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About Haven Caylor-Brown

http://havensideals.com

Haven Caylor-Brown has an Educational Doctorate in Instructional Leadership. He is a husband and the father of twins, Carter and Ammon. He has taught for over 26 years: From kindergarten to graduate school. His other degrees include Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction, a Master of Education in Social Studies Education, and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies Education. Carter, Ammon, and Haven are featured in Pyle & Karinch’s Find out anything from anyone, anytime (Career, 2014) for his parenting strategies in questioning children for information, and he is also featured in Scenic Scenes: A collection of Chattanooga’s arts and literature (Over the Counter Productions, 2013) with two short stories regarding parenting. Haven is also the author of Christmas Hawk (Xlibris, 2015) a delightful story about a Red-tailed hawk and the special role she plays during the yuletide season.

Posts by Haven Caylor-Brown

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Holy Week: Jesus Washes the Apostles’ Feet – Revised April 7, 2020

. Holidays, Jesus Christ Follower . , , , , , ,

John 13: 3-30

If you knew you would be dead in the next 24 hours, would you take time to wash your friends and family’s feet? Wouldn’t that be a bizarre act? Well, that is one thing Jesus did KNOWING he was going to die. Jesus wanted the 12 disciples to know that he did not think he was any better than they. He was their master yet he wanted to serve them. The serving wasn’t to stop there but to continue with them serving others.

I’ve often thought of Jesus washing dirty, stinking, calloused feet of his friends. Here is the son of God that came down from heaven and all of its glory sitting on the floor of an upper room in some home in Jerusalem almost 2,000 years ago, humbly and gently washing 12 burly men’s feet.

During the Holy Week, the main idea is that Jesus was crucified and while being crucified took on the sins of the world. However, we sometimes skip over the fact that the one of the last things he taught just hours before his death was to love and serve others.

To answer my own opening question, I’m not sure how and where I would fit serving others in, but, yes, I would serve others in fullest capacity I could in those last hours. However, I can do it HERE and NOW without a “death sentence”….that is what Jesus wants us to place in our hearts and act upon immediately. Have a blessed day, friends.

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Palm Sunday: Revised April 5, 2020

. Holidays, Holy Week, Jesus Christ Follower . , , , , , ,

Matthew 21:1-11, Mark 11: 1-11, Luke 19:29-42, & John 12: 12-19

Jesus was a human who experienced times of elation just like us. How many times have we had the thought, “It can’t get any better than this?” buuuuuuuuuuuut, we know it is fleeting and cannot always be this way. Our lives are not this way.

It is important to first mention that all four of the Gospels write of this event.  Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem must have been quite a sight to behold. The clamor, the hubbub about the Messiah/Hosanna, and the spiritual excitement of the King of Jews entering Jerusalem to “reign forever” must have been a glorious moment. It was a fulfillment of prophets from Zechariah (9:9): Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem. Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he, and riding on an ass and upon a colt the foal of an ass. The people even lay palm branches on the street like a red carpet for their king.  What deserved pomp and circumstance for Jesus yet what physical and mournful tragedy awaited our Lord!

If you will, imagine all the Gospels from their beginnings to this point being like a roller coaster that chugs up a hill: Palm Sunday is the top/pinnacle of the hill. For Jesus, his physical life creeks over the top, then begins to plummet. In five days, Jesus the future Christ would be humiliated, beaten, and killed on a cross a criminal…to the world a crash at the bottom of the hill. However, it wasn’t the end, but the beginning of our assuredness of eternal life though Jesus Christ.

Enjoy Palm Sunday and get ready to walk Holy Week with Jesus anew.

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St. Patrick’s Day 2015

. European Destinations, Family Travel, Holidays . , , , , , , ,

St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, Ireland: June 13, 2011 I’ve always enjoyed all the “wearing of the green” and the leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day. However, it wasn’t until our day in Dublin, Ireland June of 2011, that I felt a “spiritual conncetion” with Saint Patrick.  I had even read several times yet without absorbing much history of Saint Patrick to really know his story.

St. Patrick

He had been taken from  homeland in Wales (Great Britain) to be a slave in Ireland. He was approximately 16, and by his early 20s he had made it back to Wales. He then became a minister and returned to Ireland. He writes that he “baptized thousands of people”. He ordained priests to lead the new Christian communities. He converted wealthy women, some of whom became nuns in the face of family opposition. He also dealt with the sons of kings, converting them too.

