Kenya Songs...Here are a couple of video clips from the songs Jacob's class sang today.

International Fair...Today was the International Fair at Jacob's school. Parents and children were each issued a passport. They then went from classroom to classroom visiting different countries of the world. Each country they visited, they got their passport stamped. It was SO cute. Each classroom had information about that country, costumes, music, songs, food, etc. The kids and teachers really did a great job. Jacob's classroom was decorated for Kenya. The other countries represented were England, China, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt, Netherlands, Thailand, Ireland, Japan, and Jamaica. What a great experience for everyone to learn about so many places around the world!

Math Matters...John and Jacob participated in "Math Matters" at Jacob's school. It was a hands-on event that lets kids create games and teaching tools to use at home to help with math skills. The whole things was only an hour and a half but they had a great time. They signed up for 4 choices of workshops but got to attend 2 of them. Their 1st workshop was called "Card Sharks". They got their own deck of cards and learned card games that helped strengthen math skills. Their 2nd workshop was "It's Magical". The magic looked like this:

1 - 2 - 3 - 4
5 - 6 - 7 - 8
9 - 10-11-12
13-14-15-16

Write the number 34 on a small index card and give it to one of your students for safe keeping. Ask your students to select four numbers on the board. Circle the numbers. None of the numbers may be in a column or row of any of the other three. Now add the four numbers. Direct the student holding the index card to real the number you wrote. Your students will be amazed! Examine the board for other symmetrical cominations of four numbers which yield ta sum of 34. (Note the diagonals, the four corners and the four center cells). Have your students search for others.

(This exercise is only typed up for you mom's out there in case you are interested. Jacob thinks learning math using magic is cool!

NY Hall of Science...Yesterday, Jacob got to go to the NY Hall of Science in Queens with school. He had a great time and came home talking about bug DNA, bubbles, etc. They learn so fast! If you'd like to check out the NY Hall of Science, go to http://www.nyhallsci.org/ .

Last night, the kids got on a dancing kick. Jacob spun and twirled his sister all around the living room. She looked at him adoringly at her brother and called him "Her Prince".

Jacob's School Birthday Celebration...Yesterday, John, Julia, and I took snacks up to Jacob's class so his friends at school could celebrate with him. The kids made their own ice cream sandwiches. Yum!

Jacob's 7th Birthday...Well, our big boy is now a 7 yr old. Wow! How did that happen so fast? We celebrated his birthday Wednesday night while Greg and Joanne were here. His ultra-mega present was an electric guitar and amp. Rockstar!!!

Funny Signs...Here are a few funny/sassy signs we saw on our visit to NYC this week. And because we are silly people, we were forced to photograph them.