IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Yesterday I was sick.  Today when I walked in I was blown away by how the children responded that I was back.  They were running towards me, they were giving me cards that they had written, they were telling me that they cried yesterday when they found out I was not going to be there.  It was SO nice and sweet of them to think of me.

During Writer’s Workshop today, the children checked in with their partners about their work so far on their biographies.  I saw some really thoughtful collaboration that will enhance everyone’s writing.  Tomorrow we will start working on final drafts of the biographies so I look forward to seeing these biographies come to life even more.

We added minutes to our clocks today so the next few days we are going to continue to look at minutes of a clock.  There were many friends that really got it when we started to talk about how it goes by fives so I am eager to see their continued understanding shine.

DeOnna and Jonah working hard to add the minutes to their clocks they made last week.

Tevona and Isaac working together to enhance their biographies of each other.

Today when Mr. Nored walked in a lot of friends noticed his lip (he injured it at the last basketball game).  They asked what happened, and Mr. Nored said in such a polite manner that he would tell what happened during our share time.  During share time then after our friends took their turns, Mr. Nored shared his story.  I do not know if it was because it was him, or if it was because it was a story of trauma, but the children were such great listeners and so curious about how he was doing and if it hurt.  I was proud of them for being such a captivated audience!

Today we had a clock hunt where the children had to search for six different clocks around the room, and then put down what time on a cooresponding table.  The children really were excited about this clock hunt and did a really nice job telling the time around them.

So, we completed day 2 of biography writing today, and we had DeOnna and Saa share what they have worked on so far!  There were table of contents, thoughtful responses that they created from their interviews they did last week, and illustrations to showcase who they were writing about.  I am just so excited to continue to work on these and see what all of the children create to highlight their friends’ lives!

Heaven transferring her interview questions to her biography about Jamari!

Mr. Nored sharing his story of his fall on Saturday.

Madeline P. sharing her text to text connections she found in two of her reader's workshop books! She did a wonderful sharing her connections!

At the very end of the day today we had some serious fun in the class!  I have this funny little hedgehog/elephant type toy that I threw to each friend on the other side of the room.  They LOVED it!  And, what was the best part you ask?  Well, let me tell you that for each child they cheered “Go, (insert name)!” over and over again.  It was such a fun and supportive thing we did to close the day. They kept asking if we could do it again so maybe tomorrow we will do this fun practice again.

What a day!  We welcomed four new Butler teachers into our room today!  These four teachers, Miss Kouri, Miss Olerich, Miss Templeton (who has been in our class quite a bit before), and Miss Kesler (who also has been in our room a bit).  They did such an amazing job on their first day!  They were engaged with the children, facilitating wonderful conversations, and really working hard building relationships with the class community.  I am really excited to see how the rest of the semester goes with these wonderful teachers!

This week we have begun to talk about time.  Yesterday we began to make a class clock.  Today we finished it and the friends in class then made their very own clocks out of paper plates.  They were so engaged during this time (no pun intended), and have really enjoyed learning and discussing time with each other.  I have even seen some friends start wearing their watches to school.  🙂

We have been talking about biographies in class, and on Monday the children learned that they would be interviewing each other and then writing books about a friend in class.  We picked names for partners, we came up with interview questions, we watched Kermit the frog interview the first teacher ever, and today we interviewed each other!  I cannot begin to tell you how engaged the children were, how excited and truly interested they were in finding out about their friends, and how nicely they worked together.  I am really looking forward to seeing the children’s biographies come to life!

Beautiful picture of Tevona sharing her yoga pose

Jonah and Makayla working so well together during the interviews.

Miss Kouri working with some friends making their own clocks.

Our class clock!

Today we had the pleasure of having Mr. Price, one of our parents, come in and share his knowledge of thinking maps with us!  He shared with us the thinking behind circle maps, and the children did such an amazing job using this tool to share their knowledge of plants.  It was such a great experience and definitely excited Mr. Nored and I for the myriad of ways we can use thinking maps in the future.

We have quite a bit of grass growing in our gloves, and the children are really excited because of it!  We will keep checking it out to see..will grass grow in all of the gloves?

The children last week painted beautiful paintings on watercolor paper.  Today some of the children began making stained glass paintings using acrylic painting and lamination.  They were so engaged creating really beautiful work that showed their ideas of friendship or their feelings toward the school.

Selam creating a beautiful painting using permanent markers, acrylic paint, and lamination

Look at our grass gloves!

Mr. Price faciliating a great conversation about plants!