So Much To Share!

Hello First Grade Families!

I'm sandwiching this post with two images from my weekend walks.  Nature is so beautiful and inspiring, it's hard not to share the moments.  The last photo is of some bananas growing in my neighborhood- cool way they grow, eh?  Also at the end, I will post two links of little videos that we watched this week about Hawaii and volcanoes!

This week has started off with a lot of fun.  If you haven't stopped into our room lately, please try to come and check it out.  We have some new things going up.  The posters are becoming masterpieces of personality and special information.  I can't wait to see them all up.  Friends' choices of what they include in their poster to share about themselves has been lovely.  Here's a sneak peek into a few.  The first image is work in progress of part of Henry's poster.  He is including his new baby brother and using the birth announcement we have up in our room as a reference.  Lovely!

This week we've also begun measuring how long and tall the animals are that the students have chosen to investigate.  We are using yarn to depict the sizes we are measuring.  The students were amazed to see how big some of these animals are.  It is great to see this in context with normal things in our lives.  We will continue to add to this work.  The photos don't do justice, you may have to come in to see it yourself! :)

Thank you for the homework that has been coming in.  It was a beautiful moment when Ocean asked Rainli what inspired her coin homework and Rainli said that it was Joey's homework the previous day.  Ideas beget ideas.  Inspiration comes from all places.  These students love to share their ideas and creativity.  Each offering has helped others to think new thoughts.  Keep the ideas flowing from home to school and back again! Here are some examples of homework:

This week we received another presidential report from Silas on Bill Clinton.  Here's a look at our time line so far.  A few friends have their eye on doing another.  It's been quite interesting hearing about the presidents and see what info the students chose to share.  Which president will go up on the wall next?

And finally, last Friday we were invited to the fifth grade for a special presentation about natural desasters and preparedness.    The students put together different styles of presentations and our class circulated listening to all of these.  It was neat to see their creativity and the way they put information together.  There will be a raffle for a well-stocked emergency kit that this group of students put together- Check it out!

Thank you for everything!  Love, Jennifer

An overview video of Hawaii

A more scientific video of Hawaii's islands!

Thank you for all your support and love!

Hello First Grade Families!

Thank you so much to all of you who send sympathy emails and made a point to check on me to see how I'm doing.  I really appreciate all of your love and thoughtfulness.  It was a surreal time, full of family togetherness, love, laughter, tears and stories.  I feel so lucky to have had such an inspirational grandmother and to have known her so well, for so long.  So much of who I am is from her as an inspiring model.  Here are a few photos to share with you.

Last week was a nice time back together.  I know the students were very excited to share stories and memories from their spring break adventures.  Silas and Hannah Eileen shared photos as well.  The class is so curious and interested.  They always have many and interesting questions for each other.  Here are a few inspiring images from Hannah Eileen's vacation:

We have taken some time to stop and get to know each other again.  We have had many new friends join us in the last many months, as well as many new interestes coming up as we grow.  The students have been creating their own poster about themselves to share some things they like.  The posters have been a source of many important work time strategies.  The group is connected to the idea of sharing their work time tips with each other.  Here are a few.

Another step in this process has been for each student to be interviewed by a peer.  The students have practiced getting ready to present information by taking notes while they had the interview discussions.  We have begun these presentations about each student.   It's been nice to connect over simple stories and interests.

We have added a daily ritual recently which I am not sure I have shared yet.  We are using coins to calculate the quantity that is the same as the date.  This daily practice, along with our other activities and games has brought more awareness and comfort in using coins.  Keep up the practice and discussion!

And finally, we enjoyed my instruments from around the world this week.  The students have such descriptive language.  They explained the way these instruments may have been made, what sounds they make and the subtle differences between similar instruments.  On another day, we formed groups of like instruments and the teams planned a musical presentation.  This took teamwork, collaboration and listening.  Here are are a few memories from the fun.

Thank you for sharing your children with me.  Love, Jennifer

Bees and other fun homework!

Hello Families!

Thank you for all your support these last few weeks.  Here is a quick post to share possible home work and the link to the video that we watched on Friday.  We watched from about minute 2 to the moment when the queen bee heads out to reproduce.  It is an interesting Nova video, one which you may want to watch in entirety first to be able to support your child with any questions they may have.  The students are so interested in how animals and nature works!

Click here to go to the video!

Here are some fun homework options if your child is interested or you want some family fun:

~Make an instrument and then write instructions on how to make it.  Include what you will need as well as the steps to go about making your special piece.  Finally, give your instrument a special and descriptive name.

~Write down what you know about coins

~Practice summing up the quantities of a handful of coins

~Draw a diagram about the information from the bee video, "Tales from the Hive".  Show the steps involved in a process or share information in a graphic and interesting way.

~Bring photos from a recent trip or share something you discovered or learned over the weekend!

Have a fun weekend!  Love, Jennifer