Memorial Day 2013

I was very fortunate to be in Arlington Cemetery last week with my students and their parents. I have been there many times before, but the experience never gets dull. I weep every time I see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Did you know the Honor Guard there has been guarding that spot since 1930. Non-stop. During hurricanes, blizzards, the September 11 attack. In fact, I sometimes wonder if the guard actually saw the plane crash into the Pentagon from high up on his watch. Whatever he thought as he witnessed evil, he continued his orders to guard those tombs.

My deepest gratitude and respect for the family of this soldier. 

I share this tombstone with you because I think it captures what Memorial Day is all about. Being grateful for men and women like this. Incredible devotion to our country.

One very graphic reminder of the horrors of war…. Revolutionary War medical tools. The tool on the far left is for dental work. Root canal, anyone? 

We also made a stop at Gettysburg and got to hear the breathtaking story of the daring charge George Pickett made at the Union troops, inspiring his men by shouting, "Up, Men, and to your posts! Don't forget today that you are from Old Virginia."…. oh, dear. Didn’t go well for him that day. 

Whatever plans you have for picnics and barbecues, beaches and parades, house work and gardening, please take a moment this weekend and be thankful for those Americans who gave their lives for their country. 

Paper Bowls - what to do with your old cooking magazines

Wanna learn how to make these awesome paper bowls? Read along – they are very, very cool. My students made these in art class; I couldn't resist making my own. 

Start by collecting lots and lots of colorful sheets of magazine pages. Think colorful! Wrap each page carefully around a tongue depressor type craft stick, starting at one corner and making your way to the opposite corner. 

Remove the craft stick, tape the corner, crease the edges and continue until you have dozens of these!

Start making the middle of the bowl by tightly wrapping the first magazine strip around a skewer. Tape it to prevent it from unwinding. 

Continue to add your magazine strips, taping the new strip to the previous strip. Keep going until you have the desired amount. It should look like a huge, flat circle of magazine strips. 

Once you have the desired amount, carefully shape your creation into a ‘bowl’ and slather it with Modge Podge. It is super sticky! Do the outside first so you can rest it (upside down) on a small can or whatever to help it keep its shape. Once it's dry, do the other side. 


Hope you get creative and try this - it is really easy and produces such a unique, practical and usable bowl! Mine is filled with candy :) 


Have you noticed that I am now on Facebook? I'd love to have you as a follower! 

Snickerdoodles : A snack for my students

I made Snickerdoodles today for my 7^th and 8^th graders. They are reading a Jerry Spinelli novel called Loser. It’s the story of a sweet and unique boy named Donald Zinkoff.  Donald is clumsy, he is not great at school or sports, he raises his hand at the wrong time, and he falls down with laughter at his own jokes. Because he is different, he is labeled ‘loser’ by the other kids. Of course by the end of the novel the kids have learned to appreciate Donald for who he is and Donald gains self-confidence. The book is filled with lessons about bullying and the importance of accepting people as they are. Great lessons not only for 7^th and 8^th graders, but for all of us.

The essay question posed to my students is to explain this quote from the book (pg 94). “As with all discoveries, it is the eye and not the object that changes.”  Three well-written paragraphs, typed, one quote from the novel, due tomorrow. J

Another note about Donald Zinkoff – he loves Snickerdoodles.

¼ C sugar

1 T cinnamon

1 ½ C sugar

1 C butter

2 eggs

2 ¾ C all-purpose flour

2 t cream of tartar

1 t baking soda

¼ t salt

Mix ¼ C sugar and cinnamon. Set aside. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and mix well. Add the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Mix well.

Shape dough into 1 ½ inch balls. Roll in cinnamon sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove while warm and cool on rack.