Rainforest & School

I am absolutely impressed with the things Elliot has learned at school this year! This week their theme was the rainforest. I figured they'd learn about waterfalls, toucans, and some basic things. Tonight, she starts telling me about the parts of the rainforest and the animals that live in them. Here's what I learned from her (I totally googled everything to see if she knew what she was talking about!):

First, you have the Rainforest Floor. Then, the Understorey, where alligators, Golden Vipers, flamingo's, & cheetah's live. Next, you have the Canopy, where monkeys and sloths live. The final part she referred to as the Pavilion. I can't find much info. on this, but based on the details she gave me, I think it's what is also referred to as the Emergent Layer. Elliot informed me it's where the huge butterflies & big eagles live.

I seriously had NO idea that a preschooler could retain so many things!! I keep thinking "Did she seriously just tell me about the layers of the Rainforest and a Golden Viper?!?!"

Another thing: she tries to spell everything now. She refers to me as "M-O-M". My dad ask her how many of something she wanted and she responds "O-N-E". What size? "B-I-G". You ask what she wants to drink, the answer may be "M-I-L-K". Tonight I was typing an email with her next to me and she starts telling me half the words I typed. "That's says "little", that says "one", etc. etc. I had started reading lessons with her a while ago, but she hasn't shown interests in doing lessons with me in MONTHS! She is just learning on her own (and maybe at school).

Everyday during her quiet time, she writes everyone in the family loves notes. They really are adorable. She writes things like "Erin: To Mommy. I love you mom. Love Elliot." She wrote "Mimi AND Papa". I didn't know she knew how to spell the word "and." She then informed me she didn't. She said she remembered her "Pup and Pop" book had the word "and" in it, so she looked at it to spell it correctly. I can't help but think that was pretty ingenious! Love this girl!