happy fourth

the past couple days have been great.  ryan took off the two days after the fourth so that we could have some family time.  with us going on vacation with the entire family soon, we thought it would be nice to spend the time just us.  for the fourth we went to st. charles riverfront to watch the fireworks. i <3 fireworks.

on thursday we went to the science center to beat the heat.  it was uber crowded!  we didn't spend a lot of time there, but i was really fascinated with some of the dinosaur bones they have on display.  i have never been super interested in dinosaurs,,, but for some reason i found it so cool that paleontologist make cast for dinosaur bones before they move them from the site.  and they use aluminum foil to protect the bone from the plaster.  who would have thunk it?

friday, we spent some great family time with lucas.  jen had a doctor's appointment, so we went out to babysit little man.  she took joel with her since he is still breast feeding, and we really wouldn't have been able to give l some great one on one time if joel would have been there. ryan loves hanging out with the boys, and they really love him too.  and if ryan isn't there and i am, all i hear is, "where's uncle ryan?"  i love it!!!  we swam with lucas for a couple hours and then went out to dinner with the whole fam.  

(yes, ryan is showing off one of lucas's toys.)

today i am working on some school stuff.  can you believe that i feel like my summer is pretty much over? we leave for south carolina soon, and when i come back, i have school stuff until school starts.  i am really looking forward to south carolina and to my trip to chicago for the differentiated learning conference, but i don't want my summer over yet.  

i do have to say, though, that when i went to wal-mart i was super excited that school supplies were out. and i bought some.  i mean a ton.  oh well.

i am working on a new idea for my classroom- reading response journals.  i had no idea how i was going to make AR (accelerated reading) more valuable in my class, and i think i found the solution.  every friday the kids will spend ten minutes writing in their journals.  they will give a brief summary of what they read, answer three response questions, and define three unfamiliar words in the text.  i am being extra cognoscente of the core standards that each and every activity we do in class covers, and this activity stands up well with the core standards.

and of course, while i worked, emmy tried preventing me from getting anything done. gotta love the furbaby.

i'm taking  a break from A Wrinkle in Time today, but i will get back at it next week.  i have the final projects figured out, which i think is what i am most excited about.  i also am having the kids create tessellations.  i don't know how that will go over, but i think it will be really cool.  i am spending my time reading each chapter and writing notes about the chapter.  what's great is that i am really seeing the book from a different perceptive than when i read it the first time, and i love it.  

well more later.

~laura