General Conference Traditions

“Mom, when is general conference?”
"Just three more weeks."
 “Oh, good!” is her sincere answer.

This is a conversation I had with my fourteen-year-old daughter, Christina, a few weeks ago. We've had similar ones ever since. My teenage daughter is sincerely excited for general conference!

Traditions are key to the success of any activity. My children thrive on traditions. One or more of them will remind me weeks in advance of what I need to do to start getting ready for the upcoming occasion. That's good because I am a very last minute person and if they didn't remind me, things just may not happen. One semi-annual tradition we have is watching the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But not only do we watch it, we make it an event, a big huge deal! It is my favorite weekend out of the year, so why not make it big?!

We usually start the week off with a family home evening lesson on listening to and following the prophet. Then we write down questions we have that we want answered during the two days of watching, listening and feeling.

We start the day off with the traditional creamed egg breakfast and orange rolls. This tradition started with Gary and his first wife, Cheryl, probably to use up all the eggs from the Easter bunny. We have carried it on, although some of the new children are not fans of creamed eggs. The newest children, however, love them! It doesn't matter what the traditional meal is in any family; it only matters that something is special about the food.

 

Another thing we do is play conference bingo where we can use candy to mark the square of what is mentioned. In April the children use Easter candy for the game cards, in October it's Halloween candy, of course. The children also have conference notepads so they can take notes. We also get to snack on the food from the emergency kits since conference is a perfect six month reminder that the food is getting stale.

Saturday night is the Priesthood session of conference. We all bring food and meet at my parent's house. The ladies and children work on a service or other enrichment activity while the older boys and men go to the session together. When they return home, we eat....and eat and eat and eat. Over the years we have finally learned to bring enough food for our large family.

The activities are basically the same on Sunday, except on this day we dress up in our Sunday clothes. I actually dress up for the Saturday session, as well, because I once heard a person will dress up for something that is important to them. Conference is one of those things, so I make it a point to be in a dress. My children still choose to be in play clothes on Saturday. :)

Conference isn't over yet. When Monday night rolls around, everyone knows it's the semi-annual general conference family home evening jeopardy challenge! Any notes they have taken over the weekend may be used to help answer questions (with prizes, of course) for their team. I use the same game board every time so it's easy to write down questions and put them under the picture of the particular prophet and apostle that talked about that particular subject. My goal is to reinforce what was taught over the previous two days. Last spring I changed the questioning from “listening” questions to “feeling” questions. “What did you feel when the prophet said.....?” or “How can you better apply........?” Some of the answers brought tears to my eyes as I knew they children were getting it in the best way possible.



I love how excited my family is for general conference because it is truly the best time of the year!

Updated March 12, 2014 for the 2014-2015 School Year

How things work in Corky's Kids Hands-on Learning Preschool

My main focus is reading. That is why it is mandatory for children to have reading books this year. The books cost $12.00, and they are yours to keep. I believe reading helps a child socially, scholastically, and spiritually! If I am the only one helping them, they will be better off than not; but if I am assisting YOU, they will soar!!! My goal for each of your children is that they will soar! I will send your child home with a sticker on his/her shirt when they pass off a book. (This is an exciting day for your child.) PLEASE LET YOUR CHILD READ TO YOU EVERY DAY!

Prayer- Heavenly Father is very interested in their learning. I will always do it with His help, so we will start each day with prayer. :) The children will take turns. I will help them if they need help.

Pick up and drop off- ON TIME! ON TIME! Pick up and drop off on my side of the street. Please don't let children cross the street without you. I will open the door for the children to enter right at 10:00 for the morning class and 12:30 for the afternoon class. IF THEY ARE LATE, it is your responsibility to bring them downstairs to the preschool room. But please, disrupting a preschool class is so hard. Their focus is gone so fast, and one late student really is a huge distraction.

Name- HOLD PENCIL. Please help your child learn to hold a pencil by making “pincher fingers” with his/her thumb and forefinger then resting the pencil on the other three fingers. We work on their name at least once every day. They will either use a laminated card (that will stay in class) or they will have a name paper that they will take home.

Payment- I understand tight checkbooks. I know there are hard months, but please budget preschool into your monthly bills. I have to pay my bills on time; that is why I had to set up a late fee this year.

Schedule-

AM class

10:00 - 10:05 Greeting, shoes, coats off

10:05 -10:30 Carpet time: Prayer, pledge, intro to letter/subject, blending, patterns, songs, etc.

10:30 -10:50 Writing time: Name, shapes, patterns, numbers, words, etc.

