Wednesday, February 4, 2015

The Trumpet Of The Swan

Cygnets, Cobs and Pens sneak their way into our conversations the way they alight in the harbour of our town each winter. My middle girls eagerly complete homework for their E.B. White study for The Trumpet of the Swan and I think it's partly because Mrs. Laird loves her subject matter. Their co-op English teacher oozes an excitement for the swans, and for E.B.White's writing, so the children search carefully for "juicy words" and signs of other animals lurking on the pages. She tends her flock of varying levels of students in one-room-school-house style, while mommas watch kids who had no interest in the creatures fledge with swan fervor.
 
In timely fashion, the Trumpeters land on the icy marine water for us to visit while reading. Of course, being a bird lover, I was thrilled that English could include an experience we already enjoyed.  
 
  
 
Swan love.
(I found this shirt for Emily at a thrift store the night before her class :)
 
Thank you, Mrs. Laird for bringing E.B. White's book to life for us!
 

3 comments:

Gillian said...

Oh wow, I can imagine how wonderful this would be! We are constantly on the search for birds that we are reading about - but I had no idea seeing a swan in winter would be possible... I wonder if they pass our way? :)
Consider yourself blessed! A beautiful way to have school come to life - literally!

Anna said...

Awesome pictures! I've never been down there in the winter; it's amazing! I love Emily's shirt!!

Camille said...

Amazing! And you children...they are beautiful. XO