The Highlight of a 5th Grader’s Year

Friday we returned from our 4 day trip to Amani rainforest with the 5th graders. Four years ago, I took my sixth graders on this trip; now it has become a 5th grade tradition. Gil and I chaperoned last year as well, and this year was just a bit more interesting because Grace came along! A fabulous time was had by all and we were able to spent great time building relationships with the 5th graders.

Grace did fantastic–she was in a good mood the entire time, up until the bus ride home, where she cried for about 4 of the 7 hours! (That was not fun, but you couldn’t really hear her crying above the rest of the noise in the bus!) She was extremely popular among all the 5th graders (as always!) and rode on Daddy’s back for almost all of the hikes.

We did all sorts of wonderful activities–this trip builds so many memories for the kids! My former students (now 10th graders) still talk about “our” trip and have asked me SO many times, “When can we go back?” Playing in a waterfall, visiting a butterfly farm, exploring a tea factory, roasting marshmallows….all a kid’s dreamland!

This particular 5th grade class is an absolute riot! Almost every kid in the class is overly dramatic. Their teacher let them put on a talent show one night, and the performances they came up with had us all cracking up! They would have gone on all night unless we hadn’t dragged them off the stage.

And of course, I can’t end without posting a couple of gorgeous pictures taken by my very talented husband!