First Post

Hello parents! I am so excited that our class now has a web page. I will be updating you on units, spelling/reading words, upcoming field trips, ideas for working with your child at home, helpful websites, and various local resources. I will also post pictures from classroom activities and field trips.

Helpful hint - there are 3 different spelling/reading groups in our class. I will not post students' names when I list their weekly words. However, in your child's agenda I will send home the name of your his/her spelling/reading group so you will know where to look for weekly words.

I will also post different stories that I think are cute, funny, sweet, or meaningful. I do hope you enjoy this blog. Please feel free to make comments.

In science we are currently working on the 5 senses. These are whole group lessons, so the difficulty level will vary for each child. We have just finished working on the sense of touch and will begin the sense of sound. All students truly seemed to enjoy the science activities. I am looking forward to getting started with the sense of sound.

This year we have started a new club called Perfect Pals. Each child in the classroom has been paired with another student from the school. They eat lunch together on the first and last Thursday of each month. The Pals also attend Special Olympic events. Last Thursday was the first time the club had lunch and it was an amazing sight to behold. Each student sat with his/her pal. They really looked forward to eating lunch with their new friends. After lunch, everyone went outside and visited with each other. Some students played basketball with their pals and friends, while some played tag, and others walked around and talked. It was an enjoyable experience for all students in the Perfect Pals club!

In closing for today, I want each of you to know how very special your child is to me. There are days when I don't feel like smiling or even talking (we all have them) and if weren't for these beautiful and wonderful children (yes I realize - some of them aren't children anymore), I'm not sure that I would have made it. They make me forget my worries. We are a family in my classroom. The older kids take care of and help the younger ones. The younger ones look up to the older ones.

Have a fantastic week!

"The soul is healed by being with children" - Fyodor Dostoevsky