Geography, Maps and Where am I in the World

Our first Social Studies unit has been on maps and where we are in the world.  In order to understand which is bigger, city or country, for instance we made the posted world projects.  We are holding up the World!  But also have the smallest size paper of ourselves, the next size is for our street next largest is our city, etc.  We know that our continent of North America is in the northern and western hemispheres.  We have learned a lot!

Pictures: of myself, husband and grandchildren

My husband John playing at Boston Children's
Museum with our grandson Malachi.

This is me, absolutely loving the waterfall in
 Rocky Mountain National Park.

This is Lena, our three year old grand daughter,
 enjoying a mountain lake for the first time.

I am holding four month old Evie, sister of Lena.

Meet the Third grade Teacher

Blog post #1

Meet Your Teacher:

Hi!  My name is Mrs. Sue Brandt.  I am so excited to be part of a fantastic group of third graders at Bethlehem Lutheran School again this year.  I am thrilled to be your teacher!  It’s going to be a great year filled with new adventures, field trips, new technology, new reading,  and language activities.  I want to know ALL about you, but first I’m going to tell you a few things about me.

I was born in Denver, Colorado so I have the love of mountains in my blood!  My parents were both Lutheran school teachers before becoming a principal and Lutheran World Relief leader (Dad) and school librarian (Mom).  While growing up we also lived in a suburb of Chicago and then St. Louis, MO where my parents still live.  I went to college at Concordia University in Chicago, IL where I majored in both elementary and high school education.  I also have a masters degree in Library Science from the Univ. of Michigan. 

I taught fourth grade for two years in St. Louis, MO and began the library at Valley Lutheran High School.  I have also served a temporary post of Children’s Librarian at Butman Fish Library. 

I am married to a wonderful man I met in college-Dr. John Brandt, who is the Executive Director at Valley Lutheran High School.  We have two super, grown children.  My daughter Krista and her husband have two girls who are 3 years and 6 months old.  Krista teaches third and fourth grade and the music at St. John Lutheran in Aurora, IN.  So we have lots of ideas to share!  My son Mark is a professor and researcher at Tilberg University in the Netherlands.  He and his wife have a 4 year old.  Needless to say, we LOVE using Skype and Facetime to keep up with their lives.

When my son Mark was a third grader I began my ministry at Bethlehem teaching third grade.  While I have taught other grades part time during my career, I think I love the third grade age group best.   

So I am looking forward to our year together.