(92,151,'2008-09-01 17:26:42','2008-09-01 22:26:42','<!--  [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--  [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--  [if !mso]&gt;-->\nst1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }\n&lt;!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face 	{font-family:Wingdings; 	panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:2; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:Jester; 	panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:auto; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:131 0 0 0 9 0;} @font-face 	{font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	panose-1:3 15 7 2 3 3 2 2 2 4; 	mso-font-charset:0; 	mso-generic-font-family:script; 	mso-font-pitch:variable; 	mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;}  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} p.MsoFooter, li.MsoFooter, div.MsoFooter 	{margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	tab-stops:center 3.0in right 6.0in; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Comic Sans MS&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink 	{color:blue; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed 	{color:purple; 	text-decoration:underline; 	text-underline:single;} @page Section1 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-page-numbers:1; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} @page Section2 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:.5in .5in .5in .5in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section2 	{page:Section2;}  /* List Definitions */  @list l0 	{mso-list-id:661394883; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:849538516 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	margin-left:1.5in; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} @list l1 	{mso-list-id:972835356; 	mso-list-type:hybrid; 	mso-list-template-ids:-936112102 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l1:level1 	{mso-level-number-format:bullet; 	mso-level-text:; 	mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; 	mso-level-number-position:left; 	text-indent:-.25in; 	font-family:Symbol;} ol 	{margin-bottom:0in;} ul 	{margin-bottom:0in;} --&gt;\n\n<!--  [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n/* Style Definitions */\ntable.MsoNormalTable\n{mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;;\nmso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\nmso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\nmso-style-noshow:yes;\nmso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;;\nmso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\nmso-para-margin:0in;\nmso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\nmso-pagination:widow-orphan;\nfont-size:10.0pt;\nfont-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;\nmso-ansi-language:#0400;\nmso-fareast-language:#0400;\nmso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n\n</div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 2.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) <span> </span> Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) <span> </span> Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span> Mar. 2 (Pulaski’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span> Apr. 6-Apr. 10 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday) <span> </span> May 25 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span> June 10 (Last day of school)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $225.00 a week ($250.00 if meals are included), to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have very little storage space so we will be breaking up the supply list over the course of the year.<span> </span> <strong><em>If your child’s last name starts with A-L</em> </strong> , please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--  [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--  [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--  [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--  [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--  [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--  [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--  [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--  [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--  [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--  [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--  [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--  [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Families whose children’s last names start with M-Z will be asked to bring in supplies in February.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> We ask you to dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> We provide an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We try to keep extra snacks for children staying late and welcome donations for this.<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!--  [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->\n<!--  [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in snacks for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing.<strong></strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 14 and January 30.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email us (Jane at <a href=\"mailto:japrek@yahoo.com\">japrek@yahoo.com</a> ; Jeff at <a href=\"mailto:jgillesp@hotmail.com\">jgillesp@hotmail.com</a> ). <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call us during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information (and some that’s not).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also encourage you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> </span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> </span> Last year, one parent who is a chemist did a chemistry experiment with the children.<span> </span> Another parent came to help with jump-roping.<span> </span> Some parents made dumplings with the children for Asian New Year.<span> </span> Two parents shared their carpentry interest with the children.<span> </span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor.<span> </span> Also, we ask that you fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-revision-3','','','2008-09-01 17:26:42','2008-09-01 22:26:42','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(298,151,'2008-09-01 17:27:05','2008-09-01 22:27:05','<!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<div class=\"Section1\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><span style=\"font-size: 26pt\">RayTuition-Based Preschool</span></p>\n\n</div>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Welcome to the Ray School Tuition-Based Preschool program!<span> </span> We’re very happy that you chose Ray School for your child’s first school experience.<span> </span> Please feel free to let us know any concerns you have about the school, the program or your child.<span> </span> We hope you’ll see yourselves as part of the Ray community and participate in the many ways available for parents and families.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Preschool Curriculum</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our preschool program is play-based. This means that we understand children learn best through play, or, as some people put it, <em>play is children’s work. <span> </span> </em> Children learn and practice play skills in all areas of the classroom.<span> </span> Embedded in our classroom routines, toys, games, and activities is a wealth of learning opportunities helping children build foundations in literacy, math, science, social studies, music, and art.<span> </span> Of equal importance, children start to develop their social and emotional skills so that when they start primary school, they have the self-confidence and ability to learn and work with others.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Our play curriculum happens both inside and outside. We use the playground located on Kimbark   Avenue for our regular outside playtime, as well as the field and blacktop located on the east side of the building.<span> </span> There are several gardens on the Ray School property that we dig in, plant in, watch growth in. We go for walks around the school and the neighborhood to learn about the community around us. We also take the children on trips around Chicago to museums, musical and theatrical events, and other major attractions.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">School starts this year on September 2.<span> </span> You may drop off your child between 8:00-9:00 am and pick him or her up between 3:30 and 6:00.<span> </span> PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE!<span> </span> If you arrive after 9:00, your child misses an important part of the day and it disrupts the class. <span> </span> If you must be late, please call us to let us know when your child will be arriving.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We serve breakfast at 8:30.</span> <span> </span> If you would like your child to have breakfast, please have them here by then.<span> </span> If your child will not be at school or will need to leave early, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">call us in our classroom before 9:00</span> .<span> </span> You do not need to call the school office for preschool.<span> </span> You will need to bring in a note if your child is late, absent, or leaving early.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Handwashing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Help your child wash their hands as soon as they enter.<span> </span> We work hard to stop the spread of illness in the classroom, and hand-washing is an important part of our ceaseless battle against germs. If your child has a sensitivity to soaps or sanitizer, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Drop-off and Pick-up</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please use the back doors of the classrooms, located on the east side of the building near the cafeteria for both drop-off and pick-up, especially if you are coming before 8:30 or after 3:30.<span> </span> We use this door for security reasons.<span> </span> Please do not use the glass doors near our classroom.<span> </span> All visitors are to enter through the main door on Kimbark and should check in with Security.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If someone other than you or the regular pickup person is going to pick up your child, you must let us know in advance, preferably in writing.<span> </span> Anyone beside a parent who is picking up a child must be listed on the pick up form – this includes siblings.<span> </span> In cases where we don’t know the pickup person, we will ask to see ID.<span> </span> <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Illness</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child is sick, DO NOT BRING THEM TO SCHOOL! We know it is hard for parents to take off of work, but bringing a sick child to school guarantees the spread of illness. If we notice your child is sick in the morning, we will ask you to take them home. If they get sick during the day, we will call you and ask you to come and pick them up. We must always have a way to reach you or an emergency person, so make sure we have your current work and cell phone numbers. WE CANNOT TREAT CHILDREN AT SCHOOL. We cannot administer any medication without a doctor’s note and special arrangements set up in advance (such as for asthma or allergic reactions). Don’t send in cold medication or Tylenol, etc., because we won’t be able to give it to your child. If your child is on antibiotics, you’ll have to make arrangements to give them their midday dose.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has a condition that may require emergency care in the classroom, such as asthma or serious allergies, please let us know right away. We will notify the school nurse and arrange to store epi-pins or a breathing apparatus. If there are other health issues, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If there is something contagious in the classroom, such as pink eye, head lice, strep, ringworm, viruses, etc., we will notify all parents to be on guard. We will also take whatever steps we can to disinfect the classroom. Please know that children at this age do get sick easily. They are generally contagious before symptoms show so it is probable that your child will catch something at some point in school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Late Pickup:</strong> If an emergency should arise and you cannot pick up your child on time, please contact the classroom immediately.<span> </span> It is your responsibility to notify one of the persons on your Authorization Release form to pick up your child if you can’t.<span> </span> If a child is picked up after 6:00, a late fee will be<span> </span> assessed at $15.00 for the first 10 minutes and $1.00 per minute thereafter.<span> </span> You should pay the teacher who is staying with your child directly.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>First Day of School</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please plan on staying for a short time to fill out some papers. This will also help your child make the adjustment to a new school. <span> </span> If your child is having a hard time separating from you, we will work with you to find the best way for your child. This might mean staying in the classroom for a little while. Our staff will be there to help you and your child in this sometimes difficult transition. Feel free to call us during the day to see how they are doing.<span> </span> Sometimes it helps a sad child to dictate an email to you.<span> </span> The message may sound sad to you so please know they generally feel a lot better after they hit the “Send” button.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Year Schedule</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will be closed on the following dates:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Oct. 13 (Columbus Day) <span> </span> Feb. 12 (Lincoln’s Birthday)<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) <span> </span> Feb. 16 (Presidents’ Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nov. 26, 27 &amp; 28 (Thanksgiving)<span> </span> Mar. 2 (Pulaski’s Birthday)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dec. 22-Jan. 2 (Winter Break)<span> </span> Apr. 6-Apr. 10 (Spring Break)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan. 19 (ML King’s Birthday) <span> </span> May 25 (Memorial Day)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span> June 10 (Last day of school)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please note that the rest of the school is closed on professional development/teacher institute days.<span> </span> We will stay open our regular hours on these days with substitutes for the regular teachers.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Tuition</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tuition for this year is $225.00 a week ($250.00 if meals are included), to be paid at least a month in advance.<span> </span> You are expected to pay tuition for the entire school year, even if your child is out for an extended period.<span> </span> If you are late with your payment, you will be notified that your child may not return to school until payment is made.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Supplies</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have very little storage space so we will be breaking up the supply list over the course of the year.<span> </span> <strong><em>If your child’s last name starts with A-L</em> </strong> , please bring in the following:</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]-->1 roll of paper towels</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]-->1 box of gallon zip-lock bags, 1 box of quart-sized bags</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]-->2 boxes of facial tissue</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]-->Computer paper (at least 1 ream)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]-->Waterless sanitizer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 1.5in\"><!--   [if !supportLists]--><span style=\"font-family: Symbol\"><span>·<span> </span> </span> </span> <!--   [endif]-->Bandaids</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Families whose children’s last names start with M-Z will be asked to bring in supplies in February.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><em>All families</em> </strong> should bring in a family photo (pets included if possible).<span> </span> We’ll be glad to take a picture of you all if you don’t have one.<span> </span> Also, please send in $8.00 cash ($3.00 for pillow-making supplies, $5.00 for a Ray T-Shirt if you don’t have one – for $12.00 you can get a beautiful new tie-dyed green Ray shirt!).<span> </span> We ask you to dress your child in their Ray shirt on all trip days.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Meals </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We suggest you give your child a good breakfast at home.<span> </span> If you would like, you may purchase breakfast for $1.50 a day. <span> </span> Breakfast is served at 8:30 am.<span> </span> If you are sending a cold lunch and would like to purchase milk, please pay on Monday mornings. Milk costs $.35 a day.<span> </span> We provide an afternoon snack.<span> </span> Hot meals are prepared in the school cafeteria and delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> The food service works to have balanced meals, including the main course, a vegetable, fruit, and milk. <span> </span> If your child has food allergies, sensitivities (such as to dairy), or is a vegetarian, please let us know.<span> </span> We will be sending home menus from the kitchen every month.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage children to eat some of everything served at lunch, but we do not force them.<span> </span> Children at this age often eat very little and, unless your pediatrician advises otherwise, that’s ok.<span> </span> We do ask them to eat some lunch before dessert.<span> </span> Some children overeat for a variety of reasons.<span> </span> We also discourage this.<span> </span> Some parents have asked us not to give their child “seconds.”<span> </span> Please let us know any concerns you have about your child’s eating habits.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have one snack a day served from the kitchen that we serve after naptime.<span> </span> We try to keep extra snacks for children staying late and welcome donations for this.<span> </span> Good snack donations are<em>:<span> </span> carrot sticks, fresh fruit, pretzels and crackers, occasional sweet treats</em> like donut holes or cookies, <em>yogurt, rice cakes and cream cheese, dried fruit, granola bars, etc.</em> <span> </span> No popcorn or peanut products, please.<span> </span> If there are any food allergies, we will let you know so that we can keep those foods out of the classroom.<span> </span> We cannot accept food that is not prepared in a professional kitchen, so unfortunately, no home-cooked snacks.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Birthdays</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If you would like to send a treat on your child’s birthday, feel free.<span> </span> A really good option is the very small cupcakes that can be purchased at the grocery store.<span> </span> Children generally do not eat much of a regular size cupcake and wind up throwing most of it out. <span> </span> Again, store-bought treats only, please.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Clothing</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send an extra set of clothing (season appropriate) to keep in school.<span> </span> We have ziplock bags you can store them in.<span> </span> Please put your child’s name on the tags and socks using permanent marker.<span> </span> Your child will need: shirt, pants or shorts, underwear and socks.<span> </span> You may also send a pair of slippers or extra shoes to wear in school, especially in winter months.<span> </span> You may also want to send a sweater to keep at school, even in the warmer months.<span> </span> The air conditioning can get very chilly.<span> </span> In winter months, dress your child in layers because it often gets hot in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">We will check occasionally to make sure your child’s clothes bag is complete. It is very embarrassing for a child to have a bathroom accident (they all do), but it is <em>mortifying</em> if they have to wear dry clothes that are not their own.<span> </span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send your child to school in play clothes.<span> </span> We do lots of activities where we get dirty, and if they are worried about soiling a new dress or new pair of Sunday shoes, they won’t enjoy it.<span> </span> We do have the children wear smocks for paint and water activities and we are very careful with non-washable paints (occasional projects).<span> </span> But we also encourage children to play in the sandbox, play with goop (soap-based but very messy) and playdough, cook, mix things, dig in the dirt, look for bugs in the woodchips, etc. etc. etc.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also go out in the winter.<span> </span> As it gets colder, your child will need every day: SNOW PANTS, BOOTS, EXTRA SOCKS, HAT, WARM AND WATERPROOF MITTENS OR GLOVES (cotton gloves are not warm).<span> </span> Snow is an important part of our curriculum, so if there’s snow on the ground, assume we’ll go out in it unless the temperature is below 25 degrees.<span> </span> If your child has a health problem that is aggravated by being outside in cooler weather, such as asthma, please let us know.<span> </span> If your child has a cold and should not go outside, please do not bring them to school.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Naps</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We have a nap every day.<span> </span> Most children sleep for 1-2 hours.<span> </span> Some don’t sleep at all.<span> </span> We try to accommodate each child’s sleep needs as much as we can.<span> </span> Even non-nappers need downtime, however, so they lie quietly on their cots for about 45 minutes.<span> </span> We do play soft music, rub backs of children who want it, and keep the room quiet and dark.<span> </span> We have cots, sheets and blankets for the children, and the children will be making their own pillows the first week of school.<span> </span> If your child has a favorite pillow or blanket, feel free to bring it to school.<span> </span> If your child has a stuffed toy they like to sleep with, that’s fine too.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Sheet Washing/Snack Schedule</strong></p>\n\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parents are responsible for washing the sheets.<span> </span> We’ll let you know when you are scheduled (once or twice a year).<span> </span> Please use hot or warm water, soap (without dye or perfume) and about a cup of WHITE VINEGAR.<span> </span> Do not use bleach. You can put the sheets in the dryer.<span> </span> Sometimes blankets have to go home.<span> </span> Cotton blankets may be dried but acrylic blankets should be hung to dry.<span> </span> If you are unable to wash the sheets on your assigned day, please make arrangements with another parent to switch dates.<span> </span> We will send home the washing schedule and keep a copy posted to remind you of your turn.\n<!--   [if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->\n<!--   [endif]-->\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please send in snacks for the classroom for the week when you are scheduled for sheet washing.<strong></strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Toys from Home</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">In general, we discourage toys from home in the classroom.<span> </span> Some children need to bring something from home to help them transition in the morning or at the beginning of the year, and that’s fine.<span> </span> We will help them keep their toys in their cubbies during school time.<span> </span> Please do not allow your child to bring any toy guns or other violent toys to school under any circumstances.<span> </span> This is a school-wide rule at Ray and is strictly enforced.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Behavioral Issues</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">All children present “behavioral issues” in the eyes of the adult world because they are learning how to interact with others and this is a long-term and complicated process.<span> </span> A very large part of our job as preschool teachers is to help children learn strategies for impulse control and developing good social relations.<span> </span> We will share with you your child’s successes and their challenges at school so that we can work together to help them.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children at preschool age often act out their emotional stresses in inappropriate ways at school (and at home).<span> </span> It is important that if there is a particular stress in your family, such as an illness or death of a pet or family member, parent separation, moving to a new home, or new baby that you let us know as soon as possible.<span> </span> In this way we can help your child find positive ways to cope with the stress.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We need to keep our classroom safe for all children.<span> </span> If your child has problems with hitting, biting, or hurting children in other ways, we will contact you so we can work together to help them stop these behaviors and find more appropriate ways of dealing with conflicts.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Medical and Dental Forms</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Children must have a physical and dental exam before starting school and be caught up on all vaccinations.<span> </span> The school nurse will be checking each child’s medical record to make sure they have all their shots and have been screened for TB and lead.<span> </span> Please make sure your pediatrician uses the official CPS medical form. They are available in the office (and most doctors’ offices have them).<span> </span> They must put down the numeric results of the lead screening, not just check that your child has been screened.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Please keep your original medical form and give us 2 copies (one for the nurse, one for our classroom files and in case the other gets lost).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">If your child has had a physical exam within the last 12 months, you can ask your doctor’s nurse to fill out the form and use that.<span> </span> After the 12 month period, however, your child will need a new exam.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">CPS requires dental exams for all entering children.<span> </span> If you need the name of a pediatric dentist, you can check with us or with the Ray office. <span> </span> There are also dental forms available.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Parent-teacher conferences are held twice a year on November 14 and January 30.<span> </span> We allow about 20 minutes for each conference, which is a very short time to talk about your child.<span> </span> If you would like more time or have concerns between conferences, please feel free to schedule a special conference.<span> </span> PLEASE COME FOR CONFERENCES!<span> </span> There are too few opportunities for us to talk to you about your child and it is very important.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><em>Progress reports are also distributed mid year and at the end of the year. </em></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Daily Communication</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daily communication is as important as the conferences.<span> </span> Unfortunately, teachers are here from 8:30-3:30 so we often miss you at drop-off and pick-up.<span> </span> If you have something to discuss, please call us in the classroom or email us (Jane at <a href=\"mailto:japrek@yahoo.com\">japrek@yahoo.com</a> ; Jeff at <a href=\"mailto:jgillesp@hotmail.com\">jgillesp@hotmail.com</a> ). <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Do not assume important information will get passed to the teacher or to the afternoon staff.<span> </span> Please leave a written note or call us during the day.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Check your child’s <strong>mailbox</strong> daily because that’s where we’ll send home important and useful information (and some that’s not).<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We use <strong>email </strong> as an efficient and quick way of communicating with you.<span> </span> If your email address changes, please let us know.<span> </span> If you don’t have email or don’t check it regularly, also let us know.<span> </span> We’ll print out communications and leave them in your mailbox.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Open House</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Open House is on Wednesday, September 17 at 7:00-9:00 pm.<span> </span> Please plan to attend. You will get more out of it if you can get childcare for the evening so you can concentrate on what is going on rather than what your child is doing. There will be a presentation in the auditorium about Ray  School (important for new parents), information about the PTA (they will have a table) and other school-wide programs. <span> </span> Then you will come to our classrooms and we will talk to you about the preschool program.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Homework</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We do not give “homework” in preschool.<span> </span> We do ask you to READ TO YOUR CHILD EVERY DAY!<span> </span> This is the most important contribution you can make to help your child learn to read.<span> </span> You can take books home from our classroom library, get books from the public library (as soon as your child can write his or her name, they can get their own library card!), buy books from our Scholastic Book program, <span> </span> 57<sup>th</sup> Street Books across the street, or other bookstores.<span> </span> We do not recommend “commercial” books, such as Disney or other books that are written to promote toys, TV shows or movies.<span> </span> Check our web blogs for a list of our favorite authors/illustrators/books.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We also encourage you to “do math” with your child.<span> </span> Together, you might count the steps going to your apartment, the number of trees in front of your home, ask your child to put 4 <span> </span> oranges in the bag at the grocery store, help set the table for dinner, make pancakes, pay for a toy at the store.<span> </span> The more math you do with your child in every day life and fun, the deeper their math sense will be in later years.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We will occasionally be sending home projects for you to do with your child at home.<span> </span> Hopefully, these will be meaningful and fun.<span> </span> If you have any questions about each one, please let us know.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Whether it is reading, math, science or social studies, whether preschool or high school, YOU ARE YOUR CHILD’S FIRST AND MOST IMPORTANT TEACHERS!!<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>BOOKS</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Classroom Library</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each classroom has a lending library.<span> </span> Your child may choose a book to take home and put in their mailbox or cubby.<span> </span> You must sign the book out before you leave on the library sign-out sheet. Please return the book the next day so your child can take out another book. If you lose a book, you may choose to replace it or bring in another book for the library.<span> </span> There is a box for returned books in the classroom.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Scholastic Books</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Each month we’ll be sending home the Scholastic Book catalog for classrooms.<span> </span> These are mostly inexpensive paperback books, some for as little as a dollar, that you can order and have delivered to the classroom.<span> </span> Scholastic donates books to our classroom as well, so the more books you buy for your child, the more books we can add to our classroom library.<span> </span> You can order online or use the paper catalog forms.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Website</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The Ray  School website is located at: <a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> .<span> </span> Please check it regularly for school-wide information.<span> </span> The PTA site includes a Frequently Asked Questions section that will help you understand how the school works.<span> </span> We will continue to work on developing our Preschool website.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>Volunteers</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We know it is hard for you to spend time in the classroom, but we want to let you know that you are always welcome.<span> </span> Some parents stay for a while in the morning and some come a little early to hang out with us.<span> </span> There are other ways you can volunteer as well.