Sakiko and Dulce’s Class Notes

As our first two weeks have unfolded, the children have moved beyond their initial jitters and embraced the year with joyful smiles, budding friendships, and a growing sense of belonging. We have been busy getting to know one another, learning our daily routines, and enjoying plenty of laughter and silly moments along the way.

Our days have been filled with opportunities for shared experiences. We have enjoyed several read-alouds, including Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller, The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi, and Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett, among others. We have also splashed in the pool together, diving for sharks and swimming laps! These experiences have helped us get to know one another and consider the kind of classroom community we want to create.

Together, the children created classroom expectations that will help everyone do their best learning and feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and sharing their ideas. It has been so wonderful to see how thoughtfully they have embraced our classroom agreement. They are already proving to be a kind, caring, and hardworking group. I have begun meeting individually with each child to learn more about their strengths, interests, and areas for growth. These conversations will help guide our work together in the weeks ahead.

In October, we will be going apple picking, which will be a perfect way to celebrate our newly formed classroom community. We are excited for all that this wonderful group of children will discover, create, and share together this year!