Stories with Students

Class started up for me a few weeks ago, and for the most part it's been pretty simple.  My lesson plans and quizzes and presentations have all been finished sometime before school started so it's mostly been autopilot, until yesterday.  Maybe that's why I was such a mess yesterday morning.

Last semester my first speech was a demonstration speech.  You know- they demonstrated some skill.  Thrilling.  But I started thinking about it and I realized that I had total freedom on my first speech and I wasn't using it.  

So this semester they are telling a fairytale.  It's been interesting to watch which stories they choose to tell.  you can tell the ones who are really nervous about the assignment.  They choose things like "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" or "Jack and the Beanstalk."  But I've had a couple who have chosen stories like "King Thrushbeard" and one who even chose "Frau Holle"- a story that I've been wanting to learn for a while now.  I'll let you know how it goes.  

*****

It got a little messy.

On a totally different note, I've been working on a few small projects around the house lately.  One of them is this shirt that I made for Jonah.  I got the idea from I Am Momma.  She's got a lot of great ideas for boy friendly crafts.  

I used a bleach pen and traced a line drawing of a tractor, and then I went back and embroidered the tractor lines on the bleached spots.  My first attempt was a little messy and the bleach bled more than I intended, but it al kind of makes it look more like a kid's drawing- which is actually what I was going for.  I also had a pretty interesting adventure with wonder under.  I bought the wrong kind (the sewable kind for applique) so it had to be redone, but at least I know what I'm doing now.  

I'm hoping that I can make several more for the fall. She has a cute robot pattern, and she shows you how to use fabric spray paint as well.  I really want to do one for Caroline, too, but so far I can't really think of a good idea that isn't flowers or butterflies... and I get kinda sick of pink.  I'll let you know how that goes, as well.