Hay Happens and Hay's Happen

It’s a teaching term coined by Lew Vygotsky.

You see, you give students support (scaffolds), and then slowly you take away the scaffolds and give them more responsibility piece by piece. This way they experience success at each stage, and they also have a bit of a challenge to do the individual parts on their own. (upon having support).

Well…..I came up with an idea for Tatum to be empowered each day, but also to keep track of her responsibilities; Also, there are incentives! A punch card, HA..who doesn’t love to move towards a goal? Fill out two punch cards, and she gets some money. She is motivated.

I call it Tot’s Data board.

Now, each box checked doesn’t necessarily mean a punch, but it’s fun to check the box!

In order for her to gain more responsibility, I decided to have her fill out her list daily.

So, this morning, she did it.

Good job, Tot! Your work ethic is growing too. (and hopefully her resilience).

I love the LOVE AN LOGIC way of doing things. We are modeling this at home with our Free-to’s and Will Do’s

All rooted in Christ. Amen.

The shoe world is now open to the girl! No more toddler sizes and style. We are growing up!

Making her lunch the day before, I all of sudden got really sad. Now, launching her is such a joy, but I will miss the TOT!
I always give her a little love note.

We also got a few gifts for Mrs. Denmark. We’ll go into today and deliver all the class supplies and Tot’s supplies.

Here is her desk!

Hi Mrs. Denmark! We can’t wait! There are two new girls in the class, so it will be:
Sophia, Maddy, Isabelle, Carley, Tot, and newbies; Liv and Poppy.

There are about equal boys: Caleb, Mason, Hayden, Liam, Diego, Winton.

She’s a giggler apparently!

Also, she is a fair, but fun and hard teacher! We love that.

Well, let’s back up. Tatum popped right out of bed at 6:15. She even did her quiet time this morning and put on the FULL ARMOR of GOD! WOOT WOO!

Oh, here she comes…all uniformed up and ready to rock and roll.

Even Panda earrings to match her….

Coopy, do you like her backpack?

She wanted a smoothie, so I whipped up a banana, raspberry surprise …with whip of course. (and sprinkles!)

We always read the Daily Bread: Today it was on STANDING FIRM! How cool! I just gave her Josh 1:9 as her verse for the year: Here was the encouragement for DB today:

God will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5–6). When we look to Him for help in moments where we feel intimidated, He’ll give us “power, love, and self-discipline” to see our assignment through to the end (2 Timothy 1:7). YES!

You are protected, loved and encouraged, my girl. Let’s be a BUILDER UPPER of others this year.

We arrived early for the prayer and pledge at the flagpole.

I have to DROP HER OFF (YEEKS!) at the FRONT now! WWWWHHHAAATTTT!?? Yes, not the little playground anymore. The big kids entrance. I will NOT be kicking her out of the truck and drive off. I will stop. Walk her to the gate, thank you very much. ! (Until she makes me stop. ) There!

Ok, when I picked her up, her comment was about Mrs. Denmark being AWESOME and a giggler. Oh, I love that.

I took her to get ice cream, and for dinner, we had a little goodie for her + cupcake of course.

Daddy got her a Honeywell mug. It’s a great home for Boo for now. (at least until she picks up our coffee habit! HA!)

More to come. We A.D.O.R.E you Totinator!

YES!
The night before, we gave her a little launch party.

We invited Mama over; Tatum couldn’t wait!

Thanks to takeout tonight, it saved me much work!
OK, we are ready!

Daddy is here too!

I wanted Tatum to know that this year, stand on Joshua 1: 9

I went through each word. What does it look like to be strong? To be courageous!?
To stand firm in your faith and not follow the “crowd.” HE IS WITH YOU wherever you go as you may feel out of place at times. You are NEVER out of place in HIS arms.

We enjoyed conversation of our Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy project.

We were all thankful Mama joined us!

Tatum is ready to unveil each little goody:

GO TOT!

She wanted a little snuggle bug to grab onto! BOO!

And of course, the cupcake! FOURTH grade here we come!

I think she is ready. I am not! HA! I’ll miss you, but I know you are going to rock it, cutie pie!

We are now up to TWENTY little art kisses from me to her on her wall.

I just finished a piece I’ve been working on for a few years! I put it aside back in 2019, and now I picked it up again to finish. (all colored pencil)

A sundae!

But the key is the cherry.

The cherry on top is what she is to me. The cheery cherry. So I framed it. (And I added: A cheerful heart is good medicine (Prov 17:22)).

And then…I found this in my art book. Figured I’d frame it too!

And so…Here is the wall now!

I love you so much, my girl.