Monday, April 28, 2008

Mom's Little Athlete

Esme is staring soccer and gym and swim this week!! I'm so glad she'll have the opportunity to play a team sport - we're on the hunt for cleats and shin guards now. She is especially interested in gymnastics - I'm sure she'll be tumbling all over the place soon.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

I'm on vacation - Esme isn't!

Although she doesn't have a book of the week, Esme is working hard. She's doing her phonics lessons, learning math tables, and playing the the envelope games I've set up for her.

I went through the MA Standards, which is what we've been using as a guide this year, and am happy to say that we have hit almost all of them! I thought I'd be overwhelmed by what we have left but I was pleasantly surprised to learn the only thing we haven't touched on is measuring. We got a balance and weights this week and she'll be using them next week!

Wednesday, April 09, 2008

I am a second grade teacher again. I love my new class. They are so easy. I think this year may have spoiled me to ever do long-term assignments again. My class from October to January wasn't always easy, but the kids were so full of spirit and fun that it was a pleasure to work with them. Some of my students now are still feeling and little wary about me. One told me today that she likes me a lot, but she still likes her old teacher better. When I ran into one outside he asked me if I was going to be his teacher today. I have to tell him YES over and over - YES I am your teacher for the rest of the time you are in second grade!

It's hard to adjust to working every day again. I miss seeing Ethan. I miss being with Esme more. I know it's the right thing to do for our family, but it's still difficult to get up and go to work every day. Lucky for me, in just a couple weeks, I'll be on vacation again!

Week of April 6th


Esme has been learning a lot about plants the last couple weeks. She has her own houseplant now and is learning to check it once a day. She and Ethan have also been working in the yard a lot - getting rid of all those leaves that fell after the snow started. She and I have been reseeding our lawn and hoping that it will get a bit greener as the weather warms up.

Right now she's learning about how weather is measured, and her words of the week are go and see.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Our Little Daisy

I love being a Girl Scout leader. Girl Scouts was such a positive experience for me growing up, and I'm so glad I can share this with Esme. Our troop finally started meeting in January and we've done some great activities. We've fit in a lot of activities so far - we had a guest come in and teach us folk dancing, we've made Valentines for police officers and fire fighters, we've gone a Spring event with a bunch of other troops, we've planned and held a party for dolls, etc. Today we had someone from the Department of Public Works come in and talk to the girls about recycling, and we have two more events coming up this month. Before summer comes we might even go CAMPING!

Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Remember this book?
















This was always a favorite of mine, and now it is a favorite of Esme's. Studying weather gives us the perfect reason to make it book of the week! Even though the snow is gone and the temperatures are getting higher, we're enjoying Peter's adventures.

We're continuing our phonics lessons and words of the week are out and was.

We're thinking about having an open house later this Spring, so that we can invite our friends and family to come and see what Esme's learned, and look at all her projects.