Out and About with Pete the Cat

Out and About with Pete the Cat

Please remember to check RenWeb Weekly for Specials assignments.

April 27-May 1, 2020

Pete the Cat and the Lost Tooth

Pete the Cat and the Tip Top Treehouse

Pete the Cat: Snow Daze

Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses

Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues

Pete the Cat: Too Cool for School

Reading:  Please watch a Pete the Cat book Monday through Thursday.  Write a 4-5 sentence summary for the story.  Use describing words to tell me about the characters in the story.  On Friday write your own Pete the Cat story after watching one Pete the Cat book.  

Please practice your sight words:

• buy
• myself
• school
• city
• party
• seven
• family
• please

Please read The New Friend by Maria Puncel Illustrated by Ed Martinez.

Please draw the main characters and write a sentence about each character.  Please write a sentence about the setting.  Write a sentence about the problem in the story and the solution.  

Please complete the contraction sheets in OneDrive.  Feel free to have your child write the answers on paper if you need to print fewer pages.  

Please talk with your child about synonyms.  I've given you some resources in OneDrive.  I will also give them some synonym practice on IXL.

Please turn in contraction practice by Sunday, May 3, 2020.

Please turn in writing on The New Friend story by Sunday May 3, 2020.

Please turn in one Pete the Cat summary and your own Pete the Cat story by May 3, 2020.

Phonics:

This week we are working on the sounds ou/ow, oi/oy, au/aw.  I've compiled some resources for these sounds in OneDrive.  Please watch these YouTube videos that focus on those sounds.

Spelling: 

• how
• ouch
• gown
• now
• house
• town
• cow
• found
• shout
• owl
• out
• power

Please complete 3 TicTacToe Spelling choices.  The choices are in our Weekly Homework Resources folder in OneDrive.

Please write six sentences using your spelling words.  (Use two spelling words in each sentence.)

Please turn in your spelling practice by Sunday, May 3, 2020.

Math:

Please complete the following pages in the Math Chapter 9 folder.

9.4 pdf

Check My Progress 1-4

9.5 pdf

9.6 pdf

9.7

Check My Progress 5-7

The pattern blocks.pdf will be very helpful in completing these pages.

Please watch these YouTube videos for Math:

Here are great resources for working with pattern blocks at home:

https://classplayground.com/pattern-blocks/

https://www.roomrecess.com/Tools/PatternBlocks/play.html

Please turn in the Check My Progress 1-4 and Check My Progress 5-7 by Sunday, May 3, 2020.

If I were teaching this unit in school I would have students take pictures on iPads of shapes in the classroom, create shapes out of recycled items, and draw shapes on scrap paper.  The extra resources in OneDrive are for students who need extra practice and for those who need enrichment.

Social Studies:

This week we are going to explore the continent of Asia because one of the characters in our reading story is from Japan.  We will also be looking at different landforms.  I have put a lot of books on continents and landforms in your child's mailbox on Epic. 

This website is a great place for learning about Asia.

https://www.ducksters.com/geography/asia.php

Please read the following articles on Asia and landforms on Pebble Go.

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/5/categories/9712/articles/9742

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/5/categories/8632/articles/10012

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/5/categories/8632/articles/8636

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/2/categories/2964/articles/2072

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/2/categories/2964/articles/2073

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/2/categories/2964/articles/2074


Science:

We are learning about the phases of the moon.  Please complete the activity on OneDrive.

Please watch these videos on the phases of the moon.

We've also been reading books on plant parts in our small groups.  These books are on Epic.  We've read Exploring Seeds, Exploring Flowers, Exploring Leaves, and today we will read Exploring Stems and Exploring Roots during Table Talks. (April 29).

Please make a diagram of a plant and label the flower, stem, leaves, roots, and soil.  Please write three facts about plants on your diagram.  Please turn in your diagram by Sunday, May 3, 2020.

IXL:

https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1

Please complete the following IXL Math objectives.

R 1-7, T 1-3, V 1-11.

https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-1

Please complete the following IXL Language Arts objectives.

Q 1-2, X 1-2, Y 1, X 1-2, JJ 9, OO 1-4

Optional IXL Work:

https://www.ixl.com/science/grade-2

Science Objectives: K 1-2, M 1

https://www.ixl.com/social-studies/grade-2

Social Studies Objectives: A 3- A 6, D 1-9

I will continue to record books for my YouTube channel.  Please refer to last week's posts for ways for your child to review math if needed.  Please let me know if you have any questions about our lessons.  I don't expect any child to complete every resource.  My goal is to give you a variety of tools so that all students' needs are met.  I will continue to assign books in Epic and RAZ Kids on our science and social studies objectives.  Please make sure your child takes at least 2 quizzes a week in RAZ Kids.  I will also start to give optional IXL work for science and social studies.  

