back
to Guestbook information page...Unfortunately the Guestworld Guestbook database had a major
catastrophy during December 1999. Fortunately I had saved all
but the most recent guest entries. (My apologies to you others!)
So... remember... save! save! save!
:-)
Nora
back
to Guestbook information page...
|
Name: #51 Sharon
Affeld Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Kelowna, BC, Canada Time: 1999-08-12 22:03:05 Comments: I am doing my Masters in Classroom Psychology. I am starting to do my Thesis on Pets in the Classroom and how it affects children's behaviour, self-esteem etc. Could you please send me your opinion, pro-pets in the classroom or anti-pets and why you feel that way? I would love to hear your stories. Thank you for your time. |
|
Name: #50 Sue
Chalifoux Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Batavia Illinois Time: 1999-08-08 21:28:24 Comments: We are considering what types of pets to get for our classroom this year. We will definately get fish and an aquatic frog. I would like to get a turtle or a snake. I think we will feed the birds outside near the snack table. We have butterflies in spring and might try tadpoles this year. I am also thinking about rats. I am told they are clean, friendly, hardy and very smart. Do you have any experience with them? |
|
Name: #49 Kathlene
Puthuff Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Southern California Time: 1999-07-31 14:59:42 Comments: I am thinking about having something of interest in my 2nd grade class, but as yet I have not decided. |
|
Name: #48 Charlie
Graham Website: Referred by: NewsGroups From: Forest Grove, Oregon Time: 1999-07-26 08:06:05 Comments: Great site! I have had great success with growing and studying Carnivorous Plants in my 6th grade classroom. It really takes some specializied knowledge and care, but the motavation it creates in students is remarkable. I raise sundews, venus flytraps, butterworts, and a variety of tropical and non-tropical pitcher plants. The students have written the best expository reports I've seen in years and each recieve a sundew (relatively easy to grow as Carnivorous Plants go) to take home if they succeed with a quality report. Charlie Graham cgraham@fgsd.k12.or.us |
|
Name: #47 K
sheldon Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Monroe Michigan Time: 1999-07-16 05:22:36 Comments: I would like information on taking a dog to school as a class project. I am raising a Leader Dog puppy and would like to include my class in this expierence. |
|
Name: #46 Kathrine
Loucks Website: Crawdad Kids Referred by: From a Friend From: Texas Time: 1999-07-15 23:50:07 Comments: Thank you, Nora, for taking the time to write such a kind entry in our classroom guestbook. You mentioned something about your many "bug clubs" on your personal page. Could you email me some information on this? I'm beginning the school year with a unit on insects. Beautiful monarch butterflies can be seen all around our school during the late summer months, and I'm interested in doing an online project that would "track" the migration of these fascinating butterflies beginning in Canada, passing through Texas where we live, and ending (I believe ) in Mexico. Would your classroom be interested in a collaborative online project? Best wishes and thanks again for the positive feedback! |
|
Name: #45 Mrs.
Billie Flynn Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Alexandria, Louisiana USA Time: 1999-07-12 16:52:23 Comments: Love your webpage and do understand all the time and effort you have put into it. I found you because I was surfing the web for information concerning taking care of pets in the classroom. Your site was perfect!!! I have been teaching kindergarten for 22 years. One of my summer projects was to make a kindergarten webpage. Little did I know this would be a life time project--not a summer project. I would like to add a link to your page on my web. |
|
Name: #44 Ashley
Whillans Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Nestor Elementary Time: 1999-06-26 12:01:10 Comments: I"ll Miss You Alot!!! |
|
Name: #43 Ashley
Whillans Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Coquitlam Time: 1999-06-26 11:57:14 Comments: Mrs.Boekhout I hope you have a great time with your pets youre web page is awesome.you're a great teacher.Ihope Isee you around even though I'm going to Maple Creek Next year.Love Ashley |
|
Name: #42 R
