Weekly Highlights 9/23- Ms. Der Yuen

Mrs. Barulich sharing stories about Cuba

We delved deeper into our immigration study this week.  In preparation for the immigration interview assignment that went home today, Mrs. Barulich and I both shared our personal family stories with the students.  Mrs. Barulich emigrated from Cuba when she was five years old, and shared incredible stories of determination and sacrifice.  The kids (and I) were shocked to hear her recall a time when she went to get chicken with her mother and they waited in line for four hours only to be turned away.  They were also fascinated by desperation that drove people to build rafts to try to escape to the U.S.  She highlighted a great sense of appreciation for the quality of life in the United States.  No wonder she is such a positive person!  I shared stories about my mother's parents fleeing Estonia during WWII and staying in a German DP camp, where she was born.  She and her family came through Ellis Island with less than 75 cents and a trunkful of possessions, which astounded the children.  My father was born in Hong Kong and moved to the United States as a young child for his father's work as aeronautical engineer.  We fielded many, many questions!  The children also made connections among all the stories, realizing that everyone came to the United States for better opportunities.  We are eager to hear everyone's unique immigration stories.

Matthew: I liked the Lego Trojan War, Mrs. Barulich’s story about coming from Cuba, and learning more about the gods, especially Zeus.

Mishal:  I liked watching the silly Lego Trojan War movie, showing my butterfly pictures at science, and being in the new math class.

Mihir: I liked doing harder math, doing Math Challenges with a buddy, and playing Protect the Pin in PE.

Kayla: I liked playing Protect the Pin in PE, hearing about Yehuda even though it’s sad, and illustrating my “I Am” poem.

Alexander L.:  I liked Protect the Pin in PE, sharing my bugs in science, and starting “American Tale” about the mouse immigrant.

Brynn: I liked watching “American Tale” during lunch, quiet independent reading, and guarding in Protect the Pin in PE.

Brennan: I liked shooting down pins in Protect the Pin in PE, playing chess with Alexander C., and Ms. Der Yuen’s immigration story about her parents.

Riley:  I liked everything!  I liked being Calendar Aid, writing my name in ancient Greek, and starting math groups best.

Spencer: I liked doing Attribute Trains in math, Protect the Pin in PE, and being Announcer.

Lindsay: I liked illustrating my “I Am” poem, seeing the caterpillars’ silk, and PE.

Alexander C.: I liked playing Protect the Pin in PE, reading Ook and Gluck, and I loved playing chess.

Nina: I liked knocking over the pin on my first try in Protect the Pin, hearing the stories from the teachers about their family immigration, and hearing about Yehuda in read aloud.

Maya: I liked hugging Ms. Der Yuen, realizing that my name in ancient Greek looks that same as in English because there isn’t a “Y” and alpha and mu look like “a” and “m”, and Protect the Pin was pretty fun.

Observing caterpillars

Quiet independent reading

Illustrating "I Am" poems