In school I would be reminding them to not waste paper so please know I do not expect you to print every sheet.  

Items that I need turned in or completed will always be highlighted in purple. 

I miss your children very much and cherish my teaching opportunities with them more than you know.  

Have a blessed weekend!

Miss Deem

Welcome Back to the Neighborhood April 20-24, 2020

Welcome Back 1-D!

Here is a summary of what you need to accomplish this week: Please make sure you have turned in your child's assignments to me by Sunday, April 26, 2020.

Reading:  

• Listen to A Butterfly Grows.  Illustrate and write about the four stages of a butterfly's life cycle.  Please send me a copy of your life cycle paper.
• Complete a multiple meaning word worksheet each day.
• Please watch the two book videos on multiple meaning words. (Dear Deer, and Aunt Ant Leaves through the Leaves).
• Practice your sight words
• Please make sure you read at least 2 books on RAZ Kids and take the quiz for each book.

Math:

• Work on the worksheets for Lessons 9.1-9.3.
• Practice recognizing circles, triangles, rectangles, squares, and trapezoids and discussing their characteristics

Spelling:

• Complete 3 choices from the Spelling TicTacToe menu using this week's words.  Please send me a copy of your child's spelling practice.  

Writing:

• Listen to a Pigeon Story Monday through Thursday.
• Illustrate and write what happened first, then, next, and last.
• Write your  own Pigeon Story on Friday.  Please send me a copy of that story.

Science:

• Please explore butterflies and complete one additional activity about their life cycle.

Social Studies:

• Please complete the activities about Africa.
• Please talk about Earth Day

IXL:

• Please complete as much as you can of the IXL posted.  

We have so many fun things to do and learn this week.  Our theme for reading is Don't Let the Pigeon STOP Reading!

Spelling Words for April 20-24, 2020: Please complete 3 spelling choices for your words this week.  The Spelling Choices are in the Homework folder in our OneDrive.

• soon
• boot
• soup
• new
• too
• you
• noon
• moon
• grew
• zoo
• blew
• scoop

Sight Words for April 20-24, 2020:

• also
• anything
• flower
• kind
• places
• ready
• upon
• warm

Reading:

Please listen to A Butterfly Grows.  

Please illustrate and label each stage of a butterfly's life cycle.

There are also activities in the Butterfly folder in our OneDrive.

Please complete one worksheet a day from the Multiple Meaning Words file in our OneDrive.

Science:

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/animals/butterfly.html

Here are some ways you can make a bird feeder at home:

https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.thesprucecrafts.com%2fbird-feeders-for-kids-to-make-2764688&c=E,1,9v6h0fXQOmh5H6gVXiJQsxb23KJvB1XiVz9p7bVCZpL9fWKIISe3Z4XKvSJJPHkJToAOLUa9qfujBV1VqFYp0dH7d_9zAkT1JQZmNRyu09gz7Rzcn6GdSM_3qQ,,&typo=1

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+a+bird+feeder&oq=how+to+make+a+bird+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.9849j0j4&client=ms-android-hms-tmobile-us&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=_Mc-UXvqCGOmqytMP5Ki36A070

Here are some ideas to make a butterfly craft at home:

https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.thesprucecrafts.com%2fbutterfly-crafts-for-kids-4129196&c=E,1,eeMWyliU63d3M8qq7HEsFXBB0yVL0zR0BqLqxfYEScyYSnv_JzCFdeEZWwnuFeisclD2ACexVaGve9aElFRAZg9Xy9uizrQENsmxD6PzsO7quDaAGDIs0Wlu&typo=1


Math:

Please complete lessons 9.1-9.3 in the Chapter 9 folder in our OneDrive.  

Here are some additional ways to work on math as well.

