pasted

student collage compositions

fall trees

Trees

I think that I shall never see

A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest

Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,

And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear

A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;

Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,

But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer, 1886-1918

Fall trees are a great way to bring a fall day inside. Collect different leaves from different types of trees so that the kids can touch and inspect up close. Use torn brown construction paper to form strong trees and branches on a large white piece of construction paper, glue down with a glue stick and accent with thin yellow torn pieces. Give kids a few pieces of tissue paper about 5x6 and let the kids tear small leaf like shapes but not too small. Using a small brush with a small amount of glue on a plate or in a little dish, show your students how to brush a little on the paper where they want to place the leaves and gently place the thin tissue paper on the glue, avoid pressing to hard because the tissue will want to stick to their fingers and not the paper. Remember....some leaves have already fallen.

goodbye and hello

Who knew that dropping off the edge of the earth could be so easy, it was the staying afloat that was hard, for me 2010 was a year of dizziness, nausea, ointment and band-aids. I'd have to say it is not a place to revisit often but rather a thing to pack up in a small box and take out years from now when all you can remember is the good things. I really had no problem saying......goodbye.

I feel with certainty that 2011 will be a year of mending and transformation. I am not looking for a clean slate but a new beginning......hello.