On Halloween the whole school gets into the spirit by creating skits based on their costumes. The skits had to include music, props, and be non-violent. In addition they were challenged to have at least one of the characters immigrate! You might ask what do a panda, a bounty hunter, Hiccup from How to Train Read More >>
Imagine
After defining the word ‘imagine’ the older students listened to John Lennon’s song, Imagine. They then shared what they thought John Lennon was saying in the song. They described what he believed. Then students watched a part of the closing ceremonies of the Olympics where the same song was performed. Students shared why they thought Read More >>
Biography Book Club
Students in this book club read a biography of their choosing over the summer. When they returned to school this fall, they had to answer questions about their biography and create a poster advertising a speaking engagement by the subject of their biography. Students then had to write a paragraph summarizing the book and create Read More >>
Hope in my Heart
Four children have been reading “Hope in my Heart,” a diary written by Kathryn Lasky from the My America series. They have been developing new vocabulary using context clues to help understand words we aren’t sure of. Each class we have a discussion to ensure comprehension. The novels they’ve Read More >>
Writing Workshop using Wordless Picture Books
Third grade students have been discussing the stages of writing and practicing prewriting and drafting. For the first prewriting class we created a story map as a class using a picture book without words. This gave the students an opportunity to see how to begin writing a well organized story. Read More >>
Lyle the Crocodile
Students in Kindergarten and First Grade are exploring the fun of Bernard Waber’s loveable crocodile, Lyle. Each week we read a Lyle book and then draw and write about one part of the book. Students love predicting what will happen in the story from the pictures, discussing vocabulary and drawing their own pictures for each Read More >>
Highland Forest in October
Twice a year the students at The New School camp out overnight at Highland Forest. It is a magical two days at Pines Camp. On Thursday night parents join us for a potluck dinner and songs around the campfire. On our Thursday hike, after reading a book about birds nests, we challenged children to create Read More >>
Children making and giving gifts
Every year children randomly are assigned another student to make a gift for. When they present their gifts they share an appreciation which explains why they made the gift. In the picture above a child is being presented with a handmade joke book. Other gifts included a board game about whales, a model of a Read More >>
Shakespeare visits
Shakespeare visited the school to share his life story, to answer questions and to listen to the older students recite their monologues from Macbeth, Midsummers Night’s Dream, The Tempest and Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare also listened to a song students wrote and admired the replica of The Globe which they designed and built. ShakespeareWritten by Read More >>
Read Aloud
At the end of every day, we schedule time for Read Aloud. During this time a teacher reads to a small group of students. Students often choose to draw in their sketchbooks as they listen. The groups change according to the book we read. At the beginning of the year we split into two mixed Read More >>