Multitude Monday - 1000 Gifts ~ What about Spots?

Back in September, I sat in on what 

has to be, 

hands down,

one of the best English Lit classes...

... EVER!

God knew I needed it, too - it came nipping on the heels of one of those "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad I-think-I'll-go-to-Australia" sorts of days.

I don't actually teach English Lit and I'm not working on any additional degrees - so why was I hanging out in a tenth grade English Lit class?

This year, as a part of my work in Sahel's Center for Academic Progress, I'm helping out/sitting in at least once a week in several of the different ninth and tenth grade classes. During those two grades, most of the students take 5-7 Cambridge International Examinations; therefore several of the classes focus precisely on preparing for those challenging and globally recognized assessments. For students who are working in a second language, coming in from a new school after having already moved around a lot, or struggling with some sort of disability or learning challenge, these exams are no-way-around-it hard. I'm hoping my presence will better help me prepare some students to truly demonstrate what they've learned when it comes time to actually sit for these exams.

That day in class, I listened to a delightful poetry discussion, all about this poem...

Pied Beauty 

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Glory be to God for dappled things -
  For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
    For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches'wings;
  Landscape plotted and pieced - fold, fallow, and plough;
    And all trades, their gear and tackle and brim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
  Whatever fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
    With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
                          Praise him.

Imagine...

Hopkins wrote a poem thanking God because He took the time to draw spots... for His glory and for us to enjoy!

Illustration used with this poem on the
English Language and Literature blog.

this week gratitude list
(#'s 3242 - 3266)

beautiful, amazing and wonderful spots and specklings so many places, if I just take the time to look

delightfully, intricately, gorgeously spiritual poems

a normal week, no schedule changes or major interruptions for the first time since sometime back in August

hearing so many good things about the sermon hubby preached recently

castor oil's amazing healing properties

almost all of the colds finally going... going... gone!

Kiwi friends back from home assignment - and it is such a delight to see their smiling faces at school

a new math student who really seems to love what we're learning in class

finally getting other math students working well with an on-line program from down under

trying pumpkin bisque - even though the kids weren't overly impressed, hubby liked it

listening to my girlie read and make such good progress

seeing that my intuitive grasp of her learning style and preference is correct

sitting in on English Lit - seriously! It has been a highlight nearly every week!

homemade from scratch banana bread and iced sugar cookies - made entirely by Anna... except for help lighting the oven

time to teach organizational skills again, finally

both the SAT and the PSAT behind us for this school year

great books

regardless of the events of this day, the sun will rise tomorrow... and the next day... and the next, Lord willing

only seeing evidence of a very big snake... and not the snake itself

God-granted persistence, because without it, this year would have been a disaster

Dr Seuss books - so great for beginning readers

Halloween party with "candy from America!"

donuts on Saturday, just 'cause

new on-line friends

listening to Elsie Mae sing-read her right now favorite book - and its timeless truth:

Jesus loves me as I dress, and I try to do my best.

Upside down and inside out, 

sometimes clothes can make me pout.

Jesus loves me as I eat: oranges, biscuits, eggs and meat!

Apple juice is in my cup. You can watch me drink it up.

Jesus loves my family. We will work so cheerfully.

Sweep and clean and cook and bake, 
wash and scrub and weed and rake.

Jesus loves me as I learn how to count and wait my turn.

With my friends, I play a game, 
paint and build and write my name.

Jesus loves me as I pay outside, inside, every day.

Chase and race and jump and hop. I don't ever want to stop!

Jesus loves me in my tub, as I wash and as I scrub.

He made me from head to toe. Up and up, I grow and grow!

Jesus loves me by my bed, as my songs and prayers are said.

He will watch and care for me, as I sleep... so quietly.

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong.

They are weak, but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

Yes, Jesus loves me.

The Bible tells me so!

*Jesus Loves Me board book by Debby Anderson*