Magic Number 7`

We started the week focusing on peer revising for sentence fluency and writing introductions for our kite reports. All completed the finishing touches on their kites, wrote final drafts of their reports, and touched up a few bird study entries all in time for Big Circle on Friday. Red Fox Clanners helped arrange the exhibit hall and chose how to hang/display their kites. Each student did a phenomenal job taking turns reading their reports and nature journal entries. Congratulations to the Red Fox Clan! After a special guest's visit on Tuesday afternoon, we will turn our attention toward Ancient Greece and its contribution to flight.

Students began new topics in math and continue to learn and practice material with efficiency. We spent time as a whole group developing composition and decomposition strategies while completing mental math problems with large numbers.

In the classroom, in the woods, and on the playground I have felt thrilled to see how much compassion and appreciation flows between these children. Enjoy the pictures!

Week half a dozen

In Writing Red Fox Clanners finished up topic sentences and successfully gave each other thoughtful feedback during peer revision sessions. Students determined the order in which they will present ideas from their notes when constructing paragraphs. Drafting has begun. We are planning to present our kites and some semblance of our reports at Big Circle next Friday.

In class we began to look at data we have collected at the Flying Deer Weather Center. We have begun to notice a relationships in wildlife activity and weather by using graphic organizers. Students completed level one of Bird Chaser, a bird identification game being created by Devin Franklin. Each child has a life list on which they will record bird sightings or hearings.

Both groups of mathematicians are finishing up their first unit of study and assessing what they mastered. It has been most enjoyable to work in small groups with these eager learners. A great deal of collaboration, concentration and fun describes each math session.

The Red Fox Clan had their first handball match of the year. Within 30 seconds the first goal was scored. All immediately agreed to not keep score because they have observed that it creates unnecessary tension. These kids are on to something.

Week 5

Red Fox Clan gave a great deal of attention to birds this past week. Inside we practiced the core routine of Mind's Eye where we learned about key features to pay attention to when identifying birds. Students then used what they learned. After observing a robin for a minute, field guides were closed and the robin was colored from memory. Red Fox Clanners also completed listening to Jon Young's talk on Universal Language.

Within minutes of being outside on Wednesday we walked upon white throated sparrows (50 or more) and juncos. Before identifying the birds, students listened to calls, songs, and observed the key features of the birds. We sang and called to the white throated sparrows, and many of them flew closer and sang back to us. Each child received a bird nature name as well. The clan spent an hour building a roaring fire in the rain (a great accomplishment). Students learned knots and then put up a tarp near the fire, which captured the heat and we had a warm and comfortable afternoon.

Pairs continued to research the kites of a particular country. Using color, students categorized or chunked related information and began creating a short outline to see the big picture. Next week we will work on topic sentences and drafting. With the help of many grandparents and grand friends, students buzzed around Friday morning and made much progress on their kites.

Week 4

The Red Fox Clan had a short but exciting week of school, including our first session of Flying Deer with Devin Franklin!

Thank you all for being a part of the Goal Setting Conferences. As I have already expressed, I am delighted by the quality of self awareness these children have and the ease with which they reflect on and speak about their learning.

On Tuesday we began a "mini" kite project. Students were split up into pairs and given the task of exploring the history of kites within a particular country. They read provided resources, using highlighters and taking down information in their Flight Logs about how kites were used, developed and the country's stories and legends. Students will be asked to write a short report and build a kite from their designated country. The Red Fox Clan plans to share these reports and kites at the big circle we host later in October.

Red Fox Clanners started the day Wednesday recording information at a weather station before preceding to help built the tipi for the opening circle fire at Flying Deer. We began our investigation of bird language by first learning about chipmunks. After becoming chipmunks for a period of time (complete with "chipping" and treeing ourselves when a "fox" approached), students went on a wander to interact with chipmunks. Many returned with great stories and questions. Several students even managed to trap a chipmunk for all to catch a glimpse of when it escaped. We will continue to learn about the universal language of birds both inside the classroom and at Flying Deer next week.

Week 3

And we're off in using our Singapore Math textbooks and workbooks. Could it be that I heard a group of children express excitement about beginning math? And did I hear them express their enjoyment of the new format? Yes, indeed. Both groups began investigating decimals, practicing multiplication and division as well as learning about tenths.

Red Fox Clanners have devoted significant time to preparing for their Goal Setting Conferences coming up on Monday. Students continued to impress me with their ability to reflect and subsequently set goals for themselves in each discipline and the social learning/learning behaviors realms. They will continue to practice reflecting on and openly discussing their learning throughout the year.

In Language Arts land this week students wrote letters to our friend who moved to France, as well as looking at subjects and objects in sentences, to/too/two and your/you're. We continued to practice quotation marks and capitalizing proper nouns.

Just like last week, we ventured down to Darrow School and glazed the bowls we made last Wednesday. Pictures of the week will be up soon!

Week 2

Our kites took to the skies once again, this time with more attention on the tow point along the bridle. From their observations, students recorded what worked, what didn't work, and what needed to be changed in their Flight Logs. An additional cross spar was added to each kite, resulting in more air time. Also crafted this week were quick kite haikus.

Students began surveying the geography, climate and history of Ancient China and responded to questions while reading The Story of the World and Exploring our World. We recorded what we knew and what we want to learn about China, as well as listened to sections of the book If I were a Kid in Ancient China.

Red Fox Clanners finished up math assessments and are ready to review multiplication, division and fractions before delving into the Singapore Math curriculum.

Students completed a more difficult version of the Helium Stick challenge this week as well as beginning to learn the process of reaching consensus. Red Fox Clanners from last year recalled the various forms of decision-making and how certain situations call for the various methods. We went through the first 5 steps of the consensus process, which are as follows:

1. Presentation of proposal (Friday's proposal was to continue Work Block during the 30 minutes leading up to Big Circle).

2. The asking of clarifying questions

3. Discussion of proposal

4. Finger poll (to see how close consensus is and note those who have concerns so they may speak)

5. Further discussion, questioning and compromise

We ended at step 5 without consensus and will continue on to steps 6 through 9 next week on a different proposal. Students will begin to take on the roles of facilitator, list keeper and time keeper as their comfort level with the process grows.

First Week of School

Hello all returning and new Red Fox Clan parents!

I hope this update finds you all well and ready for more great learning this year. We have already touched upon many facets of air, our overall theme of the year, in many ways. Children have built and studied kites and today attempted our first flights. Some kites got into the air, and for all it's back to learning more about aerodynamics and adjusting their tow points.

We have taken on a number of challenges, including the Lava challenge (this is the first group I have witnessed succeeding in this challenge), the Blindfolded Caterpillar, and this morning the Helium Stick. We have toned with a drone, experiencing the effects of sound vibrations moving through air and into our ears. We have also begun paying attention to our breath, noticing how deep it is when we come to school and what it feels like after we sing. The more we breathe well, the more life and spirit we have found thus far!

Another practice we began this week was independent reading. For each independent reading session, students are expected to record the page numbers read, their thoughts on sticky notes, a question or 2, and then the answers to their questions in their reading log. The number of thoughts and questions assigned is dependent on the length of the reading session. We have also begun studying conventions through the means of Daily Oral Language. Students correctly write sentences full of errors into a notebook and then share their ideas.

As kites have their roots in Asia through various legends, we will soon begin an investigation of Ancient China. Our social studies curriculum can best be characterized as the history of flight. We will learn about many different regions of the world following the evolution of humankind's quest to fly.

Please check out this week's pictures by following the picasaweb link on the right side of this blog page.