Growing in SO Many Ways

Looking back over the pictures from this week I was struck by the idea of PROGRESS- how far we've come this year as a class. This week we read an important book about kindness called Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed which tells the story of how one small act of kindness can have a huge effect because it spreads exponentially. As a teacher I feel that it's a hallmark of a caring classroom community when the teacher doesn't have to ask the question, "do you think we could spread kindness like that in our class?" because the children already decided to take it on themselves!  Here's a look into this past week...

These two pictures show us making chains of paper people. They are connected in a way that the spaces between the body's formed hearts! A few friends decided to connect their chain as a circle so the kindness could come full circle like it did in Ordinary Mary!

Above you can see that our pretend area became a Communication Station this week, set up entirely for card/mail making. It's been a lot of fun to have "mail call" at End Meeting.  The choice was so popular that on a few days we opened up the area and took over the whole back of the room with card making.

The academic growth of the past few months is apparent in the children's focus and independence. On the left you can see children self-monitoring which sight words they know and which they are still working on. On the right you can see children applying their skills with pattern blocks to a new activity on the Chromebooks.

A highlight of this whole month has been the video and Zoom book shares with family members. The class is having a super time meeting family members while connecting to books that include some favorites and some exciting new titles. I'm hearing from families that have zoomed what a respectful audience our crew is!

But just so you're clear- We DO set aside time to both chill, and let loose. I will leave you with a look at us doing a favorite movement break- The Triangle Dance, and the hallway outside our room that displays a craft project that has been personalized with writing from their journals.