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-top: 0in\" type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Chaperoning      on class trips</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Donations      from the wish list</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with projects</li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\">Helping      with major events (holiday activities, Teddy Bear Picnic, Ray Festival,      End-of-Year Celebration, etc.)</li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">You may have a special talent or project that would be great to share with the children, like singing, storytelling, etc.<span> </span> Last year, one parent who is a chemist did a chemistry experiment with the children.<span> </span> Another parent came to help with jump-roping.<span> </span> Some parents made dumplings with the children for Asian New Year.<span> </span> Two parents shared their carpentry interest with the children.<span> </span> Think about what you like to do or what access you have to things that might be helpful or interesting to the children, and we’ll see how we can fit it in.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">For the safety of the children, we ask all adults who may be in contact with the children on a regular basis to present a “Freedom from Tuberculosis” form, signed by your doctor.<span> </span> Also, we ask that you fill out a consent form for a background check.<span> </span> These do not have to be done every year your child is in school.<span> </span> Once you have had a background check, you are free to volunteer at any time in Chicago Public Schools.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong>PTA/LSC</strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">We encourage you to get involved in both the PTA (Parent-Teacher Association) and the LSC (Local School Council).<span> </span> Both organizations are vital to Ray and our preschool program.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The PTA generally meets on the 3<sup>rd</sup> Monday of the month (exceptions are made for holidays and will be announced).<span> </span> The PTA organizes school-wide activities and fundraisers, puts on educational meetings for families, and assists the administration and teachers in whatever ways they can.<span> </span> Childcare is provided, and sometimes dinner.<span> </span> Any parent can join with a payment of $10.00. <span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">The LSC is responsible for hiring the principal, overseeing the school budget, and making local policy decisions.<span> </span> Members are elected in the spring to serve for two years. <span> </span> All parents are welcome to attend LSC meetings, including most committee meetings.<span> </span> Meetings are held monthly and will be announced.<span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">See the Ray  School website for more information about meetings, committees, and activities of the PTA and the LSC. (<a href=\"http://www.ray.cps.k12.il.us/\">www.ray.cps.k12.il.us</a> )</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>','Handbook','','inherit','open','open','','10-revision-4','','','2008-09-01 17:27:05','2008-09-01 22:27:05','',10,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/10-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(93,151,'2008-09-01 17:31:33','2008-09-01 22:31:33','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> is the state-certified teacher in Room 413. She has a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and has been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. She is also the parent of two children, both either current student or alumni or Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\nDeirdre Dietrichson: 2007-2008 will be my 5th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do. I have been struggling to get the right relationship between firmness and flexibility in working with preschoolers and believe I am getting better at this. They used to “walk all over me.” But now, as Ms. Berry says, I am learning how to “get my bluff in.” I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-autosave','','','2008-09-01 17:31:33','2008-09-01 22:31:33','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/14-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(94,151,'2008-09-01 17:32:33','2008-09-01 22:32:33','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> is the state-certified teacher in Room 413. She has a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and has been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. She is also the parent of two children, both either current student or alumni or Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\nDeirdre Dietrichson: 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-autosave-2','','','2008-09-01 17:32:33','2008-09-01 22:32:33','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/14-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(96,151,'2008-09-01 17:32:48','2008-09-01 22:32:48','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> is the state-certified teacher in Room 413. She has a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and has been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. She is also the parent of two children, both either current student or alumni or Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\nDeirdre Dietrichson: 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and a grandmother and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-revision-2','','','2008-09-01 17:32:48','2008-09-01 22:32:48','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/14-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(234,151,'2008-09-01 17:33:27','2008-09-01 22:33:27','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> is the state-certified teacher in Room 413. She has a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and has been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. She is also the parent of two children, both either current student or alumni or Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\n<strong>Deirdre Dietrichson:</strong> 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and a grandmother and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-revision-3','','','2008-09-01 17:33:27','2008-09-01 22:33:27','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/01/14-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(99,151,'2008-09-26 07:15:41','2008-09-26 12:15:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-revision','','','2008-09-26 07:15:41','2008-09-26 12:15:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(100,151,'2008-09-26 07:16:02','2008-09-26 12:16:02','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-revision-2','','','2008-09-26 07:16:02','2008-09-26 12:16:02','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(98,151,'2008-09-26 07:16:10','2008-09-26 12:16:10','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.\n\nI know it\'s hard for many of you to find time to work in the classroom. We\'ll try and offer as many volunteer opportunities as we can so you can help connect your child\'s school and home experiences. If you can think of something you\'d like to do, let me know! We could use:  sewing, carpentry (I have a portable bench and some tools), art, music, cooking, fish tank help, nature contributions, story reading, gardening, etc. etc. etc.','Sept 26 2008','','publish','open','open','','sept-26-2008','','','2008-09-26 07:16:10','2008-09-26 12:16:10','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=98',0,'post','',0),(105,151,'2008-09-26 07:22:40','2008-09-26 12:22:40','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author o','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave','','','2008-09-26 07:22:40','2008-09-26 12:22:40','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(106,151,'2008-09-26 07:23:40','2008-09-26 12:23:40','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called The Important Book, which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. In the Important Book, we learn','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-2','','','2008-09-26 07:23:40','2008-09-26 12:23:40','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(107,151,'2008-09-26 07:24:46','2008-09-26 12:24:46','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called The Important Book, which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by at','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-3','','','2008-09-26 07:24:46','2008-09-26 12:24:46','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(108,151,'2008-09-26 07:25:41','2008-09-26 12:25:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <strong>The Important Book</strong> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking.','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-4','','','2008-09-26 07:25:41','2008-09-26 12:25:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(109,151,'2008-09-26 07:26:40','2008-09-26 12:26:40','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-5','','','2008-09-26 07:26:40','2008-09-26 12:26:40','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-5/',0,'revision','',0),(110,151,'2008-09-26 07:27:41','2008-09-26 12:27:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things a','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-6','','','2008-09-26 07:27:41','2008-09-26 12:27:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-6/',0,'revision','',0),(111,151,'2008-09-26 07:28:41','2008-09-26 12:28:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-7','','','2008-09-26 07:28:41','2008-09-26 12:28:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-7/',0,'revision','',0),(112,151,'2008-09-26 07:29:41','2008-09-26 12:29:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for ex','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-8','','','2008-09-26 07:29:41','2008-09-26 12:29:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-8/',0,'revision','',0),(113,151,'2008-09-26 07:30:41','2008-09-26 12:30:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the cla','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-9','','','2008-09-26 07:30:41','2008-09-26 12:30:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-9/',0,'revision','',0),(114,151,'2008-09-26 07:31:41','2008-09-26 12:31:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-10','','','2008-09-26 07:31:41','2008-09-26 12:31:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-10/',0,'revision','',0),(115,151,'2008-09-26 07:32:43','2008-09-26 12:32:43','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-11','','','2008-09-26 07:32:43','2008-09-26 12:32:43','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-11/',0,'revision','',0),(116,151,'2008-09-26 07:33:41','2008-09-26 12:33:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our art classes (I\'m still working on music).','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-12','','','2008-09-26 07:33:41','2008-09-26 12:33:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-12/',0,'revision','',0),(117,151,'2008-09-26 07:34:41','2008-09-26 12:34:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our art classes (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutcliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-13','','','2008-09-26 07:34:41','2008-09-26 12:34:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-13/',0,'revision','',0),(118,151,'2008-09-26 07:35:41','2008-09-26 12:35:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-14','','','2008-09-26 07:35:41','2008-09-26 12:35:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-14/',0,'revision','',0),(119,151,'2008-09-26 07:36:43','2008-09-26 12:36:43','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-15','','','2008-09-26 07:36:43','2008-09-26 12:36:43','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-15/',0,'revision','',0),(120,151,'2008-09-26 07:37:41','2008-09-26 12:37:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children.','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-16','','','2008-09-26 07:37:41','2008-09-26 12:37:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-16/',0,'revision','',0),(121,151,'2008-09-26 07:38:41','2008-09-26 12:38:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day (or play with bandages','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-17','','','2008-09-26 07:38:41','2008-09-26 12:38:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-17/',0,'revision','',0),(122,151,'2008-09-26 07:39:41','2008-09-26 12:39:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us -','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-18','','','2008-09-26 07:39:41','2008-09-26 12:39:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-18/',0,'revision','',0),(123,151,'2008-09-26 07:40:41','2008-09-26 12:40:41','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern.','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-19','','','2008-09-26 07:40:41','2008-09-26 12:40:41','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-19/',0,'revision','',0),(124,151,'2008-09-26 07:41:42','2008-09-26 12:41:42','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-20','','','2008-09-26 07:41:42','2008-09-26 12:41:42','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-20/',0,'revision','',0),(125,151,'2008-09-26 07:42:43','2008-09-26 12:42:43','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.\n\nI know it\'s hard for many of you to find time to work in the classroom.','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-21','','','2008-09-26 07:42:43','2008-09-26 12:42:43','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-21/',0,'revision','',0),(126,151,'2008-09-26 07:43:45','2008-09-26 12:43:45','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.\n\nI know it\'s hard for many of you to find time to work in the classroom. We\'ll try and offer as many volunteer opportunities as we can so you can help connect your child\'s school and home experiences. If you can think of something you\'d like to do, let m','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-22','','','2008-09-26 07:43:45','2008-09-26 12:43:45','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-22/',0,'revision','',0),(127,151,'2008-09-26 07:44:42','2008-09-26 12:44:42','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.\n\nI know it\'s hard for many of you to find time to work in the classroom. We\'ll try and offer as many volunteer opportunities as we can so you can help connect your child\'s school and home experiences. If you can think of something you\'d like to do, let me know! We could use:  sewing, carpentry (I have a portable bench and some tools), art, music, cooking,','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-23','','','2008-09-26 07:44:42','2008-09-26 12:44:42','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-23/',0,'revision','',0),(128,151,'2008-09-26 07:45:42','2008-09-26 12:45:42','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.\n\nI know it\'s hard for many of you to find time to work in the classroom. We\'ll try and offer as many volunteer opportunities as we can so you can help connect your child\'s school and home experiences. If you can think of something you\'d like to do, let me know! We could use:  sewing, carpentry (I have a portable bench and some tools), art, music, cooking, fish tank help, nature contributions, story reading,','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-autosave-24','','','2008-09-26 07:45:42','2008-09-26 12:45:42','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-autosave-24/',0,'revision','',0),(131,151,'2008-09-26 07:46:28','2008-09-26 12:46:28','We have been very busy in our classroom. We are getting to know each other as we develop our routines and get used to the patterns of everyday classroom life. We are learning about forming friendships, what to do about conflicts, and how to get along outside the comforts of family life. Learning these skills is a lifelong process, as we grownups all can attest. For people who are just learning the power and complexity of language, how to coordinate and control their bodies, and understand their own emotions, I think we\'re doing very well. Some children are even naturally empathetic with others, though empathy is a skill that often comes later in a child\'s life. I am so excited about working with this group of children this year and grateful that you all have sent me such treasures!\n\nWe started the year learning about our names. We\'ve read books like <em><strong>Tikki Tikki Tembo</strong> </em> and <em><strong>Catalina Magdelina </strong> </em> (both shortened forms of very, very long names). We\'ve learned that some of us have very long names and some have very short names. We are learning about our initial letters and other words that have the same sounds. We are learning the letters in our names and finding those same letters in other words. We are even learning the letters and our names in sign language. There is so much we can learn about reading and writing by starting out with these most important words. Next week we\'ll be starting our journals so the children will be able to practice writing in their own ways. We\'ll also be getting a more formal start on our new literacy curriculum, <a title=\"Blueprint for Literacy\" href=\"http://www.cliontheweb.com/blueprint/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><em><strong>Blueprint</strong> </em> </a> . (Note: we were able to fit in the enormous white board that comes with the program without having to get rid of any students to make room!).\n\nWe are learning about math also. We do a lot of counting and we are learning about sorting. Margaret Wise Brown (author of Goodbye Moon) wrote a book called <em><strong>The Important Book</strong> </em> , which helps children understand about &quot;attributes&quot; of things. We sort things according to their attributes. It might be color, shape, use, type, or sometimes children sort things by attributes only they can see. We try to get them to tell us how they are sorting so we understand their thinking. We also encourage children to sort by more than one attribute (dinosaurs by color, type, carnivorous/herbivorous, flying/land-based, etc.). This early math skill is also important for learning classification in science. I hope you will find opportunities for your child to sort things at home (ie, socks, dishes and silverware, books, toys, laundry, food, etc. etc.).\n\nIn science we are learning to use our 5 senses to understand the world around us. We are collecting leaves and doing rubbings. We are bringing interesting things from nature into the classroom for our science area where we have magnifying glasses for examination. We are learning how to do &quot;observational drawing,&quot; a kind of pre-writing note taking about what we observe in an object. We\'re also using science language in the classroom:  &quot;I wonder what would happen if...&quot; and &quot;Look at what happened when you ....&quot; and &quot;How can you make this block structure more stable,&quot; etc. etc. It is important to use big words with children and help them understand a little about what those words are.\n\nNext week we are starting our <strong>art classes</strong> (I\'m still working on music). Diane Sutliff is a Montessori-trained art teacher who has been working with our program for many years. She\'ll be coming in on Thursday mornings at 9:00, so don\'t be late!\n\nParent Volunteers\n\nWe already have several parent volunteers lined up to help us in the classroom. Sophia\'s mom has started coming in early to read to the children before 9:00 and to help Ms. Robin. Jacob\'s mom stays and helps open the door, especially when I\'m at a morning meeting and Robin is alone. Asha\'s dad is planning to come in on Monday mornings to teach yoga. Asha\'s mom is planning a photography project with the children. Nyah\'s dad, a professional violinist, is planning a music performance. Netert\'s mom is a doctor and is planning a health day. Mila\'s mom is planning to bring in pictures of babies. Last year Mila\'s grandma came in and did a literacy project with us - I hope we\'ll see her again. Jed\'s dad is planning to help us cook something Middle Eastern. We\'re hoping to go visit Ahmad\'s dad in the car repair shop.\n\nI know it\'s hard for many of you to find time to work in the classroom. We\'ll try and offer as many volunteer opportunities as we can so you can help connect your child\'s school and home experiences. If you can think of something you\'d like to do, let me know! We could use:  sewing, carpentry (I have a portable bench and some tools), art, music, cooking, fish tank help, nature contributions, story reading, gardening, etc. etc. etc.\n\nCapri Sun Box Project','Sept 26 2008','','inherit','open','open','','98-revision-4','','','2008-09-26 07:46:28','2008-09-26 12:46:28','',98,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/09/26/98-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(136,151,'2008-10-03 18:02:56','2008-10-03 23:02:56','Hi Everyone,\n\nOctober is always a very exciting month. Some of us are starting to get ready for the holidays. Some of us are planning for a possible cold winter. Most of us are feeling like the year is really under way. I hope you\'ll help us enjoy this wonderful season.\n\nStarting Monday we\'ll be starting to learn about living with others. We\'ll learn more about sharing, being considerate of others, and taking on new roles and responsibilities. We\'ll be learning about our emotions and what we do with them as we interact with others. This interaction happens in our classroom, in our families and in our neighborhood. As part of this, we\'ll be going on a walking trip to the local fire station so we can learn about these very important helping people (as well as learn fire safety).\n\nSome of the skills we\'ll be learning are making predictions, understanding non-fiction (we\'re already talking about fiction vs. non-fiction), and sounds in words including rhymes, beginning and middle sounds. In math we\'ll be learning about patterns and size comparisons (foundations of algebra).\n\nIn science we\'ll be honing our observational skills, using all our senses to observe the season changes. Whether its raking and playing in the leaves, investigating fall foods, cooking apple sauce and pumpkin pie, learning what we mean by &quot;crisp&quot; as the cool air moves in, or hearing the sounds of fall (leaves, geese flying south, etc.), fall is a great time for scientific study in preschool.\n\nDates to keep in mind:\n\nOct. 8  Walk/ride to school day (if you meet me at CVS 53rd and Kimbark, we can a\n\nOct. 23 Trip to the firehouse\n\nNov. 6  Trip to Emerald City Theater to see &quot;If You Take a Mouse To School&quot;','','','inherit','open','open','','132-revision','','','2008-10-03 18:02:56','2008-10-03 23:02:56','',132,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/03/132-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(137,151,'2008-10-03 18:03:39','2008-10-03 23:03:39','Hi Everyone,\n\nOctober is always a very exciting month. Some of us are starting to get ready for the holidays. Some of us are planning for a possible cold winter. Most of us are feeling like the year is really under way. I hope you\'ll help us enjoy this wonderful season.\n\nStarting Monday we\'ll be starting to learn about living with others. We\'ll learn more about sharing, being considerate of others, and taking on new roles and responsibilities. We\'ll be learning about our emotions and what we do with them as we interact with others. This interaction happens in our classroom, in our families and in our neighborhood. As part of this, we\'ll be going on a walking trip to the local fire station so we can learn about these very important helping people (as well as learn fire safety).\n\nSome of the skills we\'ll be learning are making predictions, understanding non-fiction (we\'re already talking about fiction vs. non-fiction), and sounds in words including rhymes, beginning and middle sounds. In math we\'ll be learning about patterns and size comparisons (foundations of algebra).\n\nIn science we\'ll be honing our observational skills, using all our senses to observe the season changes. Whether its raking and playing in the leaves, investigating fall foods, cooking apple sauce and pumpkin pie, learning what we mean by &quot;crisp&quot; as the cool air moves in, or hearing the sounds of fall (leaves, geese flying south, etc.), fall is a great time for scientific study in preschool.\n\nDates to keep in mind:\n\nOct. 8  Walk/ride to school day (if you meet me at CVS 53rd and Kimbark, we can walk together)\n\nOct. 23 Trip to the firehouse\n\nNov. 6  Trip to Emerald City Theater to see &quot;If You Take a Mouse To School&quot;','Oct 3, 2008','','inherit','open','open','','132-revision-2','','','2008-10-03 18:03:39','2008-10-03 23:03:39','',132,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/03/132-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(144,151,'2008-10-03 18:03:52','2008-10-03 23:03:52','Hi Everyone,\n\nOctober is always a very exciting month. Some of us are starting to get ready for the holidays. Some of us are planning for a possible cold winter. Most of us are feeling like the year is really under way. I hope you\'ll help us enjoy this wonderful season.\n\nStarting Monday we\'ll be starting to learn about living with others. We\'ll learn more about sharing, being considerate of others, and taking on new roles and responsibilities. We\'ll be learning about our emotions and what we do with them as we interact with others. This interaction happens in our classroom, in our families and in our neighborhood. As part of this, we\'ll be going on a walking trip to the local fire station so we can learn about these very important helping people (as well as learn fire safety).\n\nSome of the skills we\'ll be learning are making predictions, understanding non-fiction (we\'re already talking about fiction vs. non-fiction), and sounds in words including rhymes, beginning and middle sounds. In math we\'ll be learning about patterns and size comparisons (foundations of algebra).\n\nIn science we\'ll be honing our observational skills, using all our senses to observe the season changes. Whether its raking and playing in the leaves, investigating fall foods, cooking apple sauce and pumpkin pie, learning what we mean by &quot;crisp&quot; as the cool air moves in, or hearing the sounds of fall (leaves, geese flying south, etc.), fall is a great time for scientific study in preschool.\n\nDates to keep in mind:\n\nOct. 8  Walk/ride to school day (if you meet me at CVS 53rd and Kimbark, we can walk together)\n\nOct. 23 Trip to the firehouse\n\nNov. 6  Trip to Emerald City Theater to see &quot;If You Take a Mouse To School&quot;','Oct 3, 2008','','inherit','open','open','','132-revision-3','','','2008-10-03 18:03:52','2008-10-03 23:03:52','',132,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/03/132-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(145,151,'2008-10-03 18:09:23','2008-10-03 23:09:23','Hi Everyone,\n\nOctober is always a very exciting month. Some of us are starting to get ready for the holidays. Some of us are planning for a possible cold winter. Most of us are feeling like the year is really under way. I hope you\'ll help us enjoy this wonderful season.\n\nStarting Monday we\'ll be starting to learn about living with others. We\'ll learn more about sharing, being considerate of others, and taking on new roles and responsibilities. We\'ll be learning about our emotions and what we do with them as we interact with others. This interaction happens in our classroom, in our families and in our neighborhood. As part of this, we\'ll be going on a walking trip to the local fire station so we can learn about these very important helping people (as well as learn fire safety).\n\nSome of the skills we\'ll be learning are making predictions, understanding non-fiction (we\'re already talking about fiction vs. non-fiction), and sounds in words including rhymes, beginning and middle sounds. In math we\'ll be learning about patterns and size comparisons (foundations of algebra).\n\nIn science we\'ll be honing our observational skills, using all our senses to observe the season changes. Whether its raking and playing in the leaves, investigating fall foods, cooking apple sauce and pumpkin pie, learning what we mean by &quot;crisp&quot; as the cool air moves in, or hearing the sounds of fall (leaves, geese flying south, etc.), fall is a great time for scientific study in preschool.\n\n<strong>Dates to keep in mind:</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 8  Walk/ride to school day (if you meet me at CVS 53rd and Kimbark, we can walk together)</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 23 Trip to the firehouse</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 6  Trip to Emerald City Theater to see &quot;If You Take a Mouse To School&quot;</strong>','Oct 3, 2008','','inherit','open','open','','132-revision-4','','','2008-10-03 18:09:23','2008-10-03 23:09:23','',132,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/03/132-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(299,151,'2008-10-07 18:35:32','2008-10-07 23:35:32','<p align=\"left\"></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em><strong>Recipes</strong> </em></p>\n\n<strong>Sean’s Mom’s dumpling recipe</strong>\n\n<strong>Making the dough</strong>\n\nIn a big bowl, add about 6 cups of all-purpose flour (non-sifted, bleached). Add 1 teaspoonful of salt, water and stir with your hands at the same time until all lumpy. Knead the dough to consistency. The dough should feel soft. cover with a wet paper towel for about half hour.\n\n<strong>mixing stuffing</strong>\n\n2 lb of ground meat (pork or chicken)\n\n2 tablespoon of soy sauce\n\nchopped ginger root (1x 1 inch)\n\nchopped green onion (3)\n\n1 cup of water, 1/2 cup of chicken broth\n\n1 egg\n\nstir in one direction until all mixed. The mix should feel slurpy.\n\nchop up vegetable of your choice. mix with meat mix. I used half medium napa cabbage. celery and green pepper can be good too. for cabbage only, after chopping, you need to add a little salt, wait for 10-15 min before extracting juice by squeezing. De-juiced cabbage now is ready to add to the meat mix. adjust flavor by adding more salt.\n\nStir in one direction and mixing.\n\nNow, you are ready for action. cut dough into a few pieces (for easier handling). Knead, and roll it into a long string. Cut into little pieces and roll with a roller into a round wrap. MAKE dumpling.\n\n<strong>Cook</strong>\n\nBring water to boil, add dumplings (you can boiling quite a few in each pot, as long as it’s not too crowded). bring to boil again, add 2 cups of cold water. repeat this 2 more times. Your dumplings are ready. Enjoy!\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Pumpkin Pie</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\">(from “The Joy of Cooking”)</p>\n<p align=\"left\"><strong>Preparing the pumpkin:</strong> No need to use canned pumpkin any more. Fresh pumpkin tastes much better and it’s pretty easy to prepare. You can also freeze the pureed pulp for use later.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Cut up a small pumpkin (or larger one if you need to). Take out the seeds and string. Cut it into chunks about as big as your hand and put it in a pot with 1-2 cups of water. Steam until soft. When it’s cool, peel the skin off the pulp. You can now put the pulp in a food processor or blender and puree.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Beat together:</p>\n<p align=\"left\">3 eggs</p>\n<p align=\"left\">2 cups pumpkin puree</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 ½ cups light cream or evaporated milk, or ¾ cup heavy cream and ¾ cup milk</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ cup sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 teaspoon cinnamon</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 teaspoon ginger</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ teaspoon nutmeg</p>\n<p align=\"left\">¼ teaspoon cloves or allspice</p>\n<p align=\"left\">½ teaspoon salt</p>\n<p align=\"left\"></p>\n\n<ol>\n	<li>Whip      the eggs in a bowl.</li>\n	<li>Whisk      in the rest of the ingredients.</li>\n	<li>Pour      the pie filling into a pie shell.</li>\n	<li>Bake      at 375 degrees for 40 minutes. Put a toothpick in the center of the pie. If it comes out clean, it’s done.</li>\n</ol>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Cranberry Relish</strong></p>\n<p align=\"left\">2 peeled oranges</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1 bag cranberries</p>\n<p align=\"left\">3/4 to 1 cup of sugar</p>\n<p align=\"left\">1/2 cup crushed pineapple</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Grind together (or put in processor or blender) cranberries and oranges. Add sugar and pineapple. Enjoy!