Weather Update: Secret Snowflakes in the 7-Day Forecast

In Little Elk Council today, children voted to give holiday gifts next week.  Each child drew someone's name. They are that person's Secret Snowflake. We are only giving gifts to that one person.

We also agreed that we can give one homemade gift/card/treat anytime between Monday and Wednesday. On Thursday we will give a second and final gift/treat of an approximate $5 value (which could also be homemade).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

John

Little Elk News (Second Effort)

My last links did not work for everyone. Try these, please:

News from Little Elk

http://littleelkriverclass.blogspot.com/2017/12/update-dec.html

Photo Update

http://littleelkriverclass.blogspot.com/2017/12/photo-update-dec-11-2017-feat-hazel-and.html

Dec. 11, 2017: Photo Update (feat. Hazel and Cinnamon)

Demo: Liquids Settle According to their Weight





A crisp autumn day in December to play soccer at McMurray Fields (Enrichment)




Saleha talks about death and the cycle of life at the Little Elk Council.



Lilah (right) reads The Girl Who Drank the Moon for Read Aloud.





"Wait. Where's Hazel? She was here a second ago. Anybody seen Hazel?"



"Hazel, where've you been? I've been looking all over for you!"



We now have a no-reaching rule so that Hazel and Cinnamon are free to roam—and yes, run—during Read Aloud.



I'm not sure why Cinnamon wanted to ring the bell (chime). Nor was Hazel. Hazel was having none of it.

Dec. 11, 2017: News from Little Elk

Update Dec. 11, 2017

I dropped a pin. And I heard it. I went to the Practical Life shelf and found a pin, then dropped it to the floor. I didn’t think I would hear anything because of the carpeting. But I did. It was Silent Reading in Little Elk, 12:59 pm. The place was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. It was the sound of children engrossed in their books. 

Not that this was the first time that students have been deep in their stories. It’s happened many times. But today struck me because I had not once prompted them to read. Nor did I once prompt them to stop chatting or find a book. Everyone in the room independently chose their books and allowed themselves to be sucked in by their stories as if I were not even in the room! 

I mention this because this is what it looks like when children are becoming leaders. Next year, when we welcome fourth years into Little Elk, your 5th years will teach this routine to their younger peers—not because I ask them to. They will teach them just by doing it.

• Be sure to stop by the Geography Fair on Wednesday at 2:00 (until 3:00)!  Children have been working hard and will be sure to impress you with their knowledge and creativity. In addition to the projects in the other 3 classrooms, you will see the following in Little Elk:

• Nature in Mexico (Yami)
• Amazon River (Greta)
• Caves (Azalea)
• Two Rainforests Compared (Lilah)
• Greece (Scarlett)
• Gemstones (Henry)
• Amazon Rainforest (Will)
• Global Warming (Miles)
• Money Around the World (Emmett)
• The Sahara (Colton)
• Caves (Walter)
• Lake Baikal (Mikko)

Here’s a Little agreement about project displays: For every visual (illustration, map, graph, etc.) that is borrowed from a book or website for a project board, the student must produce one hand-created visual (illustration, map, graph, etc.). The ratio must be 1:1.

Also keep in mind that, if a student chooses to do some of their work at home, be sure that he or she is doing the work. Parental support can come in the guise of encouragement, a quiet setting, reading a text out loud, showing an interest and conversing about their topic, asking clarifying questions, even providing a snack. But please do not play a major role in the production of their work, whether it is a weekly homework assignment or a Science Fair.  

• We extend a warm welcome to Miles Hudson and his parents, Jeff Hudson and Sarah Hudson into Great River. Miles joined Little Elk a couple of weeks ago from Crossroads Montessori. If you have not met them yet, please try to do so!

• A Note from the Critter Cash Committee!

Dear UE Families, 

The last Critter Cash Committee bake sale was a great success, and we are hoping to keep our pets healthy and well-fed over the winter with another sale. Also, we have added some new pets to our UE critter family: two guinea pigs in Little Elk, Hazel and Cinnamon. More mouths to feed!

The next sale will be held this Friday, December 15th, 3:15-4:00pm in the Adolescent building (exact location TBA). If you would like to attend, we ask that you please pick your child up as usual and walk them over to the other building.

Students are invited to make crafts and/or bake treats at home to donate to our sale; we ask that they include ingredients of the treat. Participation is optional and proceeds from the sale will be shared among the UE classrooms.... Our students and pets thank you for generosity and support!

Lesson on death, dying and gratitude Wednesday

Dear Parents of Little Elk,

Please see this important letter from Saleha Edman, below!

Dear Little Elk families,

I'm writing to let you about some work I will be doing with your child's classroom this week around responding to classmates who are experiencing death and dying outside of school.  Many Great River families this fall have been facing the death or severe illness of a loved one, perhaps this includes you.  There is one student in Little Elk whose younger sibling has just entered hospice and this family's experience in particular is why I am developing the following intervention.

I will be giving a lesson in Little Elk tomorrow about how we support each other in community when someone loses a loved one and the ways that we take care of ourselves in our emotional responses.  This will include some discussion of death and may bring up an emotional response from all students in the classroom.  The essential message will be around cultivating gratitude for each other and the lives our loved ones have lived as we consider the mysteries of death. 

