Students in the middle grades this year are exploring how the United States went from mainly states on the east coast to spreading across the continent. We started off this unit with a look at maps. We discussed the 13 Colonies victory against England and what that meant for the young nation. We then started Read More >>
Archives for November 2018
Little House Read Aloud
The younger and middle group of students have listened to the book Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. While listening to the book, we made a chart of interesting words and the main characters that we heard about. We also got a chance to make butter, visit the pioneer museum at Read More >>
Listening Center
Once a week the youngest students listen to a book on tape. As they listen they copy the title of the book and start drawing a favorite scene in the book. Some of the titles they have listened to this year include: Thidwick the Big Hearted Moose, Blueberries for Sal, Snowy Day, The Velveteen Rabbit and A Chair for My Mother.
Ten Black Dots
The Kindergartners listened to the book Ten Black Dots by Donald Crews. After reading, counting dots and discussing each page, students have been working on making their own Ten Blue Dots Book. During each class, students get to work on a page or two by drawing their picture with the dots, copying some words off Read More >>
1 + 6 = 7 Centers
Every day the Kindergarten students play games to practice their math skills. These games are played with a teacher or an older student. Children have been working on a number of skills including addition to ten. To practice these skills they have played games like Make 5 Bingo, Ten’s Go Fish, Six of a Kind Read More >>
ABC Centers
Our youngest students typically have an ABC center once a day. During this time they play language arts games with a teacher or an older student. Sometimes the activities involve all three Kindergarten students, sometimes one other student and sometimes the game is played one-on-one. This fall the children have been learning and practicing recognizing Read More >>
Animal Habitat
Our world is a magical place. Students in Kindergarten through 3rd grade have been exploring the unique qualities of each of the seven continents. First we looked at maps of the world, showing the seven continents, and then we made our own map. After each child was assigned a continent they read books learning about Read More >>
Writing Prompts/Writing Skills
This fall, a group of 3rd and 4th graders were assigned to two writing classes during journal time. Writing Prompts was designed to help these reluctant writers develop creative ideas and to get their ideas on paper. At our school children have a half hour of writing each day, during which time they can Read More >>
Vanessa Johnson Griot
We were thrilled to invite Vanessa Johnson back to our school as a mystery guest in late October 2018. Vanessa introduced herself as a griot, which is a West African historian, storyteller, praise singer, poet, or musician. Griots consider themselves as a repository of oral tradition. Her story telling talents are extraordinary. We invited her in Read More >>