IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Today Miss Robison and Mrs. Grotjan helped us make book pockets for our new classroom library. It holds books that we have made.

Miss Robison helped by sewing the pockets for us during studio.

Next week, I will be traveling to The Opal School in Portland, Oregon with several other colleagues from The IPS/Butler University Laboratory School. We will be engaging in some professional development to enhance our teaching skills and also be visiting a school that is very highly regarded in project based and Reggio inspired learning. I am so sad to leave the class for an entire week but know, with full confidence, that things will be in good hands with Miss Schmidt and all of our Butler support. Today, Miss Schmidt and I talked to the kids about what would be happening and assured them that I would be back the next week. We talked a little bit about Portland and where it is and the kids were interested in how long it would take (on an airplane, imagine that!) for me to get there. Sascha also suggested the class keeps track of the weather in Portland and the weather in Indy and note any similarities and differences. What a fabulous idea! I will be checking in with Miss Schmidt daily and also check my email on a daily basis while I am on the trip. I feel so fortunate to be a part of a school where professional development such as this is possible- and so fortunate that I have a wonderful student teacher who will lead our troops wonderfully -AND wonderful children and families who are supportive of my growth as well as their own. Have a wonderful evening!

While I read this book at the end of the day, I feel like GOING GREEN was our conversation of the entire day! From recycling to planting trees there was so much to talk about!!

It all started this morning during Free Exploration.  The first 20 minutes of the day the kids come into our room and make a choice.  There are multiple things out including puzzles, books, and the materials in the message center.  Today, a few students made “Going Green” messages.  At the end of free exploration, they decided some would stay in our class and some could go to other friends via the message center.  They also said they should write messages to everyone in our school about going green.

Reid is busy making his Going Green message for the class!

The next moment came when we were getting ready for our weekly recycling trip around the building.  I rang the chimes to clean up and get coats.  When I reminded the kids about recycling, they all started to cheer!!    During our recycling rounds, Raki asked, “Why do we recycle?”  Max answered her almost instantly, “Because we want to save the earth!”  About 30 seconds later, David chimed in, “Because we are superheros!”

Some of our friends are taking out the recycling!

I must say I am so proud of what the kids have accomplished!  At the end of the day today, Sophia summed it up by saying, “Mrs. Clark, the entire school should go green!”  I couldn’t have said it better myself 🙂

BreAnna and Dorothy are busy telling time.

We have been making a lot of progress in Math Workshop.  As we finish up learning about time, the kids are so happy to know that they can almost take their clocks home!  Today, the kids used their clocks to quiz each other on different times.  It was so great to walk around and hear, “Ok…here is a hard one….show me 7:30!”  They liked to challenge each other and see how far they could push on another!

Look at Salih and Selah work together!!

While working together in math was impressive, I was blown away to see how well the kids worked together in yoga!  Today Mrs. Williams taught us a series of partner poses.  Each pose required partners to work together and trust one another.  While I knew our classroom community was strong I was so pleased to see each and every partner working.  They were not questioning, arguing, or fighting.  They were all working together!  I even told the kids, “If I had any more marbles to give you I would!”  (too bad we just earned our marble party yesterday!)