Journal Writing in Action!

Step 1: Let your child choose a book (any book will do!) and read away!

Step 2: Every few pages, when there is a detail you want to discuss, when your child asks a question, and at the end of the book DISCUSS together!

Step 3: Let them draw a picture (with markers, colored pencils, crayons, paint, whatever!) about the entire story or just one part

Step 4: Ask them what they want to write and let them go! Only help them sound out when they absolutely need it. Remember: It doesn't matter if it is spelled correctly. They should just be sounding out the words by breaking them down into individual sounds.

Step 5: Have an author party and read what your child wrote. Don't forget to praise, praise, praise because you have a very talented, very smart kid!

Journal Writing!

After reading the book Goggles by Ezra Jack Keats, our January author,we talked all about secret hideouts. In the story two boys and their dog Willie hide from the "bigger boys" in their secret hideout/fort. We talked about our favorite hiding places in our house or if we were to build a fort, what it would look like. We browsed google images of kids' forts, talked about ways to build them, and who would play with us. WE listened to secret agent spy music like the theme song from Mission Impossible to get us into the mood! The stories the kids came up with were awesome! So good there was a trip to the treasure box in store for many kids after we finished! Check out four students and their stellar work!

Donor's Choose Project

Help get our class's next project funded!
Interested in seeing more great videos of your children learning on the blog? Pass this web address on to your friends and family so we can get a flip cam for us to use!

http://www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/596995.1181621141

Home for the Holidays

Here are a few photos from my trip home to northern Virginia. I had a very merry, white Christmas. I went to a bird sanctuary and saw a beaver dam. Also pictured, is my dad's dog, Carley enjoying the snow!

A trip on the Polar Express

Celebrating the end of Stanford and beginning of the holiday season we had a Polar Express day! Students wore their favorite pajamas as though they were whisked away on the northern-bound train.

This month we did a lot of crafting, art projects, and exciting story times too! Happy Holidays to all the green gators and their families!

Celebrating Diwali!

We were so lucky to visit with Dhrish's mom and learn all about the holiday their family celebrates, For Hindus, Diwali is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated in families by performing traditional activities together in their homes. Deepavali is an official holiday in India,Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore,and Fiji.

We painted beautifully and Dhrish's mom shared delicious sweets they typically eat during the festival of lights, Diwali. THANKS FOR COMING IN!

Article about bullying

This is an interesting article about bullying and how interaction with infants can help teach children about empathy and feelings. Parents, this doesn't mean you must have another baby but it is a good article!

http://blog.speakaboos.com/2010/11/childhood-bullying-may-be-solved-by-babies/