Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Welcome Back! 2015-2016


Welcome back to a new school year! 




Today was our first day of school!


Like Buck, we jumped right in and started our adventure! 


Photo by Mr. Yollis 


In the morning, students and families lined up to meet the teacher and hear a few opening remarks from the principal. 




In class, we had a lot of fun talking about geography. Students placed push pins in locations they have visited or would like to visit someday.



Sometimes two push pins were required. Sometimes placement on the WORLD map and the map of the UNITED STATES was needed.





When Mrs. Yollis held up the globe, Sawyer remarked that she looked like the Roman god, Atlas! What do you think? 

Photo by Lily

After recess, we opened up and categorized all the supplies. Later, students had fun "building" using the supply boxes, the Kleenex boxes, and the paper towels. 






Wow, that tower is looking good!
Great team work! 




Oh well, try again!



A fascination with glue dominoes ensued! Look at all the different trial and error methods that were used to get just the right effect!

Too close. 




A variation on the floor. 





Last year's glue bottles were added. 






Finally, the group achieved success! Their perseverance paid off!


Check out the next four photos! 







Great work! 

What is perseverance



While others built, some students chose to do a geography puzzle. 


Parents & Students

 Here are some links for you to peruse as we start our year of learning together:


A. This blog is the centerpiece of our classroom community. It is a wonderful space for sharing and learning together. Here is a link to an article I wrote about the benefits of classroom blogging. I hope you'll have a chance to read it before our Back to School Night.




B. We also have a class Photo-of-the-Day blog! Anyone is welcome to contribute a photo or comment throughout the year. Join our 365 Photo-of-the-day project! :-)



☼     ☼     ☼     ☼     ☼



Like Buck off a dock, let's jump right into blogging!





Students, please leave a comment telling us about yourself. What did you do over your summer break? What adventures and experiences did you enjoyed?

If you are one of our blogging buddies, please introduce yourself to my new class. Where are you from? What have you been up to?

Remember to proofread your comment with a parent before you publish! 



59 comments:

  1. Hi it's Lily. This summer I went to Costa Rica. While we were there, I learned how boogie board. I went horseback riding and on an ATV over a horse ranch. I saw pineapple and sugar cane fields. A wild monkey sat on my head. I fed wild monkeys. I saw White-Faced Capuchin monkeys, Howler monkeys, spider monkeys, a silky anteater, and a sloth. We went on hanging bridges in the rain forest and on a zip line. We especially had fun on the beach.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Lily,

      Thank you so much for your fabulous comment! Congratulations, you are the first student to leave a comment on the blog!

      What a fabulous trip to Costa Rica! (Lily, I love how you capitalized Costa Rica. It is a proper noun and all proper nouns are capitalized. Mrs. Chalfin will be proud!)

      I also noticed that you put a comma after your clause: While we were there,. (Mrs. Chalfin will be doubly proud!)

      I was in Costa Rica about fifteen years ago. Like you, I had a lot of fun at the beaches. A wild monkey did not sit on my head, but I saw them.

      Maybe you can submit some photos and text to our 365 blog. I will show it to you tomorrow. We would love to learn about Costa Rica from you!

      Your proud teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. Hi Lily, this is Will. That sounds like you have a very fun trip to Costa Rica! Was it scary having a monkey on your head?

      Delete
    3. @Will
      No, it was not scary.We used palm fruit to attract the monkeys. It was fun.

      Delete
  2. It's Ryan. I went to YCamp. I went to Arizona. I went to the movies in Arizona. I saw Minions. I liked it. For Boy Scouts, I did boat racing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Ryan,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to leave us a comment! You are the first boy to leave a comment on our blog. Congratulations!

      This summer Mr. Yollis and I drove back to Minnesota. We took Route 66, and it went right through Arizona. I noticed it was a desert region. How could I tell?

      You mentioned that you did boat racing in Boy Scouts. Were they model boats or did you get in the boat yourself? How did you do?

