... as my friend Stephanie and I talked about it feels weird to put your life on display, especially when you're just in the US (as compared to Uganda, Bolivia, Korea or one of the many other places my friends now live!)...
but as I muddle through gradschool there are some thoughts to share, some quotes that inspire, and some questions I have... so they'll come up occasionally!
but as I muddle through gradschool there are some thoughts to share, some quotes that inspire, and some questions I have... so they'll come up occasionally!
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