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Below you will find our weekly newsletters. - September 13, 2012
- September 20, 2012
- September 27, 2012
- November 8, 2012
- Note: Nov. 8
- November 15, 2012
- Nov. 29, 2012
- Brainwork Goals
- December 13, 2012
- December 20, 2012
- January 3, 2013
- January 24, 2013
- January 31, 2013
- FYI
- February 7, 2013
- February 22, 2013
- February 28, 2013
- March 7, 2013
- March 21, 2013
- Important Information for this Thursday:
- March 28, 2013
- April 11, 2013
- April 18, 2013
- April 25, 2013
- May 2, 2013
- May 9, 2013
- May 16, 2013
September 13, 2012 Hello parents,
Welcome back to PALS! We had a wonderful reunion this morning, with the kids and teachers sharing the most exciting thing that had happened to each of us over the summer. It sounds like we all had some adventures!
We began our first project, which will we will complete within the next three weeks, before our October break for MEAP and testing for possible new PALS students. We are making a class book called The Upside Down Book.
Each child is creating his/her own page for our book, the object being to take a bad situation and turn it “upside down” to create a positive situation. For example, one idea might be, “I love it when I get sick, because my mom lets me eat all the popsicles I want”. We have found our students often have a difficult time when things don’t go just as planned, or they have setbacks—sometimes they can have a “glass half-empty” outlook. We talked about what it means and looks like to have a “glass half-full” mentality. We will continue to come back to this idea throughout the year, and discuss how one’s outlook alone can help to turn a difficult or unplanned situation around.
The students are also illustrating their own book pages. Everyone completed their sentences and a rough draft for their illustrations today, so we’re off to a good start!
We then went outside to have our annual “mug shots” taken :-). It is so fun to see how the kids change from year to year in PALS. We love this tradition! They then got to play together for a few minutes on the playground.
The students finished the morning by choosing some Brainwork and setting their goals to be met by the end of January. The minimum number is 12, one for each PALS class session. Our morning-only Lincoln kids had to leave a little early due to Science Alive at their school, so they will get started on Brainwork next week.
We then went outside to have our annual “mug shots” taken . It is so fun to see how the kids change from year to year in PALS. We love this tradition! They then got to play together for a few minutes on the playground.
All in all, we had a super first day.
Kathy & Jen
*We have completed PALS paperwork turned in for most kids. If you need another set of copies, please give us a call. As you know, Mrs. Smith is unable to transport any child in her vehicle without the “Volunteer Transportation Form” completed and signed by a parent.
September 20, 2012 Hello parents,
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Scrapbooks, and WOW Words. Today’s word is felicitate. I must remember to felicitate the football team after they win this Friday!
We then continued work on our Upside Down class book. We will finish these up next week. Those who finished their pages today started another project, “Quick Liners”. This will be a small booklet students create, each page beginning with a given quick sentence, question, or thought. For each starter, students will think and imagine at one or more endings or answers. For example, one starter is, “What do you think caused the first hiccup?”. Once the given “Quick Liners” are completed, students will create their own lines to enter into other students’ books for them to answer.
We then went outside for our first affective activity of the year—an old favorite, Jedi Mind Trick. As you may remember, this is a fun way to visit the topic of eye contact, and to practice using it.
Kathy & Jen
*We have completed PALS paperwork turned in for most kids. If you need another set of copies, please give us a call. As you know, Mrs. Smith is unable to transport any child in her vehicle without the “Volunteer Transportation Form” completed and signed by a parent.
September 27, 2012 Hello parents,
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Scrapbooks, and WOW Words. Today’s word is quandary.
Our affective activity today was a game called Make Six. We have played this in past years. Each player is given a grid in which to write numbers 1-100. As the person to one’s left is rolling a pair of dice, trying to roll a combination that adds to the number, six, s/he is writing numbers in his/her grid as quickly as possible. As soon as the roller “makes a six”, the writer must stop writing and the one who just rolled gets to write. The first person to complete his/her grid of numbers is the winner. The game keeps going to see who comes in second, third, etc.