10:50 -10:55 Snack: crackers and water

10:55 -11:30 Activity: Create, play-dough, paint, cut, glue, color, etc

11:30 - 11:50 Play/Individual reading with me (Half of the children read with me each play time.)

11:50 - 12:00 Clean up and ready to go

PM class

12:30 -12:35 Greeting, shoes, coats off

12:35 -1:00 Carpet time: Prayer, pledge, intro to letter/subject, blending, patterns, map, songs, etc.

1:00 - 1:20 Writing time: Name, shapes, patterns, numbers, words, etc.

1:20 - 1:25 Snack: crackers and water

1:25 - 2:00 Activity: Create, play-dough, paint, cut, glue, color, etc.

2:00 - 2:20 Play/Individual reading with me (Half of the children read with me each play time.)

2:20 - 2:30 Clean up and ready to go

Living on a Dime

I think the best way to save money is just not to spend it. :) That sounds easy and all, but there are some things that are necessary to buy and some things that, as a culture, we deem as necessary. Here are a few ways I have saved money this year.


Library fines
(Who me? Ummm......yeah, the librarians just count on it.)
I pay my library fines by finding fifty cent to $1.00 (no more ever!) movies at yard sales. The librarian will take them in exchange for my humungous fines.

Groceries
I buy groceries at Walmart where I can price match. Before my Walmart price matching frenzies, I use to shop at Maceys. I loved Maceys. I was in Maceys last night and was amazed at how expensive everything seemed to be.
See http://corkyceran.blogspot.com/2013/05/grocery-shopping-at-half-price.html

Gifts
I buy birthday and Christmas gifts at garage sales, on sale, and at second hand stores. I buy them when I find them so my closet is always off limits because that's where I keep my treasures. I also keep in mind the things that are coming. We have a gift exchange at Christmas time; we have an ugly sweater contest in December; and we have extended family birthday parties once a month. There are always friends and family members having babies. Weddings are just around the corner. I keep my eyes peeled for gifts that look new and are something I wouldn't be ashamed of giving. I find so many things. For example, I found a  newlywed book written by Dr. Lund. He's a leading counselor on family issues. His ideas are great, and his stories are interesting and fun to read. It's a great wedding gift, and it was only fifty cents! For more examples see
http://corkyceran.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-example-of-my-garage-sale-deals.html and http://corkyceran.blogspot.com/2013/05/christmas-shopping-in-may-on-tight.html.


School Clothes
Yes, it's that time again, and I have 5 K-12 students this year. I mentioned the other day that as soon as my children's room were clean, I would pull out their school clothes. "What? We have school clothes?" Sure, we do. I have been stacking them on the top shelf of my closet, in order of age, for months now. Are they new? Not most of them, but they sure are nice. AND they were cheap! Again, I've been watching for great deals throughout the year. I was tempted many times to pull them down and give them to the children, but I kept in mind the day they would be so excited to have "new" clothes for the new school year.
There are still things for each child I need to buy. They all need socks and underwear, most of them still need shoes, and my six foot 145 pound Michael is not an easy one to find pants for, so I'll be having to find a tall and slim store for that one! :)

I'm going to be grow up and be a bum!

I first heard of this interesting line of work as a life's goal the first semester some of my children were in American schools. I was trying to convince my daughter to get her homework done when she asked in broken English, "Why you care? This my school."

"I want you to be able to go to college and get a good education so you can get a good job if you need to someday."

"I don't want to go college," she responded matter-of-factly.

"Oh, then how will you get a job if something happens to your husband?"

"I won't."

"Oh? Well, then how will you make money?"

"I'll beg!"

Shocked, I practically hollered, "I didn't bring you all the way to America to be a bum!"

Even more shocked, she shot back, "You just brought me here to work?"

ARG! I was swamped in a losing battle.

Obviously there was more culture shock than I was aware there would be. On both ends. I don't understand the mentality. But you know what? It's what they knew. When we hosted them, we asked them through a translator what they would like to be when they grow up. Christina and Alex had no idea. I've never heard of a child just not knowing what they want to be. Even the children in my preschool class want to be SOMETHING, even if it's a frog Prince. Jake did tell us he wanted to be a police officer. It took a very long time before our other ehildren would ever say what they want to be someday.

Today Christina dreams of serving an LDS mission to Greece, getting married, adopting a child from Africa, and even talks of becoming a pediatrician (after years of college!) She can do it, too. She's a bright girl and she's a girl who has learned how to dream, set goals, work hard, and how to accomplish what she can dream.

