Time in Room 62

Here I am in 2nd grade in room 62.  It’s Mrs. Bender’s room.  Bright and early Friday morning 20 kids barged into the room and rushed to my cage.  I had 40 eyeballs STARING-STARING-STARING at me!  I was SCARED-SCARED-SCARED until the students calmly welcomed me to room 62 and Mrs. Bender asked them to go back to their seats quietly.  “Boy she saved my life from those crazy, loud but friendly kids!”  That’s when I noticed a cute yellow balloon with a smile on it.  The students explained that his name was Lemon Head.  The students had done a science experiment.  First, they filled a bottle with vinegar.  Next, they put baking soda in a balloon (Lemon Head).  Then Mrs. Bender put the balloon on the bottle.  The baking soda fell into the vinegar and caused the vinegar to bubble.  This filled the balloon with gas called carbon dioxide.  “Gosh I wish I was there to help with the experiment.  It sounded like so much FUN-FUN-FUN!”

Mrs. Bender said “line up, quietly.”  We were off to an author visit by a very popular author named Ron Roy.  He told us he had been writing books since 1972.  He writes the book series A to Z Mysteries as well as Calendar Mysteries and Capital Mysteries.  He told us about the first book he published.  The book was called A Thousand Pails of Water.  It was about a whale and a boy.  The whale was stuck on shore.  The boy used his pail to dump water on the whale so he would stay moist and cool.  The boy was trying to keep the whale alive.  In the end, many people came to the beach to help save the whale with their pails and spaghetti pots.  The tide came in and the whale went back in the water.  Mr. Roy answered student questions.  He picked me and all I could say was SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK.  Ron Roy laughed and said “No! Go to your room.”  Oh, I almost forgot….Mr. Roy did magic.  I couldn’t believe my eyes.  How did he do that?

Right after our author visit we went to the Brain Show.  Boy it was LOUD-LOUD-LOUD!!!  We walked into the gym.  There was loud music playing.  There were stands with buzzers.  There were numbers on the front of the stands.  It reminded me of a show called Jeopardy that I saw when I was at Miss Mac’s house.  Oh, how I miss Miss Mac.  At first I thought they were going to take my brains out but that’s not what happened at all.  We all got seated.  Then the host, Mr. Steve, passed out cards with numbers on them to kids in the audience.  He gave a card to me.  My friend Kiara carried my cage up to the stand.  We had to answer a bunch of questions and do a bunch of dances.  My team won!  I got a magnet and it was BIG-BIG-BIG.  The students hung it in my cage so I can admire it or swing on it and play with it.  Mr. Steve taught us 15 dances.  He has MOVES-MOVES-MOVES.  Mrs. Bender almost forgot me at the Brain Show.  Good thing Maia was paying attention and grabbed my cage as the class left the gym.

We returned to the classroom.  I was exhausted.  I was so sleepy I napped for the rest of the day.  I missed lunch, recess, gym, Fun Friday and reading.  Good thing they don’t serve hamsters for lunch.  When I woke up I noticed a present in my cage.  Can you guess what it might be?  A RUBBER BAND for protection.  Just-in case Mrs. Lygoyke’s warning about a visit from a dog came true.  I woke just in time to say goodbye to my new friends in room 62.  As they left the room for the day I tried to say goodbye to Put-Your-Glasses-On Ameer, Get-Going Kiara, Pipe-Down Parker, Good-Answer Maia, Golden Ashley, Cool-Kid Jared, Leave-It-Alone Greg, Keep-Sharing Kaitlyn, Smartie-Pants Ethan, Raise-Your-Hand Addie,  Speak-up Christina, Pinkalious Paige, Cutie Kaylynn, Chatterbox Dominick, Flower Mia, Nice-Clip-Up Amylee, Stop-Giggling Allison, Terrific Trey, Shy Sky and Go-Sit-Down Gavin but all that came out was SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-
SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK-
SQUEAK-SQUEAK.  I will miss that crazy loud but friendly bunch of kids in Jingle-Jangle Mrs. Bender’s class.

Humphrey In the Jungle

What a wild adventure I had visiting room 73!

I have to confess, I was unsqueakably nervous when I first entered the room. I mean have you looked at it? It’s an actual jungle in there with vines hanging on all the walls, elephants, lions, monkeys, zebras, and lots more animals, even a huge (gasp) dog by the name of Scooby Doo. Well, okay, they are stuffed animals, but little did I know what fun and learning I was in for.

