Dr. Kent Parsons' Cllassroom Management Survival Guide

 

The Classroom Management Survival Guide

I have to say I'm so proud of my husband for writing this book! He is so good at education, especially helping teachers manage and run a smooth and well planned classroom. Discipline is his strength, and keeping it simple, which is key to running a great class. When following the tips in his book, yes I've put them to the test with great results, discipline problems will be at a minimum so learning can be maximum. This is in ebook format, for Kindle or using a Kindle app on your device. I urge you to check this book out if you are in education, and please, share with your friends.

Sunday Sharing..... Be Ye as a little child, humble teachable willing to learn....

I heard a saying recently that has me pondering greatly the simplicity of life if we choose to make it so.
It goes something like this: Thoughts lead to choices that lead to actions that determine our character. My grandson is a perfect example. Here he is reading a hymn book. His choice. He found the book on the piano bench and pulled it out. How he knows that it's a music book is a mystery to me, as his parents don't have one around the house; unless he's seen one at our home. This photo was taken at the twins' home by the way. Emmett's first thought was that he wanted to look at books. He loves books and will read by himself on occasion. If you try and join him he will hold his hand up and tell you he's busy. When he chose the hymn book I tried to steer him to another book but this is the one he wanted. Interesting choice for  a 2 year old, but I'm not one to discourage his interest of good things. Emmett has always been this way. He will pull out dictionaries, grandpa's history books, and magazines, just to see what's in there. He would rather do that most days than watch TV. We as adults sometimes muddy things up by either thinking we know better in all things, or thinking we need something in our lives that we don't. Often we put things in front of our children or put them in front of things that will lead to thoughts and choices we don't necessarily approve of. All things being equal, I would rather Emmett pick up the dictionary or a hymn book to thumb through than anything else. He may learn something good and in the process keep his mind free of the mountain of garbage put out there to tempt us.

Sabbath Sharing

As I finished wiping off the remnants of a failed attempt at Honey taffy I pondered on the events of the week. Friday it seemed that no matter what I did, with the exception of laundry, failed. The taffy wouldn't get stiff, the pinto bean fudge turned to a tasty but gooey vat of chocolate, and the white fudge, both batches, turned to sugary masses of not so usable candy. I did manage to get the peanut butter candy to stiffen up, as a matter of fact it was so stiff after sitting in the fridge I had to wait for hours before I could even attempt to pull it out and use it.
So why such a frustrating day? Perhaps it had to do with several things. One, I had a deadline. Murphy's Law states that if you wait til the last minute so to speak, you will have failure. Two, I was trying recipes I'd never used before. Three, I wasn't feeling well. Four, sometimes life is like that. Luckily, through inspiration I was able to salvage the pinto bean fudge, which became part of brownies both inside and as frosting. People loved it! The peanut butter candy I was going to make Reeses peanut butter cups out of, and after dipping a few balls and putting them in the pretty foil cups and realizing that it would take fooooorrreeeeevvvver! to do that, I had the idea come to me that I should take the rest of the candy, shape the rolled out mass into a flat rectangle and spread the melted chocolate over it. Then I could just cut it into squares when cooled. It worked! Funny thing, it was the most popular treat at our Super Service Saturday yesterday. All this was supposed to be for a tasters table showing all the good treats you could create from food storage items. Well I have a mission now, to find that best pinto bean fudge recipe, one that will work. And to get someone to show me how to make taffy. I know someone who knows how but she lives hundreds of miles away.
Speaking of service, here's a story that I found heart warming

http://mormonchurch.org/124/lds-church-helps-dikembe-mutombos-hospital

Here's the recipe I had success with that can be made using all food storage items. Yes, it's okay to have chocolate chips in your food storage....:-)

Peanut Butter Candy

2 c. peanut butter
2 c. honey
2 c. powdered milk

1 c. chocolate chips

In a heavy duty pot warm up honey and peanut butter. Do not bring to a boil. You are just warming it. Add powdered milk slowly, stirring to mix well. On a clean surface, knead candy until smooth. Lightly dust a sheet of tinfoil with powdered sugar and roll out candy to about 1/2 inch thick. Shape into a large rectangle. Melt your chocolate chips over a warm pot of water in a double boiler. I don't use the microwave as I have a lousy one, but if you know how to do this in the microwave, go for it. Spread your chocolate over the peanut butter candy and when the chocolate is set, cut into squares.