Carter, Nana, Haven, & Ammon (admiring the vaulted ceilings)
June 13, 2011: St. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, Ireland

My favorite building in Dublin, Ireland was St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It had such a warmth and “spirit” about it. It wasn’t like other cathedrals I have been in where it was like a museum instead of a place of worship. St. Patrick’s work was filled with love and giving, and his spirit seems to permeate his cathedral.

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Ash Wednesday

. Church, Family . , , , ,

Genesis 3:19. “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

ash_wednesday

Luke 9: 23:  “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Ash Wednesday

I love, appreciate, and admire those Christians who wear their ashes in such an outward manner today!  By no means does an outward form of appearance show what is in the heart of a person, but it is one of the few times in the year that people in droves of numbers actually show that they are followers of Jesus Christ as they go out and about with an ash cross on their foreheads. Ammon and Carter understand the tradition, and they understand wearing ashes to show their faith in Jesus the Christ.

Non-Christians, maybe take a few minutes today to “google” Jesus Christ, or Ash Wednesday. The event isn’t found in the Bible, but it is an event that many use to remember Jesus as a human and his sacrifices. This is the first event in a Christian “season” that leads up to Easter over 40 days from now.

ash_wednesday-1

Christians in Chattanooga, I know the Episcopal, most Methodist, and Presbyterian churches will have Ash Wednesday services: usually morning, noon, and maybe an evening service as well.

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“Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime”

. Family, Learning, Parenting . , , , , , , ,

Ammon, Carter, and I are in a book! It’s called Find Out Anything From Anyone, Anytime.

Maryann Karinch and James O. Pyle co-authored this book, and one of Maryann’s chapters is Questioning in your Personal Life. She wanted to incorporate my good questioning techniques that I use with Carter and Ammon. She even references my future book (still unpublished, but written none the less!) and has a transcription of a conversation Ammon, Carter, and I had as we planned our Disney World trip last August.

Maryann sent Carter and Ammon signed copies of her book with a “Thank You.” We are all mentioned in her Acknowledgments, and our part of the book can be found on pages 208-211.

Maryann is an effective author, and I think you all would enjoy reading this book. The “Find Out Anything….” can empower us to:

-Identify and practice good questioning techniques.
-Recognize types of questions to avoid.
-Know the questions required when hearing unconfirmed reports of gossip.
-Practice good listening techniques and exploit all leads.
-Determine when and how to control the conversation.
-Gain real expertise fast.

I enjoyed the book, and I think you all will too.

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“Christmas Waltz” 2013

. Christmas, Holidays . , , , ,

I’ve seen several picturesque frosts on the ground these past few days. Mother Nature and the art that she creates is incredible: the ice crystals on the clover or the feathery, ice designs on the sheets of ice on our pond. The frost was so heavy that there was still frost on the ground in the shaded areas at 10 o’clock that morning.

The frost reminded me of the opening lines of “The Christmas Waltz” song. I never really appreciated the song until one of my favorite singers/actresses, Kristen Chenowith, sang it on her Christmas album from 2009.I appreciate her vocal talents, sense of humor, and Christian spirit.I want to share the song with you all.

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Letter T Preschool Unit Plan

. Holidays, Unit Plans . , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tt
Unit Plan

Of course if you choose the Unit T around “Thanksgiving”, you can transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker ;o)

Letter T composer!

Letter T composer!

Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Waltz

Mathematics: TN KCC A.3, KCC B.5, KCC B.4b, KOA A.1 & A.2, KMD A.1 & A.2

Social Studies: TN Transportation & Traditions of people 1.02 c & d.

Thanksgiving

Science: TN K- Technology 7.T/E.1, T/E.2, T/E.3

Weather 7.8.2

-Weather Data -Heat Chart

Language Arts: TN RFK 2.d, RFK 3.b, SLK 1.a, SLK 1.b, SLK 6, LK 1.a, LK 1.f, RLK1, RLK2, RLK3, RLK4, RLK5, RLK9, RFK3b,

Squanto’s Journey: The story of the first Thanksgiving by Joseph Bruchac

The Story of Thanksgiving by Nancy J. Skarmeas

When Tilly Turtle Came to Tea by Carol Pugliano-Martin

Multiple Intelligences

Verbal/Linguistic- Letter T reading, writing, Capitals & punctuation, & translate Merry Christmas into Spanish & German

