Category: Uncategorized

Dear Mulberry,

I saw you sweeping leaves and dirt into a dustbin. You were taking care of Rainbow School. I grabbed a broom and started to help. When I had a little pile of leaves, you held the dustbin, and I pushed the leaves into it. Another person came along. They wanted to help take care of Rainbow School too.

They asked me for my broom, and I gave it to them. They wanted to push the leaves into your dustbin. You announced that you wanted to sweep by yourself. I got another broom and dustbin, and they swept leaves into their own dustbin. I brought over the green bin for leaves and food scraps and used paper like tissue or paper towels.

You both dumped your bins in. We were taking care of our planet by using the green bin. We were taking care of each other by helping each other sweep. We were taking care of ourselves by letting each other know how we wanted to help and be helped. We were taking care of Rainbow School.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

Our three Rainbow School rules:

Number 1: We take care of ourselves.

Today, I saw someone come to the snack table when they were hungry, sit down, and eat squishy red pink snacks. I wonder what things you did today to take care of yourself.

Number 2: We take care of each other.

Today, I heard someone asking about how to help someone be safe when they want to get somewhere they can’t get themselves. I wonder what things you did today to take care of others.

Number 3: We take care of Rainbow School.

Today, I saw someone go over to our sink and turn the water off. I wonder what things you did today to take care of Rainbow School.

We’ll have a special Taking Care edition of Oak Rainbow Rocket News on Friday where you can share the ways you take care.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

Hmmm… I’m feeling hungry. It feels like there’s a tiny dinosaur with a big roar stomping around the empty cave of my belly. I think that I’ll catch me some shrimp and make a shrimp quesadilla with cheese and spicy salsa. That will be just the ticket!

First, I have to catch the shrimp. Before that, I need to sail my ship to where the shrimp live. Aha! There’s some shrimp. Wait a minute! These shrimp are a lot harder to catch than I thought they’d be. They run so fast.

Phew! I finally caught about a half dozen. Let me get them on top of my tortilla. Now, I’ll put on the cheese and spicy salsa. Last, I’ll put on the top tortilla. Gadzooks and crocodiles! My shrimp are running away. Maybe, I better just have an almond butter and honey sandwich instead.

Uh oh, now where did that almond butter get to?

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

You found the Rainbow School Horse right away and showed them to your dad. After your dad left, another person joined you, and you told stories. Rhino and Horse listened. Rhino’s person wanted to be Horse’s person. That was hard, but you decided to take turns.

Rhino’s person left, and another person joined with their baby. The horse played with the baby. Baby road in a backpack on their grownup’s back, while Horse galloped alongside. You went up Rainbow Mountain, through the Sleeping Barn, through the Pine Forest and into the kitchen. I wonder if Baby and Horse were hungry. They played all morning.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

(Read in robot voice.)

Dear Robots,

I feel so glad. All robots survived the wave. I feel so glad. Scary non-robots did not saw robots into two pieces. I feel so glad. Scary non-robots did not hammer robots and break robots. I feel so glad. Robots stayed safe inside robot bodies.

I feel so sad. Robots shared robot treats robot to robot. I did not get any treats. What is this water coming from my robot vision field?

Love,
Teacher Robot

Dear Mulberry,

Welcome E! E has joined us on Fridays, so we’ve gotten to play. Today was special. E joined Mulberry and stayed and played the whole day! Yay! E heard our new song, “You gotta ask me first.” E shared news.

E pulled anyone who wanted to ride in the wagon. E cut some paper. E made some swirly marks with a few of us who were cutting and gluing and marking. E built towers with almost everyone. E hung out in the sandbox. E observed.

E helped sing the Goodbye Song. E hugged Mama hello. E waved goodbye.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

You had the red hammer. You like red. You were using it as a crash hammer. Crashing needs lots of space. I built a tower. You crashed it. I built another. You crashed it. Soon others came to join our game.

You decided to turn the blocks into stepping stones. The stepping stones became a lava bridge. It was tricky to balance on the stones. Sometimes, you had to take a really big step to get to the next stepping place. Sometimes, you had to take a step up, sometimes, a step down. Sometimes, the steps had a hole in the center. Sometimes, they were little. Sometimes, they were skinny.

You balanced along the path one way and then the other way back, meeting others. I wonder how you got around them safely.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Mulberry,

We care for ourselves, for each other, and for Rainbow School. We help each other. One person wanted to put something on top. It was too high, so a taller person helped. Another wanted to push something in, but it kept falling over. An older person was able to help.

Someone wanted to go up the hill, but it was too slippery. A person standing by asked another to hold their gate while they helped push.

Two were building something tall with eyes. It was wibbling and wobbling. They were worried it might fall. There was a third there who saw it tipping and was excited for the crash. The two building started to feel angry, but then, one said to the other, “We can build it again.”

You helped someone today. I wonder how. I wonder who helped you.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

“We hate Annie.” Ouch! Words can boom too and be really ouchie. Hate is an ouchie word. At Rainbow School, we care for each other. That’s Rule #2. Sometimes, I don’t like someone, but I love everyone. We can care for everyone.

Maybe when I come into school one day, I really want to play with Jaime, and I don’t want to play with Annie. Jaime is playing with me. We’re having fun. Annie comes running over to play. I say, “We hate Annie,” before I can stop to think. I see Annie’s face fall. Ouch.

I wonder what you think I could do. I wonder what you think hate means.

Love,
Teacher Michelle

Dear Oak,

I scooched into the tent backwards. My head touched the top. One of you saw me just as I disappeared inside. They came over, decided they needed a blanket, and went to get one. Then they decided they needed one more blanket. Two others came over.

They peered inside and saw the blankets. One thought that maybe the first would give them a blanket, but the first wanted both of their blankets. Both people went to get more blankets. Soon we were cozy in the tent. There were four of us.

Once in a while, a fifth came in. We read books.

Love,
Teacher Michelle