Cooperative Learning and Fairy Houses

This afternoon we were able to get outside for some cooperative learning opportunities.  We broke up into small groups and built fairy houses on the hiking trails!  Students worked together to decide where their houses should go, how and what to gather for materials and then to build them!  Now all that's left is for the fairy's to move in!

 

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all the parents who came to our curriculum night this evening.  We know how hard it is to make time in your busy schedules and we appreciate your support!  Here is a link to our mindfulness video.  Enjoy!   

Mindfulness Video

THE GREAT ZUCCHINI RELAY

Fun was had by all at today's Zucchini Relay.  We ran, we laughed, we had fun!  Thanks to everyone who donated their especially large veggies (fruit ;) )

THANK YOU!

A BIG thank you to Aoife's grandma for coming in to share a story with us. Come again soon!

TEAMWORK

Students have been working together to create a project to share with parents at curriculum night next week.  We hope to see you there!

This Past Week

Wow we've had a busy week.  Here are some of the highlights.

In reading students are just beginning to learn how to pick "just right" book for our book bins.  I will be starting reading assessments this week and once they are complete books will start coming home each night.

Students continue to write about small moments during writers workshop.  We read the mentor text Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon which helps show students that ideas for small moments are all around them.  We are working on using the "writing process" which includes thinking of a topic, stretching it across fingers, sketching it across pages and then writing the words across pages.

In math we have been talking about the difference between digits and numbers.  We also began a discussion on place value and what that means.  Students will be working on showing their thinking and writing equations to match their thinking.

Students continue to practice their breathing during core practice.  The idea is to concentrate only on their breathing and nothing else.  I am impressed with how students have taken to core practice and look forward to CP time during the day.

We also read the book Have you filled a bucket today.  The story talks about how everyone has an invisible bucket and that being kind and helping others helps fill other peoples buckets as well as their own.  Students then drew pictures and chose words that filled their own buckets.

On friday we were able to get into the garden and pick some vegetables!  We found orange and purple carrots, onions, beets, cucumbers, and much more.  It was a fantastic time.  Thank you Carol, Sarah and Michael for volunteering your time to help us!

Enjoy your week and we hope to see you for our harvest lunch!

Cooperative Games

What do you think happens when you ask 35 first and second graders to line up from tallest to smallest without talking?

I'll tell you what happens.....They do it! 

First they brainstormed strategies:

     "I think we should break up into smaller groups"

       " Maybe we could use our hands to help us talk to each other"

       "We can check heights in our smaller groups then pair up with another group"

 

Then they helped each other in their small groups

Finally they put all their groups together

 

Wow!  Nice work first and second graders!!!!!