As we slide into the end of the school year, it seems that the last days speed up considerably.  As I begin to welcome my new 2nd grade students and their parents, I begin to release my precious 6th graders.  How can I possibly let go of these students who have made such a profound difference in my life. They charm me with their wit and precociousness, amaze me with their intuition and talents, and challenge me with their high expectations and energy. They have certainly enriched my life.

Now after two years of spending one day each week with the 6th graders, we have shared memories to hang on to. They know me very well, they know how to make me smile (and frown). As our busy last days of school pull them, and me, in many directions, some of them even choose to spend their extra time in my room. They have helped pack up the memories, make a scrapbook, and clean a well used classroom. I feel guilty taking them from their teachers when I know they are also feeling the tug of letting them go.  

Tomorrow we will honor them and then they are moving on to their next school.  I hope they will remember our morning discussions, puzzles, mindbenders, the fish test, clay fish, RAFT activity, SET puzzle, Dauphin Island, Wonderworks, kites, rockets, independent study, artwork, bridges, marshmallow skyscrapers, and all the many things that made our days so busy.  Most of all, I hope they remember that I truly loved and liked them.  

This magnified picture shows the fine details of the the shaft and barbs on a feather. I took the picture with a "Pro-Scope". This amazing device hooks up to the computer and takes pictures in 50x magnification. I received it at a science workshop I attended. The wonderful part is that I get to keep the Pro-Scope for my classroom. Click on the picture to see some of the other images I have generated with this new tool (toy). You will be amazed.

My parents named me Margaret. When I was just a small baby, my brother wanted to call me Margie. The story my mother told me was that he loved the T.V. show called "My Little Margie". So the name stuck. I have been called Margaret, Margie, Margery, Maggie; but my favorite is still Margie... because that is what my brother named me. 

The name Margaret means, a pearl of God. Pearls are valuable. Likewise, our words are valuable too. The phrase "pearls of wisdom" denotes that the words of experience hold wisdom and insight. 

Pearls are formed over a long period of time in an oyster. They form in the soft tissue of the oyster because some form of irritation caused the clam to put up a defense mechanism. The oyster makes the pearl using calcium carbonate to surround or enclose the irritant. The formation of the pearl takes years. 

What does your name mean?