IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

We have been talking a lot about friendship during our Morning Meeting time.  Last week the students decided we should create a book about friendship.  They all worked together to create a page for the book about being a great friend.  Check out some pages from the book below.

Today we also did an activity during Morning Meeting about using kind words.  I drew a person on a piece of paper and first we went around the circle and said something unkind to our person.  Each time we said an unkind word we folded up the paper.  The students noticed that after so many unkind words the person was so small and almost gone.  Then, we went around the circle and said kind things and apologized to the person.  This time we unfolded the paper with each kind word we said.  After the activity, everyone realized that the paper was still all crumpled and it wasn’t the same as before.  We realized that once you say something unkind, even if you apologize it never really goes away.  When I asked the class what this meant they shared some great ideas such as “Think twice before you talk” and “This reminds me to treat others the way I want to be treated.”  This was such a powerful activity and I was really glad to see how much the students learned from it!

As I mentioned earlier this week, the students have all come to recognize that they are authors every day in Story Workshop.  When we read the story What Do Authors Do?many of them made connections and realized we do all of those things as well!  Today we had an Author Celebration! The students chose a story that they are proud of and shared it with a friend.  It was wonderful to see how interested everyone was in each others stories.  There was a buzz of excitement throughout the room as the children read their stories.  I will be sharing their work with you next week on Parents In Touch Day!

Isabella shares her story.

Daysia listens to Jenesis’s story.

Emily and Himiko enjoy their special snack during our celebration!

Tags: capable, dinosaurs, project

This week in both Reader’s Workshop and Math Workshop, we have introduced partners.  There is a lot of power behind having partners as you work.  It encourages conversation, collaboration, and questioning.  The kids have really enjoyed working with partners.  We asked them today why it was important and here are a few of their answers:

“You are reading together and you can hear other people reading so they can help you.  If you were alone you couldn’t do that.” ~Andrew

“It is important because that’s how you make a new friend.  Friends help them sound it out.” ~Carriea

“They are important because you don’t have to raise your hand and wait.  You don’t have to wait or nothin’.  Your partner can help you.” ~Tylisha

“Your partner is a different reader so they can help you!” ~William

Joseph & Avelyn are partners in Reader’s Workshop.

Jonah and Oliver are partners in Math Workshop.

Wyatt, Aasha, and William are partners in Math Workshop.

Miles and Townes are partners in Reader’s Workshop.