Well, as far as heat goes, today is much better in here!  We are moving along with our unit on FROGS and they kids are doing so well, gathering information and creating sentences with the information.  They know a lot about frogs and I am so impressed at the connections that they are making with other animals, reptiles, fish, etc.  Delightful to watch this all unfold.

To go along with our FROG unit, we now have 10 tadpoles in here and are we excited!  Tadpoles eat algae and, since algae isn’t readily available, we are feeding them boiled lettuce.  My little scientists are very interested to watch their progress.  Take a look…

All Library books should be returned and I am collecting Book Bags.  If any are still at home, please send in the books/bags.

Mrs. Smith

First of all, we had a great trip yesterday!!  The weather cooperated and the students were quite engaged.  They reported facts and discoveries back to me and just beamed with excitement.  Gotta love that kind of learning.  Here is a glimpse into my class…

All week I have been showing them pictures of the houses, some of the people that lived there (Henry Ford, Noah Webster, Mr. Firestone, Daggat Family, etc) and the farmers working in the farm fields.  They noticed how the workers wore long sleeves and hats, even discussed the color of the clothing (why white sleeves, rather than dark colors).  They noticed that the farmers were holding/steering a plow through the thick soil and how difficult it was for the farmer to till the soil.  After a few minutes, one of my darlings said, “I wish we could all go and help them because that’s such hard work in the hot sun.”  I have such compassionate and caring souls in here.  Isn’t that beautiful?  Ahhh  lucky me!

This week I read A House For Hermit Crab by Eric Carle

If you haven’t read it, read it.   Today we made our own CRAB shells and decorated them with paint, a sea anemone, and coral.  We had a great time creating our shells.  Warning:some paint might still be wet!

Have a great weekend.  Maybe I’ll see you at the parade!

Be safe.

Mrs. Smith

Mrs. El Moussawi, Mrs. Fakih, Mrs. Fayad, Mrs. Hadla,

Mr. Philippart, Mrs. Soueid, Mrs. Wetzel, and Mrs. Younes,

Let’s meet at school about 9:00 tomorrow morning.  I’m not sure what time the busses will be here but we’ll have some time to chat before boarding.

Thanks

Ready for tomorrow’s trip?  We sure are in here!

A few reminders…

*Wear comfortable shoes

*Pack a sack lunch/drink

*Prepare for weather changes (This IS Michigan)

The students will have a scavenger hunt to complete.  Since I used to work there, I have mentioned a few houses to them to see.  We’re going to have a great day together!

Mrs. Smith

READING and SOCIAL STUDIES-Since this is Michigan Week, we will be reading and writing about our great state!  Look for some interesting facts to come home.

SPELLING- “ip” chunk    dip  tip  rip  sip  nip  whip  chip  ship 

PHONICS- We will be working with “s” blends    (spr, spl )   spray  sprout  sprinkle       splash   split   splint  

MATH-We will be working with 2 areas of Math.

          * area-counting how many units in a shape

*time- the hour and half hour

SOCIAL STUDIES-Michigan Facts   We will be making a book about Michigan.  State bird, tree, flower, stone, motto, flag    and we’ll learn about a peninsula.

I hope you enjoyed your Mother’s day weekend.  I did.

Mrs. Smith

“You blink and they are 8.  Then 28 and they are parents, resembling you, as you once were.  So, take it in Mama and Daddy.  Let them climb into bed with you any hour of the night.  Sing that song they requested for the tenth time.  Hold them a little tighter when all they want is to shower with you and feel your skin against theirs.  Maybe in raising children you lose your mind a little bit.  But, boy, do you find your soul!  Embrace the exhaustion.  The overwhelming  The hard days.  And all the joy.”.

What a wonderful gift from my parents and students! The seats were perfect. I had a lovely day…I will never forget this.  Thank you!

Mrs. Smith

Well, today I had  a very emotional end of my week.  Late this afternoon my homeroom parents, Mrs. Saleh and Mrs. Hassan, presented from you to me, a box of strawberries, dipped in pink chocolate and tied with 6 pink balloons. A handbell recording of “You Raise Me Up” was playing in the background. Secured underneath the pink ribbons were tickets to see “The King and I’ at the Fox Theater and a gift card for dinner at Mitchell’s after the show!  There are no words to express my thanks to each of you.  You did not have to do this at all…I chose this profession because I LOVE kids.  I love helping them and just being with them.  Each one is so precious to me.  You may have given birth to them, but I always feel like they are mine!!

I knew this Mother’s Day would be difficult but thanks to you, I will carry my mother and my students with me on Sunday.  Thank you for the kind words in the letter.  I am overwhelmed with gratitude an will remember this day for the rest of my life.  God Bless you all and Happy Mother’s Day.

Mrs. Smith

This bowl has been in my room since the St. Valentine’s Day party.  Since I was not here that day, I don’t know who sent it in with maybe strawberries in it??  Check your cupboards and let me know.

Tomorrow is our Field Day and the weather reports suggest cooler temperatures are coming.

Please have your child wear gym shoes and a sweatshirt/sweater/light weight jacket.  We will be outside from 9:00-11:00

Thank you all for coming today to our BAGELS WITH MOM.  For those who took off the time from work, please thank your boss for me.  I see the anticipation and excitement with the kids and your presence is so very important to them.  You can never get back these days so grab every one you can.

Waiting for our Moms to arrive

Thank you for the flowers yesterday.  Perhaps you noticed them along the bagel line.  The best part for me was seeing the kids come in, with big smiles, and handling their bouquets to me.  They were so pleased to give them to me.  Thank you.

Lastly, who is responsible for my bulletin board??  It is amazing!!  From the eggs on the leaf, the caterpillars coming out, the caterpillars eating the leaves, the 2 chrysalises forming, and finally the emergence of the beautiful butterflies.  Spectacular!  If you haven’t seen it, please stop in and take a glance.

Enjoy your weekend and have a blessed Mother’s Day!

Mrs. Smith