Subtraction games:

https://www.splashlearn.com/subtraction-games-for-1st-graders

Measurement Activities:

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/length_strength1_inches/

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/length_strength1_centi/

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/length_strength3/


Computation Activities:

https://www.k-5mathteachingresources.com/K-2-IWB-Resources.html

Symmetry:

https://www.topmarks.co.uk/symmetry/symmetry-matching

Shape Recognition:

https://www.turtlediary.com/game/exploring-shapes.html

https://www.turtlediary.com/game/shape-riddles-first-grade.html

https://www.turtlediary.com/game/compose-shapes-using-one-square-four-triangles.html

Geometry Worksheets:

https://www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets/first-grade-1/geometry

Base Ten Blocks Worksheets:

https://www.k5learning.com/free-math-worksheets/first-grade-1/base-ten-blocks


Social Studies: Learn about the continent of Africa.

https://www.ducksters.com/geography/africa.php


Here's a video about one of the families who has been helped by our service project for our friends in Africa.

https://vimeo.com/360856323

For more information on how to help the Kula Project go here.

https://www.kulaproject.org/

Wednesday is Earth Day.  Here are some activities to celebrate Earth Day.

https://www.edhelper.com/math_worksheets/earth-day-activity-worksheets-for-kids-first-graders.pdf

In honor of Pigeon Week watch one Pigeon book each day.  Write and illustrate what happens first, next, then, and last in the story.  On Friday write your own Pigeon story.

The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog! by Mo Willems

Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! by Mo Willems

The Duckling Gets a Cookie!? by Mo Willems

The Pigeon Needs a Bath! by Mo Willems

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

The Pigeon HAS to Go to School! by Mo Willems

Check out these amazing Pigeon activities from Mo Willems' website:

http://pigeonpresents.com/get-busy/#pp-series-the-pigeon


Here are some areas to focus on in IXL for the next two weeks:

https://www.ixl.com/math/grade-1

R 3-R6, T1- T2, V1-V10, and W1-W10


https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-1

S1-S3, Z1, GG1-GG5, HH1-HH3, II1-II5, JJ1-JJ3, JJ9

Just for fun if you'd like to try to draw Woodstock check this out:

Remember first graders to work hard, listen to your parents, and look for ways you can help your family.  You are all making great progress, and I look forward to seeing you soon.

Miss Deem

It's Spring Break, Charlie Brown

Dear First Graders,

Here are some fun things to do over Spring Break!  First and foremost, I hope that you are able to have lots of fun playing outside:)  Please give all your family members my wishes for a blessed Easter.  I miss you all very much.

Let's try to draw Snoopy:

I found these directions to draw Snoopy from the Charles Schulz Museum Instagram account.

Now let's try to draw Charlie Brown:

Here are some activities from the Peanuts Movie:


http://ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/peanutsmovie/


Here are some Peanuts activities about space:


http://ymiclassroom.com/lesson-plans/peanuts-nasa/


Here are some activities I found from the Pittsburgh Pirates:

https://www.mlb.com/pirates/fans/activities?sf119579246=1


Here are some school resources to keep practicing reading and math:


https://wideopenschool.org/?j=7723549&sfmc_sub=171287736&l=2048712_HTML&u=144169164&mid=6409703&jb=1479&utm_source=WOS_announcement_20200331&utm_medium=email


https://bookcamppd.com/covid-19-resources/


Check out Blueberry's video created by Mr. Forbes for Mrs. Forbes:

https://mixcord.co/picplaypost/p/3vrSa7ApCVUVxrLnPfZOSw/

Interactive Clock Tool:

https://www.visnos.com/demos/clock

Interactive Measurement Games:

https://www.splashlearn.com/measurement-games-for-1st-graders


Please take time to practice measuring things around your house with a ruler.

I look forward to seeing you soon First Graders!  Remember you are the Best in the West!!! ;)

Miss Deem

Elephant and Piggie We Are Home

Elephant and Piggie: We Are Home Celebration

March 30-April 7, 2020

Reading: Please read or listen to one Elephant and Piggie book each day.  Please continue to do one book on Epic and RAZ Kids as well.

Math: Please complete one worksheet each day from the Telling Time folder in our shared OneDrive.  Practice reading clocks you have at home.  If you've finished your worksheets you can try these games.  

https://www.abcya.com/games/telling_time



https://www.mathgames.com/time


https://www.splashlearn.com/time-games


https://www.visnos.com/demos/clock


Phonics: Please complete at least 3 worksheets from the Phonics folder at some point during our celebration.

OO Words: 

troop
pool
tools
broom
spoon
zoo
hoop
snooze
choose
moose
broom

April Fools Day Word Search:

https://www.edhelper.com/April-Fools-Day-Word-Search-grade1.pdf

Mo Willems Lunch Doodles:

https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/

Dear First Graders,

I know we are all VERY excited to start our Elephant and Piggie celebration.  I've prepared a video for you to begin the celebration.