</p>\n<p align=\"left\">**********************************************************************</p>\n<p align=\"left\">***********************************************************************</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(From a preschool parent about the Chinese Moon Festival)<strong> </strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Origin of the Moon Festival</strong></p>\n\n<ul>The choice of the festival’s theme — celebrating the glories and mysteries of the moon — was a natural. Along with the sun, the moon has long been an object of human curiosity and worship. “It is probable that sun and moon were early held to be deities and that they were the first visible objects of worship,” according to the book “Sketches of the History of Man.” To the most ancient ancestors of the Chinese, the sun and the moon were considered the “chief objects of veneration,” according to records dating to the Han dynasty emperor Wu Di (157-87 B.C.).In ancient Asian mythology, there is a strong relationship between the moon and water. The moon is said to regulate reservoirs and supplies of water. There is a suggestion that the moon produces fertility and freshness in the soil. The moon’s role in bountiful harvests is widely recognized during autumns around the world.In Chinese celestial cosmology, the moon represents the female principle, or yin. During ancient autumn Moon Festivals, women took center stage because the moon is considered feminine. Only women took part in Moon Festival rituals on the night of the full moon. Altars would be set up in households, and when the full moon appeared, women would make offerings of incense, candles, fruit, flowers, and mooncakes.The enduring legend of the Moon Goddess, Chang E (Chang E in other transliterations), reflects the feminine principle of yin, as opposed to the masculine principle of yang, which is symbolized by the sun.\n<strong> </strong></ul>\n<ul>\n	<li>\n<ul>Mooncakes have played a central role in Moon Festival traditions. Once, according to Chinese legend, mooncakes helped bring about a revolution. The time was the Yuan dynasty (AD 1280-1368), established by the invading Mongolians from the north. The Mongolians subjugated the Han Chinese.According to one Chinese folk tale, a Han Chinese rebel leader named Liu Fu Tong devised a scheme to arouse the Han Chinese to rise up against the ruling Mongols to end the oppressive Yuan dynasty. He sought permission from Mongolian leaders to give gifts to friends as a symbolic gesture to honor the longevity of the Mongolian emperor. These gifts were round mooncakes. Inside, Liu had his followers place pieces of paper with the date the Han Chinese were to strike out in rebellion — on the fifteenth night of the eighth month.Thus Liu got word to his people, who when they cut open the mooncakes found the revolutionary message and set out to overthrow the Mongols, thus ending the Yuan dynasty.Today, far from the exotic and heroic legends, Chinese communities all over the world make and consume mooncakes during the traditional autumn Moon Festival. In San Francisco’s Chinatown, during the eighth annual Moon Festival, many stores will be selling modern-day mooncakes, the continuation of an honored tradition.</ul>\n</li>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>Legend of Chang E</strong> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/ChangEr.gif\"><img src=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/tn-ChangEr.gif\" border=\"0\" alt=\"Chang O\" hspace=\"10\" vspace=\"10\" width=\"120\" height=\"178\" align=\"left\" /> </a> <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.moonfestival.org/images/images/ChangEr.gif\"> </a></p>\n\nNo one is certain of all the details of the Chang E legend, but the story goes something like this:Chang E was a beautiful young girl working in the Jade Emperor’s palace in heaven, where immortals, good people and fairies lived. One day, she accidentally broke a precious porcelain jar. Angered, the Jade Emperor banished her to live on earth, where ordinary people lived. She could return to the Heaven, if she contributed a valuable service on earth.Chang E was transformed into a member of a poor farming family. When she was 18, a young hunter named Hou Yi from another village spotted her, now a beautiful young woman. They became friends.\n\nOne day, a strange phenomenon occurred — 10 suns arose in the sky instead one one, blazing the earth. Hou Yi, an expert archer, stepped forward to try to save the earth. He successfully shot down nine of the suns, becoming an instant hero. He eventually became king and married Chang E.\n\nBut Hou Yi grew to become a despot. He sought immortality by ordering an elixir be created to prolong his life. The elixir in the form of a single pill was almost ready when Chang E came upon it. She either accidentally or purposely swallowed the pill. This angered King Hou Yi, who went after his wife. Trying to flee, she jumped out the window of a chamber at the top of palace — and, instead of falling, she floated into the sky toward the moon.\n\nKing Hou Yi tried to shoot her down with arrows, but without success. Once on the moon, Chang E became a three-legged toad, as punishment from the Queen Mother, according to one version of the legend. Her companion, a rabbit, is constantly pounding the elixir of immortality in a large mortar.\n\nThe moon is also inhabited by a wood cutter who tries to cut down the cassia tree, giver of life. But as fast as he cuts into the tree, it heals itself, and he never makes any progress. The Chinese use this image of the cassia tree to explain mortal life on earth — the limbs are constantly being cut away by death, but new buds continually appear.\n\nMeanwhile, King Hou Yi ascended to the sun and built a palace. So Chang E and Hou Yi came to represent the yin and yang, the moon and the sun.\n<p align=\"center\"><a title=\"Mooncake\" name=\"Mooncake\"></a> <span style=\"color: #990000;font-size: x-small\"><strong>Origin of Mooncake</strong> </span></p>\n</ul>','Home Fun','','inherit','open','open','','11-revision-2','','','2008-10-07 18:35:32','2008-10-07 23:35:32','',11,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/07/11-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(152,151,'2008-10-07 18:39:23','2008-10-07 23:39:23','<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Here are some of the letters from students in Ms. Clement\'s 4th grade class to the preschoolers at Ray. They were asked to write about when they were young children. </strong> (I did some light editing, including spelling and punctuation changes, to make it easier to read - apologies to the authors - JA) </em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Rameez</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello! My name is Rameez. I am in fourth grade. I am going to tell you a story about when I was 6 years old. I was in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Every summer I go to my grandparents’ house. They live in Vermont. So they have a big hourse and a pond. It had hundreds of frogs in it. The pond also had some crayfish and salamanders. There was also an otter who lived in a pipe. It ate fish.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Over there there was a tradition. The tradition was that my brother would get thrown in the pond. My uncle Willy would grab the arms. My cousin Josh would grab the legs. They would swing you back and forth to gather some momentum then they would throw you in the air and then splat! You would fall in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This summer it was my turn to get thrown in the pond. When they were about to pick me up I ran. I kept on running around the pond. I tripped on a few rocks, but I didn’t stop. Soon they had me surrounded so they picked me up and then I said, “Noooo!” and then plop! I fell in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Shalena</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hi. My name is Shalena and I want to tell you about an event that happened to me. It all started when I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade. It was Halloween. I was the devil’s braid. It was so fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I could tell you so much about when I was little especially since the picture is right above the paragraph. I love it when Halloween comes by the fall, but now it is almost here and it is not here now.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I love to celebrate young child appreciation week because you get to tell about when you were little. I also remember Nooooo! I tried to whistle. I practice and practice until I finally got it. That was a moment I wouldn’t forget.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Well bye, and thank you for reading my letter. I felt like a bird learning how to fly writing this letter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Leslye</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">A memory that I have in my mind is that I walked by myself when I was 1 year old. Now if you want to know about my story you need to read this. I hope you enjoy my story.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I am going to tell you about my memory. When I was one year old I didn’t think about anything. I just walked and that’s all. I walked all by myself with no one holding me. I climbed a chair and walked on the table. WEIRD!!!!! Now that I am ten years old I think WOW!!!! If now I would of climbed a table and walked on it I would have broken it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now that I am ten years old and when I talked to my mom about where I was little and did all the disasters we just laugh. But now I know that getting up on a table, jumping, dancing, and walking is not good anymore. It can be dangerous. All the time I just think about how I could of done that. I think that all the babies do that.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong> Aida</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was a little girl and went to Puerto Rico with my family. We had about a thirty minute drive to O’Hare. Once we got on the plane it felt like a 40 hour flight! I was so bored I finally fell asleep. When I woke up we were finally here, Puerto Rico!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was so fun there. Also we stayed in this beautiful house. And when we went to the beach my older sister, Monica, told my older brother to pick up a jellyfish! (Monica thought it was a bag.) William got stung by the jellyfish and wasn’t too happy about it! Once William was climbing a tree a swarm of red ants came from the tree and started to bite William everywhere.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">On our last day I felt sad for two reasons. 1 I had to ride another boring flight. 2 I was really going to miss having so much fun. So on our last day we said goodbye to family members and took another swim in the pool. Now I really miss Puerto  Rico and can’t wait to go back!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Katia</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Katia.  I’m in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I come from Russia which is located in Asia and Europe. When I was a little girl I was very lucky because I got to go to India, Italy and Turkey. The story I will tell takes place in a beautiful country named Turkey.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Turkey is a fun place because there are a lot of kids to play with. Also because there are cool art and karate camps. There are also fun water slides that are as slippery as a white soap in a golden goblet. There are even fun shows and festivals every night. Sometimes people from the art camp get to make shows. But the best things in Turkey are the caged-free peacocks.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My story begins with the beautiful peacocks. Every day I went to the spot where the peacocks roamed. Every day I tried to catch a peacock but almost every day I failed. The reason why I wanted to catch a peacock is to fly on it. I wanted to soar through the sky with the peacocks. At the age of 4 I didn’t know that peacocks couldn’t fly. My best luck in catching a peacock was touching its shiny feathers. Unfortunately my parents didn’t understand that I wanted to fly. But I was always happy even though I never catched a peacock.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The picture you see is of me being happy because I finally at least touched a peacock. I felt as happy as a person who won the Olympics. Behind me there are 2 peacocks roaming freely. One of the peacocks is in the shadows and the other one in the sun. Please take a moment to observe my picture. Aren’t the peacocks beautiful?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\" alt=\"katia.JPG\" width=\"171\" height=\"114\" /> </a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still remember the funny things I did when I was little. Either if it is thinking that an airplane is a train or chasing peacocks, I will always remember those moments. I think being a small child is fun. I hope that any young child reads this is glad that they are still young children. Bye bye and have a wonderful <em>Week of the Young Child</em> .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Chandler</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Chandler’s Sharp Fangs Bite</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dear Mom and Dad,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was young. I used to bite people with my Sharp Fangs (vampire teeth). I thought it was fun to bite people. The Sharp Fangs were white teeth that I used to put in my mouth. They made me look like a vampire.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I would run around the house and look into the mirror to see what my Sharp Fangs looked like. I looked like I had two carrots in my mouth. I tried eating food and drinking water with them. My Sharp would sometimes fall out of my mouth into the cup of water. I used to try to scare people with them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still enjoy playing with vampire teeth today. I would like you to buy me some Sharp Fangs from Walgreens. I would try  to scare some people again. I think they come in different colors now. I think red Sharp Fangs would be stain for blood and would scare people. The vampire teeth only cost one dollar. I can do my chores to earn money to pay for my Sharp Fangs. Thank you Mom and Dad for my Sharp Fangs.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Todd</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My name is Todd. This is a picture of me on Halloween when I was in the 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I was wearing a Spiderman costume. I was in my room climbing the book shelves pretending to be Spiderman at my Grandma’s house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I wore the Spiderman costume at school and we had a parade and marched around. I felt happy that day. There were other people in Spiderman costumes, too. We had a Halloween party in the class room.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The day was fun. The party was awesome. I will always remember that Halloween.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>David</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child Report</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day when I was five years old in kindergarten in the middle of the year we had a sub. He was a nice sub. A really nice sub! He almost let us do anything we wanted, unless it is dangerous. We had free time early in the day. I had a great time. He was wonderful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He let us stay out longer. When we were supposed to write for a long time he cut it short and let people go up on the big rug and sing songs. I really didn’t like how the people (sang). They sing very bad! I still  thought it was kind of fun. I think the teacher liked me singing.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was Thursday, my favorite day back then because we had gym. I love gym. It is my second favorite subject. I kind of remember what we did. I think we had free time. We had a lot of fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">At the end of the (day) we had our second free time in the class. I played basketball (there was a little hoop there). After that we had a snack. Mmmmm! That day with the sub was a great day. That is all that I can remember. One more thing that I can remember is that I had fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Zekayla</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me when I was “3.” My name is Kayla. I was born in “June 1998.” Do ya think I’m pink with a white doll?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was “5” months on this day sleeping in my bed, my grandma said that I was a doll so she picked me up and wake me up.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my first birthday party. We were at a Chuckie Cheese pizza place. That’s my dad. He’s so cool to me except when he say No. He feel sad and I feel sad.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my brother. His name is Michael. The on the top is when we were going to a wedding. He made such a mess for me. And this is him when we were at my cousin’s house. I’m 3 years older than him, and the girl in the background is my cousin, Lili. She’s one year older than him.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me in preschool. My graduation “wow” at the YMCA. My teacher said to pick what you want to be when you grown up and I said I want to be a doctor.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me on my graduation from preschool. This is me taking a picture. I’m in 1<sup>st</sup> grade. Who is that? Is that me? OH NO!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">And this is my birthday when I’m 7. On the bottom is Cousin Makiya. On the left is Cousin TT. Right is Cousin Ta. On top is me. I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade when I made this book, and I said: “I am in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at Ray  School. My favorite subject is art. My heart told me to write this book… My name is Kayla. I know some of you who was in Ms. Sheridan’s class read or saw this book.  THE END</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Antawun</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello young children. I am going to tell you a story. It is when I was in first grade. The story might be a little long. I hope you enjoy the story. So let\'s hop into an adventureeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all starts when my mom had a baby named Ashton Carl. Then my grandma died in March. So we took a trip to Florida. It was a sad time for my family. But I have some good memories.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I see family that I haven\'t seen before in my life. So the next day we go to the funeral. So the day after that I went to Disney World. I had so much fun there. I took a picture with PUSH the talking garbage can!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Young child, thanks for letting me read you this story. Hope you enjoy it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\"></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\" alt=\"antawun.jpg\" width=\"171\" height=\"110\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Daniel</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Daniel and this is a picture of me from when I was 8 months old. I have done a lot of things when I was a young child under the age of four, such as say my first word, go to China at the age of three, go on my first trip to Florida and Disneyland and lots of other interesting adventures as a young child. But my most memorable adventure as a kid was moving to a new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was in the early morning, Saturday 7, 2003. I was 5 years old and I was about to move to a new home that I could actually own not rent. So anyway, my family and I were packing our things. Some of the things we had to give away, like my mini basketball hoop and my toy car that was as big as a 7x7 painting. I was sad because of two things: I had to leave my old home and I also had to leave one of my best friends, Ben. We had gone everywhere together including a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean factory! After we were done packing our things, my dad and I drove to Home Depot to pick out some new furniture for our home. I picked out a couch with pretty flowers all over it, but my dad said no because it was too expensive. Then my dad found a television, a metal desk, a chair, and a table. Then we paid for it and left it in a Home Depot truck.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Then my dad and I went to IKEA and Harlem Furnitures where we bought beds, stoves and a toilet for our new home. Then my dad and I went back to our hold home to stay for one last day. The next day it was moving day. First my entire family went to Home Depot to pick up our furniture. When we were driving back I got to push the window washing button! Then it was time to go to our new home. We said our goodbyes to Ben and our house and then we left for our new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When my family and I got there we were amazed at what we saw there. Standing before our eyes was a gigantic house! I jumped into my room and stood there for a while, still not knowing this house was mine. I asked my dad, &quot;Is this house ours?&quot; My dad said &quot;Of course&quot; and since then we have been living in this wonderful house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I hope you enjoyed my story and happy Week of the Young Child to you.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Tucker</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">My Surgery</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all started when I was in kindergarten when I got a knot in my neck. My parents tried to figure what the knot was, but they could not figure it out. The doctors did not know what it was so they put me in surgery. It was a full recovery. When I got out the hospital I had to wear a neck cast on my neck. It felt really weird.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Jason</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 6 years old, I went to Canada. I went to Niagara Falls. It was fun. I got to see Niagara Falls. I got to go on a boat tour there.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I also got to pick strawberries and eat them. I picked about 100 strawberries. It was fun, too. I got so many strawberries. Then I ate some.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Going to Canada was fun. But I don\'t want to go there again because they made me eat a lot of vegetables. It was a lot of fun there in Canada.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Demitria</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Week of the Young Child</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">What I am going to write about is year of the young child. I remember one time when I was little. I always carried a doll. I love it. Then one day when I went to the store with my mom I lost it. It was very sad to me since I was very little. It was like losing a very best friend. But then I got another one. I was very happy. But don\'t ask me what there names were because I really don\'t remember.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was little I always liked to hold onto stuff. That\'s why I was sad when I lost my doll. I loved being little. I remember my first word was &quot;no.&quot; Like even when I liked something and wanted it, I would always say &quot;No!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was a baby and I knew how to talk, would always say &quot;Hi!!!&quot; Sometimes I would say hi like I knew the person. Sometimes when I was a baby my sister would beg my mom if she could hold me. I mean I know why. Because I\'m so awesome. Just kidding. Also when my mom was pregnant with me my sister would yell at my mom\'s stomach. &quot;WAKE UP BABY!!!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Josh</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day I was going to school. Like an average day. Well I did reading, playtime, recess and lunch. But when we had Spanish I had to go home. Well I went home because ... I was standing on my chair and sticking my butt out.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I said &quot;I\'m going to call your mommy.&quot; I did this because I\'d had it with  Miss I cannot say the name. She\'s always calling moms. So when I went home Deb had a long boring talk. Then my dad cancelled one of his meetings.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was so scared. The next day I was so tired because I couldn\'t sleep. I didn\'t say anything until I got to school. When I got there people were staring at me. I think I started to cry.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Don\'t do things you\'ll regret.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Avan</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I Avan was injured at birth. My shoulder was damaged by the doctor. The doctor pulled my arm and popped my scapula so my arm always sticks out. At the age of three months I started going to therapy up until the summer of 2007. My therapist suggested that I take time out. I still come home and try to stretch out my arm and my mom help me too. I had surgery twice in Texas. My first surgery I had at 6 years old and had to wear a cast during the summer for about 2 months with my arm up and out position which was really weird. People would look at me and questioned me about what kind of accident caused me to have a cast mold in the manner.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My therapist name is Joni. Joni became my best friend. We\'d exchange gifts for birthdays and other holidays. She makes the therapy exercize fun. We played games while stretching my arm and other activities. Jone is a very exciting person to work with . She has helped me with many challenging activities.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">In second grade I had my second surgery. I had to wear my cast for six weeks. My arm was in a position of a waiter\'s tip. When I took off my cast it was hard to straighten at first but after a moment I could straighten my arm by my side. Before I went in to surgery I got teary eyed but I did not cry. The doctors put me to sleep and when I woke up I as in a whole different room and happy to be done with it. The doctor recommended a third surgery but I did not want to do it again. I have been through enough.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">While I was in Texas for both surgeries I did spend time visiting and enjoying the sights and amusement parks  which helped calm me before surgery.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I have experienced a great deal  with my Brachial Plexus injury. However I still manage to be the best I can be.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>D\'Andre</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was four months old I did lots of stuff like playing with toys. I like throwing stuff and messing with people. I would sometimes be mean and kick people, and sometimes I would snatch stuff out of peoples\' hands. I would bug my mom to get what I want and I would not share sometimes.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Teshurer</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This when I was 3 years old and was cute and pretty. And it was picture day and I had the cutest picture and so did my friends. And I had cute and small teeth and I  had lots of friends. When I was 5 I got my school picture.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 I went to Dixon. That\'s where I got my school picture. My teacher was nice. I think her name was Ms. Lee and when I was 5 she was always sweet, kind and lovely to me and my dearful friends.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 and I took my school I was grateful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n\n<strong>Graciela</strong>\n\nToday I am going to tell you about me. Let\'s start, Okay?\n\nWhen I was little I was doing my homework and when I was done I asked my mom if we could go to my grandma\'s house and play with my cousins. Then my mom said, &quot;Okay. Are you done with your homework?&quot; I said, &quot;Yes, Mom.&quot; She said, &quot;Okay. Get ready for we can go&quot; (by the way I am 4 years old and in 1st grade). I said, &quot;Okay, Mom.&quot; I was putting on my shoes. Then me and my mom and my brother were in the car driving.\n\nOnce we got to my grandma\'s house I saw my cousins Bianca and her brother BJ. I said hi to them. My brother was playing with BJ because BJ and my brother are both boys. Anyway I told Bianca does she want to play. She said Okay but then my mom told me that I had to eat. And my brother, too. So me and my brother went inside to eat a sandwich. After we were done we could go outside so me and my brother ate our sandwich and ran out the door and outside where BJ and Bianca were sitting down.\n\nTHen I told Bianca, &quot;Come on. Let\'s play.&quot; Then she said Okay then me and  Bianca were playing ring-around-the-rosie. THen me and Bianca were going fast. Then I flew in the air and hit my head on the corner of the porch. I started to cry. Then my mom grabbed me and took me to the hospital and my dad, too. The doctor gave me shots and I had to go to the hospital on some of the days, but it did not feel good when they gave you the shots. But I as okay. That\'s the end of my story. Enjoy.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>','When I Was a Young Child: Letters from 4th Graders','','inherit','open','open','','51-revision-2','','','2008-10-07 18:39:23','2008-10-07 23:39:23','',51,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/07/51-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(153,151,'2008-10-07 18:39:36','2008-10-07 23:39:36','<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Here are some of the letters from students in Ms. Clement\'s 4th grade class to the preschoolers at Ray. They were asked to write about when they were young children. </strong> (I did some light editing, including spelling and punctuation changes, to make it easier to read - apologies to the authors - JA) </em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Rameez</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello! My name is Rameez. I am in fourth grade. I am going to tell you a story about when I was 6 years old. I was in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Every summer I go to my grandparents’ house. They live in Vermont. So they have a big hourse and a pond. It had hundreds of frogs in it. The pond also had some crayfish and salamanders. There was also an otter who lived in a pipe. It ate fish.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Over there there was a tradition. The tradition was that my brother would get thrown in the pond. My uncle Willy would grab the arms. My cousin Josh would grab the legs. They would swing you back and forth to gather some momentum then they would throw you in the air and then splat! You would fall in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This summer it was my turn to get thrown in the pond. When they were about to pick me up I ran. I kept on running around the pond. I tripped on a few rocks, but I didn’t stop. Soon they had me surrounded so they picked me up and then I said, “Noooo!” and then plop! I fell in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Shalena</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hi. My name is Shalena and I want to tell you about an event that happened to me. It all started when I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade. It was Halloween. I was the devil’s braid. It was so fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I could tell you so much about when I was little especially since the picture is right above the paragraph. I love it when Halloween comes by the fall, but now it is almost here and it is not here now.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I love to celebrate young child appreciation week because you get to tell about when you were little. I also remember Nooooo! I tried to whistle. I practice and practice until I finally got it. That was a moment I wouldn’t forget.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Well bye, and thank you for reading my letter. I felt like a bird learning how to fly writing this letter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Leslye</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">A memory that I have in my mind is that I walked by myself when I was 1 year old. Now if you want to know about my story you need to read this. I hope you enjoy my story.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I am going to tell you about my memory. When I was one year old I didn’t think about anything. I just walked and that’s all. I walked all by myself with no one holding me. I climbed a chair and walked on the table. WEIRD!!!!! Now that I am ten years old I think WOW!!!! If now I would of climbed a table and walked on it I would have broken it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now that I am ten years old and when I talked to my mom about where I was little and did all the disasters we just laugh. But now I know that getting up on a table, jumping, dancing, and walking is not good anymore. It can be dangerous. All the time I just think about how I could of done that. I think that all the babies do that.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong> Aida</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was a little girl and went to Puerto Rico with my family. We had about a thirty minute drive to O’Hare. Once we got on the plane it felt like a 40 hour flight! I was so bored I finally fell asleep. When I woke up we were finally here, Puerto Rico!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was so fun there. Also we stayed in this beautiful house. And when we went to the beach my older sister, Monica, told my older brother to pick up a jellyfish! (Monica thought it was a bag.) William got stung by the jellyfish and wasn’t too happy about it! Once William was climbing a tree a swarm of red ants came from the tree and started to bite William everywhere.