Happy holiday wishes to one and all!
We've accomplished a lot in the last few months, and I'm looking forward to reporting more extraordinary accomplishments in the months to come.
Let's review the year so far:
August: Classroom procedures and regulations posted and practiced (and practiced and practiced....). Tests administered to collect information on our students and how they learn.
September: Learning to write well, speaking with confidence, learning ways to be a better friend, reviewing math concepts, engaging in energy science in hands-on ways that make sense, learning about Argentina.
October: Our poetry studies culminating with the Cider House, studying the history of our country, learning long division and multiple-digit multiplication, algebraic equations, how to write with more detail, how to have fun while learning, remembering that effort is crucial for the class to progress.
November: Thanksgiving memories, history and projects that showed how our Native Americans lived in the 1600s. Making pesto with basil from our garden. Reading Walk Two Moons, a novel written by Sharon Creech, a famous children's book author and grandmother of student, Pearl.
December: Lessons in history, mostly with our teacher assistant, Ms. Houston, who brings the birth of the United States to the students with her wonderful delivery. She entices the students to discover the myriad influences of European countries in the making of our great country and how it was complicated and messy.
We also finished Walk Two Moons, and when it was done some students said it made them want to cry. I was actually about to cry! We'll spend some time digesting the themes and vocabulary in the weeks to come.
We also did an amazing job with our fundraiser and will receive a Veggie U kit in the next few weeks. The children will grow vegetables in the classroom, get into worm culture and eat a lot of great food! This is a nutrition and farming curriculum that ties into our schoolyard garden in a big way!
We had a party today in the afternoon. Thank you parents for bringing and sending in all the treats. I'm glad I scheduled the party for the end of the day because with the dancing, hooting and hollering, I don't know if we would have been able to do anything else otherwise! Your kids were jamming to the music, singing the lyrics and having a great time. I got a lot pleasure watching (and sometimes dancing) them!
Also, thank you for the gift card to Acacia Bistro and the $50 in cash. You shouldn't have! My job is to teach, guide and love. Simple. The love I get back from you and your children is priceless!
Ok, now we'll set our sights on the New Year. We'll continue with fractions and decimals in January in preparation for the next paced assessment on January 22nd (I think). We'll start literature circles where students will read various novels in small groups. We'll get more active with our energy studies and continue our study of the human body. We'll continue social studies with the making of the US with the American Revolution looming before too long.
I'd like to take a moment to say a hearty goodbye and godspeed to Emily and her family who were with us at John Eaton for only five weeks. They hail from Australia and were in the US for four months teaching and learning at universities and elementary schools in the region. Thanks so much for your presence and contribution to our global community. We'll miss you. Please stay in touch!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR! MAY ALL YOUR DREAMS FOR 2012 COME TRUE.
