Hola y bienvenidos a Marzo! This week I wanted to share with you a broader view of our overall classroom experiences. I hope this summary helps you to see the over arching concepts we are working on and helps you to support your nature grower’s learning at home.
QUICK NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
– Tending the Garden:Sign Up for Parent Conference by Wednesday & Meet Yvonne Buckley on Thurs
– Parent Teacher Corner: Parent Support Group this Wed & Thinker Fair and Scientific Inquiry Resource
– TKG Business: Re-Enrollment Contract due by Friday & last Enrollment Info Night Info
– Ed News Resource: What does it mean to raise “successful” children?
– Parenting Pearl: Daylight Savings (forward) is this Sunday morning. Start inching morning/evening routines so the change is hardly noticed!
Word Wizard – We are exploring short fictional stories called fables. We have focused on identifying, within the story:
- characters
- setting
- plot (problem & solution)
We have also discussed the authors purpose of a fable. Through reflective conversations about the “lesson” the author is portraying in their story, we are building our reading comprehension skills.
Word Wizard happens every day from approximately 10 to 11am within Open Flow. It is TKG’s way of teaching and experiencing: spelling, phonics and discreet grammar skills.
Writing Workshop – Students are continuing to work on their biographies. Like most long term projects, student are working at their own pace, and are at various phases. Some students are researching and collecting their data; Others are creating a representation of their research (diorama, poster, slideshow, etc.). A few students are at the final stage where they will be writing a summative speech about their biography project, which they will share with their peers. Following are their biography subjects:
- Maiya – Abraham Lincoln
- Zara – Alan B. Shepard
- Alex – Albert Einstein
- Anna – Amelia Earhart
- Zack – Bo Jackson
- Aiel – Carrie Fisher
- Sydney – Jennifer Gardner
- Sophia – Kristi Yamaguchi
- Mia – Mia Wilkoff
- Lucas – Mike Trout
- TiIlie – Samantha Peszek
- Jaiden – Shannon Minor
Writing Workshop is a regular open flow time that puts the focus on a whole language approach to literacy.
Math Lab – In our differentiated math groups we have been learning:
- double & triple digit addition and subtraction
- place value
- multiplication
- money
We have enjoyed using our imagination to create our own stores, merchandise, and prices. We then use these stores to “shop” and create math problems.
TKG draws inspiration from the Contexts for Learning Math tools in developing projects to meet the interests and needs of our mathematicians. This is also an Open Flow component that sees students joining highly personalized groups that closely match their academic and social/emotional readiness.
Deep Learning/Innovation Lab – For the last couple of weeks we have been learning about the circulatory system, and have worked with partners to create a heart model out of recycled materials. Two groups were able to complete their heart models this week, and shouts of joy and congratulations were heard throughout our classroom!
This week, the nature growers also enjoyed:
- Welcoming Zack (and his family) to our community and classroom
- Learning to bake delicious madeleines with Gabi (Rafa’s mom)
- Listening and discussing 3-D printing with the Redwoods
- Writing birthday notes, singing happy birthday and celebrating Jaiden, Mia, Ami, and Bennet’s birthday (yes, all in one week!)
- Face time – Spanish (practicing common greetings and phrases) or theater with Autumn
A favorite time of the day, deep learning is where all of our knowledge, expert through novice comes together to help us refine our creative thinking, adaptability and grit – all the while practicing authenticity and getting to know our growth edges and our talents a little more.
Con Amor,
Yvette