Spring is here in all it’s beauty! Blossoms, bulbs, rain and sunshine seemingly all at the same time! Your First Grader has grown in so many ways and it is such a pleasure being their teacher! Last week we spent time with our Fifth Grade buddies making art, had a Portland Glass Artist help us create glass necklaces and our glass insect installations, and enjoyed an informative puppet show called, "Compost City" by Portland Metro Program. This week we kicked off our new science studies into insects by creating a habitat for crickets. We will observe  and research their life cycle. Having pets in the classroom is an awesome way to build on your child’s empathy and ability to share and communicate with classmates. Sadly, our bird Sunshine died last Saturday. I broke the news to the children and they were very thoughtful and kind in their comments and questions. Many students thought we should get a new pet such as a snake, possum, or parrot!  I think though at this time,  we will appreciate Hercules the Guinea pig for awhile before I consider these new pet ideas!:) Friday this week is and in service day for teachers and we will be working on report cards to be sent out the following Friday, April 20. Our phonics focus is on "le" endings and "ow" and "ou" dip thongs. and in Writer’s Workshop we are venturing into Nonfiction writing of reports and procedures. Thank you to Geri Dash, one of our OASIS volunteers who teaches small groups about Literacy Circles weekly for the awesome whole group lesson this week. Please stop by and take a look at your child’s work outside our classroom and sign up to help in the classroom too, we need you!
Have a great rest of the week, abuckley@pps.net 
mrslogue.posterous.com