Writing to Make the World Better! Last week, we launched our Opinion Writing Unit. We read the Lorax and talked about how he cared a whole awful lot about the trees. We started talking about problems around us that we care a whole awful lot about, remembering back to our field trip to the Gates Visitors Center. Then we thought about how we could use our writing to try to help ~ to make these problems better. We will continue this exploration as we begin our 2nd PBL project this week... | Exciting Days Ahead... Friday, February 13th, we will celebrate Valentines' Day. Rosa (Xabi's mom) is planning a party, and students will also have an opportunity to participate in a valentine exchange. If your child chooses to bring cards it must be for the whole class. I am attaching a list of student names to help you prepare. Students will pass out their valentines after PE (at 2:10) and then our party will start at 3:00, when the students come in from afternoon recess. Family members are always welcome.
On Monday, February 18th we will return from Mid-Winter Break (February 16th & 17th) to celebrate the 100th Day of School. This is a pretty big deal in kindergarten, involving a day full of fun activities! Students are asked to bring 100 of something from home that they can display for our 100 things gallery walk. Start talking to your student about what they want to bring. You can send the 100 things in on the 100th day or, if you are like me and worry that you will forget the day after break, you can send them in sometime next week for me to hold on to. If you do forget, don't worry. I will have some backup collections to share. 2-Dimensional & 3-Dimensional Shapes This week, we will launch Chapter 7 of our Math In Focus curriculum, focusing on learning the properties of both 2-D and 3-D shapes. We will learn the names of both types of shapes and how they are similar and different from each other. We will pay attention to the edges, faces and vertexes (or corners) of these shapes. Our 2nd math menu will allow students to develop these geometry concepts by engaging in activities that will allow them to explore, feel, draw and build 2-D and 3-D shapes. |
Launching PBL Project #2 ~ How Can We Use Our Creativity To Help?
In November, we visited the Gates Visitors Center and learned about some problems in our world. The visit allowed us the be aware of the problems and how they are affecting people, as well as some ways that people are using their creativity to help. Our new PBL project will dive deeper into this work, helping the kids learn more about the problems they care a whole awful lot about and explore ways they can use their creativity to help. We will focus on two specific ways to help ~ raising awareness and finding potential solutions.
This week, we will continue to think of problems we see in the world and in the community. Problems don't have to be BIG. As Martin Luther King said, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."
This week, we will continue to think of problems we see in the world and in the community. Problems don't have to be BIG. As Martin Luther King said, "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."
Sharing our learning with others |
SEL ~ Explicitly Teaching Social Thinking Concepts
As a pre-cursor to our Zones of Regulation curriculum we have been reading "The Incredible Flexible You" series. These books are explicitly teaching the Social Thinking concepts and vocabulary that we often assume kids just know. They have been great for our class meeting discussions, allowing us to develop some common language together around these important concepts.
Our thoughts and our feelings are connected. Thoughts are in our brains and feelings are in our hearts. The characters in the book show how we have thoughts when we are alone and thoughts when others are around us. Other people have thoughts and feelings, too. Our behavior affects the way others think and feel. |
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What happens when you are with some friends and you all decide on a "group plan" and then one friend decides to do their own plan? Oops! This book points out that It is hurtful to the group effort to go off and do your own plan when you have already decided as a group that you are going to work together. | We have been working on this one a lot already! What does it look like to be a whole body listener? Whole body listening it when your eyes, ears, mouth, hands, arms, legs, and feet are all calm and quiet. When you are listening to someone with your WHOLE body, it makes you and your friend happy. |