Oh my goodness what a week we've had. Between the weather extremes, sick children and faculty and the special Valentine Buddy Day it's been a whirlwind of juggling, planning and re-planning. And as if these things weren't exciting enough, I've had laryngitis the past two days.
Usually when my classes realize I can't speak they are very quiet too. If I could have I would have been laughing at my class this week. When they realized I couldn't speak, they did it for me! If a child asked a question, Xan and Bryan looked at me and then answered. When I needed to communicate Grace and Evalyn shushed the others. Gracie provided the positive feedback for the others and herself and Logan stayed close by my side to share winks. If self sufficiency had been my goal for this group we surely would have reached it this week!
Karen (the computer teacher) has been in the process of switching computers for several of us. In preparation, I have been saving my vital info stored on my old one to transfer to the new one and removing programs. I was off line yesterday for her to make the big switcharoo but as life often will, plans were changed and I am still on my old one. She is now planning to change computers out Monday morning but if you don't get a blog from me Monday you'll know that life happened, again!
Each class I have had through the years has had its own interests, strengths and weaknesses. This class loves facts and will always have one more question. This is their strength. Their weakness is a low interest in art activities. They usually will rush through them and are not bothered by unfinished coloring. Yesterday turned my world upside down.
I put out red, pink, purple and white construction paper. I raided my valentine box for paper doilies of various sizes and colors and for cut hearts on decorated paper. For a full hour they worked. They glued, cut, offered suggestions and asked for more supplies. Their cutting wasn't always even but they were DOING IT! Whew, if I had known valentine decorations was all it took we would have had it in November!!!
It's a good thing they were in an artsy frame of mind because today was their Valentine Buddy Day. Our class, along with Katlyn's, went to Betsy and Kim's rooms to make 4 Valentine decorations. They made cupcake liner flowers, beaded necklaces, paper heart snowflakes and hearts on a string. Most got through all 4 projects with their buddies before heading outside for recess. Several even asked if we could keep the beads out. Be still, oh heart!
Monday is our Valentine party with Katlyn's class. Several children have brought their Valentines back and have expressed how much they enjoyed picking out paper colors, decorating and making them for their friends. This was the first year we tried homemade valentines and now know children really would rather do it themselves. I know they are anticipating the expressions on their friends' faces when they receive them.
If your child is still working on their valentines, please remember we are exchanging them with Katlyn's class too. Monday is also Emma's birthday and her parents are planning a special birthday "craft" (no fair telling you yet). It will be a very big day so if I can't blog, please ask your children about all the events.
Scholastic orders are due next Tuesday. With the craziness of this week I know many probably haven't sat down to peruse the offerings of my favorite children's bookstore yet, but I do encourage you to do this with your child. If you are even thinking about ordering online please open the tab that says "all catalogs" and look through the Voices catalog. They didn't send me flyers for this one but when exploring I discovered some really neat biographies about non famous people are offered. Guess where I'll be spending my money!??!
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