Musical Monday

Please watch these videos about Elephant and Piggie We Are in a Play.  

Listen to the songs: Write about your favorite Elephant and Piggie song and tell us why it is your favorite.

Share your favorite song during afternoon meeting.  

Maybe even make up an Elephant and Piggie dance to share with the class.

Artistic Tuesday

Watch an episode of Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems.  

Share your Elephant and Piggie doodles with the class in our chat on Skype or live in Table Talks on Zoom.  Your parents can also email them to me.  

Remember to ask your parents permission before posting in our Skype chat.

Wonder-full Wednesday

Read your favorite Elephant and Piggie story aloud to someone in your family.  

Write down what  you would like to ask Elephant and Piggie in that story. 

 Write down what wonders you have about elephants and pigs.

Thankful Thursday

Draw a picture of yourself with Elephant and Piggie thanking someone who has helped you.
Thank a family member, friend, neighbor, or classmate for making your day.

Fun Friday

Let's make this a fun Friday!  Write an Elephant and Piggie skit or story.

Be prepared to share it with your tables in the afternoon.

Have an Elephant and Piggie party with your family.

Tell your parents there are lots of activities listed in our shared OneDrive in the Elephant and 
Piggie folder.

Here's Humphrey's First Palm Sunday by Carol Heyer.

Magnificent Monday

Let's learn all we can today about real elephants and pigs.

Please read the following articles on Pebble Go and write down 3 things you remember from each article in your panda notebooks.

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/1/categories/25/articles/157

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/1/categories/31/articles/396

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/1/categories/409/articles/405

Listen to this awesome book that we learned about last week from one of our 1-D friends.

Tremendous Tuesday

Here are some ideas to make your Tuesday learning Tremendous:

Pretend you are Elephant or Piggie and write a letter from their point of view.
Make an Elephant or Piggie puppet.
Create Elephant or Piggie out of recyclable items you have at home.
Write Elephant and Piggie jokes.
Draw Elephant and Piggie in a habitat with your favorite wild animal.

EXTRA READ ALOUD FOR MATH:

Check this out:)

and this:)

It's a Beautiful Day (Week 2) March 23-27, 2020

Dear First Graders,

I hope you had a beautiful weekend with your family.  I wanted to send you a plan for the week of March 23-27.

Please read at least one book on Epic, one book on RAZ Kids, and one real book each day.  Please make sure you record your books on RAZ Kids and don't forget to take your quizzes.  I'll be working on assigning more books individually on Tuesday.  Please focus on your Reading Room and Level Up assignments right now.

Please listen to Whistle for Willie by Ezra Jack Keats on YouTube.

Writing Prompt for Monday:

Write about something you haven't learned to do yet.

Writing Prompt for Tuesday:

Write about your pet or a pet you would like to have.  Write about what adventures you have had or would like to have with that pet.

Writing Prompt for Wednesday:

Write about your favorite wild animal.  Write down questions you have about that wild animal.  Bring your questions to morning meeting.

Writing Prompt for Thursday:

Write a thank you note to someone who has helped you.  

Writing Prompt for Friday:

Write a silly story.  The sillier the better.

Words to practice spelling:

look

book

good

hook

brook

took

foot

shook

wood

hood

crook

hoof

Words to practice reading:

again

along

began

boy

father

house

nothing

together

If you have finished working on these words, please work on reviewing sight words and spelling words from our review list.

Sight Words for Stories 1-23:

Spelling Words for Stories 1-23:

Religion:

https://www.holyheroes.com/Lenten-Adventure-s/37.htm?utm_source=holyheroes&utm_medium=button&utm_campaign=LA

Spanish:

https://senoraapplegate.weebly.com/1st.html

Please work on the following pages in Sadlier phonics if you are able to access the book:

Unit 5 Lesson 23.  

Please work on these IXL language arts objectives.

https://www.ixl.com/ela/grade-1

B1, B2, CC1, DD1, DD2, HH1, HH2, HH3, PP1, PP2, PP3

Please work on these IXL math objectives.

https://www.ixl.com/math/

P1 through P13.

Please watch these videos on measurement:

Please watch these videos on clocks:

Practice measuring items around your house with a ruler.  Practice telling time to the hour and half hour with your parents.

