Rockwoods Reservation

                                          We are observing how Native Americans and Colonial
                                          Americans used to turn Sugar Maple sap into maple syrup
                                          or maple sugar.

                                         Here we are observing how people would make maple
                                          syrup today.
                                       

                                          Here we are tasting maple syrup candy! YUM!

                                       

                                         Here we are in the sugar bush trying to figure out how
                                          to identify a Sugar Maple tree.

                                         Tasting tree sap!!

                                          Looking inside the bucket that is collecting sap. The lid
                                          is to keep out rain water and MOST of the bugs.

                                          Getting safety directions before sitting around the fire.

                                         MMMM Smell that smoke!

These are the first grade spelling contestants. Congratulations to all of them, especially our own Chloe Ake. We were all surprised that a second grader actually won the spelling bee!

Our student teacher started today. Here we are getting to know her a little better. She came here from Bosnia when she was in fifth grade. Her name is Klara Mijotavic.
Her last name phonetically is: Meotavich. We are so excited to have her!

My daughter Anna, was our guest speaker today. She taught the students about Chinese New Year. This is the year of the Dragon.

   The students had a chance to speak some Chinese and write some Chinese characters.

Weekly Update

Wow! What a week. We were off for MLK on Monday. On Tuesday we spent all day in the library while technology was installing our LINC equipment. On Thursday we found out that a second grade teacher is having surgery soon and will be out for several weeks. Since she will not be able to host her student teacher, our class will do so. Next week we will begin our journey with our student teacher. When I find out how to spell her last name, I will introduce you. 
Just an FYI: We will be taking a field trip on Feb. 2 to Rockwood Reservation to participate in their Maple Sugar program. The entire program is outdoors and will require a winter coat and BOOTS. If you would like to chaperon, you can meet us there and 9:30a.m. We will leave to return to school at 11:00a.m. I will be sending a permission slip home very soon.
We will be taking another field trip to Powell Hall to hear a Kinder concert on February 8th. A note is coming home today about that one. We are not allowed to take chaperons to Powell Hall since the tickets are purchased a year in advance. 

We voted to do Just Dance for our 100 point celebration. I told the kids it must have been a snow dance, because it snowed the next day!

Just Dance!!!