A Proverb From Maritza

If you are planning for a year ... plant rice. If you are planning for a decade ... plant a tree.
If you are planning for a lifetime ... educate a child. --Chinese Proverb

Have a Wonderful Spring Break

On Saturday I'll be traveling to visit my parents at their home at Lake Panasoffkee. During my week's stay I'm looking forward to the following:

My mother making grits for breakfast,

Spending a lot of time visiting with my parents,

Enjoying some cool weather,

Going shopping for clothes at Bealls,

Working in Mom's flower garden,

Eating dinner at my brother's new house and

Looking at homes for my future retirement.

I hope that you and your family have a great Spring Break. Let me hear from you!

Karla

Primary Inservice

An inservice was held for Primary teachers on March 16, 2008. It was a great pleasure to meet the Primary teachers in our ward! Our Primary teachers are caring, hard-working AND dedicated. I am looking forward to serving as their Inservice Leader.

At our meeting the teachers were challenged to contact at least one child who has not been attending Primary. Each teacher agreed to make contact and report back in April. Also, I mentioned that the only time food should be provided during Sunday Primary is when it is included as part of a lesson.

The Junior teachers shared their inservice needs. They would like to receive ideas and suggestions about their lessons in advance. They would like specific suggestions about how to tie in object lessons as they teach and how to teach to a specific age group. Behaviour management for the younger children was mentioned. They were interested in helpful web sites as well as a way to open up communication among teaches via e-mail. (Hopefully this blog will encourage dialogue among Primary teachers.)

The Senior teachers wanted suggestions on how to maintain a smooth transition from the large group setting to the classroom. They want ideas for classroom management so that their focus will be on the lesson and not management.

Speaking in general conference, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, "We are so grateful to all who teach. We love you and appreciate you more than we can say. We have great confidence in you." I completely agree with Elder Holland. And again, I am looking forward to this calling. Our Primary teachers are wonderful!

Relief Society Book Club - March

THREE TICKETS TO PEORIA by Nancy Anderson , Lael Littke, and Carroll Morris was the book for March. It's the second book in a trilogy about three LDS women who become close friends while at a BYU Education Week. Their friendship lasts many years as they provide support and comfort for one another through the many trials and tribulations of being a Mormon wife and mother. Of course, we had a great discussion! Some of the topics were: What are the consequences of keeping secrets? How would you respond if your teenager wanted to investigate another faith? What were the strengths and failings of the husbands in the book? I gave the book two stars. Well...for me one of the best parts of this month's meeting was the delicious meal we had at Sal's Italian Restaurant in Miramar. Yummm! Please join the group in April for the book GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING by Tracy Chevalier. Keep on reading!