      Ryan, great capitalization of Arizona, Minions, and the Boy Scouts! All of those are proper nouns. Your former teacher will be quite proud! Lily capitalized her proper nouns too!

      What are Minions?

      Your proud teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
  3. Hi, My name is Kate. Today in class, I put a push pin on Hawaii because my family went there this summer. I'm very happy to be back at school because my school is very fun. I enjoy my teacher because she is always very happy and very cheerful. I loved my teacher's seat sacks. They are sacks that attach to your seat and make moving around easier. You can even put folders, notebooks and your work box in them. Lastly, I thought my teacher's dog running off the dock and in to the water to get a ball was a funny story. I can't wait for tomorrow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Kate,

      Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging, Kate! I remember that you put a push pin on Hawaii. I think you said you went to Oahu. Am I correct?

      I am so happy that you enjoyed your first day. I did too!

      You have wonderful writing skills. First, I notice that you have a fabulous vocabulary. In addition, you use transitions to move your writing along. Finally, you capitalize proper nouns like Hawaii. I need to thank Mrs. Chalfin for her outstanding students!

      I love my dog, Buck, too! He always makes me smile!

      Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. @ Mrs. Yollis

      I went to Oahu. We started our trip in Waikiki where I had my first surfing lesson for my birthday.Then we went to North Shore,where my parents renewed their wedding vows. Last we went to Ko'Olina and had lots of fun at the Disney Resort, Aulani. Good Night! :)

      Delete
    3. Hi Kate,

      I liked the story of Buck and the ball, too. I also liked the picture of Buck jumping into the lake to get the ball. I want to go to Hawaii too.

      Your Friend,
      Andrew

      Delete
  4. Hi, this is Will. Over the summer I went to the Hollywood Bowl to see the LA Philharmonic play Tchaikovsky. The conductor was named Gustavo Dudamel. During the show, a car alarm starting beeping and everyone was laughing because Dudamel was conducting the beeping. The 1812 Overture was played at the end while the fireworks exploded in the sky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Will,

      What a terrific first blog comment! Well done!

      I am very happy to see so many people capitalizing proper nouns! I notice you capitalized: LA Philharmonic, Tchaikovsky, Hollywood Bowl , Gustavo Dudamel, and your name. Super!

      I have been to the Hollywood Bowl numerous times. I love listening to live music, especially in such a beautiful setting. I also saw the fireworks. However, the night when I was there, it rained! The Philharmonic skipped a portion of the show so they could get to the parts where the fireworks went off. After that, everyone rushed to their cars! I was soaked!

      Is Tchaikovsky your favorite?

      Your proud teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
  5. Hi, this is Abigail.
    This morning I put a push pin in Spain. I now remember where in Spain - Barcelona. I went there because my cousin lives there.

    This summer I went on a cruise ship and stayed at a really big beach house with a movie theater. I went with my best friend. My favorite part was the movie theater because it was so comfortable.

    The cruise ship was cool too. There was an all-you-can-eat buffet, and my little sister wanted to have ice cream and butter at every meal.

    Love,
    Abigail

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Abigail,

      ¡Fantastico! A trip to Barcelona, Spain! I lived in Spain for three summers when I first started teaching. I was up in San Sebastian, but I took a train to see Barcelona. I remember seeing the beautiful Gaudí architecture. Did you see any of it?

      ¡Adios!

      Señora Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. Hi this is Abigail.
      Yes! I did see his architecture. I saw the Sagrada Familia, which is a church. It was so cool. I loved it, and I also liked Dali's museum. What was your favorite part of Barcelona?

      Love,
      Abigail

      Delete
    3. @ Abigail,

      I saw the Sagrada Familia church too. It was a highlight for me to see. I did not make it to the Dali museum. Hopefully one day I will get there.

      I love Park Güell. It opened in 1914 and is a beautiful park. There are lots of very interesting mosaics throughout the area. There is even a big mosaic salamander!

      Do you speak any Spanish?

      ¡Adios!

