Reading, Writing & Arithmetic: What I do not miss about school

Little “Ro” as a 5th grader, at least I think. It was so long ago.

This week’s writing prompt from Mama Kat’s poses the following question: What about school do you miss the least?  How apropos (check me out using my SAT words) as my 6-year-old graduates from Kindergarten this week. I always enjoyed school.  People laugh when I tell them I really enjoy learning. You can laugh now too.  Seriously, even now in my thirties, I enjoy learning new things, storing the info in my brain so I can later share it with others.  Nerdy, yes but it has been beneficial in those awkward moments on the elevator (Here’s a random fact: Did you know: A mosquito has 47 teeth.  And only female mosquitoes bite, they need protein from the blood or their eggs? Feel free to use the next time you are at the family cookout. Special thanks to Random Facts.)Well let me get straight to the point.  I do not like Math.  As a child it just seems like I could never wrap my brain around subtraction, multiplication, division, algebra, calculus. I hated it. I actually would get a sinking feeling in my stomach.  You can imagine I was just as sadden when I discovered in college as a mass communication major I had to take statistics and macro economics.  Really? Torture. And it seems every time I had a math class it always involved the hardest teacher ever! For example,  my first year taking stats, my teacher was known as “Terminating Turner”.  She had a reputation of actually preventing Seniors from graduating.  She was known for giving pop quizzes with one problem.  Rarely wrote on the board and would not go above and beyond to work with you.  I shudder just to think about that woman.  I had to take that class over.  The next year I had a biker chick named Robin. She insisted we called her by her first name. Robin was cool but she was very supportive.  She stayed after class, held office hours and had an attitude that she really wanted me to get this and not glory in tormenting me in this subject. I passed stats that year with a “C”. Hallelujah!As a thirty-something mother of 3, I still don’t like math all that much. Matter of fact, when my husband and I newlyweds, we met with a financial consultant, I refused.  Talking about money with results in talking about math still is not fun.  However, I enjoy being a business owner and talking about profits, which again involves math. Umm, maybe I am growing up.Anyway, my  6-year-old has discovered the wonderful world of math this year.  She is smart cookie. I know I could be bias. However, some of the math problems have been difficult, especially when you have to plug-in the missing number.  For example: 3+blank=7. I saw her frustration. I even got frustrated at times too.  But one thing I had to keep reminding myself is to “not making her hate it.”  I remember as a child my parents sitting with me at the table going over math problems.  My parents became frustrated because I was not getting it, I became frustrated because my thought was “why doesn’t my brain work.” From that point I started to hate math.  So, I had to get in it with her and even though I rather do reading comprehension(Reading/English were my favorite subjects) I had to help her push pass “the hate” and see that with a little time and effort she could get through it.  And we did! Thank you Lord!This week’s writing prompt has me looking at things differently. Instead of saying I hate math maybe now that I have grown up I can say I do not enjoy math but can appreciate why we have to learn it. Now that is maturity speaking there folks(haha).

Now it is your turn. What do you miss least about school? Go ahead and fuss up.

In His Super Grace

Ro:)

Thank You for Helping Me Grow

Teacher Appreciation Week was last week at my children’s school and I am late. There is a lot happening here at SuperMOMdel World Headquarters.  Matter of fact, I have not even posted a Freestyle Friday Craft in more than a month.  Do you forgive me?  Thank you , I need lots of grace!

My children have really great teachers.  Next week, is the last day of school.  Last night, I starting my “Growth” project.  Now here is my disclaimer.  I do have a “supplies” list but as the project progressed it took on a life of its own. I made a lot of adjustments mid way but still want to give you options.

Materials: Chalkboard paint, small flowers pots purchased from The DollarTree, Mod Podge, foam brushes, pipe cleaners, white spoons

I purchased a set of 3 small flower pots for $1.  I used chalkboard paint I picked up from Lowe’s.  It took about two coats, less than 20 minutes to dry. Around the rim of the flower paint I used white acrylic paint to cover the areas where the chalkboard paint spilled over.

The after picture of both flower pots painted

My 4 year-old daughter says it looks like a flower and that is all that matters. 🙂

When I started this project I had my own ideas on how to make a flower out of a pipe cleaner. As you can see from the above it came out “ok” but there is a great tutorial online.  Thank God for Google.  You can watch the video here.  I followed the tutorial. It was very easy but I thought the flower would be too busy.

The finished product: Still not sure I am going to use due the size of my flower pot

Now that the flower pots are dried it is time to mix up the “Dirt” pudding for the inside. I first heard about “Dirt” pudding when I was working freelance at a Law Firm. We were having a party for one of our colleagues and wanted something fun. One of the women made this pudding in a bucket and served it with a shovel. Super cute presentation, trust me on this one. Mine is the quick and “dirt(y)”, (no pun intended) version. You can see the “real” recipe below. This would also be very cool at a little boys birthday party.

I used store brought pudding but I will mix in chopped up Oreo cookies, everything is better with Oreo cookies, right? And of course you can’t have dirt without worms…gummy worms that is.

I lined the flower pots with clear wrap, so the teachers can eat right out of it. (Smarty Pants). I filled it with the pudding and cut around the edge to make it look a little cleaner.

Finally, I covered the top with chopped up Oreo cookies and added two gummy worms. I also work in chalk around the flower-pot: Thank You For Helping Me Grow.

So, what do you think? Is this a good idea?

In His Super Grace

Ro:)

DIRT DESSERT

---

Lg. flower-pot or sand bucket 2 pkgs. Oreos, crushed 2 pkgs. French vanilla instant pudding with 3 1/2 c. milk 12 oz. Cool Whip, thawed 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese 1 c. powdered sugar 1 tsp. vanilla

You want to make sure the cream cheese and Cool Whip are really soft, makes it easier to mix. Also, note the mixture stays fluffiest if instead of mixing the cream cheese mixture in with the pudding, you fold it in.  And you can use more Oreos than called for.

Mix Cool Whip, powdered sugar, vanilla, softened cream cheese; mix pudding mixture separately and then add to other mixture. Use foil in bottom of clay pot. Layer Oreos, then pudding mixture, ending with Oreos on the top. Plant with artificial flowers and gummy worms. Serve with sand shovel.