Anyway, no one was there when I was first put on Mrs. Carnevale’s desk. I looked around and saw all the wild animals, and the jungle room. I was a little scared that the cheetah up above the teacher’s desk might jump down and eat me. I decided to hop on my wheel to calm myself down, and hope the class would be back soon. No sooner had I hopped on and started running when I heard a voice says to me, “Don’t worry Humphrey, it’s okay. All of the animals here are friendly, and no one will hurt you.”  I looked up to find that Mr. Monkey had swung over on a vine (they only do that when there are no humans in the room), and was standing next to the cheetah talking to me. He made a big leap and the next thing I knew he was standing at my cage. I hopped off my wheel and we had a lovely conversation about all of the fun the animals have when the humans are gone, and learning that goes on in the room, which immediately calmed me down. I do love to have fun, and I do love to learn. While Mr. Monkey swung his way back to his spot, I closed my eyes for a little nap.

The next thing I knew the lights came on and the class came in the room. I quickly learned that these weren’t just students, they were Safari Scholars, and they seriously love to learn. Even though it was snack time, some of the kids wanted to practice their spelling words. I wanted to study too, so I was really excited when Mrs. Carnevale let me move to the front table with Adriana, Lola, Amelia, and Faith. They were very patient about taking turns showing me their list of words, and then quizzing each other. I decided to give myself a practice quiz. I got a 95%, and was unspeakably proud of myself.

Right after snack it was time for math. As I listened to Mrs. Carnevale I found out we were going to be finding the area of irregular shapes. I was a little unsure of what that was about, but luckily I soon found my cage in the middle of the zebra table with Amelia, Emily, Mikey, Adriana, and Brianna. They sure are smart, and in no time at all I caught on to what they were doing since they showed me everything I needed to know. Since I’m nocturnal and this was the middle of the day. I started to nod off. I tried to keep my eyes open, but I just couldn’t.

When I opened my eyes the room was dark and quiet. As much as I wanted to open the door that doesn’t lock and go find my new friends, I just couldn’t totally wake up. I yawned, rolled over, and went back to sleep.

I finally woke up to the gentle rocking of my cage being carried. I found out I was going to get to sit with Penley during interactive read aloud. I was so excited by this! Penley is so kind and so gentle. I stared adoringly at her during the story. When it was over she leaned over to me and let me know how much she loved having me visit. I told her the pleasure was all mine, but of course it just sounded like a lot of squeaks to her.

During reading time I got to be with Thomas. I was thrilled by this because he picks out the same kind of books that I like to read! I sat up right next to him, reading over his shoulder. Thomas was so kind, checking to see if I had finished reading the page before he turned it. Boy, these kids sure have great stamina for reading a really long time. I couldn’t keep my eyes open much longer, and nodded off for another nap.

“Don’t forget to put your chairs up,” called out Mrs. Carnevale as I woke up from my nap. I looked around to realize it was the end of the day and these fabulous kids were getting ready to go home. My cage was now up on the front table, and soon my new friends were crowding around me to say goodbye. I squeaked out a goodbye to each of them, and told them how happy I was to have met them today. The kids asked Mrs. Carnevale if she was taking me home for the night, but she reminded them that she couldn’t because she had a big dog and three cats at home. There was a quick discussion among the kids where I should sleep, and soon I found myself behind carried to this area of the room the kids called the hidey-hole. It was like a cave filled with lots of pillows and a cushy rug. I thought I might sneak out of the door that doesn’t lock, and sleep on those nice cushy pillows tonight.

Boy, was I ever in for a surprise once the school was locked up for the night. I was wide awake and getting in my work out on my wheel when Mr. Monkey swung by. I let myself out of my cage, and we stretched out on the hidey-hole pillows and had ourselves a nice chat. He’s a good friend. We then headed over to the rug area where Peanuts the elephant and Tony the tiger were hanging out. What a fun night I was having with my new friends. But, I was so tired from my day in the jungle that I finally had to head back to my cage to take a little nap.

The next thing I knew it was daylight and the custodian was opening up the school. Soon Mrs. Carnevale came into the classroom and got things set up for the kids. I was so excited to see that we were going to work on writing in cursive today. While Mrs. Carnevale was out on bus duty I quickly snuck out of my cage and made myself a little book to practice my cursive with my new friends. Of course I hid it behind my mirror.

I had a delightful morning with my new friends. I paid close attention to the lesson on cursive, and once the kids were at specials I pulled out my book and practiced my cursive writing. After snack time I got to spend a little time with Geno. He gently took me out of my cage and held me. I could have purred with happiness if I was a cat.