As for Alex, he found his dream job when we were in Mexico this past summer and saw a fire-breather on the street. Alex thought he was so cool, but wondered why he was doing it in the middle of the road. I explained that he was waiting for people to throw money to him. His eyes lit up as he almost yelped, "What a GREAT way to earn money!!!"

And Jake? He's going to marry a rich woman who likes to work, so he'll be provided for his whole life.

Luckily, we still have time.

• 
  

Preschool Information

Corky's Kids Hands-on Learning Preschool

My name is Corrine Ceran. I started teaching children to read when I was twelve years old and it was my job to help my little sister and her friend learn the basics. I’ve loved it ever since.  My school is Christian based with a focus on reading before Kindergarten. However, I love teaching all subjects and believe in a well-rounded education at all levels. I incorporate basic life skills with all our learning- kindness, helpfulness, listening, and trying again when we mess up as we learn letters and sounds, animals, people and places, math skills and on and on. My classses are small so I can focus on each child at their level. We do crafts that go along with our lessons and science experiements to get the ‘wow’ effect that comes with true learning. Call or text at 801-735-3526 with questions or to tour our little school.

Schedule

3-4 year old class: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 am-12 pm (8 students)

4-5 year old class: Tuesdays and Thursdays 12:30-2:45 pm (10 students)

Classes start on August 20, 2019

Preschool graduation in on May 21, 2020

Prices

Tuition is $60 a month for the 3-4 year old class and $70 for the 4-5 year old class.
(August is half price.)

Registration is $40.00 and is due at the time of registration.
I also require a $13.00 set of 12 books for at-home reading. I will order them & the books are yours!

Class Schedule

AM class (3-4 year olds, 2 hours)

10:00 - 10:05 Greeting, shoes, coats off

10:05 -10:30 Circle time: Prayer, pledge, intro to letter/subject, blending, patterns, songs, etc.

10:30 -10:50 Writing time: Name, shapes, patterns, numbers, words, etc.

10:50 -10:55 Snack: crackers and water

10:55 -11:30 Activity: Create, play-dough, paint, cut, glue, color, science experiments, etc

11:30 - 11:50 Play/Individual reading with me (Half of the children read with me each play time.)

11:50 - 12:00 Clean up and ready to go

PM class (4-5 year olds, 2 hours 15 minutes)

12:30 -12:35 Greeting, shoes, coats off

12:35 -1:00 Circle time: Prayer, pledge, intro to letter/subject, blending, patterns, map, songs, etc.

1:00 - 1:20 Writing time: Name, shapes, patterns, numbers, words, etc.

1:20 - 1:25 Snack: crackers and water

1:25 - 2:00 Activity: Create, play-dough, paint, cut, glue, color, etc.

2:00 - 2:20 Play/Individual reading with me (Half of the children read with me each play time.)

2:20 - 2:35 Circle time review

2:35 - 2:45 Clean up and ready to go

Place

I have a preschool room in my home in Eagle Mountain City Center where each class is held. 

Caleb Ceran Missionary Fundraiser

Caleb is selling this picture he drew to raise money for his LDS mission to Mexico City! Yay!
It is the most loving drawing of President Monson I have ever seen! :)
He has 11x14s or 8x10s for $5.00. He is willing to mail them to you for $3.00 postage for up to five pictures. For each additional five pictures, it will be another $1.00. He would also be happy to arrange for pick-up.

Summer Routine Torture :)

 A summer routine idea is not an easy one for any of my children. They look forward to summer break almost as much as I do. But for my three adopted children, the idea of it is nearly unbearable. You see, Tina and Sir Al were sent to be hosted in Italy every summer because they lived in an orphanage/boarding school that closed down two times a year, one for summer and one for Christmas break. Jauco was sent to a place of "relaxation" called a sanatorium, a place I abhor. Nonetheless, the children were on "break," and "break" meant a break from everything for three full months. I don't share the same sentiment.

I was looking for something that would help decrease the contention level in our home., and with a bunch of teenagers and young adults now, I felt this is what would work well for our family. I require everyone who is home to participate.

(On Monday and Wednesday we start 30 minutes earlier to accommodate cross country.)

8:00 Family Devotional and Breakfast. This includes a song, prayer, and scripture study.

8:30 Learning Rotations. We have three rotations of 20 minutes each, and there are two to three in each group. They are as follows:
1) Piano practicing (whether they are taking lessons or not, and even though Tina told me it's taking up her childhood.)
2) Indexing (finding names from old records so those searching for their ancestors have access to them)
3) Personal Scripture Study

9:30 Chores and Bedroom

Then they are free!!!

Now really, that's not all that bad, is it? : )  : )   (Don't ask my poor poor children.)