I'm sorry the previous links don't work. Our blog location has not changed, so I think you should just be able to go to the blog to find the photos. Let me know if you can or cannot get there using this link. Thanks!
Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Monday, January 29, 2018
Little Elk News: Jan. 29 2018
Jan. 29, 2018
Greetings Little Elk families,
- A quick reminder that homework is turned in every Tuesday. Students are responsible for taking it out of their backpacks and turning it in. Math homework will be self-corrected every Tuesday morning with the answer key that I provide. If your child no longer has the homework folder that was supplied in September, please purchase a pocket folder for them so that they can safely transport their homework between home and school. Thank you!
- We are in need of paper towels and tissues, if you would like to make a donation. Thank you! (And a bouquet of flowers is always a nice addition to the winter classroom)
Here's a small taste of what's happening over the next couple weeks:
In English we are beginning to do more in-depth work on sentences. What do words require to be a sentence? What is it that makes up a good sentence? We do this through two the use of two Montessori language materials: the grammar box symbols and the Sentence Analysis material. We use the former to symbolize parts of speech in a sentence. We use the latter to break apart a sentence into its grammatical components. We can use our own sentences, or sentences that we find in books. The ultimate goal is that children begin to appreciate how sentences are built so that they can write better ones—and better understand the ones they read.
Speaking of reading, please ask your child what he or she is reading in Silent Reading, which we do four days a week. If they are not sure, please take them to the public library this week. I would like to see more students dialed in on a book that they really enjoy. Reading for pleasure is not only a privilege, it's supposed to be fun!
In Life Science we are exploring the Timeline of Life in greater detail than was presented in the Story of the Coming of Life, beginning with the Cambrian period 540 million years ago. We are learning about the arrival of bacteria, fungus, lichen, land plants, ice ages, mass extinctions and much more. We are reading out of a great book that I found by chance in the library called 10 Million Aliens: A Journey Through the Entire Animal Kingdom by Simon Barnes. I hope the children are enjoying it as much as I am.
As for the Timeline of Life, students will be choosing one of those periods and exploring it in-depth with some of their own research skills. Then they will be asked to design and make a diorama. If you have a good, solid shoe box that does not need to live in your closet anymore, just let go. You've given it wings, now let it fly and it will provide a wonderful medium for a Little Elk diorama! Send no more than one, please. We only need about 8 more, and we do not have anywhere to store extras. I hope to get diorama work started in a couple weeks, around Feb. 12. Thank you!
If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know.
Sincerely,
John
Jan. 18, 2018: Photo Update
We decided to take a class photo—twelve seconds after twelve after twelve on the twelfth. For those of us who struggle with Old English, that's December 12 at 12:12:12. Granted, if we had thought of this five years ago it would have been 2012.
Just a couple more Geography Fair shots...A first grader looking at coins. And a sixth grader looking at gemstones.
arranges yogurt tubes for snack.
arranges the long chains in geometric form.
A sixth-year comes in to teach some geometrical origami.
Lunchtime, one day in January.
sentence analysis work.
CF comes in to talk Chinese Medicine during our Asian Country Studies unit.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Little Elk Update (Jan. 7, 2018)
Jan. 7, 2018
Greetings Little Elk families,
Happy New Year! It's good to back in the swing of things. And good to remember that by the time this year is over, we will have moved into our permanent home, a full and complete classroom with fourth and fifth years!
Here's a small taste of what's happening over the next two weeks:
Math: We continue to introduce new skills (Pythagorean theorem, squaring trinomials) and practice old ones (column addition, long division, area) in math. Our two math groups—Hypatia and Pythagoras—are meeting once a week to review and correct our work. We also meet for small group or individual lessons throughout the week. This is how I introduce new concepts.
If a child has not made good progress on their assignment by the day of review, they may be asked to leave the group and complete the work to the best of their ability. If a child simply does not remember how to do a problem, they have two options. They can ask for support, either from me or a peer ; they can also work out the problem to the best of their ability, even knowing that it may be wrong. I can assure you that the attempt is more valuable than not trying at all and leaving it blank. I am also looking for children to always show their work right in their math notebook.
Geography: We are completing our half-year study of the Asian Continent with a small group Country Study. I have assigned small groups, and the group chose the country (China, Japan, India and Russia). We will also be taking a Map Quiz on Asian countries and capitals on Tuesday, Jan. 16.
Earth Science: We've been studying the structure of the earth, the parts of an atom, and the cause of the seasons.
Life Science: I just gave the Story of the Coming of Life. Over the coming weeks, students will engage in detailed studies of the Timeline of Life. They will be asked to home in on one or two moments that most interest them.
In other life science news, Will came back from Australia bearing gifts. The chocolate Tim Tams were enjoyed by all. The Vegemite on crackers was… well… how do I put this? Emmett may have put it best when he said, "That tastes like a fish tank!"
And here's a note from the Upper School about the Urban Farm:
Greetings Parents,
The Urban Farming Occupation created a farm goods mini shop located in the front entryway of the main campus. Families are free to stop by and buy student made and farm goods. All products are made with care.
We are selling:
A Dozen Eggs……………………………….$5.00
Half a Dozen Eggs………………………….$2.50
Kimchee……………………………………...$2.00
Jelly…………………………………………...$4.00
Vermicompost per pound …………………..$2.50
Vermicompost 5 pounds…………………...$10.00
There is a mini fridge located in the front entryway with some products inside it and other products nearby. Pricing will be on the board above, and you can pay in the black money box. Please note that our supply fluctuates based on what our farm produces, so availability fluctuates . Please support our Urban Farm and stop by when you can! Suggestions are welcome!
Thanks, A1 Urban Farming
John Albright
651-354-1787
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