Merry Christmas Rusty.....!!!!!

">Rusty's Christmas Gift from Carol....

Gingerbread and more

   By now you have seen the end result of all our labors...from buying graham crackers to cutting milk cartons to creating masterpieces.  It was a great day for all and the celebration continues tomorrow with our Big Friends.  I just wanted to thank all the parents for the great support and help you were in creating this memory!  We are in your debt!  Thanks again...and have a blessed and hopefully restful holiday....we'll be thinking of you!  Love, Rusty...and Carol

On the third day of Christmas...

We are checking our lists and making sure we've got things all completed before our winter break in just a few days. For the last few days we have been reading two great books together. Hansel and Gretel by Michael Morpurgo is a winner. Yesterday while I was reading a part when the witch lures them to the Gingerbread House they all sat so still and quiet. I try and change voices for the characters and was really getting into the witch's voice a bit too much I guess. Several commented on my scary voice! and yet want to hear more! We've also read the classic O. Henry short story The Gift of the Magi. Written in 1906 it tells the story of a husband and wife who give very unselfishly one Christmas. The vocabulary in the book was quiet advanced...even I had to reread portions from time to time. After reading students still were able to tell what the story was about. It led into a wonderful discussion about giving selflessly to others.
A tradition at Summit is to create snowman ornaments made out of model magic. Even though it was a fun project we did a lot of talking about halves, and spheres, and triangles. You'll be seeing them before the week is out so leave a place on your tree for one more ornament.