Tree Swallow Times: December 13, 2010

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

   We have movies we’re making, and breadsticks for baking, and Jaxson is researching deer,

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

(Oh, and I don’t mind all the twinkling lights either)

This is the last week before a long winter’s nap.  It is going to be full and both holly and jolly!

This week, Swallows will complete their Mystery Animal Project.  Each Swallow has spent time the past couple of weeks, researching both books and computer sites for specific information on their mystery animal.  Swallows will organize and create a teaching poster using the collected research.  Each mystery animal will then be added to our storyline freeze.

Thursday afternoon, we will visit the UCC building to complete our Stone Soup Citizenship Project.  Last week, Swallows worked to measure and fill special bags with a mix of dried beans and barley and then measured a special seasoning mix for the bean soup.  Swallows also tried out a yummy recipe for breadsticks to accompany the dried soup mix. 

This week at the UCC, Swallows will work in rotations to complete the packaging of the soup with a collected stone and a Swallow created retelling of Stone Soup, make and bake breadsticks, and prepare a large batch of this soup.   Swallows will get to ry the soup and most will be packaged and frozen for the Family Bridge Program at the UCC.

Tree Swallows (with the help of family members) will be selling the Stone Soup mix at the Night Of Traditions, Thursday December 16^th (5:00-6:30), right outside our classroom door.   Proceeds go to the Family Resource Center to support families in need. 

What’s going on in the Tree Swallow classroom on the Night of Traditions?

All Aboard!  Come ride the Polar Express stationed right inside the Tree Swallow Classroom!  (Well, not really.  Administration frowned upon a train in the classroom… said a red canoe was the limit.).   Through active storytelling, you can imagine you are taking Chris Van Allsburg’s famous journey toward the North Pole.  Watch out for hot, hot chocolate and elves.  Oh, and listen really carefully for the bell.  Will you hear it?

Lights! Camera! Action!

Our movie making Swallow and Merlin buddies have worked hard to create shot lists, props and scene.  They have rehearsed narrated parts for fluency and expression.  And now, ladies and gentlemen, let the camera roll!  Swallow buddies will begin filming their scenes this Thursday and Friday.  Our hope is to have each group done filming before we go to break.  Cross your fingers and put good thoughts out there.

We will not visit the library this week. 

Tree Swallow Times: December 6, 2010

This week in the Tree Swallow classroom...
In Readers' Workshop, we are focusing on interactive reading by making connection to our own lives.  Using thought prompts like, "this reminds me of..." and "this makes me think of.."  help us deepen comprehension and our experiences with the text.  Swallows will practice making connections in their reading response letters, book club journal writing and classroom discussions.
In Writers' Workshop, we are working to add details to create "mind pictures" for our readers.
What might this look like?
The recent snow, both here and while visiting my sister in Washington inspired the following poem.  The poem (and undoubtedly, the recent snow and lack of more) conjured this written connection to self.
Snow Ball

I made myself a snow ball as perfect as could be.


I thought I'd keep it as a pet and let it sleep with me.


I made it some pajamas and a pillow for it's head.


Then, last night it ran away
But first -- it wet the bed.

Shel Silverstein

    This poem reminds me of...

When I was a very young girl living in Carson City, Nevada, I decide to capture and keep the first real snowfall of that year (a surprise inch plus) in a Folders coffee can.  Just months before, I had (nearly) successfully collected and cared for a pollywog and a caterpillar in the very same can, and I was confident that I could care for and keep this seasonal symbol as well.  

I traveled to the deepest portion, a ditch just across the road from my front yard.  The snow burned my bare fingers as I worked to free an area that looked untouched by animal or human.  I carefully lifted this pristeen semi-circle of frozen water from the ground and placed it lovingly into the coffee can.  As I placed the lid on, I exhaled a breath of confident relief-  " I had captured the snow.  Next.. the world."

Moments before the school bus arrived, I left this treasure at the feet of my dish-washing mother.  She had nodded,  I think with interest, at my breathless explanation of the can's contents and finally uttered a muddled answer to my request to keep both eyes on the prize (I think it was another word for yes).
  By the time school was over, most of the snow on the ground had melted away, revieling the tired grays and browns of the suburban landscape.  But I would still have the snow!   Wouldn't I?
I shifted restlessly in the bus seat, counting the stops until my house.
The bus's door had not finished opening by the time I was on my porch, bounding through the house into the kitchen where I had last left my glimmering treasure in the care of my mom.
Mom, now in the laundry room, called out to me. "How was your day?  Too bad the snow melted."
Her words sent a winter chill down my back.  My snow?  Melted?  Did she mean, my snow?
The Folder's can was in the same spot on the floor I had put it this morning.  My steps felt heavy, like trudging through thick snow.
I bent over the can, grasped one corner of the lid and squeezed my eyes shut.  Clenching the plastic disk in both hands, I opened one eye, ever so slightly at first, then wider and now both eyes...
      "SNOW!" I shouted.
Just then, Mom walked into the kitchen, cocked her head to the side with a disapproving look and said, "I don't know what creature you have in that can this time, Rachel, but get it out of my kitchen before it escapes."
"Humph."  I hugged the can close and backed out of the kitchen, giving her my best "you were supposed to take care of it and you did not even look at it once", squinty-eyed glare.
She turned away and, although I did not take note until much later, looked like she was trying to hide the fact that she was smiling widely.
To this day, both snow and my Mom are for me, magical.

In THEME/Storyline:  Last week, the Swallows received a "mystery animal" track.  Using field guides, each Swallow identified their animal and collected some facts.  This week, students will research their animal to find required information and begin creating presentation posters about their animal.   This project provides foundation skills and practice for work on the Jackson Bottom Monitoring project. 

We will begin our winter stewarding citizenship project this week during our Out and About to Nana Cardoon's Garden Farm.  Inspired by a reading of Stone Soup, we will work together to create beautifully packaged dry soup mix, make italian crusty breadsticks and create one-of-a-kind mini-book retellings of Stone Soup.  We will sell these during the Night of Traditions (December 16th) to raise funds for the Family Resource Center.  
Next Thursday, we will visit the UCC to cook a large pot of our own soup mix to freeze for the Family Bridge program.