      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    4. @ Mrs. Yollis,
      No, I do not speak Spanish, but I do speak two other languages. I do know what adios means, but why is there an upside down exclamation point before and a normal one after the word?
      Gracias,
      Abigail

      Delete
  6. Hi Mrs. Yollis. This is Ari. I'm really excited to be in your class this year, and I'm looking forward to reading with the Journey's kids. I'm also eager to learn about blogging and go on fun field trips. My little sister is in Ms. Cuevas' class this year! I also have an older brother in Ms. Cioffi's class.

    This summer I went to San Diego and spent a day with my family at Sea World. My brother and I went on the Manta; it was super fast and super scary. We went on other rides, saw the Shamu show, and had wristbands so we could eat all day long for free!!!

    For camp, I went to Tennis Camp. My mom and dad bought me a new racquet because I was trying so hard and improving. I also spent 2 weeks at Jaxx performing arts camp.

    How was your summer?

    Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.

    Ari

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Ari,

      I am excited to be your teacher! You have a super vocabulary. The word eager is one fabulous word! I am eager for the class to learn and use that word!

      You mentioned you went to Sea World. I was there about eight years ago, and I really enjoyed all the shows. I do not recall going on any rides! What was the Manta like?

      You sound like a very active person. Tennis is a great sport, and it is one that I used to play. I loved to get a rally going with my opponent. Do you know what an opponent is?

      Your new teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. Mrs. Yollis,

      The Manta is a roller coaster and the cars are shaped like stingrays. At the start of the ride, we saw a bunch of sea creatures. Then the ride moved back a little and then shot forward like a lightening bolt.

      I know an opponent is. An opponent is someone you play against. I learned forehand and backhand in tennis. Some of the tennis games I like are Jailbreak, Winners and Losers, and Buckets. May favorite is Around the World.

      How was your second day? Mine was superb.

      See you tomorrow.

      Ari

      Delete
  7. My name is Andrew and I am seven years old. This summer, I went to Vancouver island and went fishing. We caught two salmon, three rock fish, two link cods, one sea bass, and one kelp grenling. We threw out a rock fish to see an eagle close to our boat. The eagle came swooping down and caught it. It was fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Andrew,

      Welcome to the wonderful world of blogging! I'm glad you took the time to comment.

      Vancouver Island is a beautiful place! I notice you were able to put a push pin on the world map and the United States map. If Vancouver is in Canada, how come it was on the United States map too? Do you know what Canadian province you were in?

      How amazing to see and eagle hunting! I heard they have keen eye sight. What did your guide say?

      Your new teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. Hi Mrs.Yollis,

      Vancouver is on both the world map and the United States map because Vancouver is in the country of Canada and Canada is next to the United States. We were in the province of British Columbia.

      The eagle did actually have keen eye sight because it was super far away from the fish and saw it and flew right down to catch it. My mom helped me print a few pictures of the eagle swooping down. I am going to bring them to school tomorrow.

      Love,
      Andrew

      Delete
    3. @Andrew I bet it was so fun to see an eagle hunting! But was it scary?

      Delete
    4. @Bailey
      I went there last year! Did you like the lazy river?

      Delete
    5. @Lily
      Yes I did, it was one of my favorites. I love the water park to.

      Delete
  8. Hi, this is Karissa. My family and I went to Monterey and Big Sur. I went to Pfeiffer Beach and went in the ocean. It was freezing in there! I also went hiking in Mc Way Falls. The waterfall was small but beautiful. We also celebrated my dad's birthday there. It was a great time there!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Karissa,

      What a terrific comment! I have visited Monterey a few times, but never Big Sur. My husband has camped in Big Sur, and he always says how beautiful it is. I am sorry to hear it was cold, I prefer warm temperatures at the beach. I bet you feel that way too!

      Do you have any pictures of McWay Falls? Maybe you can share it or some other shots from your Monterey and Big Sur trip. Let me know if you would like to do that.

      Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow!

      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
  9. Hello, this is Ana.

    I enjoy playing soccer, building Legos and watching movies with my family.

