Monday – Windy but sunny
The week began with Robotics, which is progressing nicely. Our team made a special appearance giving our other engineers a chance to experiment with team materials and to learn from those who have more experience. Tracy set up a project to sew mittens that became little turkey puppets. Students revisited the quilt project as well.
Many students finished up their stories and composed their books. There was a great deal of excitement and jitters as they prepare for Author’s Showcase. While our older students practiced their presentations the youngest painted and decorated their scenery and props. They collected straw and glued it on the roof and cut out rocks and sticks to glue onto the hut. They practiced their lines and considered stage fright and other worries they were grappling with.
In Science the youngest students continued their study of fossils. This is a continuation of their study of rocks, minerals. Our older students recapped the debate considering the challenges they faced, the compromises they made and the reason for the outcome.
Tuesday – Sunny and cold
This morning students finished their book covers. Some drew pictures while others used collage materials. Several children put finishing touches on their stories and prepared for their presentation. They have come to understand that an author’s work is never done. Children also tended to their math working in small groups and individually.
We hosted a packed audience for Author’s Showcase. The younger group presented a show titled Who’s in Rabbits House? They used their masks and instruments as part of the show. The middle group wrote either realistic fiction or fantasy. Each child presented and read a small “teaser” section of their story. The older group presented their research papers. They explained their topic, their reason for choosing it and interesting ideas and facts they learned along the way. All of the children gathered at the end for a short question and answer session. During our first 10 weeks of reading and writing students engage in a variety of positive activities. As we progressed they were more likely to analyze, synthesize and integrate ideas from various sources including peers, teachers, other authors and researchers. Most of our writers seemed to gain and develop personal, social, practical and academic skills as they became more engaged in their work. We are very proud of their writing and their presentations.
Wednesday – Sunny and mild
This morning we cooked Gumbo for lunch. The children worked in small groups, with Rich cutting, chopping, measuring and mixing. They cooked a Shrimp and a Vegetarian Gumbo. They also made garlic bread and learned how to prepare a roux and Beignets, which are simply deep fried dough covered in powdered sugar.
When they were not in the kitchen, the students did their math, practiced guitar, played card games, estimated and measured objects using Unifix cubes, built symmetrical patterns with tangrams and played our directions game. Ask your child to teach you this game at home.
During writing, our older students read and discussed each other’s final papers. Our youngest students reviewed the play they performed at Author’s Showcase. They re-read their own stories then brought them home. Our middle group recapped their writing experience, talked about their next writing genre, memoir, and began to hash out some story ideas. Karen continued reading Tuck Everlasting diagramming the story, considering new words and focusing on the scheme that was unveiled.
Thursday – Cloudy with light rain
Most students started their day with math. After finishing, many of the younger students played cards, speaking Italian or created beaded jewelry focusing on the blending of materials. Some of the students played Bugeye, a four-player chess game using two boards.
Many students met to discuss a Nestles project. They have terrific ideas about new and improved products they would like to create including a carbonated tea, apple flavored ice cream and a completely edible, packaged, make-your-own dessert. After lunch, Matt led us in a game of Blob in the gym.
During our Reading/Writing period the older students played a word game making sentences from seemingly random nouns and verbs. They enjoyed this game so much that they repeated it twice. One student even tried to use all the words to create a paragraph that made sense. The middle group continued reading Tuck Everlasting while the younger group began writing again.
During Science the older students considered a cloud contained and manipulated in a bottle. They learned pressure influences water molecules dictating whether they condense on dust particles or not. The younger group created their own fossils from items found in the classroom. They plan to challenge older students to identify these “fossils”. They also found time to listen to and discuss a new book, My Rotten Red-Headed Brother. This book highlights sibling struggles and love.
During Art Kadi presented a mini-lesson with oil pastels. The kids enjoyed blending colors and learned about gradation in color and the blending of opposites. The younger kids found charcoal and explored its’ chalky qualities versus the qualities of the oil pastels.
We hosted an open house for prospective students. Visiting parents spent time in our classrooms and met with Karen, teachers and Kietha Biggers who volunteered to be on hand. We fielded a lot of questions and considered the concern presented. So many parents are growing tired of the packaged curriculum and impersonal approach that their children and they encounter day after day. In the coming weeks we will continue to welcome parents and their children as they make their decisions. Our next formal open house is December 11th.
Friday – Foggy morning, light rain
During Reading and Writing students continued their writing exercise from yesterday. They followed with reading and then played a few rounds of hangman.
The younger kids worked on their writing and then some read Bob Books either independently or to each other. A group used cardboard letters to form some of the words from they saw in their books. Watercolors were open in Art and watercolor crayons and pencils were introduced. These produce a more solid line of color that can then be blended into the background.
Many kids picked up their guitars and practiced songs with each other. Kadi taught students how to search for guitar tabs online and how to read them once found. They learned what the notation for “sliding” from one note to the next looks like as well as the notation to “hammer on” and “pull off” a note. We have missed music class for the past 2 weeks due to the debate and the Showcase, but students have continued their studies in both small and large grous during independent time.
