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