This game is a good exercise in taking turns, practicing good sportsmanship, having fun even when not winning, and accepting that some outcomes are out of our control. The kids did a great job and had a great time.
Those were not yet finished worked on their pages for our Upside Down class book.
We then continued work on “Quick Liners”. We found after our last session that students writing their entries too hastily. We started these books over today, timing ourselves for a full three minutes of think time before writing.
Our morning was broken up with both a tornado and a fire drill.
Kathy & Jen
*This is our last PALS session until November. October is the month for Mrs. Slack to test prospective new PALS students. Our next session will be on Thursday, November 8.
November 8, 2012 Hello parents,
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Scrapbooks, and WOW Words. Today’s word is flibbertigibbet. Just because I am blonde doesn’t mean I’m a flibbertigibbet.
We then went outside for an affective activity. We stood in a circle, each on a marked spot. One person started in the center, loudly and clearly stating something that is true about him/her. For example, “I like sushi.” Everyone who also loves sushi then had to move from their spots and find different spots, quickly and carefully, while Mrs. Smith tried to get a spot for herself. The one who was left without a spot was then in the center. This activity helps kids practice being assertive, keeping each other physically safe while having fun, and get to know each other a little better.
We began our traditional November all-class project, “Yak’s Corner” Favorite Book Character Contest for the Detroit Free Press. Each child will draw his/her favorite character from a book s/he’s read. Each student will also write two paragraphs describing what makes this character special to him/her. We will work on these for a few weeks, striving to do our best art work. As you know, each year we have several children win prizes in this contest, which is wonderful, considering it draws hundreds of entries from across the state.
We added no new students to our fifth grade groups following testing this fall. We think this is due to an improvement in finding these kids earlier in their elementary school. (We did add kids to all other grade levels.)
Have a great week!
Kathy & Jen
*We have completed PALS paperwork turned in for everyone in this group. Thank you, parents!
Note: Nov. 8 Hi again, parents,
Although they had plenty of time to do so, a few kids did not finish their planning pages for the Favorite Book Character Contest today. We have asked those students to finish these planning pages at home before our next session on November 15.
Thanks for your help.
Kathy & Jen
November 15, 2012 Hello parents,
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Scrapbooks, and WOW Words. Today’s word is sobriquet. The name, Marilyn Monroe, is a sobriquet.
We next chose partners for an affective activity. Today’s was a fun race! Each student was given a small paper turkey cut-out and a straw. The object was to hold the turkey onto the end of the straw by inhaling and keeping it suctioned to the straw’s end—all while walking as fast as possible to the finish line of the curvy course we set up in the classroom. It was a hoot! This is a fun, safe activity to help kids become comfortable with not being successful at something immediately (Often PALS kids have trouble with that.), and to have fun, “win” or “lose”.
We next worked on our “Yak’s Corner” Favorite Book Character Contest. Last week, Mrs. Slack guided students through writing their own classroom example of two good paragraphs describing a familiar book character. Today they wrote their own paragraphs. The kids had plenty of time to write their two paragraphs. If your child did not finish today, s/he will bring his/her writing home to finish. This work should be returned to PALS next week. After finishing the writing, the children worked on their rough drafts for their character drawings.
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Our next session will be Thursday, November 29.
Kathy & Jen
Nov. 29, 2012 Word Wizards
Mrs. Smith was home sick today. I will give a very abbreviated version of what we did today in PALS.
1. The students went through the 4 morning stations. Today’s WOW word was arcanum. I was hoping to get some ‘dirt’ on the kids just prior to conferences, but no luck. Darn!
2. We played a game called ‘Mnemonic Name Game’. We sat is a circle and everyone thought of a food or drink item that they didn’t like. The item needed to start with the same letter as the first letter of his/her name. I started by saying, “Slack shrimp”. The next student had to say what I said and then add their own name and food/drink item. By the time we got to the last child, she had to remember what 20 others didn’t like. WHEW!
