IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

As a part of our perspectives unit, Mrs. Clark and Miss Cegielski’s classes are having a Literacy Celebration during Reader’s Workshop on Wednesday at 11.  We have been impressed by the depth of the students’ understanding through our discussions, so each of them will share one insight at the celebration.  It will give our two classes a chance to collaborate further and hear their peers’ ideas.  Parents are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served by volunteers from First Book, a local organization that promotes giving books to children!

In Story Workshop the students are engaged in their first drafts of their author’s study books.  We have started to talk about critique and making improvements to our work.  Chairo went back to the Grouchy Lady Bug by Eric Carle and found more ideas for his story.  He began working on his second draft.  I have been impressed by their stamina for writing these stories and focusing on critique and revision.

In Math Workshop we explored the question “What is an octagon?”  The students worked in partners and used geoboards to create octagons.  We have agreed that octagons have eight sides just like an octopus has eight legs.  We are still debating the other properties of octagons.  The conversations happening between partners and during share were rich with the students’ theories.  We will continue to build on our understanding of these geometry concepts next week.

I’m sure that you have heard about Abraham Lincoln, slavery, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks.  We have been exploring different perspectives of characters by reading books rich in history from the time of slavery and the civil rights movement.  We have had discussions about the perspectives of the North and the South during the time of the civil war.  The students have been making applications while they are reading on their own during Reader’s Workshop.  They have been very interested in these influential people and many students are choosing to read and learn more during free choice.

Mr. Harris talking about games.

We were lucky enough to have a guest speaker come into our classroom to talk about games this afternoon.  Mr. Harris, who is a lab school parent, but also works at Butler University in the ticket office, came in to talk to us about games.  He is around lots of games everyday.  Here are a few quotes from this afternoon’s chat.

Why do you like games? -Max

I like to play games because of the people.  i enjoy spending time with my family and friends. -Mr. Harris

How did you start playing games? -Kristien

When I was a kid we used to play games with my mom and dad.  We played games like memory and Candy-land.  Now that I’m a grown up I try to play those games with my kids too.

Mr. Harris also left us with a thought that attaches to what we have been talking about A LOT with our project.  “It’s not so important that you win or lose, it’s important that you have fun.  Even more than having fun, games and sports are a good opportunity to be an example.  No matter how small or how big you are it’s important to remember that.”

Yesterday at the Rhythm Discovery Center, we learned that forte means loud and piano means soft. Today, we experimented with dancing to music that was forte and piano. When the music got really loud, friends were encouraged to make their bodies “big”, reach tall, and do big movements. When the music was piano, we crouched down low, were quiet, and made small movements.

Tags: curious, music, project, sound

Today, during free choice time, two students from Mrs. Clark’s class came and spoke with our class about recycling. Mrs. Clark’s friends and Miss Cegielski’s friends are heading up our school’s recycling program. They came around to each class to talk about why we need to recycle and what each class can do. They also dropped of a recycling box. As of today, any paper that would otherwise be thrown away will now be thrown in the recycling box. On Fridays, a team from Mrs. Clark’s class and/or Miss Cegielski’s class will come to collect our recycling. We’re excited to be a part of our school’s initiative to better care for our environment!

William and Reed come by to talk to our class about recycling and drop off our recycling box.