Slippers for Mom

Today is Mother's Day.  My latest knitting project was to knit these slippers for my Mom.  I like the way they came out, but they are on the roomy side.  They should keep her feet nice and warm while she's sitting down. I'm just hoping she doesn't walk out of them when she tries to go to the kitchen to fill her coffee cup.

25 Years!

I am about to complete my twenty-fifth year of teaching in the Des Moines School District.  During that time I have taught first through fourth grades, and I have spent twenty-two of those years at Phillips.  So what do you get for teaching 25 years?  A glass paper weight!

Flowers From My Fourth Graders

This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week. We are very lucky at Phillips, because we have a very active PTA who do a lot for us.  Each day there were treats waiting for us, and our principal provided us with an incredibly delicious lunch on Wednesday.  The PTA gives each teacher a vase and throughout the week kids bring flowers.  By the end of the week I had this beautiful bouquet.

Homespun Yarn

I'm thinking about making a trip to a couple of yarn shops today.  I like buying it and knitting with it, but I don't think I'm ready to spin my own.  I saw this yarn hanging by the stairs in the 1850 farmhouse at Living History Farms.

Farm Field Trip

Last Friday was our annual field trip to Living History Farms.  When I drove to school in the morning, it was raining, but fortunately it turned into a really beautiful day.  We did the usual tour.  We were disappointed when there was not a blacksmith at the blacksmith shop.  My little talk about what goes on there was not very informative.

As we were leaving the 1850 farm the guide let us know that the sheep were free, but not to worry about them.

They were up ahead of us on the trail.  They must have decided to serve as trail guides because they lead up all the way to the footbridge leading to the 1900 hundred farm.  She had to come after them to round them up.  She said they had never gone that far.

It was a great field trip, but I was totally exhausted when that week came to an end.

Medieval Paper Dolls and Foldables

We do lots of writing when we study the middle ages.  This year we made Medieval Paper Dolls representing the people of the middle ages.  We wrote a report in the third person about the life of these people. Then we wrote in the first person from the perspective of a knight, peasant, monk or lady.  We also created foldables to explain the Feudal System.  With twenty-seven castles in the room, it wasn't easy to find a place to work.

Castle Project for 2012

We have been studying Medieval Europe since early April.  Our castles were due last Wednesday, May 2, just in time for Core Knowledge Night.  We had lots of visitors in on Wednesday and Thursday during the day so see our wonderful castles.  Here are the castles for 2012!