3. I taught the students how to do another type of brainwork called ‘Quotation Quizzlers’. They seemed to enjoy them.
4. There will not be PALS next week. I am traveling to all of the buildings for small groups.
Brainwork Goals Hi parents,
We have discovered that several students were under the impression that their brainwork goals need to be met before the holiday break. Please don’t panic! Brainwork goals are due at our mid-year of PALS, which is the end of January.
Mrs. Slack will be going over each student’s goal with him/her next week. The kids will then collect and take home the number of brainwork pieces still needed to meet their goals. That way they can work on brainwork over the holidays if needed, and know that when the brainwork in their folders is done, they have achieved their goals.
Enjoy this busy season!
Please email or call if you have any questions.
Kathy & Jen
December 13, 2012 Thursday, December 13, 2012
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Scrapbooks, and WOW Words. Today’s word was tintinnabulation. Kids are listening for the tintinnabulation of sleigh bells on Christmas Eve.
We have only one more session of PALS before we need to send in our Favorite Book Character Contest entries. We currently have a couple of completed entries, and it looks like the rest will be able to finish their drawings next Thursday in PALS.
Mrs. Slack taught the kids a new type of brainwork this morning—“Rhyme Time”. Each line has a clue that has an answer of two rhyming words—for example: happy foolishness = __________ (jolly folly).
Enjoy the end of your week!
Kathy & Jen
December 20, 2012 Thursday, December 20, 2012
Today the fifth-graders worked diligently to finish their Favorite Book Character Contest entries. Their hard work really shows. We have some really special drawings! The winners are not announced by The Detroit News until spring.
As students finished, they rotated through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Scrapbooks, and WOW Words. Today’s word was skullduggery. It was a bit of skullduggery when Dad snuck Santa’s cookies on Christmas Eve.
Mrs. Slack met with each student today to see how s/he is working toward his/her brainwork goal. Then the kids collected the number of new pieces of brainwork to be completed before the end of January. (These are now in their PALS folders.) Holiday Break is a great time to get a good chunk of these done.
Wishing you a joyous Holiday Break with your families!
Kathy & Jen
*Our next session will be Thursday, January 3.
January 3, 2013 Thursday, January 3, 2012
Happy New Year!
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading. This will help prepare the kids to write their own Historical Fiction works (our new unit of study).
Our affective activity today was a bit silly and fun. Each student was given the name of a character or object in a story that Mrs. Slack read. As Mrs. Slack was reading, if a child’s character was mentioned, that person had to stand up, spin around, and sit back down—all while trying to keep track of the storyline. With 21 students in this group, it was quite a spectacle of movement!
Next, Mrs. Slack introduced the Historical Fiction unit. For the remainder of the school year, a portion of this group’s morning session will be devoted to creating students’ own Historical Fiction stories. Each student will be the main character in his/her story, which will encompass a major historical event. Today Mrs. Slack explained the character sketches, time lines, and other research tools that will be used to prepare for the writing. Each student then chose a topic for his/her story.
Kathy & Jen
*Brainwork goals for this group are due to be met on Thursday, January 31. Please check in with your child as that day approaches to see how s/he is progressing toward his/her goal.
January 24, 2013 Thursday, January 24, 2012
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
We then divided into two groups for our affective activity. Each group was given 20 sheets of scrap paper. They were twenty minutes to make the highest free-standing tower they could. It was a great exercise in trying lots of ideas (and abandoning many), using time wisely as well as using all the time given, cooperating, and listening to all members of the group.
Next was snack time. Mrs. Mayfield generously helped us celebrate National Chocolate Cake Day (actually on Sunday) with her famous concoction. Yum!!