It is supposed to rain all week.  We will visit Nana Cardoon's this Thursday even if it is raining.  We have planned our rotations at the farm to be mostly inside the yurt.  However, we will be in the elements for the walk there and back (about 15-20 minutes one way).  Please send your Swallow with layered clothing, a rain coat and umbrella if possible.  If you have an extra umbrella we could use for the trip, I would be so grateful.

Tree Swallow Times: November 29, 2010

This week in the Swallow's Nest:
       We have got rocks on our mind and in our hands and studies.  Today we engaged in an activity designed to explore and simulate how the three basic kinds of rocks (igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic) are formed.  It was highly entertaining and delicious too!  We were treated to a hands-on rock museum to "test" our understanding of the three rock types by our own level 3 teacher, Chris.  I wish I had pictures of either.
This week, the Swallows will explore properties of rocks (texture, hardness, color and mineral content) in a hands-on lab with rocks the class collected.
     Later this week we will discover tracks in the storyline.  This will inspire a mystery track research project.  Students will discover an animal track, identify it using a guide and research the identified animal.
     Thursday's out & about is also inspired by our "3 Days on the River " story.  The campers sleep beneath a starry sky and challenge each other to identify constellations.  We have invited the mobile planetarium from OMSI to help our "campers" learn about the constellations and explore Earth from a whole new perspective.  
      Friday our work with the Merlin's on our Water movie continues.

It is LIBRARY WEDNESDAY!

Tree Swallow Times: November 22, 2010

A two-day week and snow in the forecast?   It is guaranteed to be interesting!

      We will navigate the “week” with enthusiastic anticipation towards the impending holiday break and wishful glances to the skies to celebrate with snow. 

In Readers’ Workshop all book clubs met last week and began new books.   Groups are reading biographies about MLK Jr., historical fiction and non-fiction about colonial life, folk tales and well-known classics (Charlotte's Web).   These book clubs will engage in conversation about their reading, the content of the text and the writer’s craft.  Many of these Swallows will work toward goals of expanding vocabulary during this reading by collecting words from their texts.  Thee words will assist writing too.

Our Swallow Writers are exploding onto page after page.  I am not sure, but I think that the first Authors’ Tea inspired a BOOM in Swallow published writing.  Last week Swallows turn to their writing without pause.  Even though this week is just two days long, we are sure to see the same. 

The classroom is “rockin”…

Last week we collected rocks following given criteria for describing.  This week, we will explore the ways rocks are formed and try to sort our collection by rock type.  Tuesday, Chris (level 3) will invite the Tree Swallows to his FGCS rock museum in his classroom.  They will have a chance to further explore the three rock types and ask questions of Chris as an expert geologist. 

Baby, it’s cold outside…

Please help your Swallow dress for this winter weather.  Layers, a waterproof coat, hat and mittens make for a happy, healthy Swallow.

Home Communication Bags help keep things organized and offer a visual cue to both you and your Swallow.  You know how things end up in the bottom of the backpack…

Please help your swallow make sure to return their bag the very next school day after bringing it home. 

Tree Swallow Times: November 15, 2010

Keep your eyes wide open or you might miss something… the weeks are just sailing by!

Last week was short, sure… but oh, so sweet!  

   We started Readers’ Theater during Reader’s Workshop.  We practiced audience skills while we watched a dramatic reading of “The Homework Lesson” (a short about procrastination).    Very convincing performances, Waylon, Jayden, Finn, Ian and Natalie.

Tuesday’s chill and very wet forecast kept us at school and indoor most of the day.  We brought the rain inside to inspire teambuilding, dramatic play and creativity.  The rain shower in the storyline challenged the Swallow campers to create a shelter.  Each canoe-crew was given a length of rope and a sheet (tarp).  The campers learned a half-hitch knot and worked together to construct a shelter.   The Swallows had to practice skills of active listening, expressing ideas to a group and problem solving.  Groups celebrated with snack time in their tent.

Later that day, the tents came down but the rain stayed… or at least the sweet sound of rainfall.  With palms, snapping fingers, clapping hands and stomping feet, we created the symphony of a thunderstorm.   We then created rainsticks to celebrate water. 

Wednesday was largely about film:  The morning provided opportunity for digital story groups to revise and edit their storyboard and then their film project.  Some groups completed their project and will present at the All –school meeting this Friday.

In the afternoon, we met with Merlin Buddies to lean learn and practice acting, expressive narration and cinematography in preparation for our water movie. 

Friday Swallow Writers received their Writing Toolkits with much excitement.  The Toolkits are heavy-duty folders that act as carols and showcase high-usage words, editor’s checklists and story starters.  As the writers grow, more resources (tools) will be added.  Friday I announced that we would have our first Authors’ Tea this year, and some writers eagerly settled into publishing a piece of writing to share.

Whoo Hoo!  A full week at last!

This week writers will work to finish publishing a piece to read at our first Authors’ Tea this Wednesday.    We will be active-listening audience for our remaining Readers’ Theater presenters. 

On Tuesday, Robin will share a beloved book, “Everybody Needs a Rock,” and her Grandfather’s comprehensive rock collection.  We will use jeweler’s loupes and a digital microscope to examine properties of these rocks and minerals.

On Thursday, we will return toward Ash Street Field to walk the B-Street trail (last year’s Swallows created a brochure about this project), observe the creek habitat and hunt for rocks.

We will use this class collection to further study properties and types of rocks in the next couple of weeks.  We will also explore how rocks help support stream ecosystems.

Wednesday we have a library visit looking for recommended books.  Please help your child be able to participate by sending their library card.   I will not be able to check out books for students.  Library cards are free and easy to obtain.  Just take mail that shows current address and viola!

Friday we will gather with our Merlin Buddies to work on our water movie. Buddies will create shot lists (this is like a storyboard) for their selected page. 

What a week it will be!

Tree Swallow Times: November 8, 2010

                                                Stonefly and mayfly and caddis, oh my!