Squier Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Milwaukee, WI Time: 1999-06-25 13:58:41 Comments: I, in conjunction with the Elm-Brook Humane Society, run a year long program for elementary school children that is designed to build empathy with living things, and hopefully reduce violence. We bring therapy dogs, cats, snakes, you name it ... even hedge hogs ... into the classroom every Thursday after school. Children learn how to care for an animal, the needs of an animal, how to train an animal, etc. The hope is to build a connection between the animals and the students. I teach in an urban school - a very good school with good kids, but surrounded by the violence of gangs, dog fighting, drugs and shooting. All too often the children see dogs as a utility - either for protection or a weopon. Pets come and go - killed by gangs, cars, abuse, neglect - or go feral. While I don't have an animal in the class all the time, the environment is not conducive to that, I find that this experience helps connect children to other living things. If anyone has a similar program - or has suggestions, etc. I would love to hear about it. |
|
Name: #41 William
Laycraft Website: NONE Referred by: From a Friend From: coquitlam Time: 1999-06-22 12:03:16 Comments: This is a ok site i would like to see simpler |
|
Name: #40 Mary
Lu Pfeil Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Madison, Florida, USA Time: 1999-06-21 12:32:59 Comments: In our kindergarten classroom we have a fish aquarium, a tarantula, and a pair of zebra finches. During the year they raise a brood of usually five young. We also hatch painted lady butterflies, tadpoles, and have visits from a variety of other animals. In the future we are considering hatching chicks, raising lady bugs, and starting an ant farm. We'd like more information on building "snaileries". |
|
Name: #39 Laurie
Doscher Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Oregon Time: 1999-06-03 21:53:19 Comments: I like bugs! |
|
Name: #38 Elizabeth
Corry Website: Referred by: NewsGroups From: Sydney, Australia Time: 1999-06-02 06:05:28 Comments: Hi, I'm a first year out teacher and I have goldfish in a "gasp" round bowl. The kids love them. Next term I am thinking about getting chickens in for my Science unit "what's alive". Do you think this could work. Iam really excited. I have chooks at home and I love looking after the baby ones. I thinks the kids would learn a lot too. What do you think? Elizabeth |
|
Name: #37 Steven
Smith Website: Referred by: Yahoo! From: Land O' Lakes, FL Time: 1999-05-09 22:16:03 Comments: I work as a teacher for the FL dept of Corrections and am seriously considering putting in a request to have pets in the classroom. We house youthful offenders charged as adults and I feel that having the pets will add a completely new dimension to the class with all the benefits they offer. |
|
Name: #36 Shelley Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Port Coquitlam Time: 1999-03-11 21:59:30 Comments: My daughter is caring for her class's Indian and (I think) Giant Prickly Walking Sticks this spring break, so I am researching them a bit. Your site is one of the best I've found. (The G. Ramel site now points to a new name that is not found.) My daughter's school is Hazel Trembath and her teacher is Pat Safarik. I will ask her if she has seen your site. Good work! |
|
Name: #35 Patricia
Johnson Website: none Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Burnsville, MN Time: 1999-02-25 17:25:50 Comments: Hi! My name is Patricia Johnson. My friends and family call me Patsy (like Patsy Cline). I'm surfing on the net looking for information on hedgehogs. I've just accepted a position as a preschool teacher at the Intergenerational Learning Center located in Eagan, Minnesota. My educational background is in elementary ed. At the preschool we are encouraged to have classroom pets and I've always wanted a hedgehog. My age group is 3,4 and 5 year olds. I'm wondering if hedgehogs would make a good classroom pet for this age group. Do you have any info or ideas? |
|
Name: #34 Tina
& Kayla Hatch Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Coquitlam, B.C. Time: 1999-02-19 22:15:31 Comments: Hi Mrs. Boekhout, This was such a pleasant surprise! Kayla had decided today that she would like to find about getting a millipede for a pet. She has been talking about it all afternoon (todays is Pro D) I told her to go onto the web and see what she could find. She was frustrated, as she wasn't finding much. I told her to talk to you on Monday. We tried once more to see if we could find out anything, and we stumbled across your website. It is excellent. thanks for the info. She is very excited now and is jumping around as she realizes it's you. It's 10:15, now I'll never get her to bed! Tina Hatch |
|
Name: #33 Valerie
Johnston Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Surrey, B.C. Time: 1999-02-08 16:42:34 Comments: Thanks for e-mailing me back, Nora! You're reaching a lot of people with this terrific website. I'm looking forward to hearing more about your experiences with the Painted Ladies. With your Masters program you certainly have your hands full. Keep up the wonderful work. |