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">On our last day I felt sad for two reasons. 1 I had to ride another boring flight. 2 I was really going to miss having so much fun. So on our last day we said goodbye to family members and took another swim in the pool. Now I really miss Puerto  Rico and can’t wait to go back!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Katia</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Katia.  I’m in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I come from Russia which is located in Asia and Europe. When I was a little girl I was very lucky because I got to go to India, Italy and Turkey. The story I will tell takes place in a beautiful country named Turkey.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Turkey is a fun place because there are a lot of kids to play with. Also because there are cool art and karate camps. There are also fun water slides that are as slippery as a white soap in a golden goblet. There are even fun shows and festivals every night. Sometimes people from the art camp get to make shows. But the best things in Turkey are the caged-free peacocks.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My story begins with the beautiful peacocks. Every day I went to the spot where the peacocks roamed. Every day I tried to catch a peacock but almost every day I failed. The reason why I wanted to catch a peacock is to fly on it. I wanted to soar through the sky with the peacocks. At the age of 4 I didn’t know that peacocks couldn’t fly. My best luck in catching a peacock was touching its shiny feathers. Unfortunately my parents didn’t understand that I wanted to fly. But I was always happy even though I never catched a peacock.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The picture you see is of me being happy because I finally at least touched a peacock. I felt as happy as a person who won the Olympics. Behind me there are 2 peacocks roaming freely. One of the peacocks is in the shadows and the other one in the sun. Please take a moment to observe my picture. Aren’t the peacocks beautiful?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\" alt=\"katia.JPG\" width=\"171\" height=\"114\" /> </a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still remember the funny things I did when I was little. Either if it is thinking that an airplane is a train or chasing peacocks, I will always remember those moments. I think being a small child is fun. I hope that any young child reads this is glad that they are still young children. Bye bye and have a wonderful <em>Week of the Young Child</em> .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Chandler</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Chandler’s Sharp Fangs Bite</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dear Mom and Dad,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was young. I used to bite people with my Sharp Fangs (vampire teeth). I thought it was fun to bite people. The Sharp Fangs were white teeth that I used to put in my mouth. They made me look like a vampire.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I would run around the house and look into the mirror to see what my Sharp Fangs looked like. I looked like I had two carrots in my mouth. I tried eating food and drinking water with them. My Sharp would sometimes fall out of my mouth into the cup of water. I used to try to scare people with them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still enjoy playing with vampire teeth today. I would like you to buy me some Sharp Fangs from Walgreens. I would try  to scare some people again. I think they come in different colors now. I think red Sharp Fangs would be stain for blood and would scare people. The vampire teeth only cost one dollar. I can do my chores to earn money to pay for my Sharp Fangs. Thank you Mom and Dad for my Sharp Fangs.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Todd</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My name is Todd. This is a picture of me on Halloween when I was in the 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I was wearing a Spiderman costume. I was in my room climbing the book shelves pretending to be Spiderman at my Grandma’s house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I wore the Spiderman costume at school and we had a parade and marched around. I felt happy that day. There were other people in Spiderman costumes, too. We had a Halloween party in the class room.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The day was fun. The party was awesome. I will always remember that Halloween.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>David</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child Report</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day when I was five years old in kindergarten in the middle of the year we had a sub. He was a nice sub. A really nice sub! He almost let us do anything we wanted, unless it is dangerous. We had free time early in the day. I had a great time. He was wonderful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He let us stay out longer. When we were supposed to write for a long time he cut it short and let people go up on the big rug and sing songs. I really didn’t like how the people (sang). They sing very bad! I still  thought it was kind of fun. I think the teacher liked me singing.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was Thursday, my favorite day back then because we had gym. I love gym. It is my second favorite subject. I kind of remember what we did. I think we had free time. We had a lot of fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">At the end of the (day) we had our second free time in the class. I played basketball (there was a little hoop there). After that we had a snack. Mmmmm! That day with the sub was a great day. That is all that I can remember. One more thing that I can remember is that I had fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Zekayla</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me when I was “3.” My name is Kayla. I was born in “June 1998.” Do ya think I’m pink with a white doll?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was “5” months on this day sleeping in my bed, my grandma said that I was a doll so she picked me up and wake me up.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my first birthday party. We were at a Chuckie Cheese pizza place. That’s my dad. He’s so cool to me except when he say No. He feel sad and I feel sad.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my brother. His name is Michael. The on the top is when we were going to a wedding. He made such a mess for me. And this is him when we were at my cousin’s house. I’m 3 years older than him, and the girl in the background is my cousin, Lili. She’s one year older than him.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me in preschool. My graduation “wow” at the YMCA. My teacher said to pick what you want to be when you grown up and I said I want to be a doctor.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me on my graduation from preschool. This is me taking a picture. I’m in 1<sup>st</sup> grade. Who is that? Is that me? OH NO!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">And this is my birthday when I’m 7. On the bottom is Cousin Makiya. On the left is Cousin TT. Right is Cousin Ta. On top is me. I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade when I made this book, and I said: “I am in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at Ray  School. My favorite subject is art. My heart told me to write this book… My name is Kayla. I know some of you who was in Ms. Sheridan’s class read or saw this book.  THE END</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Antawun</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello young children. I am going to tell you a story. It is when I was in first grade. The story might be a little long. I hope you enjoy the story. So let\'s hop into an adventureeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all starts when my mom had a baby named Ashton Carl. Then my grandma died in March. So we took a trip to Florida. It was a sad time for my family. But I have some good memories.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I see family that I haven\'t seen before in my life. So the next day we go to the funeral. So the day after that I went to Disney World. I had so much fun there. I took a picture with PUSH the talking garbage can!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Young child, thanks for letting me read you this story. Hope you enjoy it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\"></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\" alt=\"antawun.jpg\" width=\"171\" height=\"110\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Daniel</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Daniel and this is a picture of me from when I was 8 months old. I have done a lot of things when I was a young child under the age of four, such as say my first word, go to China at the age of three, go on my first trip to Florida and Disneyland and lots of other interesting adventures as a young child. But my most memorable adventure as a kid was moving to a new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was in the early morning, Saturday 7, 2003. I was 5 years old and I was about to move to a new home that I could actually own not rent. So anyway, my family and I were packing our things. Some of the things we had to give away, like my mini basketball hoop and my toy car that was as big as a 7x7 painting. I was sad because of two things: I had to leave my old home and I also had to leave one of my best friends, Ben. We had gone everywhere together including a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean factory! After we were done packing our things, my dad and I drove to Home Depot to pick out some new furniture for our home. I picked out a couch with pretty flowers all over it, but my dad said no because it was too expensive. Then my dad found a television, a metal desk, a chair, and a table. Then we paid for it and left it in a Home Depot truck.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Then my dad and I went to IKEA and Harlem Furnitures where we bought beds, stoves and a toilet for our new home. Then my dad and I went back to our hold home to stay for one last day. The next day it was moving day. First my entire family went to Home Depot to pick up our furniture. When we were driving back I got to push the window washing button! Then it was time to go to our new home. We said our goodbyes to Ben and our house and then we left for our new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When my family and I got there we were amazed at what we saw there. Standing before our eyes was a gigantic house! I jumped into my room and stood there for a while, still not knowing this house was mine. I asked my dad, &quot;Is this house ours?&quot; My dad said &quot;Of course&quot; and since then we have been living in this wonderful house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I hope you enjoyed my story and happy Week of the Young Child to you.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Tucker</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">My Surgery</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all started when I was in kindergarten when I got a knot in my neck. My parents tried to figure what the knot was, but they could not figure it out. The doctors did not know what it was so they put me in surgery. It was a full recovery. When I got out the hospital I had to wear a neck cast on my neck. It felt really weird.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Jason</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 6 years old, I went to Canada. I went to Niagara Falls. It was fun. I got to see Niagara Falls. I got to go on a boat tour there.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I also got to pick strawberries and eat them. I picked about 100 strawberries. It was fun, too. I got so many strawberries. Then I ate some.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Going to Canada was fun. But I don\'t want to go there again because they made me eat a lot of vegetables. It was a lot of fun there in Canada.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Demitria</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Week of the Young Child</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">What I am going to write about is year of the young child. I remember one time when I was little. I always carried a doll. I love it. Then one day when I went to the store with my mom I lost it. It was very sad to me since I was very little. It was like losing a very best friend. But then I got another one. I was very happy. But don\'t ask me what there names were because I really don\'t remember.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was little I always liked to hold onto stuff. That\'s why I was sad when I lost my doll. I loved being little. I remember my first word was &quot;no.&quot; Like even when I liked something and wanted it, I would always say &quot;No!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was a baby and I knew how to talk, would always say &quot;Hi!!!&quot; Sometimes I would say hi like I knew the person. Sometimes when I was a baby my sister would beg my mom if she could hold me. I mean I know why. Because I\'m so awesome. Just kidding. Also when my mom was pregnant with me my sister would yell at my mom\'s stomach. &quot;WAKE UP BABY!!!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Josh</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day I was going to school. Like an average day. Well I did reading, playtime, recess and lunch. But when we had Spanish I had to go home. Well I went home because ... I was standing on my chair and sticking my butt out.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I said &quot;I\'m going to call your mommy.&quot; I did this because I\'d had it with  Miss I cannot say the name. She\'s always calling moms. So when I went home Deb had a long boring talk. Then my dad cancelled one of his meetings.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was so scared. The next day I was so tired because I couldn\'t sleep. I didn\'t say anything until I got to school. When I got there people were staring at me. I think I started to cry.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Don\'t do things you\'ll regret.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Avan</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I Avan was injured at birth. My shoulder was damaged by the doctor. The doctor pulled my arm and popped my scapula so my arm always sticks out. At the age of three months I started going to therapy up until the summer of 2007. My therapist suggested that I take time out. I still come home and try to stretch out my arm and my mom help me too. I had surgery twice in Texas. My first surgery I had at 6 years old and had to wear a cast during the summer for about 2 months with my arm up and out position which was really weird. People would look at me and questioned me about what kind of accident caused me to have a cast mold in the manner.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My therapist name is Joni. Joni became my best friend. We\'d exchange gifts for birthdays and other holidays. She makes the therapy exercize fun. We played games while stretching my arm and other activities. Jone is a very exciting person to work with . She has helped me with many challenging activities.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">In second grade I had my second surgery. I had to wear my cast for six weeks. My arm was in a position of a waiter\'s tip. When I took off my cast it was hard to straighten at first but after a moment I could straighten my arm by my side. Before I went in to surgery I got teary eyed but I did not cry. The doctors put me to sleep and when I woke up I as in a whole different room and happy to be done with it. The doctor recommended a third surgery but I did not want to do it again. I have been through enough.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">While I was in Texas for both surgeries I did spend time visiting and enjoying the sights and amusement parks  which helped calm me before surgery.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I have experienced a great deal  with my Brachial Plexus injury. However I still manage to be the best I can be.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>D\'Andre</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was four months old I did lots of stuff like playing with toys. I like throwing stuff and messing with people. I would sometimes be mean and kick people, and sometimes I would snatch stuff out of peoples\' hands. I would bug my mom to get what I want and I would not share sometimes.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Teshurer</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This when I was 3 years old and was cute and pretty. And it was picture day and I had the cutest picture and so did my friends. And I had cute and small teeth and I  had lots of friends. When I was 5 I got my school picture.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 I went to Dixon. That\'s where I got my school picture. My teacher was nice. I think her name was Ms. Lee and when I was 5 she was always sweet, kind and lovely to me and my dearful friends.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 and I took my school I was grateful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n\n<strong>Graciela</strong>\n\nToday I am going to tell you about me. Let\'s start, Okay?\n\nWhen I was little I was doing my homework and when I was done I asked my mom if we could go to my grandma\'s house and play with my cousins. Then my mom said, &quot;Okay. Are you done with your homework?&quot; I said, &quot;Yes, Mom.&quot; She said, &quot;Okay. Get ready for we can go&quot; (by the way I am 4 years old and in 1st grade). I said, &quot;Okay, Mom.&quot; I was putting on my shoes. Then me and my mom and my brother were in the car driving.\n\nOnce we got to my grandma\'s house I saw my cousins Bianca and her brother BJ. I said hi to them. My brother was playing with BJ because BJ and my brother are both boys. Anyway I told Bianca does she want to play. She said Okay but then my mom told me that I had to eat. And my brother, too. So me and my brother went inside to eat a sandwich. After we were done we could go outside so me and my brother ate our sandwich and ran out the door and outside where BJ and Bianca were sitting down.\n\nTHen I told Bianca, &quot;Come on. Let\'s play.&quot; Then she said Okay then me and  Bianca were playing ring-around-the-rosie. THen me and Bianca were going fast. Then I flew in the air and hit my head on the corner of the porch. I started to cry. Then my mom grabbed me and took me to the hospital and my dad, too. The doctor gave me shots and I had to go to the hospital on some of the days, but it did not feel good when they gave you the shots. But I as okay. That\'s the end of my story. Enjoy.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>','When I Was a Young Child: Letters from 4th Graders','','inherit','open','open','','51-revision-3','','','2008-10-07 18:39:36','2008-10-07 23:39:36','',51,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/07/51-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(300,151,'2008-10-07 18:40:01','2008-10-07 23:40:01','<p style=\"text-align: left\"><em><strong>Here are some of the letters from students in Ms. Clement\'s 4th grade class to the preschoolers at Ray. They were asked to write about when they were young children. </strong> (I did some light editing, including spelling and punctuation changes, to make it easier to read - apologies to the authors - JA) </em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Rameez</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello! My name is Rameez. I am in fourth grade. I am going to tell you a story about when I was 6 years old. I was in 1<sup>st</sup> grade.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Every summer I go to my grandparents’ house. They live in Vermont. So they have a big hourse and a pond. It had hundreds of frogs in it. The pond also had some crayfish and salamanders. There was also an otter who lived in a pipe. It ate fish.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Over there there was a tradition. The tradition was that my brother would get thrown in the pond. My uncle Willy would grab the arms. My cousin Josh would grab the legs. They would swing you back and forth to gather some momentum then they would throw you in the air and then splat! You would fall in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This summer it was my turn to get thrown in the pond. When they were about to pick me up I ran. I kept on running around the pond. I tripped on a few rocks, but I didn’t stop. Soon they had me surrounded so they picked me up and then I said, “Noooo!” and then plop! I fell in the pond.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Shalena</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hi. My name is Shalena and I want to tell you about an event that happened to me. It all started when I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade. It was Halloween. I was the devil’s braid. It was so fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I could tell you so much about when I was little especially since the picture is right above the paragraph. I love it when Halloween comes by the fall, but now it is almost here and it is not here now.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I love to celebrate young child appreciation week because you get to tell about when you were little. I also remember Nooooo! I tried to whistle. I practice and practice until I finally got it. That was a moment I wouldn’t forget.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Well bye, and thank you for reading my letter. I felt like a bird learning how to fly writing this letter.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Leslye</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">A memory that I have in my mind is that I walked by myself when I was 1 year old. Now if you want to know about my story you need to read this. I hope you enjoy my story.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I am going to tell you about my memory. When I was one year old I didn’t think about anything. I just walked and that’s all. I walked all by myself with no one holding me. I climbed a chair and walked on the table. WEIRD!!!!! Now that I am ten years old I think WOW!!!! If now I would of climbed a table and walked on it I would have broken it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now that I am ten years old and when I talked to my mom about where I was little and did all the disasters we just laugh. But now I know that getting up on a table, jumping, dancing, and walking is not good anymore. It can be dangerous. All the time I just think about how I could of done that. I think that all the babies do that.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong> Aida</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was a little girl and went to Puerto Rico with my family. We had about a thirty minute drive to O’Hare. Once we got on the plane it felt like a 40 hour flight! I was so bored I finally fell asleep. When I woke up we were finally here, Puerto Rico!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was so fun there. Also we stayed in this beautiful house. And when we went to the beach my older sister, Monica, told my older brother to pick up a jellyfish! (Monica thought it was a bag.) William got stung by the jellyfish and wasn’t too happy about it! Once William was climbing a tree a swarm of red ants came from the tree and started to bite William everywhere.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">On our last day I felt sad for two reasons. 1 I had to ride another boring flight. 2 I was really going to miss having so much fun. So on our last day we said goodbye to family members and took another swim in the pool. Now I really miss Puerto  Rico and can’t wait to go back!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Katia</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Katia.  I’m in 4<sup>th</sup> grade. I come from Russia which is located in Asia and Europe. When I was a little girl I was very lucky because I got to go to India, Italy and Turkey. The story I will tell takes place in a beautiful country named Turkey.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Turkey is a fun place because there are a lot of kids to play with. Also because there are cool art and karate camps. There are also fun water slides that are as slippery as a white soap in a golden goblet. There are even fun shows and festivals every night. Sometimes people from the art camp get to make shows. But the best things in Turkey are the caged-free peacocks.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My story begins with the beautiful peacocks. Every day I went to the spot where the peacocks roamed. Every day I tried to catch a peacock but almost every day I failed. The reason why I wanted to catch a peacock is to fly on it. I wanted to soar through the sky with the peacocks. At the age of 4 I didn’t know that peacocks couldn’t fly. My best luck in catching a peacock was touching its shiny feathers. Unfortunately my parents didn’t understand that I wanted to fly. But I was always happy even though I never catched a peacock.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The picture you see is of me being happy because I finally at least touched a peacock. I felt as happy as a person who won the Olympics. Behind me there are 2 peacocks roaming freely. One of the peacocks is in the shadows and the other one in the sun. Please take a moment to observe my picture. Aren’t the peacocks beautiful?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/katia.JPG\" alt=\"katia.JPG\" width=\"171\" height=\"114\" /> </a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still remember the funny things I did when I was little. Either if it is thinking that an airplane is a train or chasing peacocks, I will always remember those moments. I think being a small child is fun. I hope that any young child reads this is glad that they are still young children. Bye bye and have a wonderful <em>Week of the Young Child</em> .</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Chandler</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Chandler’s Sharp Fangs Bite</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Dear Mom and Dad,</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I remember when I was young. I used to bite people with my Sharp Fangs (vampire teeth). I thought it was fun to bite people. The Sharp Fangs were white teeth that I used to put in my mouth. They made me look like a vampire.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I would run around the house and look into the mirror to see what my Sharp Fangs looked like. I looked like I had two carrots in my mouth. I tried eating food and drinking water with them. My Sharp would sometimes fall out of my mouth into the cup of water. I used to try to scare people with them.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I still enjoy playing with vampire teeth today. I would like you to buy me some Sharp Fangs from Walgreens. I would try  to scare some people again. I think they come in different colors now. I think red Sharp Fangs would be stain for blood and would scare people. The vampire teeth only cost one dollar. I can do my chores to earn money to pay for my Sharp Fangs. Thank you Mom and Dad for my Sharp Fangs.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Todd</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My name is Todd. This is a picture of me on Halloween when I was in the 1<sup>st</sup> grade. I was wearing a Spiderman costume. I was in my room climbing the book shelves pretending to be Spiderman at my Grandma’s house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I wore the Spiderman costume at school and we had a parade and marched around. I felt happy that day. There were other people in Spiderman costumes, too. We had a Halloween party in the class room.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">The day was fun. The party was awesome. I will always remember that Halloween.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>David</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Young Child Report</em></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day when I was five years old in kindergarten in the middle of the year we had a sub. He was a nice sub. A really nice sub! He almost let us do anything we wanted, unless it is dangerous. We had free time early in the day. I had a great time. He was wonderful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">He let us stay out longer. When we were supposed to write for a long time he cut it short and let people go up on the big rug and sing songs. I really didn’t like how the people (sang). They sing very bad! I still  thought it was kind of fun. I think the teacher liked me singing.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was Thursday, my favorite day back then because we had gym. I love gym. It is my second favorite subject. I kind of remember what we did. I think we had free time. We had a lot of fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">At the end of the (day) we had our second free time in the class. I played basketball (there was a little hoop there). After that we had a snack. Mmmmm! That day with the sub was a great day. That is all that I can remember. One more thing that I can remember is that I had fun.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Zekayla</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me when I was “3.” My name is Kayla. I was born in “June 1998.” Do ya think I’m pink with a white doll?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was “5” months on this day sleeping in my bed, my grandma said that I was a doll so she picked me up and wake me up.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my first birthday party. We were at a Chuckie Cheese pizza place. That’s my dad. He’s so cool to me except when he say No. He feel sad and I feel sad.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is my brother. His name is Michael. The on the top is when we were going to a wedding. He made such a mess for me. And this is him when we were at my cousin’s house. I’m 3 years older than him, and the girl in the background is my cousin, Lili. She’s one year older than him.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me in preschool. My graduation “wow” at the YMCA. My teacher said to pick what you want to be when you grown up and I said I want to be a doctor.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This is me on my graduation from preschool. This is me taking a picture. I’m in 1<sup>st</sup> grade. Who is that? Is that me? OH NO!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">And this is my birthday when I’m 7. On the bottom is Cousin Makiya. On the left is Cousin TT. Right is Cousin Ta. On top is me. I was in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade when I made this book, and I said: “I am in 2<sup>nd</sup> grade at Ray  School. My favorite subject is art. My heart told me to write this book… My name is Kayla. I know some of you who was in Ms. Sheridan’s class read or saw this book.  THE END</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Antawun</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello young children. I am going to tell you a story. It is when I was in first grade. The story might be a little long. I hope you enjoy the story. So let\'s hop into an adventureeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all starts when my mom had a baby named Ashton Carl. Then my grandma died in March. So we took a trip to Florida. It was a sad time for my family. But I have some good memories.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Now I see family that I haven\'t seen before in my life. So the next day we go to the funeral. So the day after that I went to Disney World. I had so much fun there. I took a picture with PUSH the talking garbage can!!!!</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Young child, thanks for letting me read you this story. Hope you enjoy it.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\"></a></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/antawun.jpg\" alt=\"antawun.jpg\" width=\"171\" height=\"110\" /></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Daniel</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Hello. My name is Daniel and this is a picture of me from when I was 8 months old. I have done a lot of things when I was a young child under the age of four, such as say my first word, go to China at the age of three, go on my first trip to Florida and Disneyland and lots of other interesting adventures as a young child. But my most memorable adventure as a kid was moving to a new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It was in the early morning, Saturday 7, 2003. I was 5 years old and I was about to move to a new home that I could actually own not rent. So anyway, my family and I were packing our things. Some of the things we had to give away, like my mini basketball hoop and my toy car that was as big as a 7x7 painting. I was sad because of two things: I had to leave my old home and I also had to leave one of my best friends, Ben. We had gone everywhere together including a Jelly Belly Jelly Bean factory! After we were done packing our things, my dad and I drove to Home Depot to pick out some new furniture for our home. I picked out a couch with pretty flowers all over it, but my dad said no because it was too expensive. Then my dad found a television, a metal desk, a chair, and a table. Then we paid for it and left it in a Home Depot truck.