We began our study of cotton candy today by first writing down what we each already knew about the treat. The kids were then asked to guess how this item (or something inspired by it) might be used in medicine. We had some great guesses/ideas such as: a quick treatment for low blood sugar, use in allergy shots, gauze for wounds, etc. The last idea was actually close to the truth! A special type of very finely spun (like cotton candy) glass is applied to an open wound. The “fluffy” material prevents fluid being held next to the skin, and the doctor is able to mold it into a shape to fit any shape of wound. In recent studies, its use has resulted in fewer infections and less scarring!
Mrs. Slack demonstrated how a cotton candy machine works—melting solid sugar and using centrifugal force (by spinning very rapidly) to pull the liquid into fine threads as it cools. Next week, students will begin using the machine to make themselves their own scientific treats ;-) .
Kathy & Jen
*Brainwork goals for this group are due to be met next week on Thursday, January 31. Please help your child remember his/her folder that day.
January 31, 2013 Thursday, January 31, 2013
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
Mrs. Slack conferenced briefly with each student to see how s/he did in meeting his/her brainwork goal for the first half of the year. The vast majority of the kids in this morning’s group met or exceeded their goals. “Great job” to those kids! New goals were set today for the end of May. The minimum goal is 10 pieces completed.
We spent the remainder of the morning doing research for Historical Fiction projects in the computer lab.
While all this was happening, the kids also took turns using our new cotton candy machine to make themselves a little treat!
Kathy & Jen
FYI Hi parents,
During an upcoming PALS session (dates below), we will be taking a walking field trip to NCMC property to take winter photography. We do this project every year along with poetry, and the results are always wonderful!
2nd. Grade: February 20
3rd. Grade: Feb. 25
4th. Grade: Feb 22
5th. Grade: Feb 21
It is not necessary for children to bring their own cameras; we have classroom cameras that we share for this activity. If s/he would like to bring a camera, that is fine, but we cannot be responsible for any accidents that might occur. Please make sure your child has a coat, gloves, snow pants, and boots that day. It looks like this will be the first time in several years that we will be able to snowshoe to the college! (We have a school set of snowshoes for kids to use. If your child has his/her own snowshoes and would like to bring them, that is fine, too.)
Please feel free to call or email with any questions or concerns.
Jen & Kathy
Kathy Slack
Elementary Enrichment Coordinator/Teacher
Sheridan Elementary School
348-2226
February 7, 2013 Hello parents,
We started today by rotating through stations—Brainwork, Scrapbooks, and Brain Activities. Rather than WOW words today, the kids worked on their February Sketch and Tell.
Our affective activity today was a pattern game. We started standing in a circle with one hand in the air. Mrs. Slack started the game by bouncing a ball to another person in the circle, remembering who that person was. That person put his/her hand down, and then bounced the ball to another person, remembering who that was, etc. Then we added another ball to the mix, bouncing it in the same order/pattern as the first (while the first ball was still being passed). Unfortunately, a few kids began bouncing the ball too hard--going over heads and into the ceiling, so we had to stop the game. We talked about appropriate behavior and taking responsibility for our mistakes.
We were unable to work on Historical Fiction today, as NWEA make-ups were continuing in the computer lab.
Instead, Mrs. Slack introduced a new type of brainwork, analogies. These are comparisons of words, for example: toe is to foot as finger is to ____________ hand. They may compare part to whole, type to thing, something to its opposite, item to category, etc. Analogies are used on the SAT, and practicing them helps to expand vocabulary. (A dictionary will be needed when doing these at home.)
Next, we handed out information packets detailing our big spring field trip, an overnight to Lansing. Although it doesn’t take place until mid-May, we like to give students and parents a heads-up well ahead of time. Please read through all the materials, and feel free to call or email with any additional questions or concerns.
Kathy & Jen
We do not have PALS next week. Mrs. Slack will be working with small groups in all elementary buildings next week. Our next session will be Thursday, February 21.
February 22, 2013 Hi parents,
Yesterday, we corrected and got new brainwork, bypassing our other stations so that we would have more time with our winter photography.