|
Name: #32 Eric Website: Buck's Dog Stuff Referred by: Net Search From: Lakewood, California Time: 1999-02-06 23:24:57 Comments:
from Southern California |
|
Name: #31 Pat
Jones Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Carrollton, Georgia Time: 1999-01-26 16:05:32 Comments: I teach math in a regular - ed eighth-grade classroom. I have two Tibetan Spaniels, Richmond and Raleigh, who take turns going to school with me every day. At home, we have eight Akitas, a cat, 2 parrots, and a White's tree frog. |
|
Name: #30 Jamie
Bowles Kelly Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Oklahoma, USA Time: 1999-01-21 18:21:39 Comments: I am looking for facts about pets in the classroom. If it makes more responsible and respectful people out of the students. I working on finding a topic for my thesis. I've taught 10 years and 2 years ago I was up to 12 animals in my class. I have slowed down now and only have a red ear turtle, a cockitel, 2 guinea pigs, and a 20 gallon fish tank with many kinds of topical fish. I've had ducks (for two weeks), several rabbits and hamsters, hermit crabs and one hedge hog. |
|
Name: #29 Kori
Cook Website: Referred by: From a Friend From: Time: 1999-01-18 19:14:24 Comments: I have a rabbit at home and I also think they are great pets.One thing my rabbit doesn't like is a soft blanket to sleep on. We've tried numerous times to give my rabbit a blanket or towel but she just throws it out of her bed. Instead Pepper (my rabbit) sleeps in a cat litterbox. My rabbit eats lots of lettace and it's really healthy for her. She despises alfalfa and will only eat a certain brand of pelletes. She has organized her cage so she has a toilet,eating area,bedroom etc. |
|
Name: #28 Karla
Majewski Website: Referred by: Yahoo! From: Pacific Animal Productions in Fallbrook, Ca. Time: 1999-01-10 20:18:51 Comments: This is great! I give talks on "Critters in the Classroom" and present hands-on wildlife programs, and now I've found you. I'll be checking back and ref. your great stuff! Keep up the super job and much luck in '99. |
|
Name: #27 Sherry
Milner Website: Referred by: Yahoo! From: Sumrall, MS Time: 1999-01-04 16:56:15 Comments: HELP SAVE OUR RABBIT!!! I need to hear from teachers who have seen improved classroom behaviors. Have you read any articles on pets in the classroom? Where? Our rabbit roams freely in the classroom when the students are there. Does your? He is very affectionate. My admistration is supportive, but there is alway someone who oppposes good things. Please help me keep Simorea!!! We love him!!! Thanks a million!!! Sherry and Simorea (the rabbit) |
|
Name: #26 John
Pascuzzi Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Orange County, California, USA Time: 1998-12-29 12:25:17 Comments: Awesome site!! See, I signed the guestbook! |
|
Name: #25 Courtney
Doyle Website: Referred by: Yahoo! From: North Carolina Time: 1998-11-23 17:31:37 Comments: I really liked your page. I am a future teacher. I would like to say that you should add hermit crabs. They are very easy to care for and can be an entertaining class pet. I worked at a store selling them, and kids love them, and many teachers were buying for their classes. |
|
Name: #24 Carol
Maier Website: Referred by: From a Friend From: Victoria, BC, Canada Time: 1998-11-21 09:41:31 Comments: Wonderful! Congratulations on including the "little animals" of the world (insects and spiders), which are too often grievously misunderstood and disrespected. Keep up the good work! |
|
Name: #23 Shawn
Mondloch Website: Referred by: Yahoo! From: SHAPE, Belgium Time: 1998-11-14 02:49:26 Comments: I have just acquired a bunch of M. Hissing roaches. I am interested in more info about them. My 6th grade students are also raising Indian Walking Sticks, a Red Eared Slider, an assortment of snails and 3 Guinea Pigs. |
|
Name: #22 Jennifer
Rocca Website: Referred by: Net Search From: Albany, NY Time: 1998-10-04 14:04:43 Comments: I came to your site while looking for information on animals in the classroom. I was pleased to find so much information. I wanted to leave a message for 2 reasons. The first is that I see you need information on rabbits. I am a member of an organization called the House Rabbit Society. They have a wonderful website with lots of good information at www.rabbit.org. I was also reading the information you have posted on hamsters. I only wanted to comment that pine and cedar chips are not actually safe litter material. Pine and cedar chips have a strong odor to them. The "phenols" (or something like that) in the odor are inhaled by the animal and brought into their blood stream and filtered by the liver. The liver becomes overloaded with this substance and decreases its ability to function. This has the potential of harming the animal in the long run. It's