Ready for the pool

School is officially out for me! Of course I am very excited but it is bittersweet because I will miss my 6th graders so much! This summer I plan on spending a great deal of time getting ready for next year with my returning 5th graders who will be 6th graders and a new group of fifth graders. I have so many new ideas and changes to make, I can't wait to get started planning it all. My other plan this summer...spend lots of time at the pool with Kinsey and Kaitlyn. Both girls have been in swim class this past session at the YMCA (I highly recommend their swim program). I am a very big advocate of children being in swim class. It has helped both of my girls so much. They work on proper technique for different strokes and give them freedom to try them on their own and at their own pace.
Kinsey has really worked hard on her front and back stroke. Here is a video of her front stroke (her regular instructor was gone the week of this video so there was a sub)


Our goal for Kaitlyn this summer is to get her out of using the water wings. Take a look at her after six weeks of class. She is almost there!


Last week was boat safety week for the summer. Each class learned different survival techniques when on a boat. They learned how to stay afloat using the least amount of energy, how to properly put on a life jacket and how to tell if it is the right size, how to jump out of a boat, how to use the reach and rescue to help a friend get out of the water, and how to stay safe in the water. They both had a lot of fun.

Kaitlyn doing the reach and rescue


Kaitlyn in the boat


Kinsey in the boat


Kinsey staying afloat


Kinsey doing the reach and rescue


We are ready for summer and the pool! Have a great week!