    Over the summer, I got to travel on an airplane to visit my Nana and Papa in Boston, Massachusetts. While my sisters and I were there, we went to a water sports camp on the Atlantic Ocean. We got to paddle board and kayak by ourselves out to different islands each day. We also swam and played games, but my favorite was getting ice cream on the last day. After my sisters and I got back from Boston, we took a road trip up to Big Sur, California to visit my Granddaddy. While we were there, we got to swim and boogie board in the Pacific Ocean. At my Granddaddy's house, we were able to see whales come up for air with binoculars. When I wasn't traveling, we took many trips to Zuma Beach and also just hung out at my house.

    My sister Ellie, really loved being in your class and I am excited to be in your class as well.

    L♥ve,
    ♔ Ana ♔

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Ana. This is Abigail.
      That sounds like a superb summer. What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
      Love,
      Abigail

      Delete
  10. Hi, this is Bailey this summer my family and I went to see the Ringling Brothers Circus at the Staples Center. I thought it was pretty cool to see all the different animals performing. We also took a camping trip up to Lake casitas and spent a whole day at the water park. It was fun!

    I'm really excited that I'm in your class, and I'm looking forward to learning about blogging.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Bailey,

      Wow! I have not been to a circus in a very long time. What kinds of animals were in the show? What did they do?

      I can tell that you are going to be a terrific blogger. Your writing skills are excellent!

      Warmly,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. @Mrs. Yollis,
      Tigers, elephants, Camels, dogs. The Tigers were in a cage with their trainer jumping over blocks and through hula hoops. People rode on the elephants they also stood up on podium. The dogs came out and ran around in circles and people just rode the camels.

      Delete
  11. Dear Mrs. Yollis,
    Over summer break I went to San Francisco with our family and friends. First, we drove across The Golden Gate Bridge and took pictures. We also went to a Giants game and they were playing the Colorado Rockies. I also had a fun time on the big slides at the ball game. My favorite part was going to Muir Woods and we went with our friends. We saw big and tall redwood trees. What did you do over summer break?

    Your student,
    Abby

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Abby,

      Thanks for such a fabulous comment! Your family has always been great at blogging!

      San Francisco is a beautiful California city. The Golden Gate Bridge is a very famous landmark of our state. I hear that people walk across it. Did you see any walkers?

      The redwood is California's state tree. It is quite an amazing tree! These special trees are only found on the Pacific Coast. In addition, they can grow to be 300 feet tall! Can you research and share any other redwood fun facts? Tip: Do NOT copy sentences from any website. Instead, put the facts into your own words. :-)

      Warmly,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. @Abby and Mrs. Yollis,

      I really enjoyed reading your comments about the redwoods! Abby, when my daughters were about your age, we took a very similar trip to yours, including a visit to Muir Woods National Monument, one of our favorite parts of the trip as well. I remember that they participated in the Junior Ranger Program there. Did you do that?

      I have visited redwoods in a few places in California. In addition to Muir Woods, I have visited the redwoods in Big Sur and Mendocino County, as well as Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California. The giant redwoods, also known as coastal redwoods, thrive in the moist climate found near the California coast. The fog helps them grow up to 378 feet tall as it adds moisture to the soil!

      Many people mix up giant redwoods with giant sequoias. They are similar, but they are really two different kinds of trees. Giant sequoias live at higher elevations and can only be found growing naturally in the Western Sierra Nevada Mountains. They also grown quite tall, up to 311 feet, but they are much wider and heavier than the giant redwoods. Have you ever visited Sequoia or Kings Canyon National Parks? These two parks are right next to each other and many giant sequoias can be found there. As a matter of fact, the General Sherman tree, the largest tree in the world can be found in Sequoia National Park!

      These two cinnamon-colored types of trees are both beautiful and amazing! We are so lucky that they both grow right here in California!

