Letting Go

 Monday we took our butterflies to the playground and let them fly free.

We wanted to keep them in their cage and continue to observe their color wings.

We wanted to keep feeding them sugar water and orange slices.

                              We wished we could hold them and keep them forever.

                                               But it was time for them to be on their own.

It was time for them to find their own food, lay eggs, and continue the butterfly life cycle.

We had to let them go. Goodbye, butterflies!

Maybe we'll see you flying around the playground when we go to recess.

Our children are growing up, too. While we enjoy caring for them and watching them as they meet new milestones in their development, our goal is to see them become independent. This means we have to prepare them to face new challenges, to take on new responsibilities, and to persevere when the tasks are difficult. We won't always be around to give them all the answers or do everything for them. So we have to teach them to rely on their Creator for the strength and wisdom to do what they're called to do and to be the best they can be. 

"Train up a child in the way he should go;

    even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6 ESV

Celebrating Spring

It happens every year about this time...spring fever. The weather is warmer, and the kids all want to be outside playing. They're counting the days until Easter when baskets will overflow with candy and treats. But in chapel and in the classroom, they're learning what Eastertime really means to us as Christians. 

"One, two, three, Jesus is alive.

One, two, three, Jesus is alive.

He died for you and me

And on Day Three

Jesus rose again.

Jesus is alive."

Springtime brings the wonders of new life. The class has been eagerly observing the process of metamorphosis as five caterpillars transform into butterflies. They're learning, too, that God can change our lives.  His Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, too, (woohoo!), gentleness, and self-control. (We've got Spirit, how 'bout you?)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." II Corinthians 5:17

What do you do when a springtime storm is approaching and meteorologists are forecasting 50-60 mile per hour wind gusts? Why, you hurry to the football field to fly a kite!

  And, of course, we always love to celebrate birthdays.

Dinosaurs

It's not every day a dinosaur comes to visit. We had a few squeals, a few tears, and a lot of laughter when the Dinosaur Man from Dinosaur Experience came to visit with his friends. He brought a couple of baby dinosaurs, plus one big enough for a man to ride. The kids saw some fossils of dinosaur claws and teeth and had some lessons in how to train a dinosaur. We ended our week with a ROAR!

Taste of Louisiana

What's so special about our state? For one thing, the food!

As a culmination of our study of Louisiana, the students experienced a Taste of Louisiana. They sampled food that are unique to our state, jambalaya and beignets, as well as homegrown strawberries. Then had a fais-do-do in the hallway and did some Cajun two-stepping to the tune of Zydeco music.

When we came back inside the classroom, my students surprised me.  After all the dancing and celebrating, the boys and girls picked up books from the bookshelf and began reading---- because they wanted to. They were especially proud of themselves because they could read entire Dr. Seuss books without any help. And since we currently have some new "class pets" (five caterpillars in a jar) the books on butterflies and insects were also popular.

Nous sommes amis!

In addition to the excitement of the fais-do-do, today the caterpillars made their way to the top of the jar and began to form their chrysalis. We've been observing them for a week or so and recording our observations. We eagerly await their metamorphosis!

Top of the Mornin' to You

Happy St. Patrick's Day! We're wearing green and learning about St. Patrick, the missionary who brought Christianity to Ireland.

We're learning about graphs as we eat our Lucky Charms. Our data shows that Lucky Charms cereal has zero "pot of gold" marshmallows.

Even the food in the cafeteria was green.

"I'm glad I brought my lunch."

It's corndogs in the courtyard.

Time for an Irish jig. 

Celebrating a March Birthday