Thank you!

Dear parents,

I am so very sorry that it has been so long since my last blog.  It is far overdue.  

I want to offer you my most sincere thanks for the support I've received from you and your children since the middle of October when my dad fist became sick.  Sometimes your support simply came in an encouraging sentence at the end of an email.   Others sent along cards, meals, and letters.  What really kept me going during those difficult days was coming into school and being able to spend time with your children.  Your children have been amazingly supportive.  From the start, I was fairly open with the children.  I told them that my dad was very sick and that I needed to help care for him. They asked about him often said that they hoped he was feeling better.   Once we knew he had stage 4 melanoma and treatment wouldn't be an option, I gently explained to the class that my dad wouldn't get better and that we were getting ready to say good-bye.  I explained that we'd be treating his cancer with lots of love and keeping him comfortable with medicine.  They seemed to understand.  Many continued to ask about him and let me know that they were praying for him and my family.  My dad was so touched by their compassion.  He loved pouring over the cards that they made for him.  There simply is no way for me to convey how much their kind words and gestures meant to me and my family.  The flowers that you sent from Petal and Crumb shortly after my dad's passing were stunning.  I very much appreciated that beautiful expression of your sympathy.

Mrs. Gallagher was also very supportive of me.  She made sure that I had the best subs when I needed to be out and I made sure to leave detailed plans before each absence so that the children would have the same kind of productive days in the classroom as if I had been there myself.  My colleagues were amazing too .  They helped to support my subs and ensured that the kids were having good days in my absence.

Unfortunately, this is a time of great negativity in our world.  We can't use social media or watch the news without feeling its full force.  Yet, in the three months from the time my dad got sick to his passing, I have never witnessed so much kindness and compassion.  I look at the 25 little faces of the children I teach every day and I know there is hope.  Thank you for being incredible parents and raising these children who are so filled with light.  I am truly blessed that they are a part of my life.  Thank you.

I returned to school on Friday the 20th but last week was my first full week back in the classroom.  Boy did that feel good!  It is wonderful to be back.  There are lots of exciting things going on in our classroom.  We're wrapping up both ​Matilda and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  Next, we'll read, We Are the Ship:  The Story of Negro League Baseball.  The students will be writing expository pieces that focus on animals and their ability to use physical and behavioral adaptations.  In math, it is all about FRACTIONS.  We're using a a very hands on approach to build a conceptual understanding of fractions.  The development of fraction number sense is critical to the work we'll do this year.  The children are having lots of fun with the lessons so far.  I look forward to our continued work. Finally, in social studies, we're getting ready to wrap up our study of U.S. regions.  We'll explore immigration, Canada, Mexico, and National Monuments before the year is over.

In the coming weeks, you'll notice an increase in homework, especially reading and writing.  Please let me know if this becomes burdensome or frustrating and we'll make an adjustment.

I am very pleased with the progress the children are making to date.  If for any reason you become concerned about your own child's progress, please contact me at once.  It would be my pleasure to sit down and review his or her progress with you.  

Again, thanks for all you do, especially what you do to support your child's academic and social  growth at home. Trust me when I tell you that it is the little things you do that make a BIG difference in the classroom.  I remain honored to be your child's teacher.

Sincerely,
Marie