Logical Mathematical- math (numbers 1-120), Triangle, test

Body Kinesthetic- Tap, texturize

Spatial- Draw /Color T & t coloring w/ABC Mouse.com, picture

Music/Rhythm- tap

Interpersonal- Relating to Daddy S, Daddy H, & Mamaw, & Nana, Kindness

Intrapersonal –Asking how they are experiencing their day with a video journal from iPad

Nature- Thermal, Temperature

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Letter A – Preschool Unit Plan

. Preschool Unit Plans . , , , , , , , , ,

Aa- Unit Plan

Autumn

Autumn

Autumn Activities: http://www.123child.com/lessonplans/seasonal/fall/fall.php

Mathematics: TN KCC A.3, KCC B.5, KCC B.4b, KOA A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, & A.5 KMD A.1 & A.2

Measuring ingredients for Home Made APPLE Pies

Carter creates his Apple Pies

Carter creates his Apple Pies

Ammon creates her Apple PIes

Ammon creates her Apple PIes

Social Studies: TN Seasons K3.02 (c) (Autumn), K 1.01-Physical Attributes, K4.01 (d) Authority, 4.04 (b) Allegiance

Science: TN K Take APART 7.1.3, Biology w/animals 7.3.1 (water, food, & air), Weather- 7.8.1, 7.8.2

-Weather Data -Heat Chart

Language Arts: TN RFK 2.d, RFK 3.b, SLK 1.a, SLK 1.b, SLK 6, LK 1.a, LK 1.f, RLK1, RLK2, RLK3, RLK4, RLK5, RLK9

The Adventures of Abby Alligator By Maria Fleming

Multiple Intelligences

Verbal/Linguistic- reading, writing, Capitals & punctuation, short “a” & long “a”, articulate, analogize,

Logical Mathematical- math (numbers 1-20), addition, analyze, abstract, analogize,

Apple Pies- Recipe (measuring ingredients)

Body Kinesthetic- Acrobatics, activate, assemble,

Spatial- Air art (straws), align,

Apple Jack Necklace (Kellogg's Cereal loved the Tweet)

Apple Jack Necklace (Kellogg’s Cereal loved the Tweet)

https://twitter.com/Twin_Travel/status/388708218433593344/photo/1

Music/Rhythm- accordion

Interpersonal- Relating to Daddy S, Daddy H, & Mamaw, & Nana, associate,

Intrapersonal –Asking how they are experiencing their day with a video journal from iPad, analyze, assess,

Nature- Adopt a tree

Adopt a Tree: October 10, 2013. Our Maple Tree is still quite green and Carter & Ammon can still wear shorts

Adopt a Tree: October 10, 2013. Our Maple Tree is still quite green and Carter & Ammon can still wear shorts

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Letter B – Preschool Unit Plan

. Preschool Unit Plans . , , , , , , , ,

Bb
Unit Plan

Letter B "Bean Art"

Letter B “Bean Art”

Mathematics: TN KCC A.3, KCC B.5, KCC B.4b, KOA A.1 & A.2, KMD A.1 & A.2

Social Studies: TN Business 2.02, Seasons 3.02 “c” (Autumn)

Science: TN K Building Blocks 7.1.2 , Biology w/plants & animals 7.3.1 (water, food, & air), Weather 7.8.2

-Weather Data -Heat Chart

Language Arts: TN RFK 2.d, RFK 3.b, SLK 1.a, SLK 1.b, SLK 6, LK 1.a, LK 1.f, RLK1, RLK2, RLK3, RLK4, RLK5, RLK9

Bubble Bear by Maxwell Higgins

Multiple Intelligences

Verbal/Linguistic- reading, writing, Capitals & punctuation

Logical Mathematical- math (numbers 1-20)

Body Kinesthetic- Balance, basketball, bowling, base ball

Spatial- Draw /Color B & b coloring w/ABC Mouse.com

Music/Rhythm- Brahms, Beethoven, Bossa Nova

Brahms

Bossa Nova

Beethoven 5th

Beethoven: Moonlight

Ode to Joy

Interpersonal- Relating to Daddy S, Daddy H, & Mamaw, & Nana

Intrapersonal –Asking how they are experiencing their day with a video journal from iPad

Nature- Biology

http://concord.org/stem-resources/subject/biology?gclid=CPyti9L7hroCFWpp7AodC1oAPg

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Disney World: Three Tips for a Dynamic Disney World Vacation

. Family, United States Destinations . , , , , , ,

IMG_2491

Click on “Disney World Tips” below to read the article, and as always, “Likes”, “shares”, & comments are greatly appreciated.

Disney World Tips