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Last Classroom Tip!

. Education . , , , , ,

I could probably spend an hour of lecture and showing examples of this, but I hope I can do it justice in a few paragraphs. In the ESL classroom, I would recommend a Multicultural Station. It may be difficult with physical environment constraints, but maybe you could stack them in plastic boxes.

Okay, it will take several weeks of research and collecting, but it’s doable. When you know the demographics of your students, it is much easier. From the nationalities/cultures of your students you should collect 1)salutations and expressions of courtesy  and TRY to learn to pronounce them correctly 2)translations of some of their legends, poetry, etc. 3)games, and 4)arts and crafts.

The thing about an ESL classroom is that it is dynamic. It USUALLY doesn’t stay stagnate, and you will be welcoming all sorts of students from a variety of different countries at any point in time (In 1995, the Fulton County School System in Georgia had ESL classrooms with 14 different languages in them, and they were always changing). When a new student arrives, spend a day or two (time used at your discretion) and work with the kit with you old students and new student to hopefully acclimate your former students to the culture of the new student, and the new student will be thrilled that you all are welcoming him/her with familiar things they are use to.

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Resurrection

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Because our Jesus was resurrected, we know that we will be resurrected as well. Thank you, God for sending us your son and our savior to take on our sins on the cross at Calvary. Thank you, Jesus, for loving us enough that although you were without sin you became sin for us so that we may stand sinless before God’s throne in the day of our resurrection.

“He’s Alive” by Dolly Parton

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Good Friday

. Jesus Christ Follower . , , , ,

Well, it’s almost noon on Good Friday. Jesus’ crucifixion had probably begun the 6th hour of the day as Apostle John records, and that would have been 6:00 in the morning. Jesus was so popular (remember his triumphant entry just a few days before there in Jerusalem), and the arrest, the trumped up charges in the “Jewish court”, the beatings and the questionings had been done in the early morning hours so the general public would have no idea Jesus was on trial. Jesus’ followers probably would have revolted, but it all happened according to God’s plan.

Jesus’ garments had been divided, Jesus had been taken down from the cross, and he had been placed in a tomb bought for him by Joseph of Arimathea. What a bleak and sad Friday for Jesus, his family, and his friends.  However, as we know, and as we should always remember, it is our “Good Friday”: the day our Jesus (the sacrificial lamb without sin) took on our sins so we could stand before our God cleansed, sinless, and as white as snow.

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1,000 Views! Yiiiiipeeee!

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1, 000 Views!!

As of 9:00 p. m. Wednesday evening April 20, 2011, we have 1,059 views. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Okay, I will not bother you all again with view milestones until 5,000 ;o)

I am truly grateful for everyone who has joined me and posted comments. I appreciate your input, positive energy, and prayers. God bless you all. Haven

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Holy Week

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What a man Jesus of Nazareth was, and we see all of his glory in the last week of his life. From Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday we Jesus entering into Jerusalem as the king of the Jews, the preacher telling the Pharisees they are truly missing the mark in God’s kingdom, the friend humbling himself as he washed his apostles’ feet and allowed a friend to betray him , the sacrificial lamb who voluntarily was beaten and killed on a cross for our sins , and the risen savior who conquered sin and death.

I hope you enjoy this small menagerie of nick-knacks that I put together. I know eggs, rabbits, and chicks are not in the “Easter Story” of Jesus, but they are a part of our Christian culture and how we can celebrate the beauty of spring and new –life with the new life Jesus the Christ had for himself and provides to all of us.

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Whippoorwill time!

. Family . , , ,

April 19, 2011

For you sleep lovers out there this is going to sound weird…I was so excited when I heard my first whippoorwill of the season EARLY Monday morning around 3:oo A. M. I had to check on Ammon who evidently had a bad dream, and as I returned to bed, I heard the whippoorwill.  I crept to our back door closest to the mountain, propped myself up against the door, and listened sleepily to the bird’s call. Why was I excited? Well, for several reasons. First of all, I love nature.  My great-great-great grandfather was ½ Cherokee (some say ¾) Indian. I know him simply as Grandpa Edwards (Pap Eddards they use to say). I believe I speak for quite a few of us when I say that there’s a sort of genetic encoding where nature beckons to us when we have Cherokee blood. Secondly, my father (Oliver Haven Caylor) who lived from 1939 to 1982 and was a part of my Cherokee ancestry always said that the “warm spring” was officially here with the first call of the whippoorwill. Lastly, I love the whippoorwill call itself. As I listened early Monday morning, I had warm memories of Daddy, enjoyed the whippoorwill’s call, smiled, and returned to bed where a delicious “return to slumber” awaited.