If your child comes home and talks about this lesson, please take the time to sit with them and process their response.  I've been scouring my resources for a solid guide to talking with your children about death with little success, I did find this article helpful:

https://www.handinhandparenting.org/article/mommy-do-kids-die-helping-children-with-death/

I will be available to all the children in Little Elk to support as needed throughout this week, please let me know if your child may need support.

Best,

Saleha

__________________________________

Saleha Erdmann, MSW, LICSW

Great River School

Social Worker

(651) 305-2780 x36

Nov. 24, 2017: Photo Update

Colton and Walter explore irregular and regular polygons with the "Stick Box."



Will uses the Large Bead Bar Box to multiply on the November Math Check-In.



Yami waters the plants.



Mikko cleans the tables to the blues of Miles Davis.



Azalea sweeps the floor (as Lilah finally gives up trying to photobomb her).



Will takes the supplies off the Supply Shelf before polishing it.



This may be a good sign. The Road Rollers appear to have left the premises.



Physical geography of Asia: Map work



Scarlett, Yamilix and Greta help set up the Thanksgiving Feast.



Henry and Lilah enjoying some very good food with children from other classes (Thanksgiving Feast, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2017). Thank you to everyone for contributing in different ways, big and small! It's how we build a community. Did I mention that we ate very well?




Is Scarlett inviting Cinnamon to a lesson? (In related news: Phoebe's name was changed to Cinnamon at a special session of the Little Elk Council on Monday, Nov 20; the "Nutmeg" voting bloc was surprised by an eleventh-hour coalition of "Cinnamon" supporters in a 7 to 4 vote.

Nov. 16, 2017: News from Little Elk

Hello Little Elk Parents,

I have a little time between conferences so I wanted to send out an update.

The Geography Fair has been moved up a day to Wednesday, Dec. 13 (2:00-3:00), so please revise your calendars. At conferences I am sending home a small packet about the Geography Project. This copy is to keep at home, for your reference. You may also notice that your child's homework this week, in addition to math, is to complete the Geography Project Planning Doc. 

This weekend's homework may involve going to the public library, if at all possible! Sign them up and get your junior researcher a public library card, if they don't have one already. This way they will be able to request books from here at school, and pick them at a library of your choosing. All they need is their Library Card number (written down somewhere handy) and the 4-digit PIN. 

If you do not make it to the library this weekend, I recommend sitting down with your child at your favorite digital device and helping your student locate three resources from within your public library system.

Last month I said that I would say something more about the writing process. I have decided, instead, to give you a copy of the Writing Process steps that I use with students.  We stick to this research/writing process as much as possible. Due to the unfortunate timing of the Winter Solstice (as provided by the Gregorian Calendar), we have a very short time to prepare this Geography Project. In this case, the process is going to be rushed a little bit. If your child feels a bit harried at all over the next month, I would say that it's probably very natural to feel the squeeze of these due dates. They have likely never produced a big work in this short time period before. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Nuts & Bolts 

• A reminder to double check and make sure that your student has indoor shoes here at school. In such a small space, with a lot of work happening on the floor, boots in class become very problematic. Thank you!

• We do not wear boots, gloves or winter jacket. If someone is cold in the morning, they should wear a sweater, sweatshirt or even a light fleece jacket. They can keep this here at school (on their hook) if they choose. 

• Life Celebrations

At the Little Elk Council meeting  students decided on a routine for their Life Celebrations. (In contrast with a birthday celebration, these will not correspond to the week or month of your child's birthday.) On the week that is assigned to your child, he or she will have the option to participate in some or all of the following: 

           (Keep in mind that none of these are required!)

Mini-Me Monday: Bring in 2-3 photos (or a small album) of your childhood to share with the class 

Treat Tuesday: Bring a healthy treat to share with the class

Wild Wednesday: Choose a song to sing with the class

Throwback Thursday: Bring an object to share with the class (Show &   Tell)

Freedom Friday: Sit where you want at Lunch.

These are the weeks selected for each child. Please let me know if that week will not work for your family:

Azalea: Mon., November 27

Greta: Mon., January 8

Will: Mon., January 22

Emmett: Mon., February 5

Mikko: Mon., February 26

Lilah: Mon., March 19

Colton: Mon., April 9

Henry: Mon., April 23

Scarlett: Mon. April 30

Walter: Mon., May 7

Yami: Mon., May 14

• If you haven't heard, the Geography Fair has a new date! Wed. Dec. 13, 2017 @ 2:00 pm

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out.

John

jalbright@greatriverschool.org

Geography Fair Packet

Hi, I've been passing out hard copies of this packet at Conferences today. But not being quite sure if everyone has managed to take one, I am sending this in pdf also. See attached. Thanks!

