Mrs. Catoe’s Chronicles

Yesterday, when I got home from school (being locked up - that will be my next blog), my 4 year old son found a caterpillar inching its way across the driveway.  He hurriedly ran to get his bug box and captured it for observation.  He carried that bug box around for the rest of the evening.  But, I did make him leave it in the garage overnight.  Caterpillar sightings for me call the arrival of Spring for me.  As I watched him with wonder and excitement over his new “pet,” I thought about my students (notably my Kindergartners and Second Graders) who are studying butterflies right now.  Each day when I check their classrooms, I am amazed at how much their caterpillars have grown.  Some of them are fatter than others - talk about a lesson in survival of the fittest.  But, each student has his or her own creature which will eventually erupt from a cocoon into a beautiful butterfly.  Now, that is - for me - the first rite of Spring - not just for natural purposes, but with regards to long range plans, unit plans, lesson planning, science kit rotations, etc.  - when you make it to the Butterfly unit….it’s almost time for school to be out for the summer.  I will keep you posted on the butterfly release!  It will be a memory that the students, teachers, and I will cherish forever!