I would be honored if you would read more ABOUT
me and my family.

If you have a penchant for European Destinations, check out some of my other entries.
Give me a Google “Haven Caylor” for some of my other works and enjoy a few links as well.

Dollywood (Country Music Singer’s Theme Park) in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
Marriage Equality in Tennessee

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Students and the Community (PTA/PTO Part II)

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Hey, Everyone

Now, this was something I CHOSE TO DO because 1)I was single 2)I was bilingual with Spanish (not a necessity) 3)I took it on as a “personal ministry”. In 1997 I was teaching ESL, and where I was attending church at the time had a Hispanic outreach program, and it had a Spanish-speaking preacher. The preacher moved, and they needed someone to preach while they looked for a full-time replacement. I volunteered to preach, but I also acted as a youth minister. I invited my students (my student population was 100% Hispanic) from my classroom to come to church services and to participate in after church activities on Sundays.  It was a lot of time and effort, but I really enjoyed it. At the end of that school year, the church found a full-time preacher, and I relinquished my position. That was a very fulfilling time for me.

Not every teacher can spend as much free time as I did with my students, and you SHOULD NOT FEEL OBLIGATED to; however, if the situation (church, community projects, sports) presents itself, give it a try. I enjoyed my students’ “out of the classroom” lives, and grew close to many of their parents. It was a time I truly cherish and have preserved for eternity in my heart.

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In the ATL (And Rich’s Department Store)

. Atlanta, Family, Nanny & the Alexanders . , , , , , , ,

I along with probably millions of people who have lived in or frequented Atlanta for the past 40 or 50 years all remember Rich’s Department Store. Someone who is my mother’s age remembers it even better. Every time we go shopping in Atlanta, I think of Rich’s. I can’t help it! The family and I were just in Atlanta this past Friday and Saturday morning, and we went shopping at Lenox Square. If for some reason you are not too familiar with Atlanta and the Buckhead area, but like to go to Lenox Square Mall, the Lenox Rich’s was at the Peachtree Street side of the building. Macy’s took at big chunk of it on that end.  I really miss it, and get nostalgic every time we go.

Rich’s was started in 1867 in downtown Atlanta, and by 1906, it was in a large building between Martin Luther King and Whitehall Streets. My Nanny Caylor grew up in Atlanta from 1918 until 1936. She, her mother, and two sisters use to go shopping at Rich’s. When my Nanny was a child, Rich’s had a “pulley system” that ran above the customers heads with containers.  Evidently, the customers placed a ticket that coincided with the merchandise with their money, and then they sent the container to a cashier. The cashier then sent the receipt and the change back to the customer.( Now, if any of you can explain better, please do. It’s been about 30 years since my Nanny last told me the story).

My Nanny’s mother (Sarah Maro Cox Aleander… Sadie Alexander) was also a genius at sewing.  My Nanny rarely had store-bought clothes, but she had excellent home-made clothing. If my Nanny Caylor saw a dress she really liked at Rich’s, my Nanny Alexander would say, “Okay, let me study it for a few minutes.” She would then analyze it, store it in her memory then make my grandmother a dress like it. Cool, huh?

I only got to go the main Rich’s building one time around 1986, and I really enjoyed it. It closed not too long after that. Not just for nostalgia sake, I always enjoyed shopping at the Rich’s department stores that were in the Atlanta malls until the early 2000s. They had great, quality, men’s clothing (especially their ties), and always had good sales. Oh, me, thanks for the shopping memories, Rich’s!

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Move over Michael Phelps….

. Family . ,

Move over Michael Phelps and Rebecca Soni, here come Carter and Ammon swimming up behind you! It’s the London 2012 Summer Olympics or bust, and my children might take your place on the United States swim team! Nah, just kiddin’! They’re just 2 and a half.

I’ve been so proud to watch Ammon and Carter swim around and make it to the edge of the pool during their lessons. It has been two weeks, and thanks to Mr. Will, their instructor, things are going fine. The school isn’t certifying for lifeguard training, but I am taking comparable lessons, so as to be able to save my family if the necessity arises (let’s hope not!!!!).

Enjoy your Friday, everyone!

Carter and Mr. Will

 

Ammon and Mr. Will