Hillbilly Hand Fishing

Some of you may already know that I am watching two wonderful kids this summer until I begin teaching. (If you haven't already heard the great news, I accepted a 4th grade teaching position at a Christian School around the area where I will be living. If you scroll two post down, I blogged about it.)

Anyway, last week was my week off while the family I watch went to the beach. After playing with George, the puppy all last week, I was refreshed and excited to come back to work. The first thing the kids wanted to do was to go fishing at a local creek. All morning,  Jessie, her friend and Eric constructed fishing poles to use at the creek. Let me just put this out there before I go any further. Although my family used to have a boat and we would go fishing every summer, I do not think of myself as comfortable when it comes to anything slimy, especially slimy, living, wiggling, fish.

I was surprised at how small the creek was when we arrived and how quickly the fish began to bite and get hooked onto the kiddos make-shift fishing poles. Eric was the brave one who fished with just a string and a hook, and elected himself to be the fish holder while I took pliers to get the hook out of the fishes mouth. 

I sometimes forget how the simple things, like hot dogs, fishing line, and hooks can create such a positive learning environment for kids. Had they known this activity was educational in any way, we may have had problems. However, the kids had no idea they were diving into science and math.  

Of course, kids will be kids and there is always something so special about accomplishing something for the first time and holding up your fish, no matter how small, and smiling for the camera to prove that you did, in fact, catch a fish.  

What I also found true about the experiences I have with kids are just like the experiences I have with adults. Someone always takes the lead, and someone always gets their feelings hurt by the leader. The natural order of leaders and followers begins young. Eric is definitely a leader, especially in this small pack. 

And thank goodness he was the leader because he was fearless when it came to holding the fish for me. I was afraid to tell the kids, but I was scared of holding the fish. After all of those years fishing with my family, I had never once held a fish - and I wasn't about to start yesterday.

All in all, this trip to the creek was a wonderful experience for me as I begin my first year teaching, and a great experience for the kids. I never would have thought that such a small amount of work could result in such positive gains for the kids and I. 

Going into this school year, I realize the obstacles I am going to face: tons of planning, managing my time so that I am not overworking, making each child feel special, attending meetings, etc. However, reassurance from experiences from yesterday, (small but deliberate preparations can lead to such a wonderful learning experience) has really let me see the bigger plans that God has set for me. As long as I am willing to put in the time deliberately, I will be able to successfully engage my students with any activity I come up with.

Madalyn

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

If you know me or Josh, you know that we tend to have brilliant ideas that sometimes fail. One of these great ideas happened last week. Josh wanted to make smoothies for breakfast. With that being said, he purchased the necessary ingredients: Bananas, OJ, and Yogurt - he had frozen fruit already in his freezer. 

A week went by, and neither the bananas nor the yogurt had been consumed. He had heard that if you cannot use the bananas, to put them in the freezer until you found something to do with them. And as for the yogurt, well it stays good for a while as long as it hasn't been tampered with. 

I think God knew that I was craving to bake and to eat said baked goods which is why he lead Josh to purchase bananas and yogurt (at least that is my story - and I am sticking to it). I have also been on a recent health kick and am trying to find low calorie and fat recipes that are good to eat and healthy for you at the same time! I decided that I would whip up some banana chocolate chip muffins! Those ARE healthy, right???

Well, I have to say that I modified the recipe to MAKE them healthy! Take that diet! Below is my recipe for amazingly, moist, banana chocolate chip muffins!

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients:

1 13/4 cups all-purpose flour (I used whole wheat)

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 egg

1/2 cup vegetable oil - (I used 1/3c)

1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used 2/3c)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

3/4 c. semisweet chocolate chips (I used 1/2c)

1. combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda.

2. in another bowl, combine egg, oil, yogurt and vanilla

3. stir in dry ingredients until moist

4. fold in bananas and chocolate chips

5. bake at 350 degrees for 22 - 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. 

6. Cool for 5 - 10 minutes before removing from pans to racks. 

Then Enjoy!

Madalyn

Hello! I Am Miss Bamer, Your New Fourth Grade Teacher

As mentioned in post prior, I have recently graduated from Penn State with a degree in elementary education. While this degree is amazing, it is also very popular which means that teachers aren't in high demand because of the popularity. 

This has made finding a job difficult. 

I had one interview in May that I believed went really well. It was at a Christian school. After talking to God numerous times, I figured out that at this point in my life a Christian school was more of my calling than teaching in a public school. I received a phone call after the interview with the news I was expecting: I didn't get the job. Frustrated, I prayed to God and talked to him about it. This lead me to be at peace with the decision that was made because ultimately God has a plan and I needed to just let him take care of the details. 

It wasn't until I was in church three weeks ago, that I realized what God was trying to tell me about my job situation. I felt a strong urge to get in touch with the Headmaster at the school where I had interviewed prior, to offer my services as a substitute teacher. I had also begun looking into part time positions at my church in children's ministry. 

The Wednesday after I spoke with God about my job finding troubles, I received a call from the Headmaster asking me if I had signed a contract to teach somewhere or if I was still job hunting. My heart began beating out of my chest. You should know by now, if you are a follower of mine, that patience is not one of my God-given gifts. In fact, it may be one of the most worked on side of me. Anyway, he said that he may have an opening in 4th grade but needed a few days to discover if the position was available. It took everything inside of me to number one: not cry. And number 2: not rupture his eardrum screaming with the possibility to work at such an amazing school. 

The next day, I got the phone call. Chills ran up my spine as I weighed what the news was going to be. I answered and within seconds I knew the prayers I had sent to God were working: I accepted the job that had been offered to me over the phone!!!

Since then, I have been meeting with many amazing Christian faculty at the school and looking through the curriculum. I am excited to say that starting in late August, I will finally have my own classroom of fourth graders. And although they aren't Kindergarteners, I know that I will love them just the same. 

If I've learned anything from job hunting it is that God has a plan and by listening and obeying Him, everything always works out. I have been truly blessed! For those of you on the job hunt, regardless of the occupation; hold tight, and trust in God that everything will work out - because it does!

Madalyn