My morning went by all too quickly, and soon Mrs. Carnevale was telling my friends to say goodbye to me before they went to lunch. They were all so kind, and so sweet. I had to hold back a tear as I tried to tell them how much I would miss them all. I squeaked goodbye until the last person was out of the room. I curled up in my bed to nap and dream about the next part of my adventure at Toffolon.

Visiting Mrs. Morrone's Classroom

April 17, 2015, Location: Plainville, CT  Room 74, Mrs. Morrone’s Classroom

I have been to Mrs. Morrone’s classroom (Room 74) upstairs and let me tell you that I have quite the stuff that you will want to hear!The teacher Mrs.Morrone is really nice. She has a mohawk, and wears stylish clothes. She also wears a lot of jingly jewelry, and always wears pretty stuff on her face that the kids call “makeup.” Which I don’t understand because it’s not like her face is making up a test that they didn’t do?

Oh well, anyway when I came to visit them for a couple of days, people came straight to me like I was famous or something and they rattled my cage. And I am talking directly to you So-Much-Curiosity Rachel who was moving my cage around like CRAZY-CRAZY-CRAZY!! Also don’t get me started when Wake-Up-Andy (I bet he’s nocturnal too) hit my cage and knocked me straight off my tiny paws. He said he was SO-SO-SO sorry and he cheered me up by playing Yu-gi-oh with me!

Mrs. Morrone always plays music and sometime the kids dance to it when she is not looking. Sometimes when I’m trying to sleep, this annoying bell goes off and my head starts to ring. So, I take a sun breath and squeak Namaste, and I feel calm again. I wish that she would turn that annoying thing off, sometimes though, it’s hard for me to get my rest! Mrs. M. asks her students to use it to check themselves (whatever that means?) They mark tallies and trade them in for treats and to do special activities! I think Mrs. M. uses it to keep them under control, because her students are always TALKING TALKING TALKING! I WANT TO TALK TOO! But all that comes out are squeaks! I love hearing Maniac Michael who tells me all of his crazy adventures when he gets hyper on sugar! Speaking of which, did you know that sugar is not very good for you? The students in Mrs. Morrone’s class are researching all about sugar in Chocolate Milk. Most of them think that it shouldn’t be served in the cafeteria anymore, but I’m not sure, yet. I’ll have to do more research tonight. Maybe I can get Good-Work- Katelyn to leave her Chromebook open for me so I can weigh the pros and cons???

Mostly, room 74 is very cozy. There are beautiful posters hanging all over the walls that Mrs. Morrone wrote herself! I’m so impressed! Her hand must get pretty tired!  Lucky the students get their very own Chromebooks to type most of their work on so their fingers don’t get too sore! Also, every student has their very own pillow to help make them more relaxed while they work (and boy do they need it with ALL those tests they have been taking! Yikes!) If only I had my own pillow to CUDDLE-CUDDLE-CUDDLE up with! Speaking of my nocturnal nature, I get pretty tired during the day. When I am tired, Mr. Smarty-Pants David reads me so many stories and I picture that I am on so many adventures in so many different worlds all at the same time as I am learning. By the way if you ever look up at the “Where are you board?” in Mrs. Morrone’s class, you can see Alex is always on the “absent” section, I mean do you know how annoying that is! Especially when he put it on there himself,  for the whole day! I mean, he’s not absent, I can see him right now! Mrs. Morrone gets really annoyed, but most of the time she talks in a nice and sweet tone. And let me tell you she is super nice, I mean she could be like my old teacher Ms. Mac who is just like her in so many ways (good ways, by the way).

Well the class here in room 74 at Toffolon School is just a good mix of talkative, funny, and SMART, HARD WORKING people. They are a great class, and I think I’d like to stay here a while, but I hear there are SO MANY-MANY-MANY great classrooms to visit, so I’ll be on my way. Stay tuned for my next adventure! So long!

Humphrey’s Hijinx Adventures with Grade 5 in Room 64

When I woke up in this strange new classroom, I spied many children rushing in and getting ready for their day.  In my wonderful day and half experience in room 64 that students decked out my cage with thoughtful gifts: a bowl of colorful food, a functional tinfoil mirror, a nametag, bedding, and even a New Journal created by their master origami artist, Gabe. They did all this during their free time. I was surprised by their generosity so much that I began journaling immediately about my new adventure.  