Our Tillamook Forest trip was a wonderful success, and boy, did we luck out with fantastic weather!   The Swallows explored how water supports the forest, looked for signs of wildlife (tracks, scat and homes) and collected macro-invertebrates as indicators of water quality.
  We found mayfly, stonefly and caddisfly nymphs- all indicators that we were exploring healthy waters!
Back in the classroom, the Swallows are writing and illustrating (watercolors) about their experience during this trip.
I hope to return to this site to support the Swallows in a full stream survey-- water quality (DO, pH and Macro collecting), stream mapping, stream flow and riparian wildlife inventory.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
The Swallows are near completion of their first film project-- the Sense of Place digital stories.  Groups have been working together to lay out their storyboard with captions or narration.  Some groups will add music to their final short film.  With the goal of presenting at our next all-school meeting ( November 19th), this week, the  Swallows will revise and edit their films using a rubric.    

Scene 1, Take 2, and Action:
This week we will meet with our Merlin Buddies to continue work on our collaborative film project, "A Drop Around the World."  Based on a book, this is the story of a water molecule's journey around the world through the water cycle.  The buddies will learn basics of film (process and products) and expressive oral reading to create a film version of this book.  This week the buddies will rotate through three stations:  film basics, expressive oral reading and "showing, not telling (communicating with gesture and expression)."
Our goal is to present this movie as part of the Level 2 Water Festival in late December.  We will of course keep you posted.

In Readers Workshop, the Swallows have been busy creating book recommendations to support responding to reading through evaluation.  Inleveled reading groups,  the Swallows received Readers Theater scripts, chose parts and set to reading to practice fluent and expressive reading.  The groups will present their Readers' Theater for an audience of their classmates.

IT'S RAINING.... IT'S POURING
   It is raining in our storyline!   With rain pouring down over our campers, what else could we do but be inspired to explore it.  We will work together to create a thunderstorm symphony, first with our bare hands and then through student created rain sticks.  We will revisit where rain comes from and go on a rain walk to collect and measure accumulation.

ODDS AND ENDS (But no less important)...
  Just a reminder:  No school this Thursday, November 11 Veteran's Day)
  Please help your Swallow to bring their Home Communication Bag back to school each day.  New TFK and comprehension sheets went home today.  The sheets should come back no later than Friday and the TFK are for the Swallows to keep.

We are Family...

I really enjoyed meeting with all of you last week for Goal Setting conferences.  It is so great to see the Swallows so invested and enthusiastic about their learning goals.  The kids feel so empowered by the attention and support given toward their personal goals.  Thank you for helping to make some very ambitious projects happen!  What's in the works?   An all school talent show, an after-school comic making club, a student written and produced short play, chess club, a time capsule of the year, a native american drum and much, much more.   Be sure to check out the Goal Garden in the Level 1 hallway.  This is a  display to show and celebrate the progress of personal goals.  A seed marks the setting of the goal.  Once work toward that goal begins, the student will add a sprout.  When the goal is met/completed, a flower, vegetable or fruit is added to the garden.

We are partners...
One of the goals of the conference was to discuss and determine what support at home (Work at Home) looked like for your Swallow's learning goals.    Please watch the Home Communication bags for Work at Home support materials (if part of the plan) and an updated PLP.   Please let me know how the support at home is working for your Swallow and family.

Please take the time to give us feedback on the conference process this year.  It is a quick survey and it is confidential.

Yes... a full week at last! November 1-5

Even then... it will go so quickly...
In Readers Workshop, Swallows will practice strategies for reading for understanding -- rereading, reading ahead, thinking about what you already know and asking questions in Readers' response letters.  Swallows will also learn how to write book recommendations.  These will be the first of many throughout the year and will be displayed in the classroom to inspire readers.

In our Storyline, the students will investigate and work to identify animal tracks and create a riparian habitat.

This week, the Swallow film makers will continue working on their digital stories of FGCS and will meet with Merlin buddies on Friday to begin our Drop of Water film.

Wednesday is our all-day trip to Tillamook Forestry Center.  We will explore the creek, looking closely at for aquatic life, hike through the forest to explore riparian habitat, and explore the interpretive center.
Please send your child with boots, a large snack, a cold packed lunch and a water bottle.  Don't worry about pizza... if you have already ordered, your order will be moved to next week.

Due to our trip, we will not be visiting the library for three weeks.  Picture retakes are this Wednesday at 2:30.  We will be back at the school by 2:15 and your Swallow will have time to clean up a little.

Tree Swallow Times: October 25, 2010

Where we have been and where we are headed…

  We were scientists, film-documentarians, and stewards at Jackson Bottom Wetlands last week.  It was a tremendous success, thanks in large part to the crew of field experts and parent volunteers that came out to support the Swallows and Bulldogs.  You are all so fabulous!

Be sure to check out our Jackson Bottom Wetlands Blog for updates and pictures. 

http://stewardsofjacksonbottomwetlands.blogspot.com/

Although, our next survey date is not until January, we will continue to be researchers about this wetland in the classroom.  A visit or two to a more local wetlands, Ash Street Field, later in November will help us learn about this ecosystem in general and allow us to make comparisions.

We were storytellers and editors in our collaborative art project last week. The Swallow partners selected pictures that would best show what it means to be at FGCS from those they had taken the week before.  In the computer lab, partners worked with i-movie to create storyboards and begin to compose the narrative that will either be typed across the frames or voice-over.

 This week we will visit the computer lab to continue working on our digital story of  our place at FGCS.    

In Readers Workshop last week, Swallows talked about what readers do when they get to a word they do not know:

            Readers look at the letters and letter clusters and think about the sounds they make.

            Readers look at parts of words.

            Readers use what they know about other words to figure out new words.

            Readers think about what would make sense and check with the letters.

            Readers use the pictures and the surrounding text to help them solve words,

                                         and then practiced during their independent reading.

This week, we will collect ideas for writing—form and content, and use visualization to help us really understand the author’s message.

In read aloud, we have started to visually document our beyond text comprehension of The Miraculous Adventure of Edward Tulane.  This is such a imagery rich book and has already provided for great literary conversation.

Communication Bags went home today!  These bags should come back tomorrow.  You are encouraged to keep the contents.  Make sure to read through the PLP Plan.  This is the beginning of our conversation on Thursday or Friday about goals for the Swallows. 