a shame that pine and cedar chips are still so commonly sold as small animal litter. My final comment was in reference to animals in the classroom as a whole. I didn't know if you addressed this issue anywhere on your site. Animals often need a "care giver" figure to associate with. Sometimes animals in a classroom can be overwhelmed by the number of people helping to care for it. It can make it difficult for the animal to create any kind of social bond with a single person. Sometimes it's best, for some animals, to have one "owner" and caregiver for the animal and the rest of the students may help and observe. By showing that animals should have one owner and one responsible person in charge students can get a better sense of the kind of respsonsibility pet ownership entails. Perhaps I haven't worded this very articulately. In any case, I was pleased to find your site and I'm sure you'll be able to find valuable information at the HRS web site. I'd be happy to give you any information you need. I can be e-mailed at js1107@csc.albany.edu. I am a student working toward her masters degree in secondary education. Thank you for your valuable site. I hope to see more of them out there! -Jennifer |
|
Name: #21 Pat
Johnston Website: Referred by: From a Friend From: Port Moody, BC Time: 1998-09-05 17:44:01 Comments: Hi Nora, Great work of art. A long way from preschool teachers courses. Good way to learn about classroom pets. Hope the response is great. |
|
Name: #20 Kelly
Wagner Website: Classroom Pet Survey Referred by: Net Search From: Austin, Texas Time: 1998-08-21 13:25:35 Comments: Hi! Love your gecko page! Around here, we get small wild geckos - one owns the railing to the ramp to our house, and defends it fiercely from us! Anyway - I am doing research on the effects of classroom pets on students (and have lined up someone who will be starting a study on the effects on the animals). I wonder if you would be interested in filling out a questionnaire for this? If so, you can find the questionnaire at: http://members.aol.com/bunrab/classpet.html Note that people reading this message in the guest book can also answer the survey, and you don't necessarily have to be someone who has a classroom pet in your class. We are interested in the reasons for not having one as well as the reasons for having one! Thanks! Kelly |
|
Name: #19 Henning Website: Hennings Insektenseite/ Henning´s Insect Page Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Pforzheim,Germany Time: 1998-08-19 09:29:44 Comments: Hi Nora, Great Page !!! I think it´s very important to teach kids not to be afraid of animals for then they´ll take more care for our enviroment. |
|
Name: #18 Margaret
Schulz Website: Referred by: From a Friend From: Osoyoos Time: 1998-08-07 12:34:26 Comments: I am extremely impressed, Nora, in fact I will pass along some information this fall to our Osoyoos Elementary School. |
|
Name: #17 Dana
Houston Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: El Centro, California Time: 1998-07-06 14:42:55 Comments: I will be a third grade teacher for th 98-99 school year. I am working on a thesis for a master's degree is administration. For my topic I want to study the effect of having animals in the classroom, mainly for a writing purpose. I feel that children write better if thier writing is based on real life experiences. I will have them keep an animal log and use this to help with their writing. If you have any suggestions or comments please let me know. I am open to all help! |
|
Name: #16 Patty
Scovell Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Alaska Time: 1998-07-05 16:03:49 Comments: I will be teaching in remote Alaska this upcoming year and would like to bring with me a Giant Millipede as a classroom pet/study unit. I cannot find where I can purchase some of these and the cost. I love your website and will probably visit it often. I have found lots of info on millipedes but never where to get them! Can you help me? Send me some resources, etc.? I need them very soon as we must leave on Aug 7 for the Island. Thanks! Patty |
|
Name: #15 Sandra
Khor Website: Sand's Corner Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Brunei Time: 1998-06-10 03:54:17 Comments: Good website. |
|
Name: #14 Philip
Khor Website: Macman's Homepage Referred by: Just Surfed On In From: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Time: 1998-06-09 22:47:11 Comments: I'm a friend of Randy Lim your x-student(I think) Nice webpage you've got there. Keep up the good work, Regards, Philip |
|
Name: #13 Randy
Lim Website: Maybe ... 'Me and Mrs.Boekhout'! Referred by: Word of Mouth From: Brunei Darussalam Time: 1998-06-02 06:47:42 Comments: I think your homepage is really cool!.I'll ask my dad to help me create my own homepage. I'll like to see more things of your homepage next time. |