We looked at examples of some good winter photographs and some not-so-good. We talked about the importance of a discernable focal point, getting to the level of the subject, lighting, focus, etc.
We then distributed snowshoes and went over how to put them on.
As you may have heard, on our walk to the college I, Mrs. Smith, was just telling the kids, "Be careful, it's slippery!" when I hit the deck and my head. I do not remember falling or the following fifteen to twenty minutes, but, apparently, I was quite rude to Mrs. Slack and quite entertaining to others. Mrs. Slack, despite my insistence that I was fine, sent me back to Sheridan and she took the kids on their hike. (I was taken in for medical attention. I am a little stiff and sore, but otherwise ok.) But if I am more air-headed than usual over the next few days, weeks, or months, I am blaming my concussion ;-)
I have been told the rest of the morning went well. The kids got their snowshoes on, their photos taken, and picked up the slack (so to speak) by writing down their own photo descriptions and working hard.
Here's to a less eventful weekend!
Kathy & Jen
February 28, 2013 Hi parents,
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks If students do not have scrapbook photos to write about, they are working on the monthly Sketch and Tell, which includes changing reflection illustration pieces. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
Next, the kids chose two photographs from the three they had taken last week to use with poetry writing. Although we do winter poetry with each Word Wizard grade level, the poem forms change and become more complex with each year. The two poems for this grade level are Monorhyme and Minute Poetry. The Monorhyme is a poem in which all the lines have the same end rhyme. The minimum length of this poem is seven lines. Since this poem only has these two rules, it allows a lot of freedom to be creative and unique. The Minute Poem uses rhyming verse consisting of 12 lines. The poem is formatted into three stanzas with a syllable pattern of 8, 4, 4, 4; 8, 4, 4, 4; 8, 4, 4, 4. The rhyme scheme is aabb, ccdd, eeff.
Today the kids were able to begin with either poem. We will continue working on these next week, and the students will type them for display when finished writing.
Enjoy your weekend!
Kathy & Jen
March 7, 2013 Hi parents,
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks If students do not have scrapbook photos to write about, they are working on the monthly Sketch and Tell, which includes changing reflection and illustration pieces. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
Next, the kids worked on their winter poetry. When finished writing and typing their work, students continued work on their Historical Fiction. Many of the stories are really coming along!
Due to some early "spring fever", Mrs. Slack today introduced a little behavior modification to encourage good listening and excellent classroom behavior. An infraction (interrupting, being blatantly off-task, talking when the teacher is talking, etc.) will result in a 25 cent fine, which will go toward a purchase for the PALS classroom. This morning, the classroom only tallied fifty cents. If your student comes home telling you s/he owes Mrs. Slack a quarter, please allow them to earn their payment with the completion of the household chore of your choice :-) . Your child will be able to tell you why s/he was fined.
Enjoy your weekend!
Kathy & Jen
*There is no PALS next week. Mrs. Slack is traveling to all elementaries for small groups. Our next session will be Thursday, March 21.
**Mrs. Slack will be available on a drop-in basis for PALS conferences at Sheridan on Tuesday, March 12, and Thursday, March 14, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. If you would prefer to speak with Mrs. Slack via email or over the phone, that is fine as well. Be assured that she will always contact you if there are concerns that need attention.
March 21, 2013 Hi parents,
We started last Thursday by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks If students do not have scrapbook photos to write about, they are working on the monthly Sketch and Tell, which includes changing reflection and illustration pieces. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
We next did an activity as a class called "Red Herring". You may remember these from last year. As you probably know, a "red herring" is a name for a clue that can lead you down the wrong path. The class is given a brief description of a mystery to be solved. The description includes clues that must be deciphered before being helpful to lead us to a solution. Each student is given three question cards--each allowing the student to ask one yes-or-no question. (This prevents any one student from monopolizing the inquiry.) This group was excellent at finding the double meanings in the clues, which enabled them to solve the mysteries pretty quickly. Great job, kids!
Next, the kids worked on their historical fiction in the computer lab.