In class we will discuss and set personal goals and your Swallow will share this with you at the conference.

Next week, Wednesday  November 2, 2010, we will go to Tillimook Forestry Center to look closer at riparian habitats and indicators for water quality (macros, mapping and pH and DO testing).

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO COME.

Tree Swallow Times: October 18, 2010

 "Must Knows and  What's What..."

The buzz this week is about Jackson Bottom Wetlands and our first survey this year!  This Thursday, October 21, we will board the bus by 9:10.   We arrive at JB by 9:30 where we will meet up with our Bulldog buddies and begin our fall restoration monitoring.  The plan is to be at Jackson Bottom from 9:30 until 1:45.  We will have our first data monitoring in small groups at 10:00.  We will have a break for lunch at 11:00-11:30 and then  complete our data survey rotations from 11:30-1:30 (1 hour each). The Tree Swallows will board the bus at 1:45 and return to school by 2:15.

Swallows will spend most of the day at Jackson Bottom.  Please send a water bottle, healthy snack, cold packed lunch and layered clothes.  

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS!  WATCH FOR A CONFIRMATION AND AGENDA THIS EVENING!  We could not do it without you :)

What's the Story?
   The past week held much excitement for our river campers.    We found our put in spot, high near the mouth of the Tualitan River and set up camp.  Our first morning at camp was really damp, but it had not rained a drop (ask your water explorer why it was wet then).  We made the best of it and made the best pancakes!  Aside from the syrup on the carpet it was a high-point for all of us.
   This week,  we began our journey on the river.   We discussed what a typically day on the river might look like--what we might do and see -- and then began writing imaginative stories about our adventures.
    
      Last week, we explored the water cycle in an active and more personal way--   each Swallow assumed the role of a water molecule and, with the help of a rolled dice, went on an incredible journey through various stages of the water cycle.  A colorful beaded bracelet recorded the water droplet's journey.  The Swallows have been writing about their journey during writing time.

In Readers' Workshop we are talking about strategies "good readers" use and then practicing them in our "just right books."  Today, we talked about how readers use the punctuation to help in understanding the author's message.   This was a good discussion for the Swallow writers too.
We have been sharing our thinking about the books that we are reading -- content and author's craft, with each other through weekly letters.  

Our collaboration with Teresa in Art:    Over the past several weeks, the Tree Swallows have been learning about and practicing still film shot composition to tell a story.  In small groups, they took photographs around FGCS campus.  This week, the groups will select shots that tell a story about this school and their interaction with it.  Students will create storyboard layouts, add necessary transitions, perhaps music and begin drafting the narration to go with it.

Next week are Goal Setting Conferences.  This an opportunity for Swallow,  Family and teacher to sit down together as partners and talk about strengths and goals for your Swallow.   Sign-up for a time in the office (or call at 503-359-4600).


  

OUR FIRST WETLAND SURVEY IS COMING UP... VOLUNTEER?

Next Thursday, October 21 (9:00-2:15) is our first restoration monitoring survey.  In partnership with our St Thomas Moore buddies and experts in the wetland and stream monitoring, we ill spend the day collecting data.
I am asking for several volunteers to be adult guides.  Your job would be to support a small group of 5-6 kids in moving through each rotation and transitioning to the next and bathroom breaks.  
Please email me if you are able to join us.  Pretty Please....
Oh and check out our new and in progress Jackson Bottom blog:
http://stewardsofjacksonbottomwetlands.blogspot.com/

The Tree Swallow Times, October 11-15

 Where we have been…

         In Readers’ Workshop:  The Swallows have been practicing selecting and reading “just right” books and collecting ideas for writing, (“seeds”) or composing whole stories in their idea books.  We started readers’ response letters this week.  These are weekly letters between each student and I about books we are reading.  In this letters, we will share connections, questions and our ideas about the author’s craft.  These letters will help reflect on reading strategies, think critically about the texts and develop a sense of self as a reader.

We are just hours away from our first day on the river (in our storyline, that is).  Our characters have been created and canoe groups made.  Last week, the class brainstormed supplies we might need on our three-day trip.   The Swallow campers were very thoughtful and thorough.  We have quite a list!

The next task was to work in canoe groups to purchase supplies.  Each group had an allowance of $2000.00 and 6 required items.  There was an excited hum as each canoe crew huddled over the shopping list and decided on needed supplies. 

Turns out, $2000.00 is a lot, even for four canoeists.  Many groups are saving some of their “money” incase they need additional supplies on the journey. 

Today, crews began making their supplies (paper representations) and placing them in “dry bags”  (Ziploc baggies) in preparation of putting canoe’s in the river.

Our first Jackson Bottom Wetlands restoration survey is just a little over a week away!  One of rotations will be to monitor water quality of the wetland marsh and the river water.    The indicators of water health that we will monitor are pH (the balance of acid to alkaline), dissolved oxygen (the saturation of oxygen) and a macro survey (look for tolerant species).

This past week, we practiced testing water quality in class.  We did pH on tap water, lemon juice (to show contrast) and then pH and DO on a sample of water from the lake at Camp Tillikum.   We found out the lake water is healthy.  One group even found an additional indicator:  a living macro-invertebrate!  The group used a guide and identified this specimen as a mayfly nymph—a sensitive species!  Healthy water indeed.

Our red canoe is being used in the classroom!  We brainstormed ways to safely share this space and the class created the idea for “canoe clips.”  Each Tree Swallow’s name is on a clip and every day during DEAR, three clips are drawn.  Those three students read in the canoe. 

Where we are going…

This week, I will introduce “buzzing with others about your book.”    This is a way we can share our thinking about books with an individual, the teacher or a literature group.   Swallow writers will choose a “seed” (idea) or story from their idea book to publish. 

This week we will return to a discussion about goals for the year in preparation of upcoming Goal Setting conferences. 

What’s happening on the river?

This week, our story has us cooking, exploring the water cycle through an “incredible journey” and adding to the frieze  (vegetation and higher-elevation water source).