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Then my dad and I went to IKEA and Harlem Furnitures where we bought beds, stoves and a toilet for our new home. Then my dad and I went back to our hold home to stay for one last day. The next day it was moving day. First my entire family went to Home Depot to pick up our furniture. When we were driving back I got to push the window washing button! Then it was time to go to our new home. We said our goodbyes to Ben and our house and then we left for our new home.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When my family and I got there we were amazed at what we saw there. Standing before our eyes was a gigantic house! I jumped into my room and stood there for a while, still not knowing this house was mine. I asked my dad, &quot;Is this house ours?&quot; My dad said &quot;Of course&quot; and since then we have been living in this wonderful house.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I hope you enjoyed my story and happy Week of the Young Child to you.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Tucker</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">My Surgery</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">It all started when I was in kindergarten when I got a knot in my neck. My parents tried to figure what the knot was, but they could not figure it out. The doctors did not know what it was so they put me in surgery. It was a full recovery. When I got out the hospital I had to wear a neck cast on my neck. It felt really weird.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Jason</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 6 years old, I went to Canada. I went to Niagara Falls. It was fun. I got to see Niagara Falls. I got to go on a boat tour there.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I also got to pick strawberries and eat them. I picked about 100 strawberries. It was fun, too. I got so many strawberries. Then I ate some.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Going to Canada was fun. But I don\'t want to go there again because they made me eat a lot of vegetables. It was a lot of fun there in Canada.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Demitria</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Week of the Young Child</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">What I am going to write about is year of the young child. I remember one time when I was little. I always carried a doll. I love it. Then one day when I went to the store with my mom I lost it. It was very sad to me since I was very little. It was like losing a very best friend. But then I got another one. I was very happy. But don\'t ask me what there names were because I really don\'t remember.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was little I always liked to hold onto stuff. That\'s why I was sad when I lost my doll. I loved being little. I remember my first word was &quot;no.&quot; Like even when I liked something and wanted it, I would always say &quot;No!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was a baby and I knew how to talk, would always say &quot;Hi!!!&quot; Sometimes I would say hi like I knew the person. Sometimes when I was a baby my sister would beg my mom if she could hold me. I mean I know why. Because I\'m so awesome. Just kidding. Also when my mom was pregnant with me my sister would yell at my mom\'s stomach. &quot;WAKE UP BABY!!!&quot;</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">**********</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Josh</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">One day I was going to school. Like an average day. Well I did reading, playtime, recess and lunch. But when we had Spanish I had to go home. Well I went home because ... I was standing on my chair and sticking my butt out.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I said &quot;I\'m going to call your mommy.&quot; I did this because I\'d had it with  Miss I cannot say the name. She\'s always calling moms. So when I went home Deb had a long boring talk. Then my dad cancelled one of his meetings.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I was so scared. The next day I was so tired because I couldn\'t sleep. I didn\'t say anything until I got to school. When I got there people were staring at me. I think I started to cry.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Don\'t do things you\'ll regret.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Avan</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I Avan was injured at birth. My shoulder was damaged by the doctor. The doctor pulled my arm and popped my scapula so my arm always sticks out. At the age of three months I started going to therapy up until the summer of 2007. My therapist suggested that I take time out. I still come home and try to stretch out my arm and my mom help me too. I had surgery twice in Texas. My first surgery I had at 6 years old and had to wear a cast during the summer for about 2 months with my arm up and out position which was really weird. People would look at me and questioned me about what kind of accident caused me to have a cast mold in the manner.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">My therapist name is Joni. Joni became my best friend. We\'d exchange gifts for birthdays and other holidays. She makes the therapy exercize fun. We played games while stretching my arm and other activities. Jone is a very exciting person to work with . She has helped me with many challenging activities.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">In second grade I had my second surgery. I had to wear my cast for six weeks. My arm was in a position of a waiter\'s tip. When I took off my cast it was hard to straighten at first but after a moment I could straighten my arm by my side. Before I went in to surgery I got teary eyed but I did not cry. The doctors put me to sleep and when I woke up I as in a whole different room and happy to be done with it. The doctor recommended a third surgery but I did not want to do it again. I have been through enough.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">While I was in Texas for both surgeries I did spend time visiting and enjoying the sights and amusement parks  which helped calm me before surgery.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">I have experienced a great deal  with my Brachial Plexus injury. However I still manage to be the best I can be.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>D\'Andre</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was four months old I did lots of stuff like playing with toys. I like throwing stuff and messing with people. I would sometimes be mean and kick people, and sometimes I would snatch stuff out of peoples\' hands. I would bug my mom to get what I want and I would not share sometimes.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">************</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Teshurer</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">This when I was 3 years old and was cute and pretty. And it was picture day and I had the cutest picture and so did my friends. And I had cute and small teeth and I  had lots of friends. When I was 5 I got my school picture.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 I went to Dixon. That\'s where I got my school picture. My teacher was nice. I think her name was Ms. Lee and when I was 5 she was always sweet, kind and lovely to me and my dearful friends.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">When I was 5 and I took my school I was grateful.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">*********</p>\n\n<strong>Graciela</strong>\n\nToday I am going to tell you about me. Let\'s start, Okay?\n\nWhen I was little I was doing my homework and when I was done I asked my mom if we could go to my grandma\'s house and play with my cousins. Then my mom said, &quot;Okay. Are you done with your homework?&quot; I said, &quot;Yes, Mom.&quot; She said, &quot;Okay. Get ready for we can go&quot; (by the way I am 4 years old and in 1st grade). I said, &quot;Okay, Mom.&quot; I was putting on my shoes. Then me and my mom and my brother were in the car driving.\n\nOnce we got to my grandma\'s house I saw my cousins Bianca and her brother BJ. I said hi to them. My brother was playing with BJ because BJ and my brother are both boys. Anyway I told Bianca does she want to play. She said Okay but then my mom told me that I had to eat. And my brother, too. So me and my brother went inside to eat a sandwich. After we were done we could go outside so me and my brother ate our sandwich and ran out the door and outside where BJ and Bianca were sitting down.\n\nTHen I told Bianca, &quot;Come on. Let\'s play.&quot; Then she said Okay then me and  Bianca were playing ring-around-the-rosie. THen me and Bianca were going fast. Then I flew in the air and hit my head on the corner of the porch. I started to cry. Then my mom grabbed me and took me to the hospital and my dad, too. The doctor gave me shots and I had to go to the hospital on some of the days, but it did not feel good when they gave you the shots. But I as okay. That\'s the end of my story. Enjoy.\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"></p>','Letters from 4th Graders','','inherit','open','open','','51-revision-4','','','2008-10-07 18:40:01','2008-10-07 23:40:01','',51,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/07/51-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(294,151,'2008-10-07 18:41:29','2008-10-07 23:41:29','<p align=\"center\"><strong>Zoo Stories</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>By the Children in Room 413 After Their Field Trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo</em></p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Zoo Train</em> by Carter</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once upon a time there was a boy named Carter. He liked Legos Zoo Train. An elephant and a monkey and a lion and a giraffe and a tiger and a flamingo.</p>\n<p align=\"left\"></p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em> The Zoo </em> by Austin</p>\n<p align=\"left\">A dolphin. The tiger. The baby jaguar. The pumas. The penguins. The monkeys. The speckled bear. The gorilla. The sharks. The whale. The animals on the train.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Hippo</em> by Kahlil</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The hippo was really sad cause he can\'t swim. He can\'t swim because he\'s too fat. Cause he ate too much. He ate too much because he was hungry. He was hungry because he liked to be strong.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Farm</em> by John</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I went in the farm. And I saw cows washing and milking at the same time. And I saw them poop. And it was yucky. I got to pet the goats.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Lion</em> by Ian</p>\n<p align=\"left\">It was on the rocks. It roared. It got off.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Hyena Gets Eaten By the Lion </em> by Rikesh</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once upon a time there was a hyena. And a badger. Soon the badger was gone. Soon a lion came. The hyena said to himself, &quot;Maybe that lion late Badger.&quot; Soon the lion made and awful ROAR! The hyena started to run. The lion chased after the hyena. The hyena started to run superfast. But the lion was catching up. The lion wrapped the hyena with its giant claw and pulled him up with all his might. The hyena couldn\'t escape. The lion squeeze the hyena\'s leg harder. Soon the lion ate him in one gulp.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Lion</em> by Ahmad</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The lion was sleeping and then he woke up and he ate a bird.</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(Editor\'s note: we really witnessed this! Poor pidgeon shouldn\'t have landed 2 feet from the lioness ....)</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Arthur</p>\n<p align=\"left\">I saw a dragon and it and the lion bit the flamingos. Then the lion got out of his cage and then it tried to bite all the animals, but not the animals that were in the glass, and not even the Kapuchen monkeys.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*********</p>\n<p align=\"left\">(Editor\'s note: We saw a zebra that was having seizures. The veterinarians had been there to check on it. The following stories are reflect the children\'s fascination with this.)</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6578.JPG\"><img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6578.JPG\" alt=\"img_6578.JPG\" width=\"170\" height=\"128\" /> </a> <a title=\"img_6579.JPG\" href=\"void(0)\"> <img src=\"http://413.rayblogs.org/files/img_6579.JPG\" alt=\"\" width=\"172\" height=\"131\" /> </a></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>Zebra</em> by Auden</p>\n<p align=\"left\">It was sick. It was lying down. It was in a truck. The zebras were standing up. Because they weren\'t sick.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em>The Surgery Truck for the Zebra</em> by Ben</p>\n<p align=\"left\">The surgery truck was feeling the zebra\'s heart. And it was not beating at all. And the surgery truck knew it was sick. Then they put it in a hospital bed. And it was so sick it rolled over.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Sean</p>\n<p align=\"left\">A zebra was walking. And then it bumped into a lion. The lion was walking but then the lion bumped into a African wild dog.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">********</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By Niel</p>\n<p align=\"left\">Once at the zoo there was a zebra that was sick. Then the mother zebra was very sad. And they lived happily ever after.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\">By River</p>\n<p align=\"left\">That\'s the zebra laying down. A truck came. The doctor got out the truck. And she checked the zebra\'s whole body.</p>\n<p align=\"center\">*******</p>\n<p align=\"center\">_______________________________________________________________</p>\n<p align=\"center\"></p>\n<p align=\"left\"></p>\n\nSeptember 10, 2007\n\nRia’s Birthday Story\n\nOnce it was my birthday. And her name was Ria. And she had a cake, a chocolate cake. I was really hungry because I wanted lunch.\n\nRosie\n\nOnce upon a time there was me and my dad. I was sleeping  and then there was a bad guy in my room. Then there was a bad Ms. Jane (it wasn’t you). She take my mom and dad! And she hurt my head. It fly and hurt my head, and put the building down. And Bad Ms. Jane fired all the town, and even blocked the tree! And fired the tree! And fired the dress and the shirt. Then it broke my body.  The End\n\nMila\n\nAbout a kid and a monster. Once upon a time there was a monster. The kid’s mommy and daddy hugged me and took them to the water fountain. And they live happily ever after.\n\nBecky\n\nI go to preschool and I go to Spanish class.\n\nJacob\n\nThe monsters were taking me and then I got away and then they were all over the place.\n\nIan\n\nThere was monsters and they were all over the place and then they got dead.\n\nSeptember 4, 2007\n\nMila:\n\nOnce upon a time there was the monsters all over the place. And then the monsters were tearing my head and putting me on the bed. Then I was laughing all over the place. I was landing all around outside. Then I saw the monsters over there and then my mommy and daddy hugged me very much and my mommy and daddy took me home.\n\nArthur:\n\nMy story is monsters were all over the place and there were ghosts all over the place.\n\nRiver:\n\nOne day I saw a monster with my daddy and me and him were all over Chicago. the ghosts were still in the plane and we weren’t in the plane.\n\nCarter:\n\nThere was a bat upstairs in my old school. I gave Ben woodchips so he could get it away. And then one day it was still in there! And then I went upstairs so I could see it and then I run downstairs cause it was still up there.\n\nRosie:\n\nWhen I was sleeping there was a monster that took my mom and dad away. And he was trying to put me away but my head was hurting. And then a sky was on my head. And then the bacterias eat the bad guy away. But it was just a dream.\n\n2/15/08\n\nJACOB’S STORY ABOUT THE MURAL ON THE WALL IN THE HALL- told to me while I was trying to get him to calm down for nap today. He told me a lot more before I realized that I needed to go get a paper and pencil to write down what he was telling me.\n\nThe people in the box [he had earlier described them as tall or long which they clearly are] actually they—the rain [he also described the raindrop as a tear at one point but decided it should be rain instead]—the orange rain is gonna break the box—break it open and then they [the people in the box] will fall near the cheetah and the spider. [I have to admit I hadn’t noticed most of the items he was describing after almost 5 years of passing that wall but he was into all the details].  When they first drop they’ll have to fight these guys but they don’t have a weapon. But they can swim, actually they can’t swim that water cuz that water goes too fast. But actually they will have to  stay and fight those guys until they fall into the pit. Actually there is a pit but you can’t see it near the edge. [This was in response to my query about where the pit was.]\n\nThere’s a volcano, see right there, and when they go inside the volcano they will not die because the volcano fish and not go in the water.\n\nThe creature actually, the little creature that has cherries in his mouth. It’s actually gonna give it to that creature right there. That face is gonna such up the cherries and the stars in the sky.\n\n(Deirdre)','Children\'s Stories','','inherit','open','open','','15-revision-2','','','2008-10-07 18:41:29','2008-10-07 23:41:29','',15,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/07/15-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(156,151,'2008-10-20 21:25:33','2008-10-21 02:25:33','','Oct 20, 2008','','inherit','open','open','','155-revision','','','2008-10-20 21:25:33','2008-10-21 02:25:33','',155,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/20/155-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(157,151,'2008-10-20 21:25:53','2008-10-21 02:25:53','Hi Everyone!\nWe have a very busy week ahead of us. I wanted to give you the highlights:\n\nTuesday:  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;text-decoration: underline\">School-wide Hispanic American Heritage celebration</span>\nIf you get this email in time, plan to come early to school and check out the decorations, projects by upper classmen, and eat some wonderful food in the cafeteria. The fiesta begins at 8:30 am. We\'ll be going to the auditorium at 9:30 to watch the all-school assembly. Each grade has prepared dances/songs for the celebration.\n\nWednesday:  Terrance Gray, Nyah\'s dad, is coming in to do a <span style=\"font-weight: bold;text-decoration: underline\">music workshop</span> with the preschoolers. Terrance is a professional violinist and has lots of experience working musically with children. We are so excited about this! We\'ll be out in the lobby with Mr. Jeff\'s and Ms. Bethanie\'s classes. We are planning to start around 9:45. If you can make it, you are more than welcome to join us.\n\nThursday:  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;text-decoration: underline\">Walking trip to the Fire Station</span>\nWe\'ll be leaving at 10:15 and YES, WE WOULD LIKE MORE ADULTS TO COME WITH US! The fire station is at 55th St. and University. The weather report is calling for rain, so please know if it is pouring when it\'s time to leave, we\'ll have to cancel the trip. If it\'s drizzling or lightly raining, we\'ll probably go. Please make sure your child has a warm jacket or coat, or a raincoat. It\'s only 3 blocks and we\'ll be inside when we\'re there so even if we get caught in the rain, we\'ll come back, dry off, and be none the worse for wear. I\'m expecting we\'ll be back at school between 11:30 and 12:00. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD WEAR THEIR RAY SCHOOL TSHIRT! (If you paid for one and didn\'t get one, please let me know).\n\nWe are learning about fire safety this week. We\'ve posted some of the important points for your families on our back door. We are also learning that if there is a fire in our homes, we must not run away from the fire fighters. I\'m told this is a big problem with young children. We\'ll be looking at a firefighter wearing a mask so we will know what they look like. I\'m told that some students were making dressups this afternoon for fire fighters.\n\nFriday:  I will not be in the classroom (all day training on our literacy program). There will be a substitute and Ms. Robin and Ms. D. should be there.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">DON\'T FORGET:</span> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Field Trips</span>\nSend in permission slip and money for our trip to see &quot;If You Bring a Mouse to School&quot; - $10.00 to cover the cost of the ticket and the bus. We have limited tickets. If you decide you want to go, please let us know this week and send in your money. We\'ll also be sending home a permission slip for a trip to &quot;Room 2 Play.&quot;\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Halloween Party: </span> We start our &quot;Literacy Day&quot; with a parade through the school in the morning. We\'ll have our Halloween Party in the afternoon after nap, about 3:30-5:00. Karen Macklin (Sophia\'s mom) is organizing it, so please offer to help her. I hope we\'ll get to see you all.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Want to volunteer?</span>\nWe could use some help in the classroom in both the mornings and afternoons. In the morning, Robin can use some help getting breakfast set up for the children and helping them with their journals (writing words for their pictures). If you come early, you\'re welcome to stay a bit and read to whoever is there.\n\nIn the afternoons, Ms. D. can use help cleaning the room for the next day, reading to the children or playing a game with them.\n\nIn both the morning and afternoon periods, both Ms. Robin and Ms. D. need to concentrate on their duties: watching/engaging the children and any chores that need to be done. If you\'d like to talk about what\'s going on with your child, the best thing to do is get in touch with me and we\'ll set up a time to meet.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Capri Sun Project:</span>\nYou may have gotten your bag today with the box, paper and instructions. We don\'t have any more boxes so if you have any, please use it for the project. If you have more than one, please think about bringing it in so we can give it to another family. Let me know when you\'d like to come in and present your box.','Oct 20, 2008','','inherit','open','open','','155-revision-2','','','2008-10-20 21:25:53','2008-10-21 02:25:53','',155,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/20/155-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(155,151,'2008-10-20 21:26:10','2008-10-21 02:26:10','Hi Everyone!\nWe have a very busy week ahead of us. I wanted to give you the highlights:\n\nTuesday:  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;text-decoration: underline\">School-wide Hispanic American Heritage celebration</span>\nIf you get this email in time, plan to come early to school and check out the decorations, projects by upper classmen, and eat some wonderful food in the cafeteria. The fiesta begins at 8:30 am. We\'ll be going to the auditorium at 9:30 to watch the all-school assembly. Each grade has prepared dances/songs for the celebration.\n\nWednesday:  Terrance Gray, Nyah\'s dad, is coming in to do a <span style=\"font-weight: bold;text-decoration: underline\">music workshop</span> with the preschoolers. Terrance is a professional violinist and has lots of experience working musically with children. We are so excited about this! We\'ll be out in the lobby with Mr. Jeff\'s and Ms. Bethanie\'s classes. We are planning to start around 9:45. If you can make it, you are more than welcome to join us.\n\nThursday:  <span style=\"font-weight: bold;text-decoration: underline\">Walking trip to the Fire Station</span>\nWe\'ll be leaving at 10:15 and YES, WE WOULD LIKE MORE ADULTS TO COME WITH US! The fire station is at 55th St. and University. The weather report is calling for rain, so please know if it is pouring when it\'s time to leave, we\'ll have to cancel the trip. If it\'s drizzling or lightly raining, we\'ll probably go. Please make sure your child has a warm jacket or coat, or a raincoat. It\'s only 3 blocks and we\'ll be inside when we\'re there so even if we get caught in the rain, we\'ll come back, dry off, and be none the worse for wear. I\'m expecting we\'ll be back at school between 11:30 and 12:00. PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD WEAR THEIR RAY SCHOOL TSHIRT! (If you paid for one and didn\'t get one, please let me know).\n\nWe are learning about fire safety this week. We\'ve posted some of the important points for your families on our back door. We are also learning that if there is a fire in our homes, we must not run away from the fire fighters. I\'m told this is a big problem with young children. We\'ll be looking at a firefighter wearing a mask so we will know what they look like. I\'m told that some students were making dressups this afternoon for fire fighters.\n\nFriday:  I will not be in the classroom (all day training on our literacy program). There will be a substitute and Ms. Robin and Ms. D. should be there.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">DON\'T FORGET:</span> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Field Trips</span>\nSend in permission slip and money for our trip to see &quot;If You Bring a Mouse to School&quot; - $10.00 to cover the cost of the ticket and the bus. We have limited tickets. If you decide you want to go, please let us know this week and send in your money. We\'ll also be sending home a permission slip for a trip to &quot;Room 2 Play.&quot;\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Halloween Party: </span> We start our &quot;Literacy Day&quot; with a parade through the school in the morning. We\'ll have our Halloween Party in the afternoon after nap, about 3:30-5:00. Karen Macklin (Sophia\'s mom) is organizing it, so please offer to help her. I hope we\'ll get to see you all.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Want to volunteer?</span>\nWe could use some help in the classroom in both the mornings and afternoons. In the morning, Robin can use some help getting breakfast set up for the children and helping them with their journals (writing words for their pictures). If you come early, you\'re welcome to stay a bit and read to whoever is there.\n\nIn the afternoons, Ms. D. can use help cleaning the room for the next day, reading to the children or playing a game with them.\n\nIn both the morning and afternoon periods, both Ms. Robin and Ms. D. need to concentrate on their duties: watching/engaging the children and any chores that need to be done. If you\'d like to talk about what\'s going on with your child, the best thing to do is get in touch with me and we\'ll set up a time to meet.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Capri Sun Project:</span>\nYou may have gotten your bag today with the box, paper and instructions. We don\'t have any more boxes so if you have any, please use it for the project. If you have more than one, please think about bringing it in so we can give it to another family. Let me know when you\'d like to come in and present your box.','Oct 20, 2008','','publish','open','open','','oct-20-2008','','','2008-10-20 21:26:10','2008-10-21 02:26:10','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=155',0,'post','',0),(159,151,'2008-10-20 21:27:04','2008-10-21 02:27:04','','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Class','','inherit','open','open','','158-revision','','','2008-10-20 21:27:04','2008-10-21 02:27:04','',158,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/20/158-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(160,151,'2008-10-20 21:27:34','2008-10-21 02:27:34','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information\nabout the classroom here regularly, including information about what\nwe’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful\nbits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and\nthe comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>\n<div class=\"comments\"></div>\n&lt;!--  					   --&gt;  		 	    	         		<!--  If comments are open, but there are no comments. -->\n<h3 class=\"reply\"></h3>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Class','','inherit','open','open','','158-revision-2','','','2008-10-20 21:27:34','2008-10-21 02:27:34','',158,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/20/158-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(158,151,'2008-10-20 21:27:37','2008-10-21 02:27:37','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other  important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>\n\n&lt;!--  					   --&gt;  		 	    	         		<!--      If comments are open, but there are no comments. -->','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Class','','publish','open','open','','welcome-to-ms-janes-class','','','2008-10-20 21:27:37','2008-10-21 02:27:37','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=158',0,'post','',0),(162,151,'2008-10-20 21:27:51','2008-10-21 02:27:51','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information\nabout the classroom here regularly, including information about what\nwe’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful\nbits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and\nthe comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>\n\n&lt;!--  					   --&gt;  		 	    	         		<!--    If comments are open, but there are no comments. -->','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Class','','inherit','open','open','','158-revision-4','','','2008-10-20 21:27:51','2008-10-21 02:27:51','',158,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/20/158-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(163,151,'2008-10-20 21:29:33','2008-10-21 02:29:33','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other  important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>\n\n&lt;!--  					   --&gt;  		 	    	         		<!--     If comments are open, but there are no comments. -->','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Class','','inherit','open','open','','158-revision-5','','','2008-10-20 21:29:33','2008-10-21 02:29:33','',158,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/20/158-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(166,151,'2008-10-25 15:23:06','2008-10-25 20:23:06','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                           ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','165-revision','','','2008-10-25 15:23:06','2008-10-25 20:23:06','',165,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/25/165-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(167,151,'2008-10-25 15:23:26','2008-10-25 20:23:26','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                           ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','165-revision-2','','','2008-10-25 15:23:26','2008-10-25 20:23:26','',165,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/25/165-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(165,151,'2008-10-25 15:23:31','2008-10-25 20:23:31','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                         ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                        South Loop</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                        Hamilton</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Meetings','','publish','open','open','','parent-advisory-committee-meeting-schedule','','','2008-10-25 15:23:31','2008-10-25 20:23:31','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?page_id=165',8,'page','',0),(168,151,'2008-10-25 15:23:31','2008-10-25 20:23:31','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                           ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','165-revision-3','','','2008-10-25 15:23:31','2008-10-25 20:23:31','',165,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/25/165-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(169,151,'2008-10-25 15:25:30','2008-10-25 20:25:30','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                         ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                        South Loop</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                        Hamilton</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','165-revision-4','','','2008-10-25 15:25:30','2008-10-25 20:25:30','',165,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/25/165-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(198,151,'2008-10-25 15:27:05','2008-10-25 20:27:05','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                         ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                        South Loop</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                        Hamilton</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Committee Meeting Schedule','','inherit','open','open','','165-revision-5','','','2008-10-25 15:27:05','2008-10-25 20:27:05','',165,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/10/25/165-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(171,151,'2008-11-06 21:26:30','2008-11-07 02:26:30','','Nov 6 2008','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision','','','2008-11-06 21:26:30','2008-11-07 02:26:30','',170,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/11/06/170-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(172,151,'2008-11-06 21:27:08','2008-11-07 02:27:08','Hi Everyone!