| Name: #12 Linda Website: Referred by: Word of Mouth From: Port Moody Time: 1998-05-12 17:05:01 Comments: Well I finally made it here! Looks great Nora! I'm looking forward to some correspondence through this site. |
|
Name: #11 Caroline
LAWSON Website: Referred by: Word of Mouth From: Queensland,Australia Time: 1998-04-27 04:55:46 Comments: Dear Nora, I think I've got here at last!!!Your guestbook promises to be what lots of people are after.To introduce myself to others, I am a Year 3 teacher from "down under" who believes in children experiencing animals in the classroom to develop their full understandings of themselves and other living things and their place in the world. I have hatched eggs in the classroom, raised tadpoles to frogs and had a range of visiting wildlife, including handreared possums and kangaroo joeys as well as the usual dogs, cats and birds.My longterm goal is to have the opportunity to hand rear an orphaned Australian animal, with the help and enthusiasm of my partners, my classroom kids. I feel an experience such as this would bring children to a full, realistic understanding of our duty, as adults, and as human beings, to care for this world and its inhabitants- and that's not just looking after the people!!!Love to hear from anyone whose had any experiences in this line of "classroom caring." |
|
Name: #10 Phil,Jan
& Dave Penketh Website: Referred by: Word of Mouth From: USA/England Time: 1998-04-18 19:35:27 Comments: Dear Nora, We agree with you about the question mark as to beavers being, "amphibians" (as per the World Book Dictionary definitions). They may indeed be amphibious but they don't belong to the amphibian kingdom. This is a really nice website, loved the illustrations,keep up the good work! We'll be surfing in every once in a while to see how the site is progressing. |
|
Name: #9 Lisa
Mulzet Website: Lisa's Mountain Bike Mania Referred by: Word of Mouth From: British Columbia, Canada Time: 1998-03-25 23:11:39 Comments: Nora you've done an excellent job! I'm really impressed with your creative, bright, fun layout. |
|
Name: #8 Louise
Wunderlich Website: Referred by: Word of Mouth From: Nestor Elementary School Time: 1998-02-25 08:53:01 Comments: Nora, Will have to spend more time in your site. It is easy and friendly, just like you??!! |
|
Name: #7 Delia
Cooper Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In! From: Time: 1998-02-23 23:13:08 Comments: Wow! Talk about impressive! I'm going to have to spend some time visiting this sight more thoroughly. Glad I turned on the computer tonight. See you tomorrow, Delia. |
|
Name: #6 mike
Tyldesley Website: none Referred by: Just Surfed On In! From: moody middle Time: 1998-02-20 14:39:35 Comments: very nice looking site. Hello! I am sitting four computers down from you |
|
Name: #5 Kalev
Jaaguste Website: Kalev's Home Page Referred by: Word of Mouth From: University of Victoria Time: 1998-02-19 18:10:12 Comments: Great page mom! |
|
Name: #4 Donna
Hill Website: Wild Inside Nature Programs Referred by: Word of Mouth From: Langley, BC Time: 1998-02-12 21:31:02 Comments: Hi Nora, just thought I would visit again to see how your site is doing! Looks great! |
|
Name: Helene
Meausette Website: #3 The Mews Montessori Preschool Referred by: Word of Mouth From: Richmond B.C. (although I was born and bred in Sweden) Time: 1998-01-25 16:09:52 Comments: Hi Nora, Very impressive site - we are looking forward reading more in the finished areas a bit later. This site already made it into our school January newsletter...a very nice and much needed site for both parents of young children, as well as for teachers in our schools. We have a virtual zoo going on at all times at our place - more schools need to take the plunge and explore the animal world in a more sensorial way. Congrats Nora and Good Luck, Helene :-) |
|
Name: #2 Holly
Bristow Website: Referred by: Just Surfed On In! From: Time: 1998-01-24 12:26:49 Comments: Hi there. Still messin' with your website!! What's the diff. between where I sent from first, and here? H. out |
|
Name: #1 Nora
Boekhout Website: Classroom Animals and Pets Referred by: Just Surfed On In! From: Nestor Elementary, Coquitlam B.C. Canada, Grade 3 Time: 1998-01-20 21:21:10 Comments: Welcome to all teachers and other visitors! I hope that together we can make this website a helpful and friendly place to share our ideas and questions. Please take the time to sign the guestbook and let the rest of us know what is happening "out there"!!! My current classroom pets this year include: a hamster, leopard gecko, anole, Giant African millipede, Chinese preying mantis, tropical fish, various species of Walking Stick insects. My animal projects this year have centered on a local pond study. |
back
to Guestbook information page...