Please read the following articles on butterflies and take notes in your panda notebooks:

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/1/categories/21/articles/421

https://site.pebblego.com/modules/1/categories/21/articles/422

Over the weekend, please gather any Elephant and Piggie books you might have at home.  I'll explain why soon:)

I would like to leave you with this Mister Rogers quote which you may have already seen.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.  

If you have any questions, please send me a message on Skype.

See you Monday Morning:)

Miss Deem

What's Your Story?

One of my favorite times of the year is when our school works together to serve others.  This past April we had our third annual Poverty Action Week.   One of the special learning opportunities every grade level experiences that week is to hear different ministry leaders share their stories with our students.  I had the privilege of talking with two of this year’s speakers.

In my short conversation with Sr. Margaret I listened with awe as she shared some of her experiences.  Her humility inspired me.  It was apparent that Sr. Margaret loved sharing the Gospel through her role as a Daughter of Charity.  Our conversation reminded me of that quote from Mother Teresa, “I am like a pencil in God’s hand...  He does the writing.  The pencil has nothing to do with it.”  Sr. Margaret’s joy stemmed from the story God was writing in the lives of the people she serves.

Sr. Margaret was first inspired by the work of the Daughters of Charity when she was going to law school in Saginaw, Michigan.  She shared how watching the Daughters of Charity’s work with the poor inspired her to become a sister.  Since becoming a nun, Sr. Margaret has used her legal background to help people in need.  She has been an advocate for patients, helped Haitian refugees, and educated prison inmates.  Sr. Margaret enlisted the help of her friends to build a proper education building for the inmates she was teaching while she was serving in the South Pacific.  She helped create and maintain a library and an after school program.  Sr. Margaret worked with special needs high school students, and she was her community’s lead representative to the United Nations. 

I am truly grateful that Sr. Margaret shared her experiences with our students.  Listening to her story reminded me of how important it is to follow our call, and that our callings are unique and given to us by God. 

While Sr. Margaret was speaking with our fourth and fifth graders, Joanna was speaking with my first graders.  Joanna’s children have all graduated from our school now, and she is currently working on her masters degree in social work.  Joanna shared with my students about her experiences working with women through a program called Changed Choices.  The mission of Changed Choices as stated on their website https://changedchoices.org is “As followers of Christ, we empower currently and recently incarcerated women to achieve lasting, positive change through programming and personalized mental, emotional, physical and spiritual support.” (8/12/19)

Joanna described how she felt the first time she went to visit the women at Changed Choices.  She told my students that she left that first morning thinking that bad people were in prison.  “But after meeting these women for the first time I realized that they were good people who had made a really bad choice.  These women were funny, smart, pretty, kind, young and old.  Making mistakes is part of being human.  We all need a little help sometimes, and we all need support to get through tough times.”

Joanna explained that it’s a privilege for the women she works with to meet with her.  “We meet with them for one hour.  We’re the only people from the outside they get to see.  They have to see family members through a glass window.”   My students were greatly impacted when Joanna shared how grateful these women are to touch grass, and that they get up at 4:30am.

Joanna reminded my students “It doesn’t matter what mistakes you’ve made.  We’re better than the worse thing we’ve ever done in our life.” What a powerful reminder of our communal need for Grace.

I can think of no better way to show our students how they can be pencils in God’s hands than to continue to share the stories of ministry leaders like Joanna and Sr. Margaret.

What’s your story?  How are you helping others?  How are your students helping others?  Let’s keep this conversation going.

As always, thanks for reading.

Ellen

What Does it Mean to be Brave?

What does it mean to be brave? Merriam Webster's online dictionary defines it as "having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty :having or showing courage."  

I've reflected a lot on what it means to be brave in the last two years as I've faced unexpected health challenges which led to being diagnosed with a chronic condition. I've described my journey as a roller coaster.  I joke that this is why I don't like real roller coasters.  I don't like being jarred, jerked, surprised, and unexpected turns and drops.  I much prefer a smooth, calm, leisurely walk on the beach.  

In order to stay healthy, I've had to make drastic changes in my diet, and I have had to accept that some days my best efforts can't alleviate my symptoms.  I've struggled with managing my frustration, and I've read a lot to become more informed on my condition.  I've met some inspiring and encouraging people.  I've learned to look for the good in all my days, not just the ones where I'm able to take a calm walk.

During the course of my journey, I became aware of Taylor's story.  I knew I wanted to share it on my blog.  Taylor is a living example of what it means to be brave.  

Here is my interview with Taylor:

How did you discover that you had diabetes?  

