IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

This week we started a new unit of study in Writer’s Workshop.  We are Writing For Readers, meaning that we want to make our writing clear and neat so others can read it.  Today I asked the kids to do something new.  I asked them to go through their own folders of finished books and evaluate them.  They had to make a pile of  “easy to read” books and “hard to read” books.  While watching them sort through their books, I was impressed!  Every student was honest with themselves and really took the time needed to look through and evaluate their own books!  The goal is that the kids find an area they need to work on and apply that to their writing time.  Check back in a few days and I will let you know how we are doing!

Tyler is evaluating his own writing.

Today was another busy and productive day!  Sophia and Max from Mrs. Clark’s class came in this morning to give us a presentation about their recycling project.  They did such an amazing job presenting their new plans to get our school to recycle.  Each class will have a box in their room to recycle paper, and then each Friday they will take it out and put it in the big recycling bin!  Our kids the rest of the day were asking “Is this for the regular trash can or the recycling box?”  We are pretty excited about being a little greener!

We learned a new pose-the boat- today during yoga, and I cannot tell you how proud I was of the kids!  They worked so hard with their partner to get themselves into the boat position, and then they were trying to really focus their attention so they could stay up for a while!

During Readers Workshop we did some partner reading.  The children partnered up with a friend and took some time to read their books with each other.  We will be doing this once a week at least to work on projecting and reading aloud to a peer.

Jason and Madeline P. doing some partner reading during Reader's Workshop.

Heaven and Selam working together to do the boat pose.

Sophia and Max sharing their recycling project!

Wyatt and CJ reading "back to back".

I have noticed that the kids are so excited about reading that during their independent time they want to share it with everyone!   Over the last two weeks we have introduced a new idea into Reader’s Workshop. Each day, the kids start sitting back to back with a partner.  During this time they are reading independently.  About half way through our workshop time I say, “It is time for elbow to elbow, knee to knee.”  This gives the kids a chance to share their reading with someone else.  I can truly say this is the kids favorite part of Reader’s Workshop!

This is only half of the boxes!

My oh my that is a lot of boxes! Do you want to know why we have so many?  Each one of these boxes is going to go into a classroom at our school (k-1) and in grades 2-6 who share the building with us.  As you all know, in a few weeks we will be receiving a paper retriever in our school parking lot.  Today we spent a little time putting together these boxes and talking about our next steps in the school wide recycling program that we are creating.  The kids decided that we need to come up with speeches to explain to the other students what you can and cannot put into the paper retriever.  So in the next few days we will be writing short speeches and presenting to other classrooms in the building.

Selah and Christina are putting together a box.

Harper and Wyatt are taking on the box challenge!

Reid, Max, and CJ are almost done!

Yesterday, Mrs. Williams was not at school because she was sick.  As many of you know Mrs. Williams has been in our classroom since September.  She is with us everyday to help.  Like anyone in our classroom community, when she is absent we all miss her.  So when I told the kids that she was sick, they came up with the idea to make her a pillow.  While we make the pillow yesterday (so the pictures are from Monday), we gave it to Mrs. Williams when she returned today.

From a teacher’s perspective, this was a wonderful moment to watch. Knowing, that the kids worked cooperatively together in small groups to make something for a person in need is so special.  At this moment, the kids realized they have the power to help.  If nothing else, I hope this story warms your heart like I believe it did for myself and Mrs. Williams.

Kristien, Sophia, and Reid are working together to cut out the fabric for the pillow.

BreAnna and Tylisha are working together to close the pillow that a few others stuffed with feathers and yarn.

The finished pillow! Yes, there is a little duct tape, but three of the sides are sewed.