IPS/Butler University Laboratory School

Parents and staff brainstorm ideas about our parent organization

Parents and staff organize ideas for our parent organization

On Thursday, September 15th, parents and staff members met for the first time to begin thinking about what a parent organization at a school like ours can become.  A guiding question for our group is how can a parent organization be meaningful to parents, to staff, to the community, and most importantly to the children?  Bob Price (Lab School parent) facilitated the meeting during which the big ideas that could guide our organization were discussed.  The discussions were thoughtful and everyone in attendance seemed to enjoy the time we spent together.  It was a joy to see that after the meeting had ended, everyone stayed to spent more time together talking about our children and our school.  Our next meeting will take place on Thursday, October 6th at 6:00 PM.  If you could not join us for the first meeting, we hope you can find the time to be with us on the 6th!

This week we have been adding to our physically fit classroom.  On Monday we started yoga in our class.  We do this after recess before we start Writer’s Workshop to calm ourselves and get ready to write.  The kids really love this!  Here are a few pictures of them “finding their breath.”  We have been practicing breathing deeply to calm as we begin.

While yoga is so great we have even more good news!!  As many of you have noticed, the kids have been bringing home A to Z Readers.  These are the little white paper books that are leveled readers.  Every six days (we have six groups) I meet with the students and work with them on a book that is at their exact reading level.  They then get to take it home to practice and keep!  We are in our first rotation and the kids are really excited about them!  Please help them by reading the books at home.  The more successful they feel the more excited they will be about reading!

Today was an exciting day in our classroom!  Our four Butler friends came!  They will be with us on most Wednesdays and some Mondays. It is such a wonderful opportunity because the kids get even more support than a normal day.  It was a great day of small group work and one on one work.  We are very excited to have Miss Adams, Mr. Ward, Miss Goshert, and Miss Sjoerdsma in our classroom.  Here are a few pictures of them working with the students today.

Miss Adams is working with a group during Literacy Stations

Miss Sjoerdsma is working with the "Write the Room" group during literacy stations.

Mr. Ward and Miss Goshert are guiding our students along at the computers.

Mr. Ward is once again guiding a few students at the computers.

Block A Students Pose for Photo in the Courtyard

A key feature of the IPS/Butler University Laboratory School is our collaboration with Butler University.  A part of that collaboration includes a 15 credit hour course called Block A.  This teaching methods course focuses on young children, literacy, math, Reggio inspired practice and project-based learning.  The course takes place on-site at our school in a classroom designed for college students, but the students will also have a practicum experience in our classrooms.  The preschool classroom will have three Butler students while each of the k-1 classrooms will have four students assigned to them.  The Butler students will (with a few schedule changes) be in our classrooms every Wednesday for the entire day.  Wednesday, September 14th will be the first full-day for the Butler students in our classrooms following a brief visit yesterday.  The teachers and children are as excited as our Butler students for this experience to begin!  The following comments by Block A students summarize how they are feeling about this opportunity:

“I walked into the classroom today and the children just put me at ease.  I felt so comfortable in the room; almost like it was my own.  I cannot wait to jump in!” – Katie Jones

“As soon as I walked into the classroom, a child ran up to me and gave me a huge hug.  That was the beginning of many hugs during my visit!  I have found my home for the semester!” – Colleen Wilson

“I can’t wait to start working with the kids!  I know I will learn so much from them as we learn together.  I was estatic today when I met two young girls whose interests are after those of my own heart – weddings, singing, dancing and family.  I am excited to make more connections with the kids.” – Amy Gaisser

“I am so excited to begin working with the students.  They were so full of wonderful energy and excitement.  I can’t wait to see what they are going to teach me!” – Kaitlyn Love

“I am overwhelmed with emotions.  Emotions of joy, happiness and excitement.  Emotions of unsure possibilities and unplanned paths.  I cannot wait to start this journey and to experience more and more of these emotions.” – Courtney Boyle

“How blessed I am to have the opportunity to work with these amazing students.  I can’t wait to start learning from them.” – Elyse Estridge

“Even though I only spent a few short minutes in Mrs. Argus’ classroom, it is clear to me that this is a special community.  They are not just a teacher and her students, but friends.  I’m so excited to grow together with them.” – Megan Rogg

“You know those moments when something good is about to happen…yeah, this is one of those!” – Chris Henderson

We have had a great start to our school year.  As we get into the swing of things our workshops are really starting to take off!  I think that Writer’s Workshop is now one of the kids favorite parts of the day.  Over the past few weeks we have been focusing on details in our stories, both illustrations and text.  It has been great to see the kids adding words to their stories.  They get so excited! 

In Reader’s Workshop we have been focusing on the different ways we can read books.  The three ways we have talked about so far are: 1. Looking at the pictures to help us tell the story,    2. Retelling a story we know,   3. Reading the words.  The past week or so we have been expanding on the 3rd way to read.  We have talked about how we can sound out short words or stretch out the longer ones to read.  It is so cool to see the kids get excited when they figure out words.  At the end of both workshops we share what some students have done in their independent time.  The kids get excited, run to me to share and then instantly ask if they can share in front of the entire class.  SO GREAT!  I can already see growth in so many kids.