This week I had the opportunity to go to a conference that explored ways of supporting children in the over-committed, highly scheduled environment we have created as our norm for childhood. Kim John Payne was our opening speaker. He made me think carefully about finding time for reflection and calm contemplation, play and imagination. He talked of traveling the world and working with children in Korea, South Africa and Somalia, as well as the United States. He said he found children in our country showing the same signs of having experienced trauma – and yet ours is society induced under the auspices of “normal.” The conference helped me recognize the gifts at our school. Things I had forgotten to notice. Thank you for all you do to support that! We are allowed to integrate curriculum and develop understanding through projects and hands-on work. We have amazing opportunities to develop curriculum to support that learners in our room – we are not required to follow a scripted program. We are able to support all learners together – we have no rooms set aside where children are sorted and taught alone. I was reminded of this just at a time when we are noticing that our time together is waning quickly. I hope we can recognize each minute for all that it is – a celebration of the wonderful things we share together and our chance to create an amazing world.
This week some of our high points were an outdoor challenge on the ropes course. This challenge required both individual focus and group collaboration to accomplish. The children needed physical strength and mental creativity to make sure the group was able to complete each part. In other words, “It was awesome.” We had the opportunity to sing America the Beautiful as part of the Memorial assembly. The song was sung in two parts with the 5th and 6th grade chorus. It sounded beautiful and we were proud to be part of this important remembrance. We worked to complete the end-of-year math assessment to share with next year’s teachers. It was challenging – but mostly good. And of course we kept reading, writing, researching, creating and solving.
Celebrating our Country
Nearly all of the children have returned their slips regarding the June 12 Parade of America. I hope all families are aware of this date and project. Almost half of the children have received the building permits for their floats. Thank you so much for your help in making this happen. We hope the building will be as much child work as possible – but we know the planning needs your help. Most of the children have identified their wonders. A few of them need help to find places that represent the wonders they have identified. For example dairy farming is important to Wisconsin – and the wonder that represents that is the National Dairy Shrine in Fort Atkinson. One thing I have noticed throughout this work is how more of the children are thinking in paragraphs as they research and take notes. They are looking for the important pieces of information and the descriptive details that will allow them to create images to share their wonders. This is a real change from the ways they organized their work and thinking for our first research project that they presented in January.
Revisiting Problem Solving Strategies
This week most of the math problems the children have been working with are from September. The children wanted to see if we could solve them with new, more efficient strategies. (We’ll be sending home LOTS of student work Tuesday after they save the samples to present in their portfolio. You’ll be amazed at all they have been doing.) We are trying to solve problems by using the standard algorithm. “Why didn’t you teach us that at the beginning?” was one comment. “It’s so much faster.” As we struggled with trading and regrouping they understood that without solid understanding of place value it is easy to get confused – especially when there are zeros to subtract from. They could see the benefit of waiting but are glad for the single step – most of the time. They are doing a great job in mastering this strategy – though some still prefer to use their fallback strategies. They are familiar and easy – though long and cumbersome.
Portfolios and Reflections
Please save some time on either June 10 between 3 and 6 pm or June 13 between 7:00 and 8:30 am for your child to share his or her portfolio with you. For the past two weeks they have been creating their pages, writing reflections to share their learning growth and accomplishment. In the next two weeks they will be adding the photographs and work samples to illustrate their words. It is pretty amazing to look through the pictures of our year. We have done a lot of things and explore many ideas, time in history and topics in science – plus we have had fun.
Bits and Pieces – Dates to Remember
Personal Safety Presentation – a puppet show to designed to help children know they should talk to their parents when situations are confusing – May 28
Storytelling from Around the World – we will be attending some of the 7th grade story presentations on June 6 from 10:15 – 11:10 on the nature trail.
Student Portfolio Share – Monday, June 10 from 3:00 to 6:00 pm
Celebration of America – Parade of the States and National Park – Wednesday, June 12 from 5:00 to 6:30 (we will try to finish earlier if at all possible)
Student Portfolio Share – Thursday, June 13 from 7:00 – 8:30 am
Volunteer Request – if you have time to share with us typing in portfolio reflections or helping children put their books together we would be very glad for that help. It could be most anytime we are in the classroom starting this Wednesday and would involve working one-on-one with a child to help him or her more easily complete our final projects. Leave a comment, send an email, just show up…
Thanks so much for all you do! Your children are wonderful. I feel very lucky to spend my days with them!
PS – Several of the children have posted book reviews on the blog – they would love comments if you have moment. There are more coming and even some revisions planned to those already posted. Thanks for checking in.