      Your tree-loving blogging buddy,

      Mrs. Ranney

      Delete
  12. Dear New Third Graders,

    I am so excited that you are part of Mrs. Yollis' 2015-2016 class! Mrs. Yollis and I have been friends and teaching partners for many years, and now that I'm retired I enjoy being part of her class as a blogging buddy and visitor! I am really looking forward to getting to know all of you through the blog and when I drop in to help out or teach a science lesson. Through reading the wonderful comments that have already been posted, I can already see what great bloggers you will be!

    During the past few months, I have done a little traveling myself. My last trip was to Hawaii, where I visited the islands of Kauai and Maui. On Kauai a highlight was our day on the Napali Coast. Mr. Ranney and I hiked above it in the morning and sailed next to it in the afternoon. What breath-taking views we saw! Our favorite activity on Maui was snorkeling and identifying as many beautiful tropical fish as we could. I will be sure to send in more photos from my trip to the 365 Blog.

    Another trip I took in the early part of the summer was a camping trip to the redwoods in Mendocino County. There are a few photos from that trip already posted on the 365. You might try to find them and leave a comment! One is a lighthouse, and another is a millipede!

    It looks like you all had a great first day working together on supply towers, map puzzles, and glue dominoes! I can see that you will be a great team!

    Looking forward to meeting you all soon!
    Cheers,

    Mrs. Ranney

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Mrs. Ranney,

      What a nice treat to get a comment from you! I am thrilled that you will be a part of our 2015-2016 year too! Yes, we have worked together for many memorable years. I believe we worked together for a score. Am I correct?

      What a fabulous Hawaiian trip you enjoyed! Like you, I have visited both Kauai and Maui. I did quite of bit of hiking on Kauai, but did not get a chance to hike the Napali Coast. In pictures, it looks quite steep. How was the hike?

      Maui is a great place to snorkel. I look forward to seeing some of your photos on the 365 blog.

      I was just chatting with Abby about redwoods. Can you add any fun facts to our discussion? Her comment is just above yours.

      Your good friend,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. @ Mrs. Yollis,

      How wonderful to hear back from you! You are correct! We did work together for a score, in both fifth and third grades!

      Our trip to Hawaii was fabulous! You and Mr. Yollis were a great inspiration to Mr. Ranney and me because you shared experiences on Maui and Kauai with us. Parts of our hike over the Napali Coast were quite steep. Due to the very slippery, sticky mud trail, we didn't quite hike the entire trail. It was very foggy, so we could not see the coast most of the time. However, the vegetation was so beautiful, lush, and green that it was well worth the effort!

      I will definitely join the redwood discussion!

      All the best,
      Mrs. Ranney

      Delete
  13. Dear Third Grade Class,

    My name is Victoria, and I am a parent of two former 3rd grade students of Mrs. Yollis. This was their favorite year in school, and I enjoy reading and commenting about the wonderful progress and activities that you do in Mrs Yollis's class. Through blogging, I look forward to seeing you progress as writers. I wish you all lots of success, and I hope you have a fantastic school year.

    Best,
    Victoria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Victoria,

      Thanks so much for your constant support of our blog! I agree with you that blogging helps open up the classroom so that parents can see what's happening. In addition, parents can contribute to the learning via the comment section! It is a true learning community!

      I am so happy that the girls continue to blog. It has been five or six years! What a wonderful digital portfolio!

      Here are links to the girls' blogs:

      Miriam's Magical Moments

      Come Somersault With Sarah

      I encourage everyone to check out their blogs and leave them a comment! :-)

      Warmly,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. Dear Mrs. Yollis,

      Congratulations on the new school year. Your students are very lucky to have you as there third grade teacher. Thank you so much for putting a link of my and Miriam's blog and encouraging others to check it out and leave a comment.

      I will definitely continue blogging.

      Sincerely,
      Sarah

      P.S. Miriam also says hi.

      Delete
  14. Hi Mrs. Yollis! This is Acacia from a few years ago! I'm so excited for your new students! They are going to have a blast! My younger cousin is Karissa and all summer I've been telling her how great the class is! You guys are going to love Mrs. Yollis!