OUT & ABOUT:  Thursday, 12:45-2:30, we will walk to Ash Street Field.  This is a nearby restored wetland area.  Last year, the Tree Swallows stewarded this area and created a public awareness project (brochure, mural and presentation) after surveying the neighbors indicated people did not know mush about this space. 

This Thursday, the Tree Swallows will give a short tour to new Swallows and then we will explore and practice photo point monitoring.  This will be another of the Jackson Bottom rotations.

Odds and Ends and in-betweens…

What to do about snack?  Yes, snack…  Thank you to families for making sure your Swallow has a healthy option for snack. 

We can keep it like this… OR, and many of you asked otherwise, we do a donation and class purchase option.  MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD NOW J

Tree Swallow Times: October 4, 2010

I love this time of year.   The evening air is turning crisp, beckoning sweaters to come out of hibernation.  The multi-colored leaves inspire awe and collection, now more art than chlorophyll.   The Swallows (students) have begun to demonstrate ownership of their classroom and comfort in the company of their peers.   And it is just going to keep getting better…

This week (for example):

     In Readers’ Workshop, we are spending time as both independent readers and writers, while I meet with small groups to assess developmental spelling levels.   This week, we will focus on collecting “seeds” for writing projects through reading, and writing our thoughts about the texts we read. 

Last week we began creating our characters for our “Three Months on the River..” storyline.   This week, we will choose and “purchase” supplies in canoe groups and put in canoes to start our journey.   We will explore a virtual trip of a watershed and take “an incredible journey” as a water drop to learn about water cycle. 

On Thursday, we will have an In and About “Water Quality Monitoring “ lab.  Students will work in groups to explore virtual streams and collect macro samples (indicators of water quality) and test ph and dissolved oxygen (indicators of water quality).  This provides the background and practice for our upcoming Jackson Bottom restoration survey on October 21. 

Wednesday we will head to our city library to practice selecting “just right books”.  If you have not already assisted your Swallow in returning the books checked out during our first visit, send them with your child and we will take them back on Wednesday.  A few Swallows chose to leave their library books at school and those will go back on the 6^th too. 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:  I am still holding out to hear from ALL of you regarding your family’s preference for our snack program this year.  The two favored options (again) are:  1) Families give money and teacher/students purchase snack OR 2) All Swallows bring their own snack (see last week’s news fro pros and cons). 

THE CHOICE IS YOURS FRIENDS… MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD AND VOTE TODAY (if you did not vote at Back to School Night… you know who you are J)

We announced our first all school yearbook at the All School Meeting last Friday.  You may pre-order in the Art room or office for just 20.00.  Students have been invited to contribute ideas for the cover.  Submissions will be selected by vote of the entire student body.  Submissions are due the 15th of October.

Support At Home:  This week, your Swallow will be bringing home the publication, Time For Kids with directions to share the magazine with family members and talk and write about it.   

Please feel free to call or email with questions, comments, compliments or concerns.  Happy Week!

Where we are coming from…TREE SWALLOW TIMES: SEPTEMBER 27th Edition

  What a week!  And yeah, it was only one week…. I checked. 

Canoe News: 

We began the week with a message from our canoe seller, “Mr. Roe Allot,” with answers to our questions.    We learned that it was 250.00 to buy.  We talked a little about how the public education system is funded by taxes, with a per student Diem.  We decided that perhaps if we write our administrators and ask them for a certain amount per student, they might approve the purchase of the canoe.  Using base ten pieces to model $250.00, we worked together to evenly divide this amount among the 20 Tree Swallows.  Getting to 12 dollars was pretty easy but we still had 10.00 in “ones” in the middle.  Some kids suggested that this time, a few kids pay 13 dollars and some pay 12.  Then a Swallow tentatively raised her had and offered that we could all just pay .50 cents more.  Yes!

We composed a group letter to administration about our request and on Tuesday, received in- person approval.    We await the arrival of a bill of sale from Mr. Allot so we can start being in the canoe.

Storyline: 

  This past week we began our storyline setting for Three Months in the River on a Red Canoe.  We brainstormed places where people could go canoeing and made a list of what the environment might look like.  In Art and then in small groups during Learning Centers, the Swallows created an awe-inspiring river scene at sunset.  As we experience more and learn more about riparian habitats, the Swallows will continue to add features to our setting. 

The Swallows took a pretest to help focus our storyline.  I wanted to find out how much students knew about watershed, water cycle, river/stream habitat, water quality identifiers and appreciation of water issues.  

This week in storyline, we will create our characters and “buy” supplies for our trip.

Our Jackson Bottom Wetland restoration project is off and running!  Thursday was a first visit for many of us and for all of us, a first meeting with our project buddies-  the Bulldogs from St. Thomas Moore School. 

Before our visit, the Tree Swallows practiced good interviewing skills (lots of listening).  At Jackson Bottom, the partners interviewed each other during lunch to begin to get to know one another.  After lunch, we took a tour of the wetlands with specific attention to the restoration efforts.  Sarah Pinnock, the education coordinator for JB then shared how excited they were about this project (nothing of this type has been done here before J) and thanked the students for taking it on. 

We will return to Jackson Bottom with our Bulldog partners on the 21^st of October (rain or shine) for our first survey.  We will monitor riparian and wetland water quality with looking at ph and macro- invertebrates, wildlife and vegetation surveys, riparian and wetland area mapping, and photo point documentation.     We will explore and practice the skills necessary during the next few weeks.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE ABLE TO COME AND BE A GROUP GUIDE FOR THIS.  We will have experts (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Fresh Water Trust, Jackson Bottom) leading each of the survey stations.  Your role would be student support and monitoring. 

We have collaboration within FGCS too!  Last week we met our Peace Buddies, 4^th, 5^th and 6^th graders in Charlie’s class.  Now in its fourth year, we are excited to continue to collaborate on projects that focus on citizenship issues of peace, tolerance and empathy.    This year we will continue work for Pennies for Peace.

Collaborative Engineers…

      On Friday, student groups were given a challenge—work together to plan and build a “boat” of their design out of a variety of recycled materials.  The design had to include a contribution from each of the group members, a visible space for passengers or cargo, and a method for locomotion.  The room was a buzz of collaborative activity and problem solving.  It was really exciting to see the kids making effort to include participation and voice.  I joined a couple groups just a few times to model and guide skills of collaboration but in our 11^th day of school, I expected to be needed more. 

