Welcome Back!

By now we are all familiar with the phrase "the new normal".  I just can't help but think how hard it has become to establish new routines when things are always in flux! We are entering into the LAST section of the school year and I know exactly what this would be like IF we were headed back into the building, but my colleagues and I are figuring out how this will go...remotely.  Welcome to the journey! We have some great topics to explore with the kids and I hope to use more video clips to introduce new concepts and keep the learning fresh.  Over the break I worked on some video logistics. I hope to see some journal entries from the kids telling me what they were up to.

Let's Talk About Maps

Many kids from Room 28 have been busy learning about, learning from, and making their own MAPS!   Lets have a look- 

Here you can see a classmate locating his current home state and former home state at once!

Great work on a map of the US!  

Next you can see some maps that friends drew

 of rooms in their homes.

If you haven't had a chance to hear the story Me On The Map click on the link below and then have a look at how the work that came home in packets this week aligned with the story.

Me On the Map

If more friends out there want their maps posted, keep 'em coming- it's not too late.  And, wouldn't you want a map to this place?  This classmate has buried a time capsule!  I think we'd all have a lot to say about life in 2020.

Right now I'm imagining that this will be my last post until after the April break. Folks may be feeling grateful that this week off allows for some distance from the distance learning! I hope when we pick up again on the 27th everyone feels ready for the final stretch of the school year.

 

SO Fun to Be Together...Virtually!

We did it!  The first Zoom session happened and it was great to see so many friends there.  I am full of ideas of how to make our future meetings even better and open to ideas that parents and kids might have too.  Here's a glimpse of what it looked like.

These people look familiar!  But do you know what this is...

The mystery picture this week is below.  Send your guess in an email!

Wednesday Zoom Day!

...Truth be told I'm setting this post up on Tuesday because tomorrow morning is going to be really busy with our first Zoom meeting! So, no embedded video today. All the K teachers are having their first class Zoom tomorrow and then switching to a Tuesday/Thursday meeting schedule after the break. 

In packets this week the children received a set of tangrams.  As a class we have worked a bit with this specific grouping of seven shapes that have been used to make picture puzzles for CENTURIES before school went remote. What the children didn't receive in packets were directions or patterns. It was a little "oops" and those will come in the packet after the break.  BUT,  I'm including some beginner and more advanced designs here that you can refer to in the mean time. You can see that without the interior lines it's a whole different thing! And, there are some online tangram games and apps if you get into it.

Staying Strong!

The kids (and families) of Room 28 know how to make the most of this unprecedented situation.  In today's post, which I have titled based on yesterday's title, I am going to let the pictures do the talking and then... I have treat for you!  Another Candle Day!  And it will speak for itself as well.  Enjoy.

First some correct answers to the mystery word from yesterday-

Some Egg Drop and Paper Chair Experiments-

Some journal entries that each involve movie recommendations if you read carefully-

And some great relaxing with a book-

And with that, I present to you...

A Candle Day

Heading Into Week 4- Strong!

If you've been keeping up with the blog you know that it has become a way for our classroom community to stay connected and share ideas about what we're up to with learning, art, nature, families and more in this time of social isolation.  As we move into our fourth week of this I'm SO happy that students are exchanging ideas with each other (see below) and sending their photos in to share.  I'm also excited that I will be posting some links to longer videos in the days to come so that I can teach some mini-lessons to augment the Learning Grid.  Take a look at what some of our friends were up to this weekend-

Great color science following up on a previous post!

And you can have a look at some nature mandalas.  If you haven't made one yet, its NEVER too late.  Keep those pictures coming.

The one on the right is mine (Ms.Barone!)

Working Harder to Get Smarter

It's fun to have the Friday post be one that captures some of the week that was.  To start us off today here is a video of a classmate doing an artistic science experiment you might like to try.

We also have a book review from a friend!  Dumbo is a classic that was given a rating of FOUR by a classmate who thinks his friends will like it too.  He looks like he's holding up a "two" but that's really a peace sign for all of you!

There was playing, learning, and virtual socializing going on within our crew this week!

And, here's a cool idea for the weekend and beyond...