\n\nBARACK OBAMA RALLY\nThere is going to be a rally to celebrate the election of Barack Obama tomorrow (Friday) at Ray at 2:45 in the auditorium. We will not bring our class down because we\'ll be sleeping and it would be overwhelming for them. But thanks to Sophia\'s mom, we\'re planning a rally of our own at 3:30 in our classroom. Have your child wear an Obama t-shirt, hat, etc. (no buttons, please), or a Ray School tshirt. We\'ll have a special reading of the new book, &quot;Barack.&quot;\n\nTHIS WEEK:\nIt\'s been a great week, topped off for me by our trip today. We have been reading Laura Numeroff books all week (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, etc.), but it was so much fun to see Emerald City\'s interpretation. The kids were great and I think really enjoyed the play. We\'re now considering whether to take them to see Hansel and Gretel in December. Please let me know if you have an opinion on this.\n\nWe brought out some tubes this week with our colored tape. The kids have been making sculptures, especially swords and binoculars. Carter made an airplane out of cardboard pieces. I\'m hoping we\'ll continue enjoying working on 3 dimensional art pieces.\n\nIF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH THIS, WE NEED:\n<ul>\n	<li>small boxes (cracker or cookie boxes, cereal boxes, etc.)</li>\n	<li>more tubes (t. paper, paper towels, wrapping paper, etc.)</li>\n	<li>masking tape</li>\n	<li>other recyclables that would be cool in a sculpture</li>\n</ul>\nLater we\'ll be working with wire. If you have any access to telephone wire (the kind that is bundled), please save some for us. We\'ll also need some wire cutters.\n\nCAPRI SUN BOXES:\nWe haven\'t gotten any boxes back yet! Please do your family box so we can share it in school. If you need help, let me know. Remember, seal the box first. Then cover it with the construction paper we gave you. Then decorate it with family pictures, etc. We\'ll cover it with plastic.\n\nIf you have any extra Capri Sun boxes, please bring them in. If you haven\'t received one yet, let me know and I\'ll make sure you get one.\n\nNOVEMBER\nThis month we\'ll be continuing to learn observation recording skills (tallying, drawing what we see, knowledge webs, etc.). We\'ll be adding doing 3 dimensional replications of what we see (Thanks, Carter!), using cardboard, paper, clay, etc. All this is working up to doing real project work - learning deeply about real things. I don\'t know if we\'ll be able to do a project before the holidays - they take up a lot lot of our attention in Nov. and Dec. Last year the children were very interested in volcanos, so we studied volcanos a lot during the second half of the year. I\'m not sure yet what we\'ll be studying this year - it depends on what grabs us. But we\'ll be sure to let you know.\n\nThe day before Thanksgiving break (Tuesday, Nov. 24, we\'ll be having our Thanksgiving celebration. We hope you can all come. We\'ll hold it from 3:30-5:00, and pizza and juice will be provided by the PTA as our Candy Sale party! I\'m hoping we\'ll also have homemade pumpkin pie, baked by the children. Please mark your calendar. (Maybe I should re-do mine and make it right!).\n\nWe\'ll also be learning about Native Americans and Native American stories. For those of you who don\'t know, Ms. Robin is Ojibwe from Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, Canada. Last year she shared authentic traditional items from her home and family, and taught the children how to dance and drum. I\'m hoping we can do that again this year. We\'ll be reading stories from Gerald McDermott and Joseph Bruchac, as well as listening to traditional music from the northeast and southwest. Please let me know if you have anything you would like to contribute to this project. One year we got Ms. Robin to make Fry Bread with us - I bet she would do that again with some encouragment!\n\nHOLIDAYS:\nWe recognize that Christmas is a giant holiday for many or most of our children, but we want to make sure that all the traditions of our children are celebrated. If your family celebrates a different holiday in November and December, please let me know. We will be talking about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, as well as Christmas. I like to spend a lot of time in December talking about light and why we use lights/candles to celebrate holidays. Again, if you have anything you\'d like to contribute, please let me know.\n\nPHOTO BOOKS\nIf you haven\'t developed your child\'s photos from photo day yet, please do so and bring them in. We\'ll start making our books next week.\n\nCOLD WEATHER CLOTHING\nI hear we may be getting some snow soon. Please make sure your child has snow clothing every day so we can go out in it. They\'ll need:\n<ul>\n	<li>Coat (you can keep a sweater in the cubby in case we need layering)</li>\n	<li>Hat or hood; scarf if you\'d like</li>\n	<li>Waterproof snow pants</li>\n	<li>Waterproof and warm boots</li>\n	<li>Waterproof and warm mittens or gloves</li>\n</ul>\nPLEASE WRITE THEIR NAME ON THE TAG FOR EACH PIECE OF CLOTHING!!!!! You can\'t believe what a challenge it is to keep track of all these clothes!\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Wish List:</span>\n3 or 5 oz paper cups\ncocktail straws (shorter than regular ones)\nempty food boxes and other items for 3 d projects\nstring\nmasking tape\nyarn (esp. red, black, yellow, white)','Nov 6 2008','','inherit','open','open','','170-revision-2','','','2008-11-06 21:27:08','2008-11-07 02:27:08','',170,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/11/06/170-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(170,151,'2008-11-06 21:27:11','2008-11-07 02:27:11','Hi Everyone!\n\nBARACK OBAMA RALLY\nThere is going to be a rally to celebrate the election of Barack Obama tomorrow (Friday) at Ray at 2:45 in the auditorium. We will not bring our class down because we\'ll be sleeping and it would be overwhelming for them. But thanks to Sophia\'s mom, we\'re planning a rally of our own at 3:30 in our classroom. Have your child wear an Obama t-shirt, hat, etc. (no buttons, please), or a Ray School tshirt. We\'ll have a special reading of the new book, &quot;Barack.&quot;\n\nTHIS WEEK:\nIt\'s been a great week, topped off for me by our trip today. We have been reading Laura Numeroff books all week (If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If You Give a Pig a Pancake, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, If You Give a Moose a Muffin, etc.), but it was so much fun to see Emerald City\'s interpretation. The kids were great and I think really enjoyed the play. We\'re now considering whether to take them to see Hansel and Gretel in December. Please let me know if you have an opinion on this.\n\nWe brought out some tubes this week with our colored tape. The kids have been making sculptures, especially swords and binoculars. Carter made an airplane out of cardboard pieces. I\'m hoping we\'ll continue enjoying working on 3 dimensional art pieces.\n\nIF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH THIS, WE NEED:\n<ul>\n	<li>small boxes (cracker or cookie boxes, cereal boxes, etc.)</li>\n	<li>more tubes (t. paper, paper towels, wrapping paper, etc.)</li>\n	<li>masking tape</li>\n	<li>other recyclables that would be cool in a sculpture</li>\n</ul>\nLater we\'ll be working with wire. If you have any access to telephone wire (the kind that is bundled), please save some for us. We\'ll also need some wire cutters.\n\nCAPRI SUN BOXES:\nWe haven\'t gotten any boxes back yet! Please do your family box so we can share it in school. If you need help, let me know. Remember, seal the box first. Then cover it with the construction paper we gave you. Then decorate it with family pictures, etc. We\'ll cover it with plastic.\n\nIf you have any extra Capri Sun boxes, please bring them in. If you haven\'t received one yet, let me know and I\'ll make sure you get one.\n\nNOVEMBER\nThis month we\'ll be continuing to learn observation recording skills (tallying, drawing what we see, knowledge webs, etc.). We\'ll be adding doing 3 dimensional replications of what we see (Thanks, Carter!), using cardboard, paper, clay, etc. All this is working up to doing real project work - learning deeply about real things. I don\'t know if we\'ll be able to do a project before the holidays - they take up a lot lot of our attention in Nov. and Dec. Last year the children were very interested in volcanos, so we studied volcanos a lot during the second half of the year. I\'m not sure yet what we\'ll be studying this year - it depends on what grabs us. But we\'ll be sure to let you know.\n\nThe day before Thanksgiving break (Tuesday, Nov. 24, we\'ll be having our Thanksgiving celebration. We hope you can all come. We\'ll hold it from 3:30-5:00, and pizza and juice will be provided by the PTA as our Candy Sale party! I\'m hoping we\'ll also have homemade pumpkin pie, baked by the children. Please mark your calendar. (Maybe I should re-do mine and make it right!).\n\nWe\'ll also be learning about Native Americans and Native American stories. For those of you who don\'t know, Ms. Robin is Ojibwe from Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron, Canada. Last year she shared authentic traditional items from her home and family, and taught the children how to dance and drum. I\'m hoping we can do that again this year. We\'ll be reading stories from Gerald McDermott and Joseph Bruchac, as well as listening to traditional music from the northeast and southwest. Please let me know if you have anything you would like to contribute to this project. One year we got Ms. Robin to make Fry Bread with us - I bet she would do that again with some encouragment!\n\nHOLIDAYS:\nWe recognize that Christmas is a giant holiday for many or most of our children, but we want to make sure that all the traditions of our children are celebrated. If your family celebrates a different holiday in November and December, please let me know. We will be talking about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, as well as Christmas. I like to spend a lot of time in December talking about light and why we use lights/candles to celebrate holidays. Again, if you have anything you\'d like to contribute, please let me know.\n\nPHOTO BOOKS\nIf you haven\'t developed your child\'s photos from photo day yet, please do so and bring them in. We\'ll start making our books next week.\n\nCOLD WEATHER CLOTHING\nI hear we may be getting some snow soon. Please make sure your child has snow clothing every day so we can go out in it. They\'ll need:\n<ul>\n	<li>Coat (you can keep a sweater in the cubby in case we need layering)</li>\n	<li>Hat or hood; scarf if you\'d like</li>\n	<li>Waterproof snow pants</li>\n	<li>Waterproof and warm boots</li>\n	<li>Waterproof and warm mittens or gloves</li>\n</ul>\nPLEASE WRITE THEIR NAME ON THE TAG FOR EACH PIECE OF CLOTHING!!!!! You can\'t believe what a challenge it is to keep track of all these clothes!\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Wish List:</span>\n3 or 5 oz paper cups\ncocktail straws (shorter than regular ones)\nempty food boxes and other items for 3 d projects\nstring\nmasking tape\nyarn (esp. red, black, yellow, white)','Nov 6 2008','','publish','open','open','','nov-6-2008','','','2008-11-06 21:27:11','2008-11-07 02:27:11','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=170',0,'post','',0),(174,151,'2008-11-06 21:38:45','2008-11-07 02:38:45','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other  important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Preschool Room','','inherit','open','open','','173-revision','','','2008-11-06 21:38:45','2008-11-07 02:38:45','',173,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/11/06/173-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(175,151,'2008-11-06 21:38:50','2008-11-07 02:38:50','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other  important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Preschool Room','','inherit','open','open','','173-revision-2','','','2008-11-06 21:38:50','2008-11-07 02:38:50','',173,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/11/06/173-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(173,151,'2008-11-06 21:38:58','2008-11-07 02:38:58','<strong><em>Welcome to our classroom blog! We will be posting information about the classroom here regularly, including information about what we’re doing the in the classroom, trips, parties, and other useful bits. If you’d like to make a comment, click on the posting title and the comment page will come up. Please check out the page links and web links for other  important, useful or fun information. And let us know if you’d like us to include so</em> </strong> <strong><em>mething else on this site. Enjoy!</em> </strong>\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Welcome to Ms. Jane\'s Preschool Room','','publish','open','open','','welcome-to-ms-janes-preschool-room','','','2008-11-06 21:38:58','2008-11-07 02:38:58','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=173',0,'post','',0),(301,151,'2008-11-06 22:01:02','2008-11-07 03:01:02','<p style=\"text-align: center\">Parent Advisory Committee</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">2008-2009 Meeting Schedule</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Date</strong> <strong>Time </strong> <strong>School</strong></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 15                        9:15am                                         Waters</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Oct. 29                        6:00 pm                                        Blaine</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 5                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Nov. 19                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 7                          9:15 am                                         ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Jan. 21                        6:00 pm                                        South Loop</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 4                         9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Feb. 18                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Mar. 18                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 15                       6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">Apr. 29                       9:15 am                                        Hamilton</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 6                         6:00 pm                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">May 20                       9:15 am                                          ?</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\">June 3                        6:00 pm                                          ?</p>','Parent Advisory Meetings','','inherit','open','open','','165-revision-6','','','2008-11-06 22:01:02','2008-11-07 03:01:02','',165,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/11/06/165-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(302,151,'2008-11-06 22:02:53','2008-11-07 03:02:53','<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline\">Snack/Sheet Washing Schedule</span> </strong></p>\n\n<strong>Snacks:</strong> Please bring in snacks for all 20 children for the whole week on Monday of your sheet-washing week. If you need to make a change, find another parent to switch with and let us know.\n\nSnacks need to be healthy (as much as possible), with minimum sugar. NO PEANUTS/PEANUT BUTTER or POPCORN. Suggestions: pretzels, crackers, cheese, cream cheese and rice cakes, yoguert, granola bars, cereal bars, fruit, bagels and jelly, etc. We have some children with food allergies to dairy, soy, peanuts, eggs. Please include at least some snacks these children can eat. We also have some children with teeth problems so please avoid fruit snacks or gummy stuff.\n\n<strong>Sheets: </strong> Pick up the sheets on Friday on your assigned week and return them Monday morning. They will be in your child\'s cubby. They can be washed in warm or hot water with soap and a little white vinegar (no bleach, please), then dried. If possible, please use unscented detergent with no dyes (some children have skin sensitivities).\n\nIf you cannot do this at all, please see Jane and we’ll take you off the list. If you can’t do it on your assigned weekend, please trade with another parent. Let us know if you’d like to wash your child’s blanket and pillow weekly. We will put them in your child’s cubby on Fridays.\n\n<strong>Sept. 8<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 15<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 22<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Sept. 29<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 6<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 13<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct.20<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Oct. 27<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 3<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 10<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Nov. 17<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 1<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 8<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>Dec. 15<span> </span> Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 5<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 12<span> </span> Kai</strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 19<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Kendall</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Jan. 26<span> </span> </strong> <strong>Austin</strong> <strong></strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 2</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 9<span> </span> Carter</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 16<span> </span> Ella</strong>\n\n<strong>Feb. 23<span> </span> Gabriel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 2<span> </span> Nacala</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 9<span> </span> Niel</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 16<span> </span> Asha</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 23<span> </span> Netert</strong>\n\n<strong>Mar. 30<span> </span> Jacob</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 13<span> </span> Ausar</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 20<span> </span> Sophia</strong>\n\n<strong>Apr. 27<span> </span> Emilieanna</strong>\n\n<strong>May. 4<span> </span> Jed</strong>\n\n<strong>May11<span> </span> Mila</strong>\n\n<strong>May 18 Nyah</strong>\n\n<strong>May 25<span> </span> Ahmad</strong>\n\n<strong>June 1<span> </span> Kai</strong>','Snack/Sheet Washing','','inherit','open','open','','21-revision-4','','','2008-11-06 22:02:53','2008-11-07 03:02:53','',21,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2008/11/06/21-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(204,151,'2009-01-13 23:21:21','2009-01-14 04:21:21','<strong>Title: </strong>Field Trip to Museum of Science and Industry<br /><strong>Description: </strong>Visit the Idea Factory, as well as the rest of the museum.<br /><strong>Start Time: </strong>09:00<br /><strong>Date: </strong>2009-01-21<br /><strong>End Time: </strong>13:00<br />','Field Trip to Museum of Science and Industry','','publish','open','open','','field-trip-to-museum-of-science-and-industry','','','2009-01-13 23:21:21','2009-01-14 04:21:21','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/13/field-trip-to-museum-of-science-and-industry/',0,'post','',0),(205,151,'2009-01-13 23:22:16','2009-01-14 04:22:16','<strong>Title: </strong>Parent-Teacher Conferences<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Room to be announced<br /><strong>Date: </strong>2009-01-30<br />','Parent-Teacher Conferences','','publish','open','open','','parent-teacher-conferences','','','2009-01-13 23:22:16','2009-01-14 04:22:16','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/13/parent-teacher-conferences/',0,'post','',0),(206,151,'2009-01-13 23:22:58','2009-01-14 04:22:58','<strong>Title: </strong>Lunar New Year celebration<br /><strong>Location: </strong>Preschool Classroom<br /><strong>Description: </strong>Celebrate the Year of the Ox with us<br /><strong>Date: </strong>2009-01-26<br />','Lunar New Year celebration','','publish','open','open','','lunar-new-year-celebration','','','2009-01-13 23:22:58','2009-01-14 04:22:58','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/13/lunar-new-year-celebration/',0,'post','',0),(202,151,'2009-01-14 00:18:17','2009-01-14 05:18:17','Hi Everyone,\nIt\'s a pretty busy week here at preschool. We have a post office in formation, some star/solar system study going on, and today, Mwenda was asking about snakes so I guess we\'ll be looking at snakes, too. The children are so curious about so much, it\'s hard to keep them sated. What we try to do is steer them to whatever books or other resources (internet) that will help them find out more about what they are interested in. Our big project is the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Post Office</span> , and for this, we will need your help.\nHELP!\n**If you know anyone who works in a post office who would be willing to help us with our study, please let me know right away. What we mostly need now is real &quot;artifacts&quot; from a post office;  boxes, canvas bags, stickers, envelopes, boxes, or anything else you can think of. If you can loan us (or know anyone who can) some kind of machine that would be used in mail delivery, that would be great. We also need real mail - junk, letters, etc. so we can look at addresses, stamps, etc. We also need some stamps for the children to examine. Once we know where we\'re going on this project, we\'ll let you know.\n\nPHONE LIST\nI am attaching a phone list of the class. If there are any corrections, omissions or additions that need to be done, please let me know by email. If there are major errors I\'ll send out the corrected list.\n\nWELCOME\nIn case you haven\'t noticed, we have 2 new students in our class: Alanis and Sarina. I hope you will all welcome them and their families into our community.\n\nFIELD TRIP\nPlease don\'t forget our field trip for Jan. 21 (Wed.) to the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Museum of Science and Industry</span> . We\'ll need as many adults to come with us as we can get since it is such a large museum. We should be back around 1:00 pm. Please fill out the trip form, send in your $4.00 (parent chapperones are free), and volunteer to come if you can. Those of you attending the inauguration in Washington, D.C., you will be missing a great trip to MSI and I feel sorry for you...  (tee hee hee)\n\nDINNER PROPOSAL\nMy family had such a nice time at Zad (Jed\'s dad\'s restaurant) over the holiday, we thought we would plan a preschool family time there. How does Jan. 31 at 4:00 pm sound to you? Hamza said that children would eat free. Zad is a <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Middle Eastern restaurant</span> with Morrocan specialties (try the soup! It\'s wonderful!!!). The children have already enjoyed hummus and baklava brought in by Hamza. Please RSVP with me so we\'ll know how many families will be coming. If there are very many people who would like to come but this is a bad day for it, we\'ll change the date.\n\nMISSING\nWe can\'t seem to find Ahmad\'s snow pants. They are blue with a zipper on the side and his name on the tag. Please check to see if you accidently took them home.\n\nHEALTH\nThis is the time of year we sometimes have viruses run through the room. We will call you if we believe your child is sick. We\'re also redoubling our sanitizing to try and reduce the spread of illnesses, though we know that it\'s almost inevitable that some children will get sick. Make sure we have a way to reach you or an emergency person at all times. Also please make sure your child washes their hands as soon as they come in in the morning. If you think your child is coming down with something, please keep them home. Call us and let us know if your child has a particularly contageous or dangerous illness, such as strep, chicken pox, <span class=\"yshortcuts\">scarlet fever</span> , etc. We will then notify all the parents to be on the lookout for symptoms.\n\nSUPPLIES\nIf your child\'s last name begins with M-Z, you were not asked to bring in supplies at the beginning of the year since we don\'t have room to store everything. We\'ll be posting a &quot;Wish List&quot; on the back door of the classroom and we hope you\'ll volunteer to get some of these things.\n\nTHANKYOU!\n*Thanks to Bevis (Auden\'s dad) for cutting up wood for us and delivering it to the classroom. We\'ll be starting our wood projects next week, or sooner if we can manage it. *Thanks to Mikki, Alanis\'s sitter, for getting us some extra flashlights. (We still need more if you haven\'t sent in one with your child). The kids are enjoying the daily light show at nap time.\n*Thanks to Karen (Sophia\'s mom) for hanging out in the mornings with us and helping the children with journals.\n*Thanks to Daisy, Sarina\'s mom, for volunteering to help with the photo books (finally!). We also appreciate your help in the mornings.\n*Thanks to all of you who donated books to the classroom from our wishlist at 57th St. Books. I\'m always happy when we get books for the class, but it\'s a real blessing to be able to get particular books that we need.\n\nI hope you\'re all taking care of yourselves in this cold weather. We\'ll be inside this week, playing in the trike room and doing as many physical activities as we can inside the building. Perhaps we\'ll start reading some stories about the sun, beaches, warm weather, and see if that encourages spring to be early this year.\n\nSee you all soon!\nJane','January 13, 2009','','inherit','open','open','','201-revision','','','2009-01-14 00:18:17','2009-01-14 05:18:17','',201,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/14/201-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(203,151,'2009-01-14 00:18:33','2009-01-14 05:18:33','Hi Everyone,\nIt\'s a pretty busy week here at preschool. We have a post office in formation, some star/solar system study going on, and today, Mwenda was asking about snakes so I guess we\'ll be looking at snakes, too. The children are so curious about so much, it\'s hard to keep them sated. What we try to do is steer them to whatever books or other resources (internet) that will help them find out more about what they are interested in. Our big project is the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Post Office</span> , and for this, we will need your help.\nHELP!\n**If you know anyone who works in a post office who would be willing to help us with our study, please let me know right away. What we mostly need now is real &quot;artifacts&quot; from a post office;  boxes, canvas bags, stickers, envelopes, boxes, or anything else you can think of. If you can loan us (or know anyone who can) some kind of machine that would be used in mail delivery, that would be great. We also need real mail - junk, letters, etc. so we can look at addresses, stamps, etc. We also need some stamps for the children to examine. Once we know where we\'re going on this project, we\'ll let you know.\n\nPHONE LIST\nI am attaching a phone list of the class. If there are any corrections, omissions or additions that need to be done, please let me know by email. If there are major errors I\'ll send out the corrected list.\n\nWELCOME\nIn case you haven\'t noticed, we have 2 new students in our class: Alanis and Sarina. I hope you will all welcome them and their families into our community.\n\nFIELD TRIP\nPlease don\'t forget our field trip for Jan. 21 (Wed.) to the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Museum of Science and Industry</span> . We\'ll need as many adults to come with us as we can get since it is such a large museum. We should be back around 1:00 pm. Please fill out the trip form, send in your $4.00 (parent chapperones are free), and volunteer to come if you can. Those of you attending the inauguration in Washington, D.C., you will be missing a great trip to MSI and I feel sorry for you...  (tee hee hee)\n\nDINNER PROPOSAL\nMy family had such a nice time at Zad (Jed\'s dad\'s restaurant) over the holiday, we thought we would plan a preschool family time there. How does Jan. 31 at 4:00 pm sound to you? Hamza said that children would eat free. Zad is a <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Middle Eastern restaurant</span> with Morrocan specialties (try the soup! It\'s wonderful!!!). The children have already enjoyed hummus and baklava brought in by Hamza. Please RSVP with me so we\'ll know how many families will be coming. If there are very many people who would like to come but this is a bad day for it, we\'ll change the date.\n\nMISSING\nWe can\'t seem to find Ahmad\'s snow pants. They are blue with a zipper on the side and his name on the tag. Please check to see if you accidently took them home.\n\nHEALTH\nThis is the time of year we sometimes have viruses run through the room. We will call you if we believe your child is sick. We\'re also redoubling our sanitizing to try and reduce the spread of illnesses, though we know that it\'s almost inevitable that some children will get sick. Make sure we have a way to reach you or an emergency person at all times. Also please make sure your child washes their hands as soon as they come in in the morning. If you think your child is coming down with something, please keep them home. Call us and let us know if your child has a particularly contageous or dangerous illness, such as strep, chicken pox, <span class=\"yshortcuts\">scarlet fever</span> , etc. We will then notify all the parents to be on the lookout for symptoms.\n\nSUPPLIES\nIf your child\'s last name begins with M-Z, you were not asked to bring in supplies at the beginning of the year since we don\'t have room to store everything. We\'ll be posting a &quot;Wish List&quot; on the back door of the classroom and we hope you\'ll volunteer to get some of these things.\n\nTHANKYOU!\n*Thanks to Bevis (Auden\'s dad) for cutting up wood for us and delivering it to the classroom. We\'ll be starting our wood projects next week, or sooner if we can manage it. *Thanks to Mikki, Alanis\'s sitter, for getting us some extra flashlights. (We still need more if you haven\'t sent in one with your child). The kids are enjoying the daily light show at nap time.\n*Thanks to Karen (Sophia\'s mom) for hanging out in the mornings with us and helping the children with journals.\n*Thanks to Daisy, Sarina\'s mom, for volunteering to help with the photo books (finally!). We also appreciate your help in the mornings.\n*Thanks to all of you who donated books to the classroom from our wishlist at 57th St. Books. I\'m always happy when we get books for the class, but it\'s a real blessing to be able to get particular books that we need.\n\nI hope you\'re all taking care of yourselves in this cold weather. We\'ll be inside this week, playing in the trike room and doing as many physical activities as we can inside the building. Perhaps we\'ll start reading some stories about the sun, beaches, warm weather, and see if that encourages spring to be early this year.\n\nSee you all soon!\nJane','January 13, 2009','','inherit','open','open','','201-revision-2','','','2009-01-14 00:18:33','2009-01-14 05:18:33','',201,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/14/201-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(201,151,'2009-01-14 00:18:37','2009-01-14 05:18:37','Hi Everyone,\nIt\'s a pretty busy week here at preschool. We have a post office in formation, some star/solar system study going on, and today, Mwenda was asking about snakes so I guess we\'ll be looking at snakes, too. The children are so curious about so much, it\'s hard to keep them sated. What we try to do is steer them to whatever books or other resources (internet) that will help them find out more about what they are interested in. Our big project is the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Post Office</span> , and for this, we will need your help.\nHELP!\n**If you know anyone who works in a post office who would be willing to help us with our study, please let me know right away. What we mostly need now is real &quot;artifacts&quot; from a post office;  boxes, canvas bags, stickers, envelopes, boxes, or anything else you can think of. If you can loan us (or know anyone who can) some kind of machine that would be used in mail delivery, that would be great. We also need real mail - junk, letters, etc. so we can look at addresses, stamps, etc. We also need some stamps for the children to examine. Once we know where we\'re going on this project, we\'ll let you know.\n\nPHONE LIST\nI am attaching a phone list of the class. If there are any corrections, omissions or additions that need to be done, please let me know by email. If there are major errors I\'ll send out the corrected list.