More new beginnings this week! Drums, Chess, Spanish…thanks for supporting TKG’s growth. Let’s get to this week in our classrooms:
Meeting Discussions: Bill of Rights! Sprouts said they have the right to learn.. How can we help each other learn? Taking turns, staying on topic, and checking in were some ideas. Can you think of other tools/responsibilities that can support our right to learn?
In the 7 to 9 classroom, we explored that when we sit up during meetings it enables us to stay engaged and offer each other the “eye-way high-way”. Students are now taking turns leading the first 2 parts of meeting (Greeting and Sharing). There is a sign-up sheet in which everyone is going to get a turn. It has been such a fabulous experience so far! Teddy introduced us to the phrase, “Were you finished talking?” during his lead this week, which has helped us to make sure each voice is heard completely.
The conversation/ argument/debate/presentation over the class pet continues. We are actually trying to figure out what the difference is between each of those interaction styles and which is most beneficial to us in making a decision about what type of pet to get. There are those in favor of lizards and those in favor of hamsters. The option of getting both has also been added to the mix. Isabella has been gathering important information at home, which has inspired our class to take her research lead in order to support their opinions. Next week I will meet with small groups in order to help them create their presentation.
Since we are still in the midst of making a decision, the agreement is that at the park, we can “catch-and-release” the lizards using our hands (to avoid severing any lizard limbs with sharp containers) in order to fully enjoy the thrill of interacting with nature in this way. Hayden taught us how to do this in a way that is still fun as well as safe for the lizard.
Math: Counting Collections! We are preparing for opening studio by counting items and determining if we needed more, if they are ok to take home, or not. Aiel and Anna counted 31 scissors and then sorted the craft scissors and regular scissors. Kai and Tomomi counted 420 buttons and thought we have enough buttons. Lucas counted 89 speedy squares. Delaney counted 23 crayons. Zara and Lucas counted 64 glass beads. Tillie and Kai counted 38 wood blocks/bars. Maiya has currently counted 157 markers and will continue her plan next week. Anna and Lucas counted 29 red pom poms, but more were found so the following day Anna counted 88 pom poms total. Alex counted 21 names on our pocket chart. Jaiden, Lucas, Tillie, Anna, and Michelle worked together to count 93 color blocks! Some students were frustrated that their estimated number was not correct. We briefly discussed, and will dive deeper into estimation next week.
downstairs: This week we took our playfulness to counting collections with a tie to our read-aloud book, The Hoboken Chicken Emergency. Students counted “chicken claws”, “chicken poop” and “magical, miniature eggs.” Students were encouraged to compose their number by counting the objects in groups of 2’s, 5’s or 10’s and then decompose their number by identifying how many tens. Simone taught her partner how to do some mental math by taking the 2 from a 12 and then adding 8 to get to 20. It helped them count even quicker!
Language topics: Punctuation! How does punctuation change the tone of voice? What voices do we like, what voices do we not like? While reading our books this week we looked for periods, questions marks, and exclamation points. We even said “Good Morning?” as our greeting. We will work on character development and punctuation next week.
Language topics downstairs:
Our students continue to love their books! As a group, we have begun to share the reading strategies that we have and the ones we are working on. Zoe knows how to skip and word and come back to figure out what a word is by getting a sense of the context. Madison has begun to work on a strategy when reading an unfamiliar, difficult word- flipping the sound- to try and figure out which one makes sense. At home- ask your child what they do to help them understand what they read.
Books and conversations:
Yo! Yes? by Chris Raschka: punctuation, feelings, making friends, and so much more was discussed. And this book containing only 19 different words!
A Big Guy Took My Ball! and Should I Share My Ice Cream? by Mo Millems: Thank you Alexander for donating these books on your birthday! We loved reading them and discussing punctuation, sharing, the illustrations, size and weather. We will add them to our Mo Willems collection and revisit often.
Parents, when reading to your child ask them about the punctuation and play with tone of voice.
Emerging interests: Making “gypsy” skirts just like the ones at the drum circle. Making a stove and adding to our restaurant area. Book making, publishing, and Story Congress (sharing our books at meeting). Tight rope walking??
Downstairs:
Bennett, Teddy and Hayden-Creating their own video game worlds, comics
Hayden- building structures
Simone, Zoe, Maddie, Isabella- developing characters for a mystical game of witches, shape-shifters , creating a snail habitat and labeling snail behavior (such as mating- which the students are describing as two snails who want to be together, right next to each other, or get married)
Social Emotional: We are working on using voices that we all agree upon and giving each other space. As Sydney put it, “not getting in my grill.” We are working on using “I messaging” in order to preserve and encourage new relationships, instead of “You are…”
For example: “I feel mad when you took the book from my hands.” Instead of “You are mean.”
Social Emotional
-What do we do when a friend is having big feelings about something we have done, accidentally, to hurt their feelings? Activity- Brainstorm ways to repair with a friend as well as how to give someone space
-How do I stay focused on my plan, even when my friend is choosing something else? Activity- talk about what words we can say to our friend, like, “Let’s do that later.” Or “When I’m done, I will…” or “I’ll be there when I’m done.”
-How do I keep the flow in the classroom? Activity-continue to explore ripple effects with water as well as flow blockage.
Thank you for making the time to join our monthly parent meeting. Your connection is instrumental to building this community.
Thanks for your open and thoughtful shares at Parent Teacher Meeting. We are so grateful for you.
