September Review...

What an incredible month!  You're children are bright, funny, kind, and curious.  Together they are learning (and continue to learn) what it means to be cooperative, assertive, responsible, and empathetic.  These traits are part of our social learning curriculum and I have to say that your children are demonstrating their understanding of this learning everyday.  Below is just one example of the many ways your children are synthesizing their learning.  

Alex happily volunteers to help Samuel fix his zipper.

Mrs. Wrigley's joins us for a bug movie.

We are also wrapping up our bug unit.  Let me just tell you, your children know insects.  They know body parts, behavior, bug types, how to classify and sort them, not to mention the rich vocabulary they've gained.  Words like, thorax, abdomen, mandible, undulate, were and continue to be used in our classroom.  Again, showing a pretty solid understanding of what they're learning.  We incorporated the bug theme into our writing, reading, math, and social studies curriculum.  In fact, on Friday, the children started to research bugs using a number of informational books we have and wrote about them.   

Sophie, Idy, and Sienna play a "cooperative" game during Guidance Class.

The children continue to explore and talk about feelings, trust, bullying, and anger with Shannon Baker during their Friday Guidance Class. These discussions include role playing, modeling examples the many different ways to show anger, their experiences with being bullied, and the difference between a "tattle" verses helping someone who might get hurt, to name a few.  This is a great forum for them to safely and respectfully listen to and share what they're feeling.

Seth and Samuel help each other out.

I can't tell you how much I love the Bridges Math Program.  More importantly, your children are having fun and learning during the many components of our math time.  During Number Corner we go over the calendar, noting patterns, counting and grouping by 5's and 10's, singing the days of the week, counting the months of the year (they've learned that September is the 9th month), visually manipulating tiles to show groups of 5's and 10's and how to count them and a Daily Challenge that includes number stories, telling time, counting money, and again, identifying groups of 5's and 10's.  After that, we have Math Work Places where they explore at a workplace of their choice: bug sorting, coordinate games, geoboards, pentomino building, estimating games, geometry creations, and unifix cubes.  It's an incredible part of our day, as the children have the freedom to explore and discover various math concepts.  In a word: it's JOYFUL!

One of our Math Work Places includes Geoboards.  Sophie made a mustache.  This is the shot WITHOUT  the steam circles under her nostrils.

The Geoboard work place is wildly popular.

Dilly makes a multilayered creation.  The exploration the kids do during this time is fabulous.  Each workplace offers something for all types of learners.

"Samuel NOT Sam" recycles his name tag from kindergarten and fashions a lovely crown with it to wear on his head, as a gentle visual reminder for me to STOP CALLING HIM "SAM" .  It worked...  This is one resourceful and innovative guy.  I laughed for days... 

Idy, Ethan, Pilar, and Emily sort bugs during Math Work Place time.  Clearly, they are not having fun...  ;D 

Sofa Lofa notes her geoboard creation reminded her of a Picasso painting.  

I agree, although you have to tilt your head to the right (I couldn't rotate it).

Our first NAP adventure of the year.  What an incredible day of learning, discovery, and fun.  We started with a picnic lunch at Hubbard Park.

 The Nature Adventure Program has gotten off to an incredible start.  The bug discovery and learning in our classroom, seamlessly carried over into a magical day in Hubbard Park.  It was one of the best days I've ever experienced as a teacher.  I had the pleasure of observing your children demonstrating what they've learned and taking it to another level by asking questions, independently seeking answers, and sharing their new discoveries all with a sense of awe, wonder, and excitement.  This was a day of learning in its purest form.  Something to behold...

After playing games in the field, we broke into groups and went bug hunting.  Our group found a "smug slug."

Maxine, Alexander, Samuel, and Pilare observe the slug with their magnifying glasses.  They note the absence of a thorax.

After turning many a stone, we then find the "Mother Load", enthusiastically noted by Alexander. 

Dilly and Owen gently observe a number of aphids on some goldenrod.

Samuel thanks the woods during our closing circle.

Sienna shares something she learned during the closing.

Owen gets a turn with the talking stick.
(Angela, you must print and frame this picture!) 

Seth too...
(another beautiful photo)

The following week, we make bug snacks.

Alahna makes sure that hers insect has six legs.

Alexander, hungry bird that he is, gets ready to eat his insect.

"Mr. Bleau" (aka: Bleu French), who subbed for Bonnie this week, provided a rousing musical interlude for us on Friday.  (I'm going to try to upload the video for the "One Meatball"  and a train song).

The children were a wonderful audience.  He was even able to improvise and compose a "directions" diddy for us.  I'm thinking it might be a fun idea for the class to write and compose some songs about numbers, phonics, bugs, lining up songs,  listening songs...  the possibilities are endless.

One of our favorite bug activities was creating bug costumes from random craft supplies and things donated from home.  The creativity and focus was astounding.  We then went on a bug parade around the school and shared our creations.