The reason for smiles...

Here are two cuties that put smiles on our faces daily.  The 2nd and 3rd graders are hilarious and sometimes we capture them on camera haming it up!  Enjoy!

She reminds me of Popeye!

Greek Olympics

In 2nd and 3rd grade history we have been studying Ancient Greece.  They are learning so much and are having a blast!  The other day they had their official Greek Olympic games.  All 30 students competed in 5 events.  They were wrestling (arm wrestling), the javelin throw (performed with chopsticks), the discus throw (the frisbee throw), a sprint, and the long jump (8 and 9 year old style).  They competed with all they had and then the judges conferred (Carrie and Amanda) to decide the overall winners in each grade.  We then had an official medal ceremony consisting of medals, flowers, and cash winnings (chocolate Euro coins).  The Olympians had to, of course, wear their hand made olive wreaths on their heads and carry their torches to the ceremony!  It was so much fun!!!

So precious!

I am not sure what the gold medal winner is doing here but it makes me giggle!

So proud!

Pure cuteness!

Classic grade 3 boy pose.  This one makes me laugh because it captures each of their personalities so well!

Grade 3 Family Fellowship Night

We recently had a Grade 3 Family Fellowship evening.  It was fun to have an international potluck with the families of my students.  It was also a lot of fun to simply sit and chat with the parents.  We don't get to do that a lot.  My students also performed a skit for the parents.  It was called 'The Foolish Little Hare'. I am so glad we did this because, while it was a lot of work, I don't think I have ever laughed so hard at my students' antics!  Haha!  I am giggling just thinking about all the fun we had getting ready and presenting it!  Here are some pics taken by Carrie!  Thank you Carrie for being my photographer for the evening!

The Foolish Little Hare was HILARIOUS as evidenced by the Narrator's smiling face!

A very cute little brown hare #2!

My characters and me!  They bring me so much joy!

Space Race

In Grades 2 and 3 science we are studying space, the planets, the moon, and the stars.  It is sooo much fun!  To help the kids remember the order of the planets we made space headbands.  They loved them!

Bananagram Fridays

It has kind of become a tradition with my class this year to take the last hour of school on Friday afternoon and play Bananagrams.  I initially started it so these kiddos could gain an understanding of all the words they knew in English as well as remember how to spell them.  It has turned into a most favorite Friday afternoon activity for all of the kids.  They say, "I cannot wait until Friday for Bananas!"  I love it!  I put them in teams of 3 and we play and play and play!  It is so much fun and I love all of the progress I have seen them make throughout the year so far!  They are becoming a lot more confident in the English words they know.  

This Is Not A Pipe

My students took an art field trip this week to the Albertina art museum to see the René Magritte exhibit.  I had, honestly, never heard of this artist but was pleasantly surprised to recognize many of the works that were displayed.  He was a very good artist.  Here are three things I learned about my students during this trip...

1. They like to look at art and explain why the artist did what he did.  They will argue their point.  I am not surprised about this fact but the tour guide was.  She even mentioned once that she did not need to teach them anything about interpreting Magritte's works because they already think they know it all!  It was pretty funny to listen to them.  She was shocked that the kids seemed to get it and actually participated with their own ideas.
2. This one made me laugh out loud and in a museum that is not good.  Here is the piece we were looking at...

       After she gave the kids significant time to look at the piece she asked them if it was a pipe.  They said no.  She asked why?  They read it to her, kind of loudly which didn't surprise me.  Then she asked them again if it was a pipe.  They said no.  At this point I heard one of the other kids tell another student that maybe it blows bubbles.  I was laughing pretty hard at this point.  The guide then asked the kids if she covered up the words would it be a pipe.  They said, well, yes of course.  So she uncovered the words and said... is this a pipe?  They then said no and she said that maybe we should move to another piece!  HAHA!!

3.  While coming out of the ubahn station one of my students suddenly stopped at the top of the escalator and wouldn't move so all of the kids behind her kind of fell into her. I heard her say "Miss Brunker!!" in a panicked voice and then I heard her say it again more loudly.  It was then that I jumped out of the way so I wouldn't run into her at the top of the escalator!  I suddenly saw the problem.  Her shoelace was stuck in the escalator.  My initial response was to ask her if she was okay and then try to get the boot off of her but people were going to cram into us so I yanked as hard as I could and then I did it again and finally we both went tumbling as the shoe lace broke free and an old lady yelled at us in German because we were in her way!  Man that scared me but I was thankful that neither my student or I are screamers under stress.  I am just quiet and try to act as quickly as I can to solve the problem.  She was fine but scared and now makes sure her shoes are tied tight when she gets on escalators!  Thank you Lord she wasn't hurt and I was able to free her.  :)