This week, the groups will finish building their boats.  The boats will be tested at the school and if necessary, the group will choose to make modifications.  When all groups have what they think is a sea-worthy craft, we will walk to a nearby shallow creek bed and “test the waters.” 

OUT AND ABOUT THURSDAY:

      We are headed to Nana Cardoons this Thursday.   Oh, and what a lovely time it will be!    Nana Cardoons is a local garden farm in Forest Grove.  There, we are able to explore the process and hands-on production of fresh, local foods.  The owners, Richard White and Charlene Murdock donate their time and space to a variety of community experiences and events.  We will visit this space several times during the year and will have our end-of-the-year celebration there in June (this will be a our third year!).

Thursday we will tour the garden farm, harvest apples and press cider, learn about and process wheat, make rolls from this wheat for a snack and help to prepare a garden bed that we will later help to plant. 

IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ACCOMPANY US TO THIS BREATHTAKING GARDEN FARM, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

ODDS and ENDS

Pizza Wednesday begins this week.  Your money and orders are due on Monday morning.

Please get your Pacific Waver forms in.  These were in your enrollment packets and they allow us to visit B-Street Permaculture Farm, Pacific University and access some areas of Gales Creek. 

SNACK…. Who knew it could be so complicated?

Thanks to Jennifer Mc Carrel, we were able to begin the “discussion” about how to best cover snack in our classroom.  For the past three years, we have had a snack calendar indicating the day for each family to provide a healthy snack for the whole class.  This worked well most of the time.  But some families indicated preference for another way. 

During “Back-to School night”, families were asked to vote for one of three options for snack.  Thanks to those that did.  Here are the options and some added info:

1)   Continue snack calendar.  Pro:  Community snack provides opportunities for students to explore concepts around nutrition, tolerance and risk taking (my friend really likes this and I should try), applied math (portions size and division) and manners (communicating needs with “snack patrol”).

  Con:  It is tricky to remember what day is “yours” sometimes.  For some families buying snack for all is a hardship.

2)   Each Swallow brings their own snack.   Pro: Each student is more likely guaranteed to like the snack they have.  Easier and more affordable for some families. 

Con:  Lost opportunities listed below.  More potential time taken with transition to get snacks.  May raise issues of inequality.

3)   Families contribute a specified dollar amount and teacher and students purchase snack items.

Pro:  Curricular opportunities in nutrition, applied math and collaboration.   Community snack benefits. 

Con:  Dollar amount may be difficult for some families.  Additional time necessary for planning and shopping. 

WHERE WE ARE WITH THIS:

      Ugh…. We have an official tie between students bringing their own snack and a cash donation (student/teacher purchase).    However, we have a few families out there that have not had their say (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE).

I would like to hear from these families before announcing the snack plan in the Tree Swallow classroom. 

For THIS WEEK, PLEASE SEND A SNACK WITH YOUR SWALLOW.

What about Friday?

    No matter the decision, Fridays will be a “bring your own BIG SNACK day. 

Coming Soon:

  Watch for our first Spirit Day info:  Crazy Hair and Clothes Day!

Tree Swallow Times: September 20, 2010 "It is just the beginning..."

It's a bird...  it's a plane...  it's... the first full week of school!
  And what a week it has been!  We have been getting to know each other through song, greeting and sharing.  We have shared our hopes and dreams for the school year (I am awe-struck at the list this year) and have begun to document them through illustration and writing.  We have worked together to create our expectations for meeting times and this week we will create our peaceful classroom expectations (our class rules).
  We also spent the week getting to know our space so that we feel invested and care about "caring" for it.   In pairs we explored the Sunflower Garden as scientists making observations and as writers using adjectives to describe what we found.  Early in the week, we worked in returning and new Swallow partnerships to tour the school grounds and the school garden.
   In Literacy Workshop, we have discussed ways we choose books and learned how to determine if a book is "just right" for the reader.  We practiced this at the Forest Grove Library on Thursday.
   On Friday we found a red canoe for sale in our classroom.   We had a lot of questions:   "Why is it here?  How did it get here?  When?  How much is it? "  We called the number and left our questions on Mr. Roe Allot's message machine.  We hope to hear from the seller and "purchase" the canoe this week for use during our water study.

  We're on our way to somewhere... the 21 of us and you:
This week we will continue to get to know more about one another.  We will start to share our Autobiography in a Bag.
We will begin our Storyline, "3 Months on a River in a Red Canoe...."  this week.
On Thursday, we will take a trip to Jackson Bottom Wetlands to meet and have lunch with our St Thomas Moore buddies.  After lunch, we will have a tour to learn about the current restoration and hear an invitation for our monitoring project.  We will visit JBW four more times with St Thomas Moore kids.
  PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING AND ABLE TO CHAPERONE A SMALL GROUP DUING THIS TRIP.  WE WILL LEAVE FGCS AT 11:00 a.m. AND RETURN AT 2:15.

COME MEET YOUR CLASS FAMILY!
 Wednesday is our BACK -TO-SCHOOL-NIGHT (5:00-6:30).  Swallows will share features about the room and/or schedule with you as well as share info about FGCS.  We will have goodies in the class to foster a get-to-know-you even near the close of this evening.  I will have information about various snack-share models and an opportunity for your input during this time at the Back-to-School-Night.

RED CANOE UPDATE:  We have a plan for "purchasing" the canoe.  Ask your Swallow to tell you all about it.

Tree Swallow Times: September 13, 2010 "An Introduction"

Oh! The places you'll go in the Tree Swallow classroom this year...

This year, our overarching focus is “Water”. Within this topic, we will be scientists, writers, explorers, artists, researchers and agents of change in order to foster an understanding and love of our local place. Along with hands-on, outdoor inquiry, we will explore this topic immersed in a literature-based  Storyline and a collaborative restoration monitoring project at Jackson Bottom Wetland. 

What is a Storyline, you ask?