\n\nWELCOME\nIn case you haven\'t noticed, we have 2 new students in our class: Alanis and Sarina. I hope you will all welcome them and their families into our community.\n\nFIELD TRIP\nPlease don\'t forget our field trip for Jan. 21 (Wed.) to the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Museum of Science and Industry</span> . We\'ll need as many adults to come with us as we can get since it is such a large museum. We should be back around 1:00 pm. Please fill out the trip form, send in your $4.00 (parent chapperones are free), and volunteer to come if you can. Those of you attending the inauguration in Washington, D.C., you will be missing a great trip to MSI and I feel sorry for you...  (tee hee hee)\n\nDINNER PROPOSAL\nMy family had such a nice time at Zad (Jed\'s dad\'s restaurant) over the holiday, we thought we would plan a preschool family time there. How does Jan. 31 at 4:00 pm sound to you? Hamza said that children would eat free. Zad is a <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Middle Eastern restaurant</span> with Morrocan specialties (try the soup! It\'s wonderful!!!). The children have already enjoyed hummus and baklava brought in by Hamza. Please RSVP with me so we\'ll know how many families will be coming. If there are very many people who would like to come but this is a bad day for it, we\'ll change the date.\n\nMISSING\nWe can\'t seem to find Ahmad\'s snow pants. They are blue with a zipper on the side and his name on the tag. Please check to see if you accidently took them home.\n\nHEALTH\nThis is the time of year we sometimes have viruses run through the room. We will call you if we believe your child is sick. We\'re also redoubling our sanitizing to try and reduce the spread of illnesses, though we know that it\'s almost inevitable that some children will get sick. Make sure we have a way to reach you or an emergency person at all times. Also please make sure your child washes their hands as soon as they come in in the morning. If you think your child is coming down with something, please keep them home. Call us and let us know if your child has a particularly contageous or dangerous illness, such as strep, chicken pox, <span class=\"yshortcuts\">scarlet fever</span> , etc. We will then notify all the parents to be on the lookout for symptoms.\n\nSUPPLIES\nIf your child\'s last name begins with M-Z, you were not asked to bring in supplies at the beginning of the year since we don\'t have room to store everything. We\'ll be posting a &quot;Wish List&quot; on the back door of the classroom and we hope you\'ll volunteer to get some of these things.\n\nTHANKYOU!\n*Thanks to Bevis (Auden\'s dad) for cutting up wood for us and delivering it to the classroom. We\'ll be starting our wood projects next week, or sooner if we can manage it. *Thanks to Mikki, Alanis\'s sitter, for getting us some extra flashlights. (We still need more if you haven\'t sent in one with your child). The kids are enjoying the daily light show at nap time.\n*Thanks to Karen (Sophia\'s mom) for hanging out in the mornings with us and helping the children with journals.\n*Thanks to Daisy, Sarina\'s mom, for volunteering to help with the photo books (finally!). We also appreciate your help in the mornings.\n*Thanks to all of you who donated books to the classroom from our wishlist at 57th St. Books. I\'m always happy when we get books for the class, but it\'s a real blessing to be able to get particular books that we need.\n\nI hope you\'re all taking care of yourselves in this cold weather. We\'ll be inside this week, playing in the trike room and doing as many physical activities as we can inside the building. Perhaps we\'ll start reading some stories about the sun, beaches, warm weather, and see if that encourages spring to be early this year.\n\nSee you all soon!\nJane','January 13, 2009','','publish','open','open','','january-13-2009','','','2009-01-14 00:18:37','2009-01-14 05:18:37','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=201',0,'post','',0),(208,151,'2009-01-26 23:42:10','2009-01-27 04:42:10','<p align=\"center\"><strong>Jane’s Favorite Authors/Illustrators</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\">(I’m open to suggestions and comments!)</p>\n\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if !mso]&gt;-->\nst1\\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }\n  &lt;!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} h2 	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto; 	margin-right:0in; 	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; 	margin-left:0in; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	mso-outline-level:2; 	font-size:18.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	font-weight:bold;} p 	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto; 	margin-right:0in; 	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; 	margin-left:0in; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} @page Section1 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --&gt; <!-- [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n /* Style Definitions */\n table.MsoNormalTable\n	{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\n	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\n	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\n	mso-style-noshow:yes;\n	mso-style-parent:\"\";\n	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\n	mso-para-margin:0in;\n	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n	font-size:10.0pt;\n	font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n	mso-ansi-language:#0400;\n	mso-fareast-language:#0400;\n	mso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt;border: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium solid solid solid none windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt;border: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium solid solid solid none windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-autosave','','','2009-01-26 23:42:10','2009-01-27 04:42:10','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(210,151,'2009-01-26 23:42:33','2009-01-27 04:42:33','<p align=\"center\"><strong>Jane’s Favorite Authors/Illustrators</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n<p align=\"center\">(I’m open to suggestions and comments!)</p>\n\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!-- [if !mso]&gt;-->\nst1:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) }\n  &lt;!--  /* Style Definitions */  p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal 	{mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; 	margin:0in; 	margin-bottom:.0001pt; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} h2 	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto; 	margin-right:0in; 	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; 	margin-left:0in; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	mso-outline-level:2; 	font-size:18.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	font-weight:bold;} p 	{mso-margin-top-alt:auto; 	margin-right:0in; 	mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; 	margin-left:0in; 	mso-pagination:widow-orphan; 	font-size:12.0pt; 	font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; 	mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;;} @page Section1 	{size:8.5in 11.0in; 	margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; 	mso-header-margin:.5in; 	mso-footer-margin:.5in; 	mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 	{page:Section1;} --&gt; <!-- [if gte mso 10]&gt;-->\n /* Style Definitions */\n table.MsoNormalTable\n	{mso-style-name:\"Table Normal\";\n	mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;\n	mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;\n	mso-style-noshow:yes;\n	mso-style-parent:\"\";\n	mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;\n	mso-para-margin:0in;\n	mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;\n	mso-pagination:widow-orphan;\n	font-size:10.0pt;\n	font-family:\"Times New Roman\";\n	mso-ansi-language:#0400;\n	mso-fareast-language:#0400;\n	mso-bidi-language:#0400;}\n\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt;border: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium solid solid solid none windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt;border: 1pt 1pt 1pt medium solid solid solid none windowtext windowtext windowtext -moz-use-text-color\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-revision-2','','','2009-01-26 23:42:33','2009-01-27 04:42:33','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(213,151,'2009-01-26 23:43:34','2009-01-27 04:43:34','<strong> </strong>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!--  [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--  [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--  [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-revision-3','','','2009-01-26 23:43:34','2009-01-27 04:43:34','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(211,151,'2009-01-26 23:45:51','2009-01-27 04:45:51','<strong> </strong>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-autosave-2','','','2009-01-26 23:45:51','2009-01-27 04:45:51','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(212,151,'2009-01-26 23:46:51','2009-01-27 04:46:51','<strong> </strong>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-autosave-3','','','2009-01-26 23:46:51','2009-01-27 04:46:51','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(295,151,'2009-01-26 23:46:54','2009-01-27 04:46:54','<strong> </strong>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--   [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-revision-4','','','2009-01-26 23:46:54','2009-01-27 04:46:54','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(214,151,'2009-01-26 23:47:03','2009-01-27 04:47:03','<strong> </strong>\n<table border=\"1\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"></td>\n<td valign=\"top\"><!--    [if gte mso 9]&gt;  Normal 0   false false false        MicrosoftInternetExplorer4  &lt;![endif]--><!--    [if gte mso 9]&gt;   &lt;![endif]--><!--    [if !mso]&gt;-->\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\">My Favorite Authors/Illustrators by <strong><span style=\"font-size: 16pt\">Jane Averill</span> </strong></h2>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"font-weight: normal\">Jan. 2009</span></h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\" align=\"center\"><strong>*absolutely top on my list</strong></p>\n\n<table class=\"MsoNormalTable\" border=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"border: 1pt solid windowtext;padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Verna   Aardema</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jed   Alborough</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Aliki</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Giles   Andreae</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mitsumasa   Anno</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">John   Archambault</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Tedd   Arnold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Frank   Asch</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Esther   Averill</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Molly   Bang</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Jan   Brett</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Raymond   Briggs</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Margaret   Wise Brown</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Joseph   Bruchac</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eve   Bunting</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Virginia   Lee Burton</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Eric   Carle</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Donald   Crews</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Doreen   Cronin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Pinkney   Family (Jerry, Andrea, Brian)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tomie   DePaola</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arthur   Dorros</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Denise   Fleming</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Lois   Ehlert</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mem   Fox</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   Freeman</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Paul   Galdone</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gail   Gibbon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jan   Spivey Gilchrist</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Eloise   Greenfield</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Heller (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kevin   Henkes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Tana   Hoban (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Syd   Hoff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shirley   Hughes</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Pat   Hutchins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Steve   Jenkins</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Crockett   Johnson</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ann   Jonas</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Barbara   Joose</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">William   Joyce</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ezra   Jack Keats</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Steven   Kellogg</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Daniel   Kirk</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Elisa   Kleven</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ruth   Krauss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ursula   Le Guin</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Edward   Lear</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Julius   Lester</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Leo   Lionni</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Arnold Lobel</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"></p>\n</td>\n<td style=\"padding: 0in 5.4pt;width: 147.75pt\" width=\"197\" valign=\"top\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Bill   Martin, Jr.</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Kate   McMullen</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mercer   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marianna   Meyer</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Robert   McCloskey</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Gerald   McDermott</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">A.A.   Milne</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Ann   Morris (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jon   Muth</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">W.   Nikola-Lisa</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Laura   Numeroff</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Margie   Palatini</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Todd   Parr</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Marcus   Pfister</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Patricia   Polacco</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Beatrix   Potter</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jack   Prelutsky</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Chris   Raschka</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Faith   Ringgold</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Ken   Robbins (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Richard   Scarry</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Maurice   Sendak</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Dr.   Seuss</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">David   Shannon</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Shel   Silverstein</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">*Seymour Simon (non-fict)</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Peter   Sis</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Manya   Stojic</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Simms   Taback</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Nancy   Tafuri</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Martin   Waddell</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Rosemary   Wells</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Mo   Willems</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Don   and Audrey Wood</p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Jane   Yolen</p>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>\n</td>\n</tr>\n</tbody></table>','Favorite Authors/Illustrators','','inherit','open','open','','8-autosave-4','','','2009-01-26 23:47:03','2009-01-27 04:47:03','',8,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/01/26/8-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(217,151,'2009-02-09 23:45:40','2009-02-10 04:45:40','','February 9 2009','','inherit','open','open','','216-revision','','','2009-02-09 23:45:40','2009-02-10 04:45:40','',216,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/02/09/216-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(218,151,'2009-02-09 23:46:23','2009-02-10 04:46:23','Hi Everyone!\nI want to remind you all that we will be closed this Thursday and next Monday for Lincoln\'s birthday and Presidents\' Day. Friday there will be no hot lunch because the rest of the school is closed.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Bookstore Coupons:</span> The coupons for 57th St. Books are in your mail folders. They are good until Feb. 22. This is a special event the bookstore is running for Ray School families, so I hope you take advantage of it. Coupons are for 10% off an entire purchase (20% for members).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Valentines Day: </span> We\'ll be having a small party on Friday for Valentines Day from 3:30-4:30. If you would like to send in a treat or valentines, that would be great. I probably don\'t need to say this, but don\'t spend a lot of time getting your child to write out a valentine for each child. If they want to pass some out, send enough for each child and have your child sign the back or you can sign them. We\'ll be having them make valentines for each other on Friday (picking names like we did at Christmas time).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Volunteer Opportunity:</span> We would like to help the children make a quilt as part of our study of Africa. I have some muslin but we need to cut it into squares. If you would be willing to do this for us, please let me know. We\'d need it by next week. The Sewing Club is going to sew the squares together for us.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Post Office:</span> We are almost through writing our letters. If you haven\'t sent in an address, please do so by Wednesday morning. We\'ll be displaying copies of our letters on the board outside our room. The originals are going to be sent out on Wednesday. We have a postage scale in our room now, circa 1968, that the children are using to compare weight. Weight is an abstract concept and hard for children this age to understand, so we\'re starting very simply with comparing heavy and light objects. We\'ll be adding a balance scale to the room later on.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Africa:</span> We\'ve started our study of Africa by looking at fabric patterns (kente cloth). We\'ve read the story &quot;Ananzi the Spider,&quot; retold by Gerald McDermott, and &quot;The Spider Weaver&quot; by Margaret Musgrove. We have a book box of books from and about Africa, both fiction and non-fiction. (How do you tell if a story is fiction or non-fiction? Chances are if the animals are wearing clothes or speaking English, it\'s fiction) Ms. Diane, our art teacher, is also teaching us how to make paper kente cloth, and we may try our hand at some fabric designs. The children are also interested in African music, particularly African Playground by Putumayo. We\'ll be listening to Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well.\n\nSome of the things we hope to explore:\nFood\nDrums and other music\nKenya, South Africa and Ghana (Ms. Annohr, a 2nd grade teacher, is from Ghana)\nStories: Ananzi stories, Abiyoyo, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain\nAnimals\nHouses\nThe Nile River\nMadagascar\nGalimotos\n\nI hope you are all enjoying this warm weather. We are. This is a good time to remember to put your child\'s name on their hats, mittens, scarves, etc. They wear them outside, run around and get warm, take them off, and then lose them. We try very hard to keep track of all their clothing.','February 9 2009','','inherit','open','open','','216-revision-2','','','2009-02-09 23:46:23','2009-02-10 04:46:23','',216,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/02/09/216-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(219,151,'2009-02-09 23:46:48','2009-02-10 04:46:48','Hi Everyone!\nI want to remind you all that we will be closed this Thursday and next Monday for Lincoln\'s birthday and Presidents\' Day. Friday there will be no hot lunch because the rest of the school is closed.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Bookstore Coupons:</span> The coupons for 57th St. Books are in your mail folders. They are good until Feb. 22. This is a special event the bookstore is running for Ray School families, so I hope you take advantage of it. Coupons are for 10% off an entire purchase (20% for members).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Valentines Day: </span> We\'ll be having a small party on Friday for Valentines Day from 3:30-4:30. If you would like to send in a treat or valentines, that would be great. I probably don\'t need to say this, but don\'t spend a lot of time getting your child to write out a valentine for each child. If they want to pass some out, send enough for each child and have your child sign the back or you can sign them. We\'ll be having them make valentines for each other on Friday (picking names like we did at Christmas time).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Volunteer Opportunity:</span> We would like to help the children make a quilt as part of our study of Africa. I have some muslin but we need to cut it into squares. If you would be willing to do this for us, please let me know. We\'d need it by next week. The Sewing Club is going to sew the squares together for us.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Post Office:</span> We are almost through writing our letters. If you haven\'t sent in an address, please do so by Wednesday morning. We\'ll be displaying copies of our letters on the board outside our room. The originals are going to be sent out on Wednesday. We have a postage scale in our room now, circa 1968, that the children are using to compare weight. Weight is an abstract concept and hard for children this age to understand, so we\'re starting very simply with comparing heavy and light objects. We\'ll be adding a balance scale to the room later on.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Africa:</span> We\'ve started our study of Africa by looking at fabric patterns (kente cloth). We\'ve read the story &quot;Ananzi the Spider,&quot; retold by Gerald McDermott, and &quot;The Spider Weaver&quot; by Margaret Musgrove. We have a book box of books from and about Africa, both fiction and non-fiction. (How do you tell if a story is fiction or non-fiction? Chances are if the animals are wearing clothes or speaking English, it\'s fiction) Ms. Diane, our art teacher, is also teaching us how to make paper kente cloth, and we may try our hand at some fabric designs. The children are also interested in African music, particularly African Playground by Putumayo. We\'ll be listening to Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well.\n\nSome of the things we hope to explore:\nFood\nDrums and other music\nKenya, South Africa and Ghana (Ms. Annohr, a 2nd grade teacher, is from Ghana)\nStories: Ananzi stories, Abiyoyo, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain\nAnimals\nHouses\nThe Nile River\nMadagascar\nGalimotos\n\nI hope you are all enjoying this warm weather. We are. This is a good time to remember to put your child\'s name on their hats, mittens, scarves, etc. They wear them outside, run around and get warm, take them off, and then lose them. We try very hard to keep track of all their clothing.','February 9 2009','','inherit','open','open','','216-revision-3','','','2009-02-09 23:46:48','2009-02-10 04:46:48','',216,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/02/09/216-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(216,151,'2009-02-09 23:46:52','2009-02-10 04:46:52','Hi Everyone!\nI want to remind you all that we will be closed this Thursday and next Monday for Lincoln\'s birthday and Presidents\' Day. Friday there will be no hot lunch because the rest of the school is closed.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Bookstore Coupons:</span> The coupons for 57th St. Books are in your mail folders. They are good until Feb. 22. This is a special event the bookstore is running for Ray School families, so I hope you take advantage of it. Coupons are for 10% off an entire purchase (20% for members).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Valentines Day: </span> We\'ll be having a small party on Friday for Valentines Day from 3:30-4:30. If you would like to send in a treat or valentines, that would be great. I probably don\'t need to say this, but don\'t spend a lot of time getting your child to write out a valentine for each child. If they want to pass some out, send enough for each child and have your child sign the back or you can sign them. We\'ll be having them make valentines for each other on Friday (picking names like we did at Christmas time).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Volunteer Opportunity:</span> We would like to help the children make a quilt as part of our study of Africa. I have some muslin but we need to cut it into squares. If you would be willing to do this for us, please let me know. We\'d need it by next week. The Sewing Club is going to sew the squares together for us.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Post Office:</span> We are almost through writing our letters. If you haven\'t sent in an address, please do so by Wednesday morning. We\'ll be displaying copies of our letters on the board outside our room. The originals are going to be sent out on Wednesday. We have a postage scale in our room now, circa 1968, that the children are using to compare weight. Weight is an abstract concept and hard for children this age to understand, so we\'re starting very simply with comparing heavy and light objects. We\'ll be adding a balance scale to the room later on.\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Africa:</span> We\'ve started our study of Africa by looking at fabric patterns (kente cloth). We\'ve read the story &quot;Ananzi the Spider,&quot; retold by Gerald McDermott, and &quot;The Spider Weaver&quot; by Margaret Musgrove. We have a book box of books from and about Africa, both fiction and non-fiction. (How do you tell if a story is fiction or non-fiction? Chances are if the animals are wearing clothes or speaking English, it\'s fiction) Ms. Diane, our art teacher, is also teaching us how to make paper kente cloth, and we may try our hand at some fabric designs. The children are also interested in African music, particularly African Playground by Putumayo. We\'ll be listening to Miriam Makeba and Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well.\n\nSome of the things we hope to explore:\nFood\nDrums and other music\nKenya, South Africa and Ghana (Ms. Annohr, a 2nd grade teacher, is from Ghana)\nStories: Ananzi stories, Abiyoyo, Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain\nAnimals\nHouses\nThe Nile River\nMadagascar\nGalimotos\n\nI hope you are all enjoying this warm weather. We are. This is a good time to remember to put your child\'s name on their hats, mittens, scarves, etc. They wear them outside, run around and get warm, take them off, and then lose them. We try very hard to keep track of all their clothing.','February 9 2009','','publish','open','open','','february-9-2009','','','2009-02-09 23:46:52','2009-02-10 04:46:52','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=216',0,'post','',0),(221,151,'2009-03-12 23:09:00','2009-03-13 04:09:00','Hi Everyone!\nWell, we were all hopeful that spring had sprung, but I guess we have to be patient. We stayed in today, but I\'m sure we\'ll be able to go out and play tomorrow. Again, please make sure you have adequate clothing for your child, which means planning for 20 deg. as well as 70 deg. Please makes sure hats and mittens/gloves have your child\'s name. This is the time of year that it\'s easy to lose warmer clothing.\nISAT testing is over. The kids really enjoyed going to Bixler Playground, so that made it all worth while. We\'ll be back at our regular playground (Kimbark side of the school).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">1. <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Language arts</span> </span> <br /> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">2. Measurement\n3. Chemistry<br /> </span> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">4.  <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Kindergarten</span> </span> <br /> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">5. Ray Festival</span> <br /> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">6. <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Tardiness</span> </span>\n\n1. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Language arts.</span> We finished our <span class=\"yshortcuts\">chapter book</span> ! We read &quot;The Tale of Desperaux&quot; to the children just before naptime. I have the dvd on order so we\'ll get to watch it in the classroom after we get back from spring break. Some children fall asleep quickly and they did not get to follow the story very much. Many of the children heard the whole book. I hope you\'ll start to read <span class=\"yshortcuts\">chapter books</span> to your child, as well as continuing to read <span class=\"yshortcuts\">picture books</span> . Both are important.  Chapter books help your child develop their sense of story and memory. Picture books generally have more creative and challenging language, as well as beautiful artwork, so they are important for vocabulary building and building a sense of fantasy.\n\nJust so you know, most of our students love reading information books, particularly <span class=\"yshortcuts\">science books</span> . The best ones have photographs. Reading information books to children is also important because the style and structure of the language is consistent with what they\'ll be reading their whole academic lives.\n\nWe have also been practicing our handwriting using dry erase boards.\n\n2. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Measurement.</span> We have been learning about measuring this week. We started out thinking about what is longer or shorter or the same as. This week we were learning about the tools you used to measure things. Here\'s what we came up with:\n--you can use any tool or unit to measure something, but it has to be shorter than what you are measuring;\n--when you measure something, you have to line up what you are measuring with the tool you are using and make  sure both stay in the same place;\n--if you measure something using one tool, and then measure the same thing using a different tool, you\'ll get a different measurement. The longer the tool, the lower the number for your measurement. The children measured a board using 2 inch square blocks, then 6 <span class=\"yshortcuts\">inch unit blocks</span> , then 12 inch blocks. Then they compared the numbers for each tool on a graph. We even measured a teachers\' chair using student chairs!\n\nI hope you will help us continue this study by finding ways for your child to measure things at home.\n\n3. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Chemistry</span> . We\'ve been doing some chemistry in our classroom. We are mixing two or three ingredients together to make something new. We made <span style=\"font-style: italic\">ooblek</span> (<span class=\"yshortcuts\">corn starch and water</span> ) and <span style=\"font-style: italic\">silly putty</span> (glue and liquid starch). We\'re going to be mixing other kinds of ingredients together and see what happens. It is not really important for children this age to know why or how starches bond with non-starches. It is important for them to know that when you mix some things together, you get something entirely new with a whole new set of properties. Don\'t worry. We don\'t do explosives in preschool.\n\n4. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\"> Kindergarten.</span> You should have all received a letter in your mail boxes today from Ms. Butler, the Ray principal. Check your mailbox if you haven\'t received it. Ms. Butler is offering to meet with parents of preschoolers going to kindergarten next Thursday at 5:00. We should be sending home a notice about that tomorrow or Monday.\n\n5. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\"> Ray Festival.</span> Ray Festival is March 26 (Thursday night). Our class will be having a booth there with Room 104, Ms. Kinsella. This is an opportunity for the students and families at Ray School to spend an evening of fun and for teachers to raise money for their rooms. Please see the attached flyer. We need your help to make this a successful event.\n\n6.  <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Tardiness.