It took quite a while before they officially diagnosed me with Type 1 Diabetes, but several months leading up to the diagnosis I had not been feeling well. I was always tired, I felt super weak, and I constantly needed to go to the bathroom. I found it extremely hard to play sports because I was so weak. I also had lost over 30 pounds in just a few months which was a big red flag to my family. When the symptoms first started I was told it was just a sinus infection and was given an antibiotic. After weeks passed with no sign of relief, my mom finally decided to take me back to the doctor. None of us were expecting the diagnosis of diabetes.  

How did your diagnosis affect your life?  Who helped you the most?

It was a whirlwind of emotions when I was first diagnosed. I remember I just kept thinking "How am I supposed to do this for the rest of my life?" After the diagnosis I was pretty scared to jump back into my life with school and sports because I was still processing all that had happened. But step by step I took on this new challenge in my life, and day by day it got a little easier. I definitely have become more aware of what foods I eat, and I have to watch myself extra carefully when I am playing sports and exercising.  My whole family, especially my parents, really helped me adjust to this big change. This was just as new to them as it was to me, but they were always right there when I needed them the most. I couldn't have gotten through it without them. Also, I am so thankful because I have the most supportive and amazing friends. Many of us have been friends since our days as Saint Matthew Wildcats. They were so understanding, and they didn’t treat me any different after the diagnosis which was exactly what I needed. They are such a blessing in my life.

Was there anything that helped you that you would like to share with other children who have diabetes?

A big problem I struggled with and continue to struggle with is the feeling that I need to be perfect at managing it. Diabetes, as I have learned, is a roller coaster. No matter how hard you try you will have some days that your blood sugar is trending high, and that’s OK. My biggest advice to other kids like me is don’t worry about having that perfect report. As long as you are managing it to the best of your abilities, you are doing amazing! Another thing that really helped me is knowing that I am not alone in this disease. While sometimes it may feel like no one understands, there are people all over that have the same hardships and struggles, and we are all supporting each other. That is why attending Camp Morris had such a big impact on me. 

How did you come up with the idea to start a non-profit?

After I was diagnosed, I spent about 24 hours in the hospital so they could monitor and stabilize my blood sugar. Throughout my hospital stay I was visited by multiple educators and members of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. They gave me a ton of information to process in a short time, but everyone was so wonderful and patient and assured me that this would not hold me back from experiencing life. It was on the way home from the hospital that I realized that I wanted to do something that would benefit the Type 1 Diabetes community. I wanted to help other children adjust to their new life, but I was unsure of what I could do. After a couple more conversations with my parents, the idea for Type Taylor was born!

What are your current goals for your non-profit?

My current goals for this non profit is to be able to send two children to a camp I have attended for the past two summers. This camp is for all diabetics ranging from rising third graders to rising eleventh. I really believe this camp can change someone's life because it changed mine. Being in that environment where everyone understands and supports each other is really indescribable. While there are so many amazing diabetes research studies being funded around the world for a cure, my main focus is trying to help children manage and live with their diabetes while we all hope for a future cure. 

What are your dreams for your non-profit?

My dream for this non profit is to continue to expand to help families that may be struggling within the Type 1 community in whatever way I can. Whether that be continuing to send children to camp or helping provide diabetic supplies, as long as it is aiding the Type 1 community in some way I am all for it. 

How can people help you?

Any donation, no matter how small, is so greatly appreciated. Along with donations, spreading awareness about this nonprofit and Type 1 Diabetes is helpful to our cause. I am so grateful to be a part of the St. Matthew community and to have met so many wonderful people on this journey. I cannot express enough how thankful I am for your support and contributions. Our website is endtype1.com, and there you will find additional information regarding Type Taylor and how to donate. Also you can reach us at help@endtype1.com with any questions or comments. 

A little side note: This summer I was fortunate enough to send a kid to camp. His name is Wesley, and he is a rising fourth grader. He was diagnosed when he was two years old, but his family had never been able to afford this camp. Throughout the week, I watched Wesley make friends and embrace his Type 1 Diabetes, and that was something I cherished watching. He loved it so much that on the last day the counselors couldn’t get him to pack because he didn't want to leave. This week only made my passion for this non profit stronger. I knew what a big impact the camp had on me, but seeing firsthand the effect this camp had on him and the joy he had while being there moved me in a way I cannot describe.

I am grateful to Taylor for sharing her story and for encouraging us to face our challenges and to look for ways to help others who are struggling.

Thanks for reading,

Ellen