Storyline is both a method of creating and implementing curriculum using the elements of story:

Setting: The scene in a particular time and place

Characters: People and or animals (or insects)

Plot: A way of life or event to investigate

Conflict/Problem-solution: Real problems to be solved.

By creating and interacting as characters in a story, teacher and students create a context for learning content and skills with the active and personal involvement of each student. Tasks (a need to know and learn information or skill) arise from the context of the story, and become significant and meaningful, a “real-world problem”. Issues explored within the context of the story are both extracted from and applied to real-world, local needs and environments. Storyline is also art-rich, emphasizing asthetics and an ethic of excellence in work produced.

I have used elements of Storyline in past years of teaching and last summer I spent time in a workshop to learn more. I am very excited about inviting the Tree Swallows to our Fall Storyline, “Three Months on a River in a Red Canoe.” 

Feel free to contact me with further questions and/or comments.

"Reading, Writing, 'Rithmetic"...

Along with mathematic activities incorporated in thematic studies, beginning this week, we will teach math by grade level, four days a week.    The Maples (1^st grade) are with Karen, the Oaks (3^rd grade) are with Sherry and the Cedars (2^nd grade) are with me.   Be sure to check out your child’s math class blog for news and resources to support your young mathematician (see links on the right). 

Now, Read This!

 In the morning, five days a week, students spend an hour in Literacy’ Workshop. Within this period, students engage in Literacy Centers that are designed to support growth and experience in reading, writing, speaking and listening. Centers support various learning styles, interest and skill, as well collaborative and social learning. While all students spend some time engaged in a variety of Literacy Centers independently,  I meet with Book Clubs (4-6 students at same readiness/skill level based on reading inventory assessments which occur at least three times during school year) to develop skills as active, critical readers while fostering listening, speaking and writing to interact with and respond to literature.  Nurturing a culture of reading and the concept of one’s self as a reader also occurs throughout daily experiences (DEAR, read-aloud and buddy reading). 

*NEW THIS YEAR:  We will visit the Forest Grove Library every other Wednesday afternoon (1:00-1:30) so that students will be able to check out books.  Please make sure your Tree Swallow has a library card (or their number).  I have a handy folder to house and carry student cards so feel free to just keep it at the school.  OUR FIRST TRIP IS September 16^th!

S-p-e-l-l-i-n-g (or Word Study): Words Their Way is a developmental spelling program. The students study words based on spelling patterns on a continuum of spelling development. Word sets are introduced weekly and the students spend time sorting these words by spelling categories (same and different rules). Each day of the week, the students have tasks to do with their word cards, to become more familiar with the words and the categories. At the end of the week, students take a word quiz to assess mastery of words and spelling patterns. Students are assessed using a developmental spelling inventory in the fall, winter and spring, and these and weekly word study tests help to determine appropriate placement for the Word Work Group.

The "Write" Stuff...

Writers’ Workshop has always been a celebrated time in the Tree swallow classroom!  We begin by seeing ourselves as “writers.”  To support this goal, we will create our Writers’ Notebooks by adding photos and clippings to a folder.   By personalizing with time and attention, we foster a sense of ownership, ceremony and pride. After we create this special space to record and keep our writing, our workshop begins with personal narratives.  Students will be writing about family, goals and experiences in order to foster community. Tree Swallows will also write to reflect on personal progress, experiences and open-ended prompts (personal goal reflection, journals and readers’ response), as well as writing to respond to and explore our place (nature journaling).

We celebrate our writers with Authors Tea!  A much-anticipated event, Authors Tea is a ceremonious event where Tree Swallow writers share published work (a piece of writing that has been drafted, revised and edited) before an audience of their peers.    

Wait!....What about Learning Centers?

Of course we will have centers this year—imagination station, take-apart and even sewing. Centers are designated areas and activities designed to support multiple intelligences and to encourage play and independent interest. Centers include reinforcement activities for concept or skills covered during other core times (i.e., math games and writing center) as well as extension centers that expand on ideas we are exploring (i.e., science center featuring rocket design or happy sock construction).   This is also the perfect time for students to work on personal goal projects.  Learning Centers Time this year will be at the end of our day on Tuesdays.

It is all “special”, but….

Three days a week (one per day) we will have “specials”: Two Art days and one Physical Activity (P.A.).  We begin our Specials this week. On Monday and Tuesday the Tree Swallows will have art with Teresa, and on and Friday, Physical Activity with Rick.

Out and About is a fundamental part of our program, placing our students and the learning outdoors and in our local community. We have O&A each week on Thursday afternoon. Remember Tree Swallows, always come prepared for an outing – walking shoes, water bottle and curiosity, as our studies often take us into the “wild”….plus, this is Oregon after all, and therefore often wet.

Birthdays and Volunteers and Snacks, Oh, my….

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…..

Birthdays are very important in the Tree Swallow classroom. After all, they are celebrations of the joy that is each of you! We celebrate in the classroom with wishes on pennies to the birthday Tree Swallow and a happy birthday wish in the form of a song and an inedible “treat” from the Birthday Chest. Some students really want to bring in "treats" to share with their class. Please consider some healthy options if you want to bring something in. Some hits last year: bagels, fruit, special erasers or pencils.

I know we have many summer birthdays; we will celebrate summer birthdays on the half birthday.

HATS OFF TO YOU...

This classroom and this school would not be what it is without our families. We have been so fortunate to have tremendous volunteer support, so thank you. I will be introducing and inviting volunteers into the classroom over the course of the second and third weeks.

That said...here is our first plea: We will have our morning and lunch break in our play yard we need volunteers to be with students, monitor and play with the class while at break. Please contact me or Vickie in the front office for further information if you are able to commit to this volunteer opportunity. WE NEED YOU!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT…

In this classroom, we have always had a shared family snack. This has worked well for the past three years, (aside from the few minor glitches of schedule share…). On a rotating schedule, each family contributes a healthy snack from two of three food groups (proteins, whole grains, and fruits and veggies). It provides opportunity for students to try new foods, for us to have a shared “meal” and to think about and apply concepts around nutrition and mathematics. 

I know this is not the only way.  I would like to review different options for snack and make a plan for the year during the Back To School Night on September 22.   This is a partnership and I want us all to feel as if we are invested... even in snack.

