IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Today we began exploring grouping or multiplication as a class. It was very interesting and logical to see that the children first thought to add the two numbers that were given instead of grouping them. They were persistent and determined to figure out what to do with the numbers after we read the story problem a few times. Joe, when we first started working, had already shown how to do the number story problem. I loved to see how he connected the numbers and knew how to work with them. It was so fun to see everyone’s thinking so clearly and see their determination shine through.

The children as well as me and Miss Jeffrey LOVED seeing all of the puppets come back to school today! They are SUPER creative,and the children were excited to show them off to each other. We are so excited to use them for our movie. A big thank you to YOU for helping with the puppet making process!

Selah, Zakeyah, and Joe started working on the set design for the movie today. They worked hard to make clouds, the school, rain, a window, and the beginnings of the tree. They were collaborating so well together and really focusing on creating a beautiful set for our puppet show! We will continue to work on the set throughout this week, and possibly start filming next week!

Today, in Reader’s Workshop, we started talking about different perspectives in stories.   Over the next few weeks we are going to be digging into this idea that all people (characters) have different perspectives on events. Today we used the historical fiction book, Henry’s Freedom Box to talk about different perspectives.  This book focuses on a slave and his life and eventual escape to freedom.  I was so impressed with the kids conversations about the perspectives of the slave vs. the slave owner.  We had some powerful conversations!  Someone even said the slave owners were selfish because all they wanted was money and they really didn’t care about the slaves.   The conversations were so rich and I could already see the kids begin to tackle this topic with an intense book.  I am really looking forward to more of these great conversations as the week progresses.

During Morning Meeting we reflected on what we are thankful for.  It was great to hear the children’s responses.

“I am thankful for my family,” Daysia

“I am thankful for my sister and brother,” CJ

“I am thankful for my mom,” Mekhi

“I am thankful for my dog,” Ashley

“I am thankful we earned seven positive points,” Himiko

“I am thankful for our class,” Kaitlyn

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Hope to see you tonight at the carnival!

Maggie and I have been reading Charlotte’s Web together for a while now. Through conversations about friendship and loneliness that we have shared together, Maggie had a great idea. She thought that it would be a good idea to have a joke box at school so that children that feel lonely or sad could visit it and get a laugh.

So, Maggie has been working on building this joke box for a couple of weeks. She helped nail the nails in, she painted it black, and then it was time to research jokes. Maggie brought in a joke book from home, and then I brought in some jokes too. She and I pointed out our favorites, and then she put the jokes on fancy paper.

We thought that the friends would really appreciate the jokes, but we also thought that maybe those friends who feel lonely could write to her and then she could write back to them making them feel like they have a friend to talk to.

Maggie prepared a video to explain the joke box and journal so that she could share this with the other classes, and so they knew that they could come to her joke box.

Today, we went around to all but one classroom and shared the video with the other friends and talked about this idea. The friends seemed to really appreciate it! It was amazing to see how the friends in the other classes were so attentive and interested in this joke box, and it was even more beautiful to see Maggie so proud of her work.

What made this day even more special for Maggie was that as we were working during Story Workshop, I heard some friends chatting out in the hallway. I walked out there and I saw two friends so engaged writing in the journal to Maggie. I went inside and told Maggie that they were writing to her, and she quietly and quickly peeked out the door and just beamed with pride. It was a moment that I will not forget.

This is another moment that I will not forget from today. I had Shaniyia last year and I am proud to have her in my class this year. I have seen her progress so much since she has been with me. Today, while she was reading and making connections during Reader’s Workshop, I could not help but well up with tears because I am just so proud of her. She asked why I had tears in my eyes, and I just said, “Because I am so proud of you.” She just smiled and went back reading.

And then I thought deeper about that statement I gave Shaniyia, and I thought I am so proud of each of the students in this class. They have already grown so much as people and learners, and I am truly honored to be with them everyday. They make me smile, they care about me as much as I care about them, and they are so eager to learn and dive into whatever it is that we are doing.

I am sorry for the sappiness of this blog entry, but I just wanted to share what my heart felt tonight. It is swelling with pride-for each and every child that is in this amazing class.

Carriea and Oliver are writing their letters to the Children’s Museum.

Jonah writing his letter to the Children’s Museum.

This week the kids decided that they needed to inform the Children’s Museum where the leak came from in the Museum.  The kids have decided that it was the aquarium.  Today, we worked together to decide what was important to tell our friends at the museum.  The kids wanted to tell them that we recreated the sample from the leak and saw there was salt in it and we know that there is salt in the aquarium water.  We also discovered that the aquarium water was the most dense because of the salt in it.  Each child had the chance to start working on their letters.  We will continue this work tomorrow and put them in the mail after that!

David and William playing Knock Knock

Dorothy and Shayla playing Knock Knock

This afternoon, Mr. Ward introduced a new game to the kids to help with place value.  This game was called Knock Knock.  It is played with a deck of cards.  Each player gets three cards and they have to build the largest number possible.  They can trade cards one time to get a higher number.  It was great to see the kids switching numbers around in the hundreds, tens, and ones places to create larger numbers.  It really made them think!  When Mr. Ward asked at the end of Math Workshop who enjoyed the game everyone agreed it was great!  I know they will enjoy it in the upcoming weeks!