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!