    From,
    Acacia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Acacia,

      I love it when I hear from former students! Thanks for dropping by, Acacia! I am thrilled to have your cousin, Karissa, in my class. She is an excellent student just like you!

      How is middle school? What is your favorite class so far?

      Your proud former teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
  15. Hi ,my name is Heloise,

    This summer I went to Normandy in France.
    in Normandy when I was riding my godfather's donkey ,
    he started to go faster and I fell!
    I cried a little bit and then my godfather told me that when you fall it means that your'e a good rider .
    so I was happy !

    From,
    Heloise

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Heloise,

      What a fantastic trip to Normandy! I know you must have been happy to be back in your native country. Did you see a lot of your old friends?

      That was quite an adventure on your godfather's donkey! I like his interpretation. He should know! Did you get back on and ride again?

      Please say hello to my old friend, Theo!

      Your new teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
  16. Hello New Third Graders!

    I was introduced to this blog last year when my grandson, Troy, was a student in Mrs. Yollis’ class. What an adventure it was!

    As I read the interesting comments from the students and parents, I learned so much about Troy’s classmates, the fascinating places they traveled to, their family traditions, and the special activities they enjoyed. It was also fun sharing information about Wisconsin, which is where I live.

    This year I am looking forward to learning about each of you as we have a conversation on this blog and the 365 Photo Blog, too.

    Blogging will give you an excellent and fun opportunity to share ideas and learn new things while practicing high-level writing skills. Blog often because “practice makes perfect”!

    Do you know what a conversation is?

    Do you know what the phrase “practice makes perfect” means?

    Happy Blogging,
    Barb (Troy’s Grandma from Wisconsin)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Grandma Barb,

      Welcome back! I am thrilled that you are going to be a part of our learning again this year! I am very impressed with your HTML skills! You are a great role model for us!

      Troy was such a great blogger too. I hope he will join in the fun as a fourth grader!

      This year I have a student who moved here from Wisconsin. His name is Sawyer. I bet you two will have a great time discussing the Badger State.

      Are you planning any visits to our area? If so, you must stop by!

      Your blogging buddy,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. @Mrs. Y♥llis,

      I do have several trips planned this fall to visit Troy and his family. I would love to stop in to say hello!

      Your blogging buddy,
      Barb (Troy's Grandma from Wisconsin)

      Delete
  17. Hi, Mrs. Yollis, it's Sawyer.

    Hey, Lily, your trip to Costa Rica sounded wild. I went to Costa Rica once too. A monkey did not sit on my head, but I did learn how to speak howler monkey. This summer, I went to Wisconsin. There, I went to Camp Minikani for one week. I learned how to ride horses, did archery and learned how to destroy pottery we just made. We visited my Grandma. After that, we went to Minneapolis for my uncle's wedding. I danced my heart out and was so sweaty. It was really fun.

    I am already looking forward to your class this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. @ Sawyer,

      What a great beginning comment! Sawyer, I was just talking about you! Read the comment above this one. It is from the grandmother of Troy, my former student. She is a fabulous blogging and guess where she lives? Read the comment above to find out!

      Archery is a fun sport. I took a class on that in high school. It was very difficult to hit the bullseye. How did you do?

      I enjoy dancing too. We'll be doing some in class this year. Maybe you can lead!

      Your new teacher,
      Mrs. Y♥llis

      Delete
    2. @Sawyer,

      Your trip sounds so fun. Can you teach me how to speak howler monkey?

      From,
      Lily

      Delete
    3. @Sawyer,

      What a coincidence that you are from the state where I live! I wonder how many other students in your class have lived in states other than California?

      I was not aware of Camp Minikani so I looked it up. Much to my amazement it is located about an hour from where I live. You see, I’ve learned something from you already! That is what I love about blogging. It gives me the opportunity to learn something new every day.

      Your camp experience sounds like a lot of fun. Could you describe how you destroyed the pottery you created? That must have been fun to do. I’m quite sure my grandsons would really enjoy doing that, too.

      Do you like sports? Are you a fan of the Green Bay Packers?

