During Science we have been learning about patterns that occur because of the solar system.  Last week we learned about day and night and the seasons.  Today Mrs. Ringler taught about the moon phases.  Part of the lesson included the opportunity to become part of a model of the moon phases.  A bright light bulb was the sun and each student held a styrofoam moon.  The students rotated slowly as if they were Earth and they watched as the sun’s light reflected off the moon creating the different phases (new moon, crescent moon, gibbous moon, full moon, etc.).

This week we welcomed Mrs. Diane Ringler into our classroom as a student teacher.  She recently graduated from Eastern University with a BS in Early Childhood Education. She is now pursuing a Pennsylvania teaching certificate for K-4th grade and is student teaching in our classroom to fulfill those requirements. Currently, Mrs. Ringler is the director of the Before and After School Program at the Bowmansville Mennonite Church. She lives in Ephrata with her husband, four children, and two miniature dachshunds.  Mrs. Ringler will be working with my homeroom, language arts and math students until the middle of April. We are excited to learn with her and spend time getting to know her better.

Our January author is Jan Brett.  She not only writes wonderful books, but she is a beautiful illustrator as well.  Jan Brett has a way of previewing the upcoming story through pictures that frame the sides of her pages.  Check out Jan Brett’s web site for tons of neat activities!  You can learn about her, print out coloring and activity pages, print greeting cards and stationary, watch movies, and lots more!

www.janbrett.com