Tag Archives: School

The Last, Last Day of School

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Today not only marks the last day of fourth grade for my daughter but the last day of her time at Myers elementary. It seems like yesterday when Quinn entered kindergarten. She was so excited and ready!

Now, five years later, she’s closing a chapter and eager to start a new one. While I’m certainly excited for Quinn, I’m a little nervous too. Time is flying by so quickly, but I’m so happy that I’ve been chronicling these moments and can hold them near and near to my heart. Next stop, fifth grade!

All the best,

Tanya

There’s Value in Brain Games! My Daughter’s Estimation Proves It!

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As technology and artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, it seems that people feel the need to use their brains less. Why use critical thinking when you can ask Alexa or Siri? Why compose an essay or your own original thoughts when ChatGPT can do it for you?

There’s something rewarding about using and exercising your brain, and clearly my daughter’s school knows this! Yesterday, they had a fun-filled evening of brain games for kindergartners up to fourth grade and encouraged parents and guardians to participate as well. I was so excited to see 24: one of the math games I loved playing as a child.

Quinn initially made a beeline for the estimation station where there were jars of different items, and the children were to guess how many were inside. Today, she found out that she was the winner with her guess on the amount of lollipops in a jar. When I asked how close she was with her estimation, she said, “I was exact!” I then followed up with how she came up with the number, and she told me, “I had a strategy,” which she proceeded to explain.

I told her how proud I was of her for using her brain and strategizing and how cool I think the event was, and she agreed.

Here’s to hoping the future generations will continue to embrace brain games, critical thinking and strategizing.

All the best,

Tanya

The Big Reveal! Appreciating My Daughter’s Art

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A couple of weeks ago, I received a letter from my daughter’s art teacher that her work was among the selected few from her school to be on display at the Cheltenham Center for the Arts, our local community art school.

Today was the big reveal, and we were all so excited to see my fourth grader’s work of art. Then, we quickly found ourselves admiring and appreciating the art in many mediums of the other artists ranging from kindergarten up to eighth grade.

We were so impressed, and it was wonderful to see so many proud family and friends excited to celebrate their children’s masterpieces.

All the best,

Tanya

Life Lessons From Playing Bingo

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This past Friday, my daughter and I attended bingo night at her school. It’s been quite some time since I played bingo, and it was all new to Quinn, but she quickly got the hang of it.

When B12 was called, Quinn shook her head and said, “Why couldn’t they call B13?!” One of her friends at our table was “lucky” enough to win. After a few more rounds, another friend at our table won shouting out “Bingo!”

Quinn just knew she would be next when we got to the last and tenth bingo card. But that didn’t happen. 🥺 Even still, she learned and I was reminded as we heard a person shouting out “Bingo” from a neighboring distance that sometimes you can be so close to “winning,” just one space away, and have someone win ahead of you. Sometimes it’s pure luck, sometimes it’s just in the cards, but either way, the excitement of playing and possibly winning was enough to eventually put a smile on Quinn’s face.

All the best,

Tanya

The Triple “A” Call I Love Making: Celebrating My Daughter’s Hard Work

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Most people associate triple A with vehicle troubles, but I learned this past Friday that that’s not always the case. My fourth grader came home excited to share with me that she was the first of the school year to earn the triple A: All Achievement Award for classroom focus, effort, and desire to learn.

Though I am proud of Quinn, I’m not at all surprised. She loves school and learning so much. But even still, I don’t take her focus, efforts and desire to learn for granted, especially as I struggle to keep many of the college students I teach motivated and encouraged to learn.

I can only hope that she continues to have the intrinsic motivation to learn and put forth her best efforts as a student and person well into adulthood.

All the best,

Tanya

Last Day of Third Grade: Appreciation for an Awesome Teacher

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When I picked Quinn up from school, she and her classmates were all crying as they came to the realization that their time with their teacher, Mrs. Smith, was ending 🥺. I’m going to miss her too and am appreciative of how awesome, caring and generous she was. These last few years have been overwhelming, to say the least, but she made Quinn’s third grade experience a memorable, wonderful one for which I’m grateful.

All the best,

Tanya

I Can’t “State” It Enough! I Represent My Daughter!

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Today, my daughter along with 57 third graders did presentations on the United States of America. About a month ago, each student selected a state to investigate and find out facts to share for this special day. Quinn excitedly told me, “I picked Michigan because Daddy went to University of Michigan!”

Though she worked on the project independently in school, my husband and I occasionally asked her random questions about Michigan to make sure she was prepared. We discussed ideas for her outfit, she helped locate images for me to iron on her shirt. Her dad let her borrow his University of Michigan hat and “Michiganopoly” game.

We both proudly came wearing our navy blue and gold to support Quinn, and she did not disappoint. I noticed that quite a few parents stopped by to hear her presentation as I circulated around the room to hear about other states from different children. I’m so proud of Quinn and so glad my husband and I were able to be there for her.

All the best,

Tanya