</span> Class starts at 9:00 am. If you are running late, need some special time with your child, whatever, please call me before 9:15 and let me know if you\'ll be coming in. The office expects us to take attendance by 9:30 and issue tardy slips to anyone who is late, something I really don\'t want to do. If you\'re going to be late but will definitely be in, call us and I\'ll mark your child present.\nRemember, we need absence notes if your child is absent','March 11 2009','','inherit','open','open','','220-revision','','','2009-03-12 23:09:00','2009-03-13 04:09:00','',220,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/03/12/220-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(220,151,'2009-03-12 23:09:02','2009-03-13 04:09:02','Hi Everyone!\nWell, we were all hopeful that spring had sprung, but I guess we have to be patient. We stayed in today, but I\'m sure we\'ll be able to go out and play tomorrow. Again, please make sure you have adequate clothing for your child, which means planning for 20 deg. as well as 70 deg. Please makes sure hats and mittens/gloves have your child\'s name. This is the time of year that it\'s easy to lose warmer clothing.\nISAT testing is over. The kids really enjoyed going to Bixler Playground, so that made it all worth while. We\'ll be back at our regular playground (Kimbark side of the school).\n\n<span style=\"font-weight: bold\">1. <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Language arts</span> </span> <br /> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">2. Measurement\n3. Chemistry<br /> </span> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">4.  <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Kindergarten</span> </span> <br /> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">5. Ray Festival</span> <br /> <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">6. <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Tardiness</span> </span>\n\n1. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Language arts.</span> We finished our <span class=\"yshortcuts\">chapter book</span> ! We read &quot;The Tale of Desperaux&quot; to the children just before naptime. I have the dvd on order so we\'ll get to watch it in the classroom after we get back from spring break. Some children fall asleep quickly and they did not get to follow the story very much. Many of the children heard the whole book. I hope you\'ll start to read <span class=\"yshortcuts\">chapter books</span> to your child, as well as continuing to read <span class=\"yshortcuts\">picture books</span> . Both are important.  Chapter books help your child develop their sense of story and memory. Picture books generally have more creative and challenging language, as well as beautiful artwork, so they are important for vocabulary building and building a sense of fantasy.\n\nJust so you know, most of our students love reading information books, particularly <span class=\"yshortcuts\">science books</span> . The best ones have photographs. Reading information books to children is also important because the style and structure of the language is consistent with what they\'ll be reading their whole academic lives.\n\nWe have also been practicing our handwriting using dry erase boards.\n\n2. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Measurement.</span> We have been learning about measuring this week. We started out thinking about what is longer or shorter or the same as. This week we were learning about the tools you used to measure things. Here\'s what we came up with:\n--you can use any tool or unit to measure something, but it has to be shorter than what you are measuring;\n--when you measure something, you have to line up what you are measuring with the tool you are using and make  sure both stay in the same place;\n--if you measure something using one tool, and then measure the same thing using a different tool, you\'ll get a different measurement. The longer the tool, the lower the number for your measurement. The children measured a board using 2 inch square blocks, then 6 <span class=\"yshortcuts\">inch unit blocks</span> , then 12 inch blocks. Then they compared the numbers for each tool on a graph. We even measured a teachers\' chair using student chairs!\n\nI hope you will help us continue this study by finding ways for your child to measure things at home.\n\n3. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Chemistry</span> . We\'ve been doing some chemistry in our classroom. We are mixing two or three ingredients together to make something new. We made <span style=\"font-style: italic\">ooblek</span> (<span class=\"yshortcuts\">corn starch and water</span> ) and <span style=\"font-style: italic\">silly putty</span> (glue and liquid starch). We\'re going to be mixing other kinds of ingredients together and see what happens. It is not really important for children this age to know why or how starches bond with non-starches. It is important for them to know that when you mix some things together, you get something entirely new with a whole new set of properties. Don\'t worry. We don\'t do explosives in preschool.\n\n4. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\"> Kindergarten.</span> You should have all received a letter in your mail boxes today from Ms. Butler, the Ray principal. Check your mailbox if you haven\'t received it. Ms. Butler is offering to meet with parents of preschoolers going to kindergarten next Thursday at 5:00. We should be sending home a notice about that tomorrow or Monday.\n\n5. <span style=\"font-weight: bold\"> Ray Festival.</span> Ray Festival is March 26 (Thursday night). Our class will be having a booth there with Room 104, Ms. Kinsella. This is an opportunity for the students and families at Ray School to spend an evening of fun and for teachers to raise money for their rooms. Please see the attached flyer. We need your help to make this a successful event.\n\n6.  <span style=\"font-weight: bold\">Tardiness.</span> Class starts at 9:00 am. If you are running late, need some special time with your child, whatever, please call me before 9:15 and let me know if you\'ll be coming in. The office expects us to take attendance by 9:30 and issue tardy slips to anyone who is late, something I really don\'t want to do. If you\'re going to be late but will definitely be in, call us and I\'ll mark your child present.\nRemember, we need absence notes if your child is absent','March 11 2009','','publish','open','open','','march-11-2009','','','2009-03-12 23:09:02','2009-03-13 04:09:02','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=220',0,'post','',0),(223,151,'2009-05-30 17:19:09','2009-05-30 22:19:09','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision','','','2009-05-30 17:19:09','2009-05-30 22:19:09','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(224,151,'2009-05-30 17:19:33','2009-05-30 22:19:33','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-2','','','2009-05-30 17:19:33','2009-05-30 22:19:33','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(222,151,'2009-05-30 17:19:36','2009-05-30 22:19:36','<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-283\" src=\"http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2009/07/wild-things3.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things3\" width=\"273\" height=\"172\" /></p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a></p>','Wild Things','','publish','open','open','','applications-for-2009-2010','','','2009-09-22 16:40:19','2009-09-22 21:40:19','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=222',0,'post','',0),(225,151,'2009-05-30 17:19:36','2009-05-30 22:19:36','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-3','','','2009-05-30 17:19:36','2009-05-30 22:19:36','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(226,151,'2009-05-30 17:45:56','2009-05-30 22:45:56','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-4','','','2009-05-30 17:45:56','2009-05-30 22:45:56','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(228,151,'2009-05-30 17:48:31','2009-05-30 22:48:31','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-5','','','2009-05-30 17:48:31','2009-05-30 22:48:31','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(227,151,'2009-05-30 17:49:45','2009-05-30 22:49:45','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-autosave','','','2009-05-30 17:49:45','2009-05-30 22:49:45','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(229,151,'2009-05-30 17:49:55','2009-05-30 22:49:55','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\nThe last day of school for this year is June 10, the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-6','','','2009-05-30 17:49:55','2009-05-30 22:49:55','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(231,151,'2009-05-30 17:50:50','2009-05-30 22:50:50','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>The last day of school for this year is June 10</strong> , the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-7','','','2009-05-30 17:50:50','2009-05-30 22:50:50','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(230,151,'2009-05-30 17:50:59','2009-05-30 22:50:59','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>The last day of school for this year is June 10</strong> , the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-autosave-2','','','2009-05-30 17:50:59','2009-05-30 22:50:59','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(235,151,'2009-05-30 17:51:34','2009-05-30 22:51:34','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>The last day of school for this year is June 10</strong> , the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.\n\n<a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"129\" height=\"81\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-8','','','2009-05-30 17:51:34','2009-05-30 22:51:34','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(232,151,'2009-05-30 18:14:03','2009-05-30 23:14:03','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> : I am a state-certified teacher in Room 413. She has a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and has been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. She is also the parent of two children, both either current student or alumni at Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\n<strong>Deirdre Dietrichson:</strong> 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and a grandmother and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-autosave-3','','','2009-05-30 18:14:03','2009-05-30 23:14:03','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/14-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(233,151,'2009-05-30 18:15:03','2009-05-30 23:15:03','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> : I am a state-certified teacher in Room 413. I received a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and have been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. I am also the parent of two children, both alumni of Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\n<strong>Deirdre Dietrichson:</strong> 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and a grandmother and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-autosave-4','','','2009-05-30 18:15:03','2009-05-30 23:15:03','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/14-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(304,151,'2009-05-30 18:15:43','2009-05-30 23:15:43','<strong>Jane Averill</strong> : I am a state-certified teacher in Room 413. I received a Masters of Education from the Erikson Institute for Early Childhood Education and have been teaching at Ray School for 8 years. I am also the parent of two children, both alumni of Ray School.\n\n<strong>Robin Walker:</strong> <span style=\"font-size: small\">My name is Robin Walker and I am a proud new mommy in my thirties. I come from a Native American reservation in beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. I am married to my wonderful husband Jeff and we have one son named Brayden. Working with children has always been a joy to me as I was a coach in my sport of figure skating - I’ve been skating since the age of 3 and love it! My favorite past time besides figure skating is being with my family and friends. Miigwetch (Thank You).</span>\n\n<strong>Deirdre Dietrichson:</strong> 2008-2009 will be my 6th year at Ray in the Tuition-Based Preschool. Working with preschoolers has brought much joy to my life. The awe and wonder with which they approach the world is something we all should cherish. As adults we should never lose that spirit of discovery but too many of us do.  I am married to a wonderful man and have two grown sons. I look forward to working with your children this year.\n\n<strong>Marie Berry: </strong> My name is Marie Berry. I am a preschool teacher’s assistant at Ray Elementary School. I started this work through a program called “Parents as Teachers First” because I believe parents are a child’s first teacher. I am the mother of two and a grandmother and I love working at Ray School!','Teachers','','inherit','open','open','','14-revision-4','','','2009-05-30 18:15:43','2009-05-30 23:15:43','',14,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/14-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(236,151,'2009-05-30 18:17:26','2009-05-30 23:17:26','<p style=\"text-align: center\">We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>The last day of school for this year is June 10</strong> , the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"115\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a></p>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-9','','','2009-05-30 18:17:26','2009-05-30 23:17:26','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(248,151,'2009-05-30 18:18:06','2009-05-30 23:18:06','<p style=\"text-align: left\">We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>The last day of school for this year is June 10</strong> , the day of our end-of-year picnic. All preschool families are invited. Please send in $10.00 to pay for tshirts and food. The party is from 4-5:30 pm.</p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"115\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a></p>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-10','','','2009-05-30 18:18:06','2009-05-30 23:18:06','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/05/30/222-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(238,151,'2009-06-18 10:16:43','2009-06-18 15:16:43','Come join us in the Ray School contingent for the 4th of July Parade and Picnic. Bike/stroller decorating will take place from 10:30-11:00 at 54th and Lake Park, behind the Hyde Park Bank building. The parade will start at 11:00 and wind up in Nichols Park (53rd between Kenwood and Kimbark) around noon. Look for our table near the playground','4th of July Parade and Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','237-revision','','','2009-06-18 10:16:43','2009-06-18 15:16:43','',237,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/237-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(239,151,'2009-06-18 10:17:09','2009-06-18 15:17:09','Come join us in the Ray School contingent for the 4th of July Parade and Picnic. Bike/stroller decorating will take place from 10:30-11:00 at 54th and Lake Park, behind the Hyde Park Bank building. The parade will start at 11:00 and wind up in Nichols Park (53rd between Kenwood and Kimbark) around noon. Look for our table near the playground and come do a watercolor painting.','4th of July Parade and Picnic','','inherit','open','open','','237-revision-2','','','2009-06-18 10:17:09','2009-06-18 15:17:09','',237,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/237-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(237,151,'2009-06-18 10:17:13','2009-06-18 15:17:13','Come join us in the Ray School contingent for the 4th of July Parade and Picnic. Bike/stroller decorating will take place from 10:30-11:00 at 54th and Lake Park, behind the Hyde Park Bank building. The parade will start at 11:00 and wind up in Nichols Park (53rd between Kenwood and Kimbark) around noon. Look for our table near the playground and come do a watercolor painting.','4th of July Parade and Picnic','','publish','open','open','','4th-of-july-parade-and-picnic','','','2009-06-18 10:17:13','2009-06-18 15:17:13','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?p=237',0,'post','',0),(241,151,'2009-06-18 10:18:17','2009-06-18 15:18:17','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-revision','','','2009-06-18 10:18:17','2009-06-18 15:18:17','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(245,151,'2009-06-18 10:18:41','2009-06-18 15:18:41','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-revision-2','','','2009-06-18 10:18:41','2009-06-18 15:18:41','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(242,151,'2009-06-18 10:20:15','2009-06-18 15:20:15','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-autosave','','','2009-06-18 10:20:15','2009-06-18 15:20:15','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(243,151,'2009-06-18 10:21:30','2009-06-18 15:21:30','','wild-things1','','inherit','open','open','','wild-things1','','','2009-06-18 10:21:30','2009-06-18 15:21:30','',240,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2009/06/wild-things1.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(244,151,'2009-06-18 10:22:16','2009-06-18 15:22:16','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-autosave-2','','','2009-06-18 10:22:16','2009-06-18 15:22:16','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(247,151,'2009-06-18 10:22:20','2009-06-18 15:22:20','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-revision-3','','','2009-06-18 10:22:20','2009-06-18 15:22:20','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(246,151,'2009-06-18 10:24:18','2009-06-18 15:24:18','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></p>\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-autosave-3','','','2009-06-18 10:24:18','2009-06-18 15:24:18','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(250,151,'2009-06-18 10:24:45','2009-06-18 15:24:45','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained. Tuition is $240.00 a week.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></p>\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-revision-4','','','2009-06-18 10:24:45','2009-06-18 15:24:45','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(249,151,'2009-06-18 10:25:15','2009-06-18 15:25:15','<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"><img class=\"alignnone\" src=\"../files/wild-things.jpg\" alt=\"wild-things.jpg\" width=\"185\" height=\"115\" /> </a> <a title=\"Direct link to file\" href=\"../2008/10/03/files/wild-things.jpg\"> </a></p>','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','222-revision-11','','','2009-06-18 10:25:15','2009-06-18 15:25:15','',222,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/222-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(253,151,'2009-06-18 10:27:54','2009-06-18 15:27:54','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></p>\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-revision-5','','','2009-06-18 10:27:54','2009-06-18 15:27:54','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/06/18/240-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(251,151,'2009-07-15 14:04:11','2009-07-15 19:04:11','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\nWhat\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics      include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and      physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording      observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity      including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra,      measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">\n</span> </strong>\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Pre School </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></p>\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-autosave-4','','','2009-07-15 14:04:11','2009-07-15 19:04:11','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/240-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(252,151,'2009-07-15 14:05:11','2009-07-15 19:05:11','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics      include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and      physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording      observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity      including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra,      measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">\n</span> </strong>\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Pre School </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></p>\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-autosave-5','','','2009-07-15 14:05:11','2009-07-15 19:05:11','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/240-autosave-5/',0,'revision','',0),(254,151,'2009-07-15 14:05:42','2009-07-15 19:05:42','We are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics      include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and      physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording      observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity      including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra,      measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">\n</span> </strong>\n</p><p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Pre School </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg\" alt=\"\" /></p>\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" />\n\n<img src=\"/Users/ACERUS~1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot-6.jpg\" alt=\"\" />','Applications for 2009-2010','','inherit','open','open','','240-revision-6','','','2009-07-15 14:05:42','2009-07-15 19:05:42','',240,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/240-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(258,151,'2009-07-15 15:53:09','2009-07-15 20:53:09','','Test Page','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision','','','2009-07-15 15:53:09','2009-07-15 20:53:09','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision/',0,'revision','',0),(259,151,'2009-07-15 15:53:29','2009-07-15 20:53:29','','Test Page','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-2','','','2009-07-15 15:53:29','2009-07-15 20:53:29','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-2/',0,'revision','',0),(260,151,'2009-07-15 15:53:51','2009-07-15 20:53:51','','Test Page','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-3','','','2009-07-15 15:53:51','2009-07-15 20:53:51','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-3/',0,'revision','',0),(261,151,'2009-07-15 15:56:13','2009-07-15 20:56:13','','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-4','','','2009-07-15 15:56:13','2009-07-15 20:56:13','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-4/',0,'revision','',0),(262,151,'2009-07-15 15:58:29','2009-07-15 20:58:29','','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-5','','','2009-07-15 15:58:29','2009-07-15 20:58:29','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-5/',0,'revision','',0),(263,151,'2009-07-15 15:59:14','2009-07-15 20:59:14','','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-6','','','2009-07-15 15:59:14','2009-07-15 20:59:14','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-6/',0,'revision','',0),(264,151,'2009-07-15 16:02:08','2009-07-15 21:02:08','<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Pre School Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-7','','','2009-07-15 16:02:08','2009-07-15 21:02:08','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-7/',0,'revision','',0),(265,151,'2009-07-15 16:02:12','2009-07-15 21:02:12','<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Pre School Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-8','','','2009-07-15 16:02:12','2009-07-15 21:02:12','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-8/',0,'revision','',0),(257,151,'2009-07-15 16:02:19','2009-07-15 21:02:19','<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','publish','open','open','','pre-school-at-ray-elementary-in-hyde-park','','','2009-07-15 16:02:19','2009-07-15 21:02:19','',0,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/?page_id=257',1,'page','',0),(268,151,'2009-07-15 16:02:19','2009-07-15 21:02:19','<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Pre School Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-9','','','2009-07-15 16:02:19','2009-07-15 21:02:19','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-9/',0,'revision','',0),(266,151,'2009-07-15 16:02:21','2009-07-15 21:02:21','','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave','','','2009-07-15 16:02:21','2009-07-15 21:02:21','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave/',0,'revision','',0),(267,151,'2009-07-15 16:06:54','2009-07-15 21:06:54','','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-2','','','2009-07-15 16:06:54','2009-07-15 21:06:54','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-2/',0,'revision','',0),(269,151,'2009-07-15 16:07:13','2009-07-15 21:07:13','','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-10','','','2009-07-15 16:07:13','2009-07-15 21:07:13','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-10/',0,'revision','',0),(270,151,'2009-07-15 16:09:38','2009-07-15 21:09:38','','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-11','','','2009-07-15 16:09:38','2009-07-15 21:09:38','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-11/',0,'revision','',0),(274,151,'2009-07-15 16:11:33','2009-07-15 21:11:33','<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-12','','','2009-07-15 16:11:33','2009-07-15 21:11:33','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-12/',0,'revision','',0),(271,151,'2009-07-15 16:11:51','2009-07-15 21:11:51','<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-3','','','2009-07-15 16:11:51','2009-07-15 21:11:51','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-3/',0,'revision','',0),(272,151,'2009-07-15 16:13:30','2009-07-15 21:13:30','<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-4','','','2009-07-15 16:13:30','2009-07-15 21:13:30','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-4/',0,'revision','',0),(273,151,'2009-07-15 16:18:17','2009-07-15 21:18:17','<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-5','','','2009-07-15 16:18:17','2009-07-15 21:18:17','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-5/',0,'revision','',0),(278,151,'2009-07-15 16:18:30','2009-07-15 21:18:30','<pre>&lt;?php the_meta(); ?&gt;</pre>\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-13','','','2009-07-15 16:18:30','2009-07-15 21:18:30','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-13/',0,'revision','',0),(275,151,'2009-07-15 16:19:49','2009-07-15 21:19:49','<pre>&lt;?php the_meta(); ?&gt;</pre>\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-6','','','2009-07-15 16:19:49','2009-07-15 21:19:49','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-6/',0,'revision','',0),(276,151,'2009-07-15 16:21:58','2009-07-15 21:21:58','<pre>&lt;?php the_meta(); ?&gt;</pre>\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-7','','','2009-07-15 16:21:58','2009-07-15 21:21:58','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-7/',0,'revision','',0),(277,151,'2009-07-15 16:29:48','2009-07-15 21:29:48','<pre>&lt;?php the_meta(); ?&gt;</pre>\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p><!--more--><!--more-->','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-8','','','2009-07-15 16:29:48','2009-07-15 21:29:48','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-8/',0,'revision','',0),(281,151,'2009-07-15 17:08:43','2009-07-15 22:08:43','<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-14','','','2009-07-15 17:08:43','2009-07-15 22:08:43','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-revision-14/',0,'revision','',0),(279,151,'2009-07-15 17:14:51','2009-07-15 22:14:51','<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.\n\n<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-9','','','2009-07-15 17:14:51','2009-07-15 22:14:51','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/15/257-autosave-9/',0,'revision','',0),(280,151,'2009-07-16 13:02:19','2009-07-16 18:02:19','<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-10','','','2009-07-16 13:02:19','2009-07-16 18:02:19','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/16/257-autosave-10/',0,'revision','',0),(289,151,'2009-07-16 13:02:28','2009-07-16 18:02:28','<strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-revision-15','','','2009-07-16 13:02:28','2009-07-16 18:02:28','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/16/257-revision-15/',0,'revision','',0),(282,151,'2009-07-16 13:03:43','2009-07-16 18:03:43','','wild-things2','','inherit','open','open','','wild-things2','','','2009-07-16 13:03:43','2009-07-16 18:03:43','',257,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2009/07/wild-things2.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(283,151,'2009-07-16 13:14:27','2009-07-16 18:14:27','Wild Things','wild-things3','','inherit','open','open','','wild-things3','','','2009-07-16 13:14:27','2009-07-16 18:14:27','',257,'http://javerill.cuipblogs.net/files/2009/07/wild-things3.jpg',0,'attachment','image/jpeg',0),(284,151,'2009-07-16 13:25:46','2009-07-16 18:25:46','<p style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #888888\"><strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong> </span></p>\n\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Pre-school at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-11','','','2009-07-16 13:25:46','2009-07-16 18:25:46','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/16/257-autosave-11/',0,'revision','',0),(285,151,'2009-07-16 13:26:43','2009-07-16 18:26:43','<h1 style=\"text-align: center\"><span style=\"color: #008000\"><strong>What\'s cool about Preschool at Ray?</strong> </span></h1>\n<ul type=\"disc\">\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students are learning about stories, their own and      other peoples.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Students learn about writing: <span> </span> how it works, what it’s used for, and how      to do their own writing.</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://www.fossweb.com/modulesK-2/index.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Science</span> </a> topics include animals, fabric, wood &amp; paper, concepts in chemistry and physics, nature, and the scientific method (observation, recording observations, recording changes, experimentation, etc.).</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/\" target=\"_blank\"><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Math</span> </a> includes number recognition, understanding and manipulating quantity including adding and subtracting, and the foundations of algebra, measurement, geometry and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">data collection</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Social Sciences include our neighborhood, cultures      around the world, and <span class=\"yshortcuts\">character education</span> .</span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Art, music and movement are all important parts of      our program. </span></li>\n	<li class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>We also have gym and library\n</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 24pt\">Preschool Information </span> </strong></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>Ray has <strong>two</strong> types of preschool programs. One is a<strong> half-day</strong> program and the other is a<strong> full-day</strong> , <em>tuition based program.</em> <span> Both are <strong><em>play-based</em> </strong> which means we understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged in their learning and have some control over what they do and learn. We follow the teaching principles mapped out by the <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">National Association for the Education of Young Children</span> </em> and their roadmap, <em><span class=\"yshortcuts\">Developmentally Appropriate Practice</span> </em> .</span> </span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The half-day program is called &quot;Preschool For All&quot;. It is open to children in the <span class=\"yshortcuts\">Ray School district</span> . Morning class is from 9:00 to 11:30 am and the afternoon class is from 1:00 to 3:30 pm. Contact Bethanie Smith in Room 405 for more information.</span></p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span>The full-day, Tuition-Based program operates out of two separate classrooms. The hours of operation are from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You can contact Jane Averill in Room 413 for more information or call <span class=\"yshortcuts\">773-535-0954</span> and leave a message.</span></p>\n\n<strong>Applications for 2009-2010</strong>\n\nWe are accepting applications for the next school year. You can find it under our Blogroll and submit it to the Ray School Office, along with a deposit and photo id. If you have any questions about our program, feel free to contact Jane Averill at javerill@cps.edu or leave a message on our classroom phone, 773-535-0954. To be eligible, child must be 3 years old by September 1 of the year they are starting and they must be toilet-trained.','Preschool at Ray Elementary in Hyde Park','','inherit','open','open','','257-autosave-12','','','2009-07-16 13:26:43','2009-07-16 18:26:43','',257,'http://413.Rayblogs.org/2009/07/16/257-autosave-12/',0,'revision','',0),