Our M.V.P. Allison

On January 17th I read in front of the PTO.  It was so much fun.  I read about the dentist pulling my teeth.  I had to get my teeth pulled on Thursday, November 21st, 2012.  I don't like when they pinch your lip.  It BURNS!! Thank goodness I got it over with.  I can't wait until I get braces.  I think they're pretty cool.  Other than the dentist pulling my teeth, I had an awesome week. 

100th Day – 1913 Style

 

 

This 100th Day of School is one that the kiddos will surely remember, as it required a bit of time travel – all the way back to 1913.  The students did research to learn what life was like in 1913 and then came to school prepared to learn just as students did then.  As you can see from our photo, they came up with some amazing period costumes to wear and even brought authentic lunches to eat in our little one room schoolhouse (no cafeterias back then!).

Our school day was vastly different as well.  They enjoyed participating in a spelling bee, recited poems from memory, practiced their multiplication facts for 2’s, 5’s, and 10’s orally, and enjoyed a special 1903 story written by Beatrix Potter.  It was difficult NOT to use the technology that surrounded us in the classroom – no ipads, smartboards, or markers on this 100th Day – just pencils, papers and crayons.  We even uncovered the blackboard to utilize it!  At the end of the day we enjoyed a Social Hour and played games popular in 1913 – marbles, charades, Cupid’s Coming, and Snap.  They had a blast learning some new games and to top it off we enjoyed the brand new invention of 1913 – Oreo cookies!

During our math survey,  the class overwhelmingly voted that 2013 was better than 1913…and this teacher has to agree.  It is very tiring standing in front of the room lecturing all day, though it was kind of cute to see them stand and push in their chair before responding to a question.   I can honestly say that I believe that education has learned a lot about how children learn best these past 100 years.  I am fairly certain that rote memorization and children that are seen and not heard is not the best we can do for kids.  And while they LOVED the Dunce Cap on our historical day – I can guarantee that shaming children is NOT the way to get them to improve their behavior.  But I can say that they were VERY well behaved all day!

Enjoy our photos of our amazing day!

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Our M.V.P. Annonymous

I have a loose tooth.  I really, really want to yank it out!  But my teacher says I can't.  I want it to come out because it gives me a toothache in my mouth.  I think when it comes out I will get another $1 from the tooth fairy.  Last time, I got $3!

Homework Party!

 

The snow day may have interfered with our holiday party, but it didn’t get in the way of our homework party!  All of December the kids worked hard on turning homework in.  They knew there would be a party but that was all… then on the Wednesday before break (which ended up being our last day due to the snow day) we had our scheduled party.  Each student was given a Christmas tree (sugar cone) and green icing.  Then they received one scoop of candy “ornaments” for each homework assignment they had completed.  The end result was some fabulously decorated trees and some sugar-hyped kiddos!  A special thanks to our parent helpers, Mrs. Koehler and Mrs. Miner, and to the Rees Family for the ornament donations.  What a fantastic way to celebrate homework responsibility and to send the kiddos off for their winter holiday. 

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Our M.V.P. Jonas

     Guess what? Some surprising things happened at my dad's birthday party.  Let me tell you the story.

     We were at my grandma and grandpa's house.  The weather said that it was going to rain, but nobody thought it was.  So everyone was playing outside games like running through a bounce house or playing kickball.  Some people were racing or playing football.  I was playing football.

     I went to get a drink and my tooth was really loose.  I wiggled it a couple of times and it popped out.  I went to tell my mom but I couldn't find her.  I saw my dad so I told him. Then I said my mom and I went to tell her.  She said, "That's crazy!" 

    It was getting dark and people started leaving.  Me, Eli, Seth, and Meredith went to the bounce house and tried to run through it without being seen by the grownups.  They were putting up lights on the trees so people could see. 

     Then I felt a drop come down.  I told my dad, "It's raining!"  He didn't believe me.  Then he said, "It is raining."  He and my grandpa opened up the giant garage door so that we could go inside.  Dad's friends started playing music. I told my dad, "I told you it was raining."