The Garden School Tattler

It's been busy already in the little town of the Garden School. Lots to do, lots more to do. Speaking of doing, one of our older children challenged me yesterday about TV. He was stunned that I failed to see the joy of TV. He said, "But Miss Judy, it's something to do." I replied that the functional word there was "do" and the problem is that one is not "doing" in front of TV; one is failing to do." He laughed because he has a good brain and was trying to find an argument and he met with a whole new way of looking at TV. It was fun and we realized that deeper thought was actually used.

The kids have been absolutely fabulous. Not a green face in the lot. We've had a bit of temper, but it has ended with laughter and friendship. Lots of boys - lots of hitting - lots of truces.

They have literally eaten us out of house and school. I have never made so much food at a sitting and had them eat it all. My grocery bill has climbed nearly $100.00 a week. I'm counting on the impending heat to quell the nine sandwich appetites. But when you go, go, go, it's hard not to be hungry. The tuna this year has been a big hit.

Today is pool day. We had a good time on Monday at the pool. Two boys passed their swim tests: Jack H and Ty. No one else was interested. A couple of children couldn't do it, but it's just a matter of time.

Yesterday we did an in-school class day. I moved Justin and Abby up to First with Miss Kelly, and am going to send Faith next. Morgan came into my class yesterday and did quite well. She has just begun to use K paper for her name and she did a spectacular job. She had no problem with the advanced bingo and tackled her first math page yesterday and she claimed the finger count formula with grace and independence and went right to work. I'm so proud of her.

The 750 word puzzles arrived and Brandon and Mateo and Danielle struggled to find the edge pieces on the Asian puzzle. On Thursday I will give one to Justin and Taylor to see what they can do with the Australian one. This is of course an activity for spare time.

Our school day is more open than a fall or winter day. We sprinkle our class time with play and recess time and of course food. The Round Table Forum read for over an hour and munched on chips, and the classes read and did their work and munched on prizes. We had other treats and other games during the day like color bingo. Every child gets an 11X14 sheet with odd shapes with numbers from 1-100. First he has to listen to the number and color called then he has to color the number he finds and keep count of how many numbers I've called. Hadley and Peyton chose to be partners and won.

Danielle is responsible for baking a cake every day. If she doesn't bake, the kids have crackers, apples and cheese for snack. You should see the faces when there is no cake. It's hilarious.

Next addition? Probably philately if I can find the stamps. My three year olds know more geography than the third graders who have come to help out this summer. They also know the pledge better, the Star Spangled Banner better and can pray. What are they teaching these days? I thought knowledge of the world was important.