And now, back to the beginning…

The goals of the first few weeks in a classroom are getting to know each other and the shared space, establishing expectations of how to be together, voicing our “hopes and dreams,” and building a community of learners ( “a class family”). Through writing and art activities, the students will share what makes them each unique and learn what makes us each alike. We will use small-group cooperative brainstorming and whole group discussion to begin the process of creating our classroom expectations for being together. This is not an easy task– creating “laws and rules” democratically, and we will see our share of frustration. However, it is so important that each member has a “voice” in deciding how we are with each other, with our space and with the tools that we use. These agreements will guide classroom procedures and activities through the year.

In addition to developing our class family we will begin to nurture our school community as well. Through “buddy projects,” our students will begin (and continue) building relationships with students outside their classroom. 

This year we will also have a partnership with a second grade classroom in Portland. 

I can hardly wait, friends!

Rachel

Feel free to contact me with questions, comments or compliments by email or phone, 503-880-5478

Dear Tree Swallow Families,

First of all, I hope you took advantage of yesterday's absolutely perfection to get outdoors and play, discover something new in your backyard and get a good dose of vitamin D. Today on the other hand, is made for catching up with reading, baking cookies (perhaps for some hammy teacher that you know..:) and for some of us work (for those of us, work is not really "work", right?).

Here we are with just 7 days of this fabulous school year left. Oh and it has been a fabulous year. I have been working to create a Tree Swallow yearbook, compiling highlights from the year. I really tried to focus on key projects, events and studies, hoping to keep production costs and time to a minimal. Last night I was at 26 pages and, like that drum-rolling rabbit, "still going and going...."

About 10:00 pm the program closed unexpectedly, loosing about half of what I had just created; I like to think it was the universes way of offering some perspective.

We have had a year filled with meaningful and authentic projects, relationship building and remarkable creativity. To truly capture this, the yearbook might have to be upwards of 50 pages or " you had to be there". I will do my best to create a summary memento of this year.

One of our most authentic projects just culminated this last Thursday. Recall that the Tree swallows have been stewards and students of a local seasonal wetland, we call Ash Street Field. This space is managed by Metro and will border one of the trailheads for the FG Emerald Necklace Trails. The Swallows wondered what the surrounding neighbors knew and wanted to know about Ash Street Field. We worked together to create a survey and planned how and where this survey would be distributed. We distributed surveys door-to-door, providing many Swallows an authentic opportunity to practice and refine public speaking skills. A few weeks later, the survey came back to us and we worked together to extract and analyze the information.

What did the public know? What misunderstandings did they have? What were their questions? This guided expert group research topics to create our brochure and our information share. The Tree Swallows also created a presentation visual: an informational mural of Ash Street Field out of painted paper. It is gorgeous!

Last Thursday, at the Rogers Room in the Forest Grove Library, the Tree Swallow Stewards of Ash Street Field presented in partnership with two representatives from Metro. To an audience of about 25 (FGCS high-schoolers, Pacific faculty members, our Principal and invited neighbors of this field), four Tree Swallow ambassadors presented on our stewardship of this wetland, our creation of a public survey about this space and survey results. All Tree Swallows "Ash Street Experts" were onstage and at the ready to answer audience questions about the survey project and the wetland. The audience members and Metro received brochures and Metro asked if they could have the mural to display in the Metro lobby in Portland. Wow!

After this monumental event, the Swallows were surprised with ice cream at Joe's. The waitress at Joe's commented on how well behaved and respectful they were.

Congratulations Swallows, we are all so proud, as you must be too!

What could possibly follow this, you ask?

Let's start at the beginning: I hope you have had a chance to work in and/or visit the garden. Last week, the Swallows worked to build the foundation of the benches. The Owls and Swallows worked together to brainstorm possible bench designs. This week, we will work with the Owls to create the back of the benches---a curving worm. In order to accommodate for both classes schedules, we need to take any open opportunity we can. The first is this Monday (tomorrow) morning at 9:00 - 10:00. I just checked the weather and it supposed to be 70 and clear tomorrow (the only day next week). However, it was supposed to be 70 with a 20% chance of rain today, and ummmmmmm, well, see how that worked out? We will be flexible (it is a life skill). The plan is to work with our Owl buddies in the garden, making and applying cob. This gets messy. Please send boots and perhaps a change of clothes for tomorrow. If the weather is like this, we will postpone our bench making for another day this week.

Tuesday: The Tree Swallows will have a well-known substitute for the last hour of the day. I have an appointment. I just want to say thank you for all the support you have given your kids and me during this time. What a family I have.

Tuesday afternoon we will visit the high school classrooms as audience for their poster presentations.

Wednesday: RETURN TO NANA CARDOON'S: This will be our second annual end-of the year celebration in one of our most beloved places, Nana Cardoon Garden. We will leave school at 11:30 and return at dismissal. While there, the Swallows will rotate through stations to steward the garden, prepare for our celebration and just be together as a class family and community. We will be presenting Richard and Charlene with their autographed copy of the treasure book (shhhhit is a surprise for them) and reminiscing about the year. I have spoken to some of you about coming with us. Please let me know if you will be attending and if you are willing to guide/lead a small group during this event.

Thursday: The Swallows will have an extended PA (it is the last for the year and they presented during their PA block last week). This is also scheduled to be the day of our last Authors Tea.

Friday: We will spend our Art period in the garden working on our cob benches. This is our last All School Meeting for the year.

* Third Graders are required to prepare and give a 2-minute speech. The Swallow elders have all selected their topics (something they know some about that they want to teach or share with the class) and some have been working on these in class. This Thursday and Friday, the 3rd graders will present their speeches in front of the class. While there will be blocks of time for the Swallows to write and practice, it might be helpful to offer your child an opportunity to share their speech and practice it with you. Ask your swallow about the scoring guides.

NEXT WEEK:

Monday the 14th: Bridgers will visit their receiving class for 40 minutes. This is Field Day.

Tuesday, the 15th: BRIDGING CEREMONY at Pacific University from 11:00-12:00. School ends this day at 1:05. Happy summer!

Love,

Rachel