To whom this may concern...

Due to my lack of time (I'm teaching 6 different levels this year),  and also because this blog was not the success I expected it to be among my former students,  I decided not to post anything else here until there's a very strong reason to do it.  (I'm not planning on deleting this blog, though.)

Best wishes,

Your English teacher

A.M.

In case you're interested, you can track me down here.

Time to relax

ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAYS! ;-)

Poetry time

Text source: How to Eat a Poem: A Smorgasbord of Tasty and Delicious Poems for Young Readers

My family tree

Family is one of the topics in the 7th grade syllabus. So 7th graders were asked to build their family tree. All the trees that include photos or drawings and have no spelling or kinship mistakes are now on display in the school library. Thank you for taking part!

Have a laugh!

This is how identical twins are made... ;-)

Simple Past and Past Participle (Irregular Verbs)

Are you still having trouble with the Simple Past and Past Participle of Irregular Verbs? Then go to

http://www.eslus.com/LESSONS/GRAMMAR/IRREGVBS/Ivtest1a.htm

What's your favourite song?

The Holiday Season is over; therefore I've replaced the Christmas carols playlist by the "old" one. If you're a regular visitor to the blog, then you're probably familiar with most of the "old" playlist songs by now. If your favourite songs are not included in the playlist, just say so and I'll take care of it...

Did you know that...? - Wise men still seek Him

Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar were the names of the three Kings from the East who allegedly visited Jesus after his birth and giving Him gifts, namely gold, frankincense and myrrh. They're also known as the Three Wise Men.

Happy New Year!

May God fill your life with lots of Love, Peace and Happiness throughout the year.

Have a bright 2009!

Thank God it's Christmas - lyrics

Here's a beautiful Christmas song by one of my favourite bands: Queen. I'm sure you're familiar with some of their greatest hits. (They play them every day on RFM.)

Oh my love we've had our share of tears
Oh my friend we've had our hopes and fears
Oh my friends it's been a long hard year
But now it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas

The moon and stars seem awful cold and bright
Let's hope the snow will make this Christmas right
My friend the world will share this special night
Because it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one night

Thank God it's Christmas yeah
Thank God it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
Can it be Christmas?
Let it be Christmas
Ev'ry day

Oh my love we've lived in troubled days
Oh my friend we have the strangest ways
All my friends on this one day of days
Thank God it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one day

Thank God it's Christmas
Yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
Oooh yeah
Thank God it's Christmas
Yes yes yes yes it's Christmas
Thank God it's Christmas
For one day

A very merry Christmas to you all

Words and music by Brian May and Roger Taylor

The Reason for the Season

Joy to the world (lyrics)

I've heard at least 6 different versions of this carol so far but it only became one of my favourite Christmas carols the day I had the pleasure of listening to the version sung by Mariah Carey. She really sings the song in a joyous tone. She's amazing! Yes, you can find her version in the playlist below. :-) Enjoy!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.
Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Words: Isaac Watts, 1719
Music: Lowell Mason, 1848

A little gift: Christmas in the morning

Here's a little Christmas gift to you: a Christmas short story by Pearl S.Buck, an American writer who was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. I think you'll like the story... I did. It's called "Christmas Day in the Morning". You can find it at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/8616/christmas/christmasday.html

Mary did you know? (lyrics)

Here's another great song you can find in the playlist below...

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when you kiss your little boy
You've kissed the face of God

Mary, did you know?
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the lamb

Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the great "I am".

Image source: Morgan Weistling

O Holy Night (lyrics)

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!


You can find this song in the playlist below.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

It was the night before Jesus came

'Twas the night before Jesus came and all through the house
Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.
Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care
In hopes that Jesus would not come there.

The children were dressing to crawl into bed,
Not once ever kneeling or bowing a head.
And Mom in her rocker with baby on her lap
Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.

When out of the East there arose such a clatter,
I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.
With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray
I knew in a moment this must be The Day!

The light of His face made me cover my head
It was Jesus! returning just like He had said.
And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth
I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.

In the Book of Life which He held in His hand
Was written the name of every saved man.
He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;
When He said "It's not here" my head hung in shame.

The people whose names had been written with love
He gathered to take to His Father above.
With those who were ready He rose without a sound
While all the rest were left standing around.

I fell to my knees, but it was too late;
I had waited too long and this sealed my fate.
I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;
Oh, if only I had been ready tonight.

In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;
The coming of Jesus is drawing near.
There's only one life and when comes the last call
We'll find that the Bible was true after all!


~~~~~Author Unknown~~~~~

WHY IS JESUS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUS?

Santa lives at the North Pole ...Jesus is everywhere.
Santa rides in a sleigh ...Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.
Santa comes but once a year. Jesus is an ever present help.
Santa fills your stockings with goodies ...Jesus supplies all your needs.
Santa comes down your chimney uninvited ...Jesus stands at your door and knocks, and enters your heart.
You have to wait in line to see Santa ...Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.
Santa lets you sit on his lap ...Jesus lets you rest in His Arms.
Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi, little boy or girl, what's your name?"... Jesus knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our history and future, and He even knows our hearts and how many hairs are on our heads.
Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly ...JESUS has a heart full of love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.
All Santa can offer is HO HO HO ...JESUS says, "Cast your cares on me for I care for you."
Santa may make you chuckle but ...JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.
While Santa puts gifts under your tree ...JESUS became our gift and died on the tree, For you and me.
It's obvious there is really no comparison. We need to remember, WHO Christmas is all about. We need to put Christ back in Christmas, JESUS is still the reason for the season.
Yes, JESUS is better, He is even better than Santa Claus.

Merry CHRISTmas!

Text source:http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Fields/8616/christmas/jesusisbetter.html