Brrrr! It's so cold here. I can't keep from shivering because the temperature has only been in the 30s and 40s, and for several days it was down in the 20's. I wish I had long underwear! The children in Belleville don't seem to mind the cold. They go outside every afternoon for recess, and on Friday they go outside for half an hour for Jaguar Pride. Everyone who makes good behavior choices all week gets to bring their own toys
outside to play with during Jaguar Pride.
You'll never guess what I got to do. I got to build a snowman! It snowed one day, and we went out and built a snowman that was three feet tall. He towered over me! The snowman had a carrot nose, grapes for eyes, and he wore a Cardinals cap. We measured the temperature of the snow and then came inside and measured the temperature of different parts of the classroom. It's easy to read a thermometer.
They don't have Spanish class in Belleville, and no one understands me when I try to speak Spanish. Many of the kids' ancestors came from Germany, and they used to teach some of the classes in German, but they don't any more.
Every morning they have Daily Oral Language. The children have to put capital letters and punctuation marks in sentences and make other corrections. They also do a review in math every morning. I don't think it's a favorite activity, but Mrs. Swain makes them do it every day. They all seem happier after they make the corrections and start singing together . Last week they started learning a song called House at Pooh Corner in honor of ME! Then yesterday they did the Bear Hunt song. I like singing too, and I always sing the loudest!
The kids in Illinois hold me very much. I stay very quiet so I don't disturb them when they're working. My nice shirt is getting very dirty from being passed around so much. I hope Mrs. Swain takes me to her house soon
to get a bath!
Some of the children wanted to write to you to tell you more about what I've been doing in Illinois, so Mrs. Swain is sending a letter with what they wrote. I'm working hard and behaving nicely, and I hope all of you are too.
I miss you.
Love,
Sami
