IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Our recycling project is on a roll!  This week we have been going to classrooms all over the buildings to present and ask for other students to recycle with us.  So far we have a lot of requests for recycling boxes and everyone is saying yes!  (Please see Mrs. Bucher’s post about one of our first presentations.)  I am so proud of the kids and their ability to tackle public speaking with no fear at such an early age!  In addition, we received good news today.  Our paper retriever bin is scheduled to be delivered to our school on Friday or Saturday of this week!  Once it is here feel free to bring paper in from home.  We need everyone’s help to make our environment a safer place!

Isn’t this impressive?!

I promise this is not photo-shopped! Jaiden is actually doing this!

I am continually impressed with the kids’ dedication to our daily yoga.  I have noticed that as we end everyone is calmer and more relaxed.  We are able to start our Math Workshop in a calm tone.  Mrs. Williams and I have noticed how the kids are really grasping different poses.  Mrs. Williams took our class to the next level today.  Check out the pose Jaiden is doing above!  She, like many others, was able to hold this pose for many seconds.  (I tried it myself and it is a hard one!)

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.

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.