Big Changes!!

As most of you know by now, I have moved to 5th grade! I'm super excited for the opportunity and am looking forward to many new experiences.  I will do my best to keep the blog updated.  You will also find helpful information on my staff webpage at www.mlsd.org.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Camp Reed 2012 (Part 1)

Camp Reed 2012!  Every year, 4th graders go on an overnight camping trip to Camp Reed on Fan Lake.  It is a highlight of the year and nice break after all of the testing.  This year had to be one of the best years ever!  We had perfect weather and just the right amount of mosquitos. (It really wouldn't be camp without them!)  The kids were wonderful and we had a lot of parent help! I saw lots and lots of smiles and happy faces.  I have many many pictures of camp and am trying to figure out the best way to share as many of them as I can.  This post will have many more pictures than dialogue.  I hope you enjoy it!

The first session we went to after getting all the gear put away was "Team Building".  This challenges their bodies and their brains!

 One of the big highlights of Camp for the teachers is the Campfire.  We have a lot fun and get really loud.  I think you can tell by the pictures that the kids love the Campfire, too.  Oh yea....they can get REALLY loud!! Thanks Mr. Noble for the  help with the guitar!  You sounded great!

Baby Bumblee!!

Love these faces!!

Of course, we absolutely could not have a successful camp experience without our parent volunteers.  You are the "backbone" of the whole thing!  Thanks for giving up the comfort of your cozy beds to spend two days fighting mosquitoes and corralling children.  You are very much appreciated!  A few family pics that were shared with me!

One of the favorite sessions on Friday morning is always Storytelling.  These wonderful folks come out and teach the kids and to really tell and act out a story.  They love doing this with kids and it shows!

  Something that always amazes me is the fascination kids have with bees.  We have an awesome beekeeper who comes up and does a great job of explaining the whole process.  He even shares honey sticks made with his very own honey!!

 And, of course, it's very important to know what killed a tree. Was it the Bugs or the Crud??  This is a Camp Reed tradition.  We have this session every year and it is something the kids remember for a long time!

This is the end of Camp Reed,2012.  Part 1.  I hope you have enjoyed it.  Camp Reed, 2012, Part 2 coming soon!

The Morning After....

The morning after our St. Patrick's Party, we decided to try a new room arrangement...I do that a lot! We still had some "Leprechaun" juice left and Paxton's dad treated the kids to bags of popcorn. He popped them himself. It turns out that was great "math fuel". Just look at all of the hard work going on here. I actually stopped a couple of times and just watched them. I couldn't help but smile. They know their job at school is to work hard and they are happy to do it (with or without food)!