Time moved forward and before I could blink, many of the kids began typing fast and furiously on their new fangled Chromebooks.  While l listened to their lessons, I overheard strange new names such as Ponce De Leon, Henry Hudson, even Christopher Columbus: apparently he claimed or discovered America for these kids.  Now, that’s news to me!

After watching their complicated math lesson on mixed numbers and improper fractions.The students started playing this crazy card game and BOY, am I thankful I am a hamster so I didn’t have to take that test.  But I noticed how hard they are working and how determined they were to do well on their math test: heads down, pencils moving and figuring out all those mixed up numbers.  I mean really I can add and subtract, what else do I really need as a hamster.

Suddenly everyone jumped up and left the classroom. I wondered if they would ever come back, like how I wish for Ms. Mac to come back to see me.  Next thing I knew, different kids came back in the room with trays of food and while they were eating they were talking about me and having a discussion of having a fundraiser for pets called Pennies for Pets!  Now I know that these are thoughtful students.

Even though  I longed to go outside and get some fresh air, this was one conversation I did not want to miss. Although playing outside would be fun too with all the 5th graders.  I could hear their voices rising as they played games and were swinging on the the playscape.  Later, I heard they were on the grassy field. How I long to feel grass under my paws too.  Perhaps, just maybe I can escape for a bit to join them.  You know, It’s a lock that doesn’t lock on my cage…

That evening, the custodian, Mrs. Martin, came into the room with her loud vacuum cleaner.  I hid in my house as the noisy machine pushed closer and closer towards me. She noticed me, turned off the machine and approached my cage softly and gently, with a soft hand she reached in cage to pet me. She is so nice. I wondered if she would be my friend just like my friend Aldo Amato.  I am sure she will. I like her a lot.

Suddenly, during the course of the next day, someone whisked me away to another strange room and onto a new adventure.  I looked up and saw that Matt was carrying my cage away.  I squeaked a big thank you to let him know I had a great time in Room 64.  

However, before the day was over, I was lucky enough to witness their DARE graduation as well and to see how all their decision making skills and respectfulness really paid off. It was a very informative experience as I listened to all the DARE essays and learned about the dangers of what bad choices can lead to in our lives.  The pride I felt for the 5th graders as their faces were glowing with bright smiles for their accomplishments. And did they make a good choice eating that delicious, tasty cake.  They even sneaked me a piece, YUM.

Thanks for the adventure Room 64! It was amazing, although you could have taken my picture with me awake and not sleeping in my cage!

Humphrey Visits Room 72

Fifth graders do a lot of demanding work!  On Tuesday, I saw them thinking very hard doing their CFAs.  They wrote so much on their papers!  For nearly an hour all I could hear were pencils scratching.  Scratch - Scratch-Scratch….   It made me want to write in my own notebook!  They were hoping to take an extra recess, but they worked so hard they ran out of time.  Maybe later this week….   

    After school I was hoping to get in a little nap, but to my surprise, there were 10 kids still in the classroom!  They were working on math problems - I know!  It was Math Club!  I helped these students work on finding volumes of figures.  Then they used their Chromebooks to put in their math tests.  I wish I could have helped them.  We also prepared for the Benchmark Assessment.  We all worked so hard it made my little head hurt - OUCH-OUCH-OUCH!  Here are two photos of my new Math Club friends!  

    Boy, it is hard to get any sleep around here.  I was just nodding off when Miss L. picked me up and carried me downstairs.  I was in for a big surprise!  I couldn’t hold my excitement when I saw my new fifth grade friends!  SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!  There was so much noise in the cafeteria because the fifth graders were having their DARE Graduation, and I was invited!  Wow, those fifth graders sure do know how to dress to impress!  They looked Nice - Nice- Nice!  After receiving certificates and lots of DARE trinkets, we had cake!  Soon after, I returned to the classroom to finally get some sleep.  It was a fun day!

Busy with Mrs. Logoyke

Geeze, things in the office are hopping on the day after Easter.  Phone calls, emails, parent meetings, discussions with teachers, meetings at other schools, a new rental car dropped off (don't ask), papers flying on and off the desk, someone wants to bring a dog (A DOG!) to school, after school program problems, calls from the bus company, and more-more-more!  I just don't know how Mrs. Logoyke does it all!

Getting Ready

Hi, I'm Humphrey. I'm getting ready to go visit the students at Toffolon. Right now I'm visiting Mrs. Fournier's house, and then she'll bring me to school. Today is Easter. What strange customs! Bunnies and eggs?? Easter with Mrs. Fournier is quite an experience!