When the Kids are Away, the Teacher will Play!!

When I get there, the classroom looks like this.

After setup, it looks a little like this.

Or like this, from the inside.

Station 2 is for discussion and crafts.

A simplified memory verse for four-year-old minds.

One of my personal works of art as decoration for the classroom.

Another drawing (yeah, so they're those damn fuzzy posters. i love 'em.)

Section 3 is for games and exploration

I didn't take a picture of the sign for Section 1, which is for storytime.

My personal effects: plastic animals, blocks, markers, puzzles, a little electronic keyboard, a plastic crown, paper plates, noisemakers.

I colored another (not as awesome) poster for decoration, since no kids showed up today.

An awesome cross built by one of our members. On Good Friday we each hammer a nail into it, then on Easter there is a flower where each nail once was. Creative idea, FBC.

Empty chairs at empty tables.

My empty bulletin board.

So, um, since there were no kids there, I did some... some sort of... ok i played with toys.

These animals are so disproportionate. A zebra taller than an elephant? Chickens that are half the size of a giraffe?

Grey as a mouse,

Big as a house,

Nose like a snake,

I make the Earth shake,

As I tramp through the grass;

Trees crack as I pass.

With horns in my mouth

I walk in the South,

Flapping big ears.

Beyond count of years

I stamp round and round,

Never lie on the ground,

Not even to die.

Oliphaunt am I,

Biggest of all,

Huge, old, and tall.

If ever you'd met me,

You wouldn't forget me.

If you never do,

You won't think I'm true;

But old oliphaunt am I,

And I never lie.

Once upon a time I had lives to protect

I had rules to change

And wrongs to set right

And I had people by my side

And I had rivers I could guide

I wanted nothing in return...

Let me out of here -

Give me back all my dreams!

Let me out of here -

Let me please see the sun!

Let me out of here!

At least tell me what I did wrong!

Once upon a time, Father said to me.

"Child, you are everything you see in your dreams!"

And I thought, "Jesus, that's the key!

There are no walls surrounding me!

There are no prisons in this life!"

Let me out of here -

Let me back to the wind!

Let me out of here -

Let me please see MY SON!

Let me out of here -

Don't you understand who I am?!

I'm King of the World-

Chief of the Sea,

High in the wind!

(At least I used to be)

And I'm King of the World-

Please set me free!

Let me remind them of my promise:

Live my given destiny!

Why are we punished for wanting to explore?

When am I sitting in this cell?

I was not challenging the system;

I was working for the people -

I just wanted to be better!

Why are we punished for wanting to survive?

Why am I locked behind these bars?

Tell the children I'll return to them.

Tell them - Someone!

Let them know I will be free!

And we'll lift our eyes,

And raise our heads

And face the sun!

And tell the future:

I'm king of the world!

Land of the free!

High in the sky -

The best that I can be!

And I'm king of the world!

Watch and you'll see:

Nothing can stop me from tomorrow,

Keep me from my destiny!

I'm king of the world!

I'm king of the world!

I'm . . . I'm . . .

At least I used to be.

Oo-oo-oo-oo-ooo

My Worried Shoes.

These books were mostly mine as a kid.

These books have probably been in the church since Mum was a kid.

I used to wish I was Laura Ingalls Wilder in "The Little House in the Big Woods." I loved it, because it reminded me of camp. I don't think I understood that they lived there.

Puzzles are a staple in a kids' class.

As are messages like, "You are wonderfully made!" "Thanks for being my friend!" and "You're worth more than you think!"

This is a house built by my one daycare kid later in the morning, Colin.

The cylinders are furniture. The ball is actually a ball in his front yard.