September 5, 2014

Hello Parents!

- Today, we had a good reading lesson as we reviewed what is a "just-right" book. The kids also did a  great job of filling out their reading logs and bringing them in.

- We had Morning Meeting in the garden (picnic table) , and I read hints from each child's reading log until the kids knew whose reading log it was (ex: this person is a girl in the first grade. Her name starts with a consonant. She loves "Biscuit" books. her favorite place to read is on her mom's bed. Who is she?)

- Each student carefully transplanted a spinach, brussel sprout, or  broccoli plant where our potatoes had been, and we, like the Rats of NIMH, have hope that with hard work and care, we will have yummy vegetables to eat by Halloween week.

- In 2nd grade Math, we took turns -- just 7 days into second grade --sharing something we are not yet that good at.  We listened kindly, we shared bravely, and everyone felt good to see that we all have something we have to work harder than others at. Everyone.  Each person told about something he or she good at and could help others with. We realized that this year, we will either be good at something or we'll get help from our friends to work hard and get good at something.

You can't lose! 

- Then, we ended math class with each student writing me a letter to let me know what they like and don't like about math,  what they are kind-of worried about and what they are proud of, how they feel about persisting and having to work hard to figure something out, and what they wish for this year in math. I do get so much information from each child (about learning styles, etc.) when we do this kind of inquiry at the very outset.  

- Thanks to Kylee Sevene and  Tammy Sevene (her grandma) who are helping to cut up our potatoes for Monday, we are all going to eat French fries on Monday, and we are, instead, going to call it "Fryday".  

- And the last thing to report is that after seven days of lots of review and practice of all our classroom routines and school rules, our class filled up our Buzzy Jar today with, I would say, about 200 "buzzies" -- all representing an act of kindness, safety, or responsibility by a member of our class. We celebrated by learning (or for half of our kids -- reviewing)  "Quiet Ball", our famous, kid-created, classroom-celebration game with about 110 rules. Ask your child about it

(if you've got  some time on your hands).

Have a great weekend, everyone.


Mr. B.