Tradition Tuesday

This great idea for this week's blog post came from a student from last year's class.

I am sure you all have interesting traditions for this time of year. Please describe how your family celebrates the holidays. For years my family enjoyed special sandwiches that we would make ourselves. We called them "sloppy Joe" sandwiches. These were always reserved for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve celebrations. Can anyone describe this special sandwich? Just so you know, it does not contain any ground beef. When I was young, my brother and I used to spend all evening on New Year's Eve cutting up old newspapers to make confetti. At the stroke of midnight, we would go out in the street and throw it around. We made sure we had pots and pans to bang together too. Our parents always had a party so there were many young kids there to join our party in the street.

Tell us about your holidays. Who, what, where, when, why can all be used to describe your celebrations. Don't forget to include how far back in your family this tradition can be traced. Was it the same celebration that your grandmother would have had or your great-grandmother or back and back and back? How has your family's tradition developed or changed? I think you would need to ask your parents about their holidays when they were little to answer that question.

Do a little family research before you post your comments. We can talk about Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. I look forward to hearing from you all.

"Perhaps the best Yuletide decoration is being wreathed in smiles."








Traditional Diwali for Hinduism


The Ball was a geodesic sphere, six feet in diameter, and weighed approximately 1,070 pounds.

Did anyone have a tradition involving snow? Our family did. Let's hear yours.

Memorable Toy Monday

This is the season of gift giving. Children have wide eyes as they think about receiving their favorite toy. Look at each of the toys below. Are any of them familiar to you? Did I find a favorite of
yours? Please comment on the pictures.

I'd like to hear about your favorite toy from childhood. Which one holds a special place in your heart and always will? (No technology, please.)

Explain what makes that one special toy so special to you.

Tickle Me Elmo                      

 




Webkinz

Cabbage Patch Kids

Serene Thoughts this Saturday....

I certainly hope we can find some serene thoughts this day. 

Because we are in the month of December, I thought it was time to start thinking about what happened in the world in 2012. I always love when the news reports include a photo montage of the year in review. This year I may feel differently.  Let's try to think about what happened this year starting way back in January 2012. Try to think about the second half of your 7th grade year and what events happened this past summer. September through December should be easy for you all because of your many current event assignments. This topic will take some research, I'm sure. It took me days and I have only scratched the surface.  We may even have to ask the content teachers like Mr. Eckert, Mr. Szot, Mrs. Buccella, and Mrs. Howanich. Who else would have a handle on the pulse of the world? Mr. Gordon? Maybe. I think he would know what new trivia questions have surfaced in 2012. I bet there are many. Mr. Rizzo or Mrs. Gross? Has there been any new information that would concern a mathematician or accountant?  There certainly have been many developments along those lines. Can you identify them? How about the economy?

I guess you will have to think about that now or even ask these knowledgable professionals. That's your task. I will post pictures, and I ask that you identify the event and the approximate time that it was in the news.

Celebrate.....

Let's say good bye......

In the news......

  

This is what we were watching...

You can add your own list.
 I will add my own favorite show. 

      The news always returns...... 

CNN Reports....

'Why? Why?': 26 dead in elementary school massacre

By Susan Candiotti and Chelsea J. Carter, CNN

updated 11:17 AM EST, Sat December 15, 2012

 

The year in review.......

Famous Quote Friday

Think about friendship. Here are a few famous people talking about their ideas on friendship. Choose one or more and explain. What do they mean and do you agree? Can you prove it? Find an example in real life.

Nobody sees a flower -- really -- it is so small it takes time -- we haven't time -- and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time.- Georgia O'Keeffe

Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad company.
~ George Washington




In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
~ Martin Luther King Jr.

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit.
Aristotle




Without wearing any mask we are conscious of, we have a special face for each friend.
Oliver Wendell Holmes

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.
Buddha

Friendship is one mind in two bodies.
Mencius

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.
Muhammad Ali

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
Albert Schweitzer

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
Oprah Winfrey
Friendship with oneself is all important because without it one cannot be friends with anybody else in the world.

Who said the above quote? Not Oprah. Guesses anyone?