John

UE Thanksgiving Feast

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: John R. Albright <jalbright@greatriverschool.org>
Date: Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 12:50 PM
Subject: Fwd: UE Feast
To: Little Elk River <littleelk@greatriverschool.org>

Hello Upper El Families, 

We, the Student Feast Committee, are busily preparing for our Upper El Potluck Feast next Wednesday, November 23rd.  Our feast will start at 12:15, immediately following recess.  Students will sign up for foods to bring today, Wednesday, November 15.  It is our hope that students will prepare the food they choose themselves, with some help from adults.    

We are also asking for families to donate compostable flatware, paper plates and napkins, and paper cups.  Shingobee and Crow Wing families should send in paper plates and compostable flatware if you are able.  Platte and Little Elk families should send in paper napkins and paper cups if you are able.  If you are willing to send in these items, please do so by Tuesday, November 22nd.  

Please send food in serving dishes that don't have to be plugged in (crockpots).  We will keep food hot or cold in coolers.  Please send serving utensils with your dish.  Label both and we'll make sure they are returned to your child at the end of the day.  

Please list ingredients for each dish so we can help students with dietary restrictions chose their food.  Small signs for each dish created by your student would be helpful.  

We will serve food buffet style and mix students among upper el classrooms for lunch together.  

We are seeking six adult volunteers to help with clean up following the feast (1-1:45pm).  If you are available, please sign up here.

Thank you for your contributions!

Sincerely, the students of the UE Student Feast Committee.  

Nov. 3, 2017: Photo Update

On Nov. 1-2, Dia de los Muertos, we honored our deceased pets with ofrendas.  Thank you to Yamilix and her grandmother for providing Day of the Dead bread and the blanket for making our alter. 

On Friday, Emmett and Walter made curried chickpeas, an extension of their continuing research on Indian food and spices. 

Scarlett wrote a letter to President Trump asking why more women are not printed on U.S. currency. 

Little Elk enjoys some Silent Reading time after lunch. 

Lilah takes pride in an egg from one of her chickens, which she raises at home.

Colton, Greta, Yami and Emmett enjoy a global touch to their Friday lunch. (Colton, and others, enjoyed three servings :)

Oct. 25, 2017: News from Little Elk

October 25, 2017

Put it on your calendar! The Upper Elementary Geography Fair, Thursday Dec. 14, 2:00-3:00 PM.  I don't have details yet, but children will be researching and displaying their work on a geographical region of their choice. 

Hello Little Elk Families!

"What's been happening in Little Elk," you ask?

We've been busily establishing our environment, trying to figure out what works best for us in regards to timing and spacing. Spacing determines how children and adults flow through the classroom. This is essential for optimal concentration and collaboration. Timing refers to our daily rhythms and routines. Discovering what works best for the group and each individuals is critical. Then we start getting used to the timing so that it becomes muscle memory. Our weekly variability also plays a role: Park Day is every Tuesday, Little Elk Council is every Wednesday, Enrichment is every Thursday, and Art is every other Friday. Those are the main mandatory, afternoon activities during a regular week. 

"What kind of work is happening?"

Our first work is not academic at all—at least in the traditional sense. Our primary task is creating an environment where people can be their best selves and do their best work. This is work that's never done. Tied to that task is the responsibility of each child to manage his or her own time, and make the most of a three-hour morning work period. Our first tool is the personal Work Journal. This is a notebook in which children log in every morning when they first walk in the door. Once they choose their first work, they record it beside the start time. The Work Journal helps children claim responsibility—and are held accountable—for the way they make use of their day.

"Yeah, but what are the children actually doing? Can we get to that, please?"

Well, we try to do math every day. Math is a language. In order to "speak" it fluently, it is highly important that we practice it daily. It's your child's job to practice and repeat the skills that I introduce to them in lessons, as well as to practice the four operations (+, -, x, ÷) with whole numbers. In addition, third and fourth grade is the time to learn their "facts" by heart. Since we are currently focusing on multiplication facts, I hope that you have seen your child's multiplication finger chart (a 1-100 "times table"). If they haven't already, your student should make one for home and one to keep at school. Please remind them to practice, recite and get quizzed on their facts once a day: either in the car, at the kitchen table, or at a sibling's basketball game.

In the morning "history read" we've been reading and discussing A Little History of the World by E. H. Gombrich. We do Read Aloud at the end of the day. We are reading and pondering Wonder, a novel by Raquel J. Palacio. We've been taking turns reading, which has really been fun! 

In addition to a lot of math, we've had lessons in the areas of poetry, writing mechanics, how to take research notes, and the geography of Asia. (I focus on one continent per semester, allowing a child to explore all 6 inhabited continents over the course of three years.

Children are also doing individual research, or Big Work, on the following topics:

• Early Humans
• Theater
• Hockey
• Bones and Cells
• The Moon
• Indian Food
• Mythical Beasts
• Domestic Cats
• Mississippi River

I say more about the research process and the creative writing process in the next newsletter.

And finally, I'd like to introduce the other adults who come in and out of Little Elk. Jane Dunagan and  Elizabeth Indrelie are Guides who provide additional support. Katrina Marie Resman is our Educational Assistant, Saleha Erdmann is our Social Worker, and Jenny Kordosky specializes in teaching Art.

Your feedback is welcome.  Thank you for your support!

Yours,

John Albright, Lead Guide Little Elk