We hope you had a great weekend!
Kathy & Jen
Important Information for this Thursday: Hi parents,
Well, Spring Break is nearly upon us, and since we have your children on the last day before vacation, there are some special school events around which to work on Thursday.
Ottawa students are attending a movie in the morning. We expect they will attend Ottawa to join in this event. Mrs. Smith will be happy to pick up all afternoon PALS students (including all-dayers) from Ottawa beginning at 12:20, right after lunch recess, to bring them to Sheridan for PALS.
Sheridan and Central students are scheduled to go to the movie theater in the afternoon. Mrs. Smith will be happy to return all Central morning and all-day PALS kids back to Central before lunch so they may attend the movie. We expect Sheridan PALS kids to attend the movie as well.
Lincoln PALS fifth-graders will attend PALS as usual.
The PHS Jazz Band is set to perform here at Sheridan in the morning.
If you still have questions about this Thursday, or your child would prefer to be with us rather than at a movie ;-) please email or call.
Kathy & Jen
March 28, 2013 Hi parents,
We had a very small group this morning due to student attendance at special activities at some of the elementary schools
We started today by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, and Scrapbooks. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
Throughout the morning, Mrs. Slack met with students individually to see how they are coming along on their brainwork goals. All students should now have in their PALS folders the number of brainwork pieces needed to meet their spring goals. Spring Break is a great time to get some of these done!
Next, the students went to the computer lab to work on their historical fiction stories.
We finished the morning by listening to the PHS Jazz Band perform.
We hope you have a wonderful and relaxing Spring Break!
Kathy & Jen
April 11, 2013 Hi parents,
We started this Thursday by rotating through our PALS stations—Brainwork, Brain Activities, Salmon Journals, and Scrapbooks If students do not have scrapbook photos to write about, they are working on the monthly Sketch and Tell, which includes changing reflection and illustration pieces. Rather than WOW words, our fourth station has been changed, for the time being, to Historical Fiction reading.
Next, students finished their winter poetry.
Throughout the afternoon, Mrs. Slack met with students individually to see how they are coming along on their brainwork goals. All students should now have in their PALS folders the number of brainwork pieces needed to meet their spring goals. Since we will be in Lansing during our last session, Brainwork goals for the fifth-graders are due to be met on Thursday, May 9.
We have a new addition to our classroom. The second-graders are going to be studying birds, so we will be incubating both Ringneck Pheasant and Bobwhite Quail eggs! The kids got a chance to see the pheasant eggs today, which will be going into the incubator this afternoon. This set of eggs should hatch between 23 and 28 days. The quail eggs have not yet arrived. When the chicks are old enough, they will be going to the nice farm home of an Ottawa teacher.
Spring is just around the corner (at least that's what I've been told ;-) !
Kathy & Jen
April 18, 2013 Hi parents,
We began Thursday rotating through stations.
We then got right to work finishing Winter Poetry, animal research (Each student is researching two animals that are residents of Potter Park Zoo in order to be the expert on that animal for the class during our spring visit.), and Historical Fiction.
It's hard to believe, but after today, we only have three class sessions for this group. (We have a fourth and final session, but we will on our field trip to Lansing that day.) Please check with your child to see how s/he is progressing toward his/her goal. Brainwork goals are due to be met for this group on May 9.
We have begun receiving permission slips and money for our Lansing trip on May 15-16. Please get these in as soon as you can. We are still in need of additional chaperones, as we like to have two adults per vehicle--one to drive and one to navigate/manage the kids. Please call us if you are able to chaperone.
Kathy & Jen
April 25, 2013 Hi parents,
We began Thursday rotating through stations.
Today was another day for winter poetry, animal research, and historical fiction.
Brainwork goals are due to be met for this group on May 9.
We have begun receiving permission slips and money for our Lansing trip on May 15-16. Please get these in as soon as you can. We are still in need of additional chaperones, as we like to have two adults per vehicle--one to drive and one to navigate/manage the kids. Please call us if you are able to chaperone. We also have some students who have turned in permission slips but not money. We must have the money to deposit before we pay our hosts in Lansing.
