Beating Summer Boredom

Activities to beat summer boredom:

• Take a walk.
• Teach your child a new sport: golf, tennis, basketball, volleyball, etc.
• Play with your pets!
• Research something new and different--visit the library or go online!
• Learn to play a new board game or card game.
• Teach your son or daughter how to cook a few easy dishes.
• Limit television viewing (!)
• Sign up for a summer library program (or the Barnes and Noble summer program).
• Ride your bicycle (Wear a helmet!)
• Play family games--Sorry, Monopoly, Memory, card games...these are all great fun!
• Go to a movie!
• Spend a day at the beach
• Pick strawberries, blueberries, whatever is ready this summer and U-pick
• Visit the Farmer's Market
• Plant a summer vegetable or herb garden
• Go to the Ionia Free Fair (July 21-30, 2011)
• Great day trips: Frederik Meijer Gardens, Grand Rapids Children's Museum, John Ball Zoo, Binder Park Zoo, Detroit Zoo
• Visit the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo
• The Grand Rapids Picnic Pops are well worth the 40 minute drive! It's a great family evening.

Summer at the Perrien House

People often ask me what we do over the summer at our house.  Well, I actually begin thinking about summer in May.  I invest a couple evenings of my time considering what camps and activities would best fit the girl's needs and interests over the summer.  Dance is a fact of life--my girls both spend time at the dance studio to avoid getting rusty.  I'm also concerned about getting rusty academically.  to avoid this we do the following:

We have set up an "At Home" schedule that includes 30 minutes of daily reading, plus math fact practice, and chores.  Next week we will begin doing "A Page a Day" from a grade level math workbook--something that will keep the girls sharp and prevent the summer knowledge slide.

Limited TV viewing is just a fact of life at our house.  When the TV is off I do not entertain my daughters.  Instead I have provided for my girls colored pencils, paper, clay, Legos, toy cars, dolls, and much, much more.  Telling my girls to learn to use their OWN imagination is the best gift I can give my children.  Of course, we play outside everyday!  And yes, I do play with my children, too! 

The website, Kids Reads, is a great reading website full of book recommendations, kid's activities, and book trivia.  It's a great place to visit to find new reading ideas!

Both Evelyn and Abby go to camps.  Evelyn spends a week up north at horsemanship camp.  Abby does day camps close to home.  If cost is a factor there are many great free or low cost options including summer reading clubs at the library and Barnes and Noble.  Herrick District Library offers many guest speakers and activities designed to engage kids.

Whatever you do with your kids throughout the summer please make sure they are doing more than just watching TV and playing video games!  One final thought, go to the beach!  We are lucky in Holland to have great entertainment just a couple miles down the road.  Building sand castles is so fun!  If you go to the beach, please be sure to discuss water safety with your children.

Schedule for the Final Week

Our final week of school is full of activity!  Here's a breakdown of the upcoming week:

• Monday--Waukazoo Talent Show
• Tuesday--Classroom cleaning (Please send empty backpacks or extra bags)
• ***Please remind your child that ALL school and classroom books should be returned to Waukazoo.  Students may not keep books belonging to Mrs. Perrien at home over the summer.
• Wednesday--Discovery Days (Students should dress in clothes that can get dirty!)
• Thursday--5th grade pizza luncheon with Mrs. Perrien
• Friday--1/2 day.  We will hiking in the woods behind the school.  Students should wear clothes shoes suitable for hiking.  Bug protection is also a good idea!

Grandma Croel

Marian Maxine Miles Croel died on May 27, 2011.  How fitting that on the last day of her life we in class were dancing and celebrating life.  My grandma wouln't have had it any other way.

My cousin, Annette, wrote this amazing tribute to my Grandmother.  I hope you don't mind me sharing it here.  Thanks for giving me the opportunity to let others know about my amazing Grandma!

Amy Perrien

Washed by the Water:  Marian Croel

Book Prezis

I have enjoyed exploring new technologies with the students this spring.  One new type for us is Prezi, Prezi is fun and easy to use!

The following Prezis have been shared in class:

Holes by Louise Sachar

Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson

More Prezi's will be linked in the next few days.  Enjoy!

Grand Rapids Lip Dub

I am a proud Michigan girl!  I wanted to share the lip dub recently filmed in Grand Rapids.  My husband and I were there last weekend celebrating our anniversary and watched some of the filming as it was taking place.

Enjoy!

Grand Rapids Lip Dub

(You have to scroll down a little bit.)

Scholastic Ordering

Parents-

I sent home the recent Scholastic catalogs with incorrect ordering information.  Scholastic now has activation codes that go along with each teacher's ordering information.  See the following: (Sorry for the incorrect information.)  If you are planning to order, please send in your orders by May 31.

Online Ordering Information
Web address: scholastic.com/bookclubs
Class Activation Code: H3P6Y

Dear Parent,

Now it's easier than ever to find the perfect books for your child -- shop our NEW online Book Clubs Web site. Choose from a much-wider selection of books than in the printed flyer. Plus, you can send your orders directly to me online and use your credit card to pay.

Best of all, we earn a FREE book for the classroom library every time a parent places an order online.

It's so simple! Here's how it works:

• SIGN UP at www.scholastic.com/bookclubs. On the parent page, click the "Register" button in the "First Time Here?" section. Register for your own user name and password. When prompted, enter the one-time Class Activation Code shown above. This unique code ensures that your order is sent to me.
  
• SELECT the books you'd like to order -- choose from thousands of titles -- many more than in our monthly flyers.
  
  
• SEND your order to me online by the due date and your child's books will be delivered directly to my classroom.

Ordering online is fast, easy, and secure.

Of course, you can still order using the form from the printed flyer. But why not see for yourself how convenient it is to order online?


Thank you,


Amy Perrien