      Have fun in 3rd grade!
      Barb (Troy’s Grandma from Wisconsin)

      Delete
    4. @Sawyer,

      My name is Lisa and my son Troy was in Mrs. Yollis' class last year. As Mrs. Yollis mentioned above, Troy's Grandma Barb (his dad's mom) lives in Wisconsin and you will notice that she likes to leave comments on the blog and often shares about her life in Wisconsin.

      This summer we spent five weeks in Wisconsin visiting Troy's Grandma Barb and going all up and down the eastern side of the state. We had a great time. We enjoyed seeing bald eagles and fishing in a lake and seeing fireworks over Lake Michigan on the Fourth of July.

      What is your favorite thing about visiting your Grandma in Wisconsin? I think that Troy would say his favorite thing about visiting his Grandma is playing in her basement!

      I want to wish you and all of your classmates a very wonderful year in third grade! I think Mrs. Yollis is a remarkable teacher and I know that you will learn a lot and have great fun along the way.

      This blog is a very special learning community.

      Sincerely,
      Lisa

      Delete
    5. @Grandma Barb and @Troy's mom,

      Hi it's Sawyer. we moved here from Brookfield near Milwaukee. Where do you live? My Grandma Judi lives in Waupaca and is 2 hours away from Brookfield. At camp we choose 3 skills for half the week and 3 skills for the other half. I signed up for a skill called destruction crafts and the first day we made pots (and threw giant water balloons at the waterfront counselors). The next day we put water balloons filled with paint in the pots and threw them at trees. I am not a football fan but I am a fan of my friend Aaron. Do you know about the Copes Gray Tree Frogs in Wisconsin?

      Delete
    6. @Sawyer,

      I have been in Brookfield Milwaukee many times and have friends and family who live there. I live east and then north of Brookfield in Sheboygan. I have never visited Waupaca.

      The destruction crafts you described so well sound like fun! The giant water balloons are very interesting as well. Everyone seems to love playing with water balloons regardless of their age!

      When Troy and his family were visiting me this summer, we tried out a new invention that attached to my hose and allowed 10 small water balloons to be filled at one time. The amazing part was they sealed themselves so I did not have to tie a knot in each balloon, which is always a challenge.

      I have never heard of Copes Gray Tree Frogs. Could you tell me something about them? It looks like I'm going to learn something else new about my home state from you.

      Sincerely,
      Barb (Troy's Grandma from Wisconsin)

      Delete
  18. Dear Mrs Yollis and class,

    Welcome back for your new school year! We know you will have a great year in third grade with Mrs Yollis.

    We are a grade four class from Victoria, Australia. Our teacher is Miss Jordan. We also love to blog and we have been working on our quality commenting skills this year.

    We have just had an interesting conversation about how you start your new school year in August, however, our school year always begins in late January. We discussed the two hemispheres and seasons. Learning about geography is so interesting! It was hard for the students to comprehend that you meet your new class at this stage of the year and have the same class after Christmas!

    We are more than half way through our third term and it has been an action packed year!

    We look forward to connecting with you this year! :-)

    Your blogging buddies,
    Miss Jordan and 4B

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  19. Dear Mrs. Yollis' class,

    Welcome back to a new school year!

    I am an educator who also lives in California. When I teach people about blogging, I like showing them your blog.

    I saw in your post that you are learning about geography. I was wondering if you've ever connected Batchgeo to a Google Form? The Google Form might ask where in the world you've visited, or where do you want to visit, then it takes the responses from the spreadsheet and populates a Google Map with it. It might be a fun activity to explore.

    Kind regards,
    Mrs. Watanabe

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  20. Hello Mrs Yollis and class, Our class has only this school term become familiar with blogging and we are enjoying discovering the how we can share our work with the wider world. I have just come across your blog and am very impressed indeed. We have a lot to learn. We used your video to help teach us how to comment. Thanks for your tuition. You may like to see what we're up to in Adelaide. Cheers Ellen

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:-) Mrs. Yollis