Kathy & Jen
May 2, 2013 Hi parents,
We began Thursday rotating through stations.
Today Mrs. Smith instructed the kids in Photoshop, and they began working on the cover photos/illustrations for their Historical Fiction. It will be challenging to get these finished, as next week is our last week in class. Please check with your child to see if s/he thinks s/he will need more time finishing their writing. If so, please send a jump/flash drive in to PALS with him/her to our session next week, or ask us to email the document to you. You can then email it back to us when finished for editing and printing.
Brainwork goals are due to be met for this group next week on May 9.
We have begun receiving permission slips and money for our Lansing trip on May 15-16. Please get these in as soon as you can. We also have some students who have turned in permission slips but not money. We must have the money to deposit before we pay our hosts in Lansing
We now have enough drivers/chaperones to have two adults per vehicle, as we prefer. Thank you so much for volunteering to do this! It is parents that make these trips possible :-) .
Kathy & Jen
May 9, 2013 Hi parents,
We began Thursday rotating through stations, and sharing a yummy end-of-PALS chocolate cake from the Mayfield family!
The kids continued work on their Historical Fiction stories and Photoshop. If your child did not finish his/her story, we will be emailing a copy to you to be finished at home. You are welcome to email it back to us next week sometime so we may print it before the PALS Open House (details to come soon).
Many kids asked for another copy of our trip itinerary for Lansing (next week!). I have attached that along with the list of what to bring.
Brainwork goals were checked today. Most students met or exceeded their goals. Way to go, kids!
Many of our eggs have hatched! Mrs. Smith came to check on the eggs Sunday night, knowing they were getting close. She came in to one pheasant already hatched (These were supposed to hatch after the quail, not before!). She then rushed to Meijer to buy light bulbs to heat the brooders (where the tiny chicks will spend some time growing). When she returned, she got to watch another pheasant hatch, and noticed several more eggs, including some of the quail, moving! By 1:00 am, she was tired of waiting, and just plain tired, and went home. Monday morning Mrs. Smith came in to find seven baby quail and five baby pheasant! Another pheasant and quail hatched Monday morning with the kids watching. Several more quail and pheasant have hatched since. What fun! There are still six eggs unhatched. They are now considered duds and will be discarded at the end of today.
I am also attaching a list of drivers, chaperones, and passengers for each vehicle to Lansing. We went through these with the kids today, and they had input as to the arrangements.
Please check out the field trip packet again for information on the trip. If you still have questions, please feel free to email or call.
Have a great Friday! Whew!
Jen & Kathy
May 16, 2013 Hi parents,
What a great trip we had! It turned out we had great weather (I do not dare say a little too warm!). It was so neat to watch the kids thoroughly engrossed and enjoying the Impression 5 activities, listen attentively at the Michigan Historical Museum, and act as experts on their animals at the zoo.
Thanks so much to the parents who were able to drive and/or chaperone. You make it possible for us to plan and take these kinds of educational trips to enhance the learning the kids do in PALS. We know what a big commitment this trip is, and we are grateful for all your help!
As a side note, our chicks have gone to their new home on the farm. They all had feathers growing on their wings, and the pheasants, especially, were trying to get out of their enclosures. Mrs. Smith came in to clean their houses on Saturday to find the light on in the room. (It turns on by motion sensor.) After much crawling around and peeping from the little escapee, s/he was found shivering behind the toilet in the class bathroom. The little chick was fine, and the window of the brooder was taped shut :-)
The PALS school year has come to an end--no PALS next week :-( Thanks for sharing your kiddos with us this year. They are fantastic!
Information will be coming soon about our annual PALS Open House. We had chosen a day, but we have a group who will be gone on an overnight field trip that day, so we are rescheduling. We'll email invitations as soon as possible.
Kathy & Jen
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