1. Why My Teacher Pats Her Tummy
By: Mrs. Jones

2. I now know why my teacher pats her tummy.
But I had to become a detective to find out.

3. It all started at the beginning of the school year. My teacher, Mrs
It all started at the beginning of the school year. My teacher, Mrs. Jolly was very happy.

4. She smiled often and was very friendly, but I noticed she would pat her tummy.

5. Some mornings she would come to school, set her breakfast down on her table and pat her tummy.

6. At math centers and story time, she would pat her tummy.

7. Later in the morning, she would eat snacks
Later in the morning, she would eat snacks. She would eat fruit snacks, crackers and even pickles! Then she would pat her tummy.

8. At recess, she would put on her coat
At recess, she would put on her coat. It seemed like she was outgrowing it because every day it was a little tighter.

9. When her coat was zipped, she would pat her tummy.

10. At lunch time, she would eat a cheese sandwich, chips and other things in her lunch bag. When she was finished, she would pat her tummy.

11. She would go to the bathroom often.

12. And pat her tummy.

13. I even noticed that other teachers would come by and pat her tummy.

14. One day, I could not help but wonder why Mrs
One day, I could not help but wonder why Mrs. Jolly’s tummy was getting bigger and she would always pat it.

15. So I raised my hand with the question I had to have answered.

16. Mrs. Jolly called my name and out came my question, “Mrs
Mrs. Jolly called my name and out came my question, “Mrs. Jolly, why do you always pat your tummy?”

17. A smile came across Mrs. Jolly’s face.

18. She stopped what she was doing and told the whole class that she had something to tell us. At first, I thought I was in trouble for asking why she was patting her tummy. I mean, maybe it was just always itchy.

19. She looked at the class and said, “I pat my tummy because a baby is growing inside.”

20. Why didn’t I think of that
Why didn’t I think of that? I remember when my mom had my little sister that she would pat her tummy. I guess it is a mommy thing.

21. So there you go. The mystery was solved, and I now know why my teacher always pats her tummy. She is trying to wake her baby up.

22. About Mrs. Jones I love teaching. I love to read books.
I am having a baby in April. Mrs. Rice will return to the classroom to teach you while I am not at school.
The baby is a boy.
His name is Levi.
(My students do not know about the baby.
This book is what I will use to tell them the
news next Thursday, December 18th).

23. Families Change
Families change all the time. Has your family changed? Turn and talk to tell a friend how your family has changed. Click on the picture to listen to a book called, The Berenstain Bears’ and the New Baby to find out how Papa Bear, Mama Bear and Small Bear make changes to their family.

24. How Will Our Classroom Change?
Now that you have listened to Why My Teacher Pats Her Tummy and The Berenstain Bears’ New Baby, think about how our classroom will change when I have a baby. Turn and talk to tell a friend some of the changes that will happen. Next, go back to your seats and begin writing about how our classroom family will change.

25. References
Bookshelf, Katie (2014) The berenstain bears’ new baby. Retrieved from Clipart Panda (2014). Hand. Retrieved from Microsoft word.(2014). Bag lunch. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Baby carriage. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Book. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Coat. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Face with question. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Figure with idea. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Girl with hand raised. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Math manipulative. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Restroom sign. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Sleeping face. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Toast. Retrieved from microsoft word. Microsoft word.(2014). Tummy. Retrieved from microsoft word. Strickland, L. (2014). Detective. Retrieved from Strickland, L. (2014). Mrs. Jolly’s Face. Retrieved from Strickland, L. (2014). Mrs. Jolly. Retrieved from Strickland, L. (2014). Mrs. Jolly with children. Retrieved from Toonvectors. (2014). Itchy boy. Retrieved from