Life is like a box of chocolates.... Or toothpaste tube.. Lol!

I have a photo to upload but it won't let me on here! It's a pic of our toothpaste..... It's been all scrawny for like a week now... Like we have to get every last drop. Hahaha. It's funny because earlier when I out it on my toothbrush I was thinking I don't know what I'm gonna do when this runs out! Haha! And then I was thinking man sometimes I feel like this toothpaste... Like I've had the life sucked out of me. I read in a magazine the other day about a lady who gets up at 5 every morning just to enjoy the "me" time, and she even mentioned how much she loved her sleep... This sounds like a great idea! I try to get every minute in I can!!!! Usually I'm in bed til like 7:08.... Hahahaha and I leave around 7:35... I LOVE my sleep! But I stay up late too! Maybe if I go to bed early I could get up at 5.... But I doubt it... It sounds like a wonderful idea... Just wished I drank coffee then it's be perfect! Haha. I ate 2 of those caramel eggs a while ago man I'm gonna get fat!!! Hahaha! I have to stop eating so much! When im at school I eat good but when I'm at home for a whole day bam that's gone!!! You know what else I read??? That exercising doesn't make you lose weight..... Exercising makes you lose inches.. To lose weight you have to eat right also..... Hmm. I'm not cut out for eating right. It sucks its like when I turned 25 I started gaining weight when I eat bad! I used to could eat and eat and eat and not gain a pound.... Now it's not like that at all! Today was the best day off Ever!!! Me and g were home until like 230! Then we had to take some movies back but she was an angel! I think she's finally last those devil fits.... Last time I said that she had one right after that. Now just have to get the whining to stop!!!! That is sooooo annoying! She has to get shots this week! Ahhhhhhh noooooo! I'm going to cry!!!!!! I told her though... I didn't want to hide it from her. I think she will be prepared a ready since she knows, instead of her not knowing and them pulling out the needles! I could see her freakin out if that happened! Man I had a lot to say! But it's too hard to type it on the iPad!!!!! My class is almost over! I so can't wait. This is the last week for stuff and then next week I just have one assignment and its a major assignment that I have to turn into my portfolio... But so thankful it's almost over. Then a new class begins! I haven't wrote a blog post in forever!!! Bt I have to stop now and go to bed! Maybe ill get up at 5! Haha NOT

The Importance of Play (My week 4 assignment- letter to the editor!)

Dear Editor: Have you ever made a mud pie? Do you know what a mud pie is? Of course you do! If you’re old enough to read this, I’m sure you’ve made a mud pie before. The question is, have your children ever made a mud pie? Most would answer probably with a no, but why haven’t they? Children would rather sit in front of the television, Ipad, Ipod or computer than to go outside and play. I hear Mrs. Obama speak about eating healthy and having a healthy lifestyle, but if we are in school for eight hours a day and stuck inside for 7.5 of those hours doing paperwork or busywork, then how can we be healthy? Physically? Mentally? Look at this research project done by Phsychologist Harry Harlow. “Interested in the role of play in socialization of young monkeys, Harlow took away their natural playtime, keeping them in social isolation for up to six months. When he reunited these monkeys with their normally raised peers, they exhibited aggressive social behavior like biting and hitting, as well as autistic-like qualities of rocking and avoidance. However, with the addition of a half an hour of playtime, Harlow found that the socially awkward monkeys could be re-socialized to be comparable to their peers. So, that leads me to wonder, “Is it possible that our kids are like these monkeys?” As they miss these experiences in their childhood, will they become less flexible, less able to agree upon and make rules with their peers, and more aggressive?” (Warner, 2008). Have you ever wondered why there are so many more children in elementary school with labels now than there was 50 years ago? Today, children are forced to sit in a room doing paperwork after paperwork, made to constantly follow directions, all because play is unnecessary. People like to think that academics are more important. The Common Core is pushing teachers to do more and more paperwork so there is less time for other things. I can remember when preschool was just playtime, you were lucky if you’d learn one letter. Kindergarten was meant for teaching letters and more playing. First grade was meant for reading. This year my class is very brilliant and I have started them on reading. I have a preschooler who is able to sound out words and read books on his own! There is only one problem, “Pushing children to perform at a level they aren't old enough to handle increases behavior problems and failure rates and takes away from a focus on the importance of play, which is what 5-year-olds really should be doing. Playing is the best way to learn social skills and self-control—which just might result in kids deciding that they really like going to school” (Shute, 2009). Our state website even stated, “The development of motor skills is essential to the total growth process of children. Current research indicates that movement activates the brain and prepares it for learning. The outdoor environment is the natural place for this to occur” (n.d., p.40). Hand-eye coordination, balance, strength, endurance, negotiation, turn taking, role playing, vocabulary development and social skills are just some benefits of play. Play is the best way in which children learn, not only young children, but also older children. I also read that our body produces Vitamin D from being outside in the sun and you can meet your Vitamin D requirements this way. “Vitamin D is important to the body in many other ways as well. Muscles need it to move, for example, nerves need it to carry messages between the brain and every body part, and the immune system needs Vitamin D to fight off invading bacteria and viruses” (Vitamin D). I found this very interesting because it seems important to be in the sun! If you have a Vitamin D deficiency, your brain and muscles may not function properly. That is one reason why I would love to see older kids having class outside or going on nature walks. Now that I’ve explained how important play is, can you continue giving your school children paper work? There are better ways to handle these things. Children learn better when they are able to put their hands on it. For example, instead of doing math papers, put shaving cream on the kids desks and let them draw math problems, solve them and then “erase” them by smearing the shaving cream back out. There are many different ways to do this. Remember, we are trying to save trees, so slow down with the paper work and get your hands dirty! References Oklahoma Department of Education. (n.d.). The early childhood learning environment. Retrieved February 2, 2013, from http://ok.gov/sde/sites/ok.gov.sde/files/EarlyChildLearnEnv.pdf Shute, N. (2009, April 7). Kindergarten Tests and The Importance of Play. [Blog message]. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/healthnews/blogs/onparenting/2009/04/07/kindergarten-tests-and-the-importance-of-play Warner, L. (2008). "You're It!": Thoughts on Play and Learning in Schools. Horace, 24(2).