Marybeth & Lora’s Class Notes

The first six weeks of school, more or less, are spent establishing guidelines, routines, and rituals, building a sense of community, forming friendships, and otherwise setting up a successful school year. These weeks are essential in making sure that all students feel safe, happy, and supported. From sharing their feelings at our morning meeting to creating our classroom rules, they are learning that they have important contributions to make and that their voices matter. These first weeks are also a time for teachers to get to know the academic, social, and emotional needs of their students. We have been busy assessing each individual child so that we can plan for the year ahead.

This past week we began our writing workshop where our young authors began illustrating, dictating and/or printing their first books of the year. Our reading workshop was launched with a grand opening of our classroom library, where all students were able to select books and snuggle down under our classroom “tree” to enjoy them.

Last week we had a “soft launch” of our cycle study, where the children observed and listened to a record played on a turntable. They speculated as to where the music came from, why the record spun, and how the machine worked. We then brainstormed other things that similarly rotate. The children were quick to note everything from wheels and merry-go-rounds, to planets. We will continue to build on this introduction in the coming weeks as we link this more specifically to cycles in nature.

Woven throughout our days are wonderful books, art projects, and monarchs, monarchs, monarchs! The children were particularly enamored with a book we read called Unbound; The Life and Art of Judith Scott. Judith was born with Down syndrome, and was deaf and nonverbal. She was also a talented textile artist. Inspired by her work, the children made their own “wrapped sculptures” using yarn, twine, fabric, and other materials. Be sure to take a look at their beautiful work, which is on display near our block area.