Guinea Pigs

We will try to take turns with the guinea pigs thus summer. Please let me know if you are interested in taking a 2-week rotation. And if so, what portion of the summer is best. 

Thanks.

Como Park on Thursday, March 24

Hello Little Elk Familes,

We were not able to eat lunch at Como Park last week. So we are going to try again on Thursday as long as the rain holds off. It will be hot. Please send a long sunscreen and make sure that your child has a water bottle. 

We will leave around 10 am. We will be carrying our lunches to Como, and children may take backpacks, or may share a backpack with a friend. We will do some large-motor, team-building activities and then have lunch, a little recess and return to school by 1:00.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thanks for your support!

Creepy Crawlies

We had a lovely, sunny day at McMurray Fields and Como Woodlands. Please check your child for ticks this evening.

Thank you!

Little Elk News, May 11, 2018

In this Issue: Four Important Announcements and a Quote!

1) This coming Tuesday, May 15 we will be going to Como Park/McMurray Fields for Park Day. We will also be taking our lunches and eating there instead of dining at school. Please be sure to send sunscreen, water bottle and lunch box or, if you prefer, a disposable bag. 

2) You are invited to the Upper Elementary Work Share, Friday, June 1, from 2:00 - 3:00 pm. 

3) A reminder to send in your permission slip, if you haven't already, for the Como Pool on Wed., June 6.

4) And a note about off-campus protocol from GRS:

"Dear Elementary Parents,

The end of the year is quickly approaching!  Many classrooms are planning off campus adventures and we want to make sure that families are aware of a safety protocol that was developed in elementary this year to ensure the safety of all students. 

In order to participate in off campus activities, students must follow community norms. If a student demonstrates a significant challenge to follow adult instructions that could lead to safety concerns, the student will remain on campus doing an alternate activity.

If there are safety concerns regarding your child, you will be contacted by your child's classroom guide.  Additionally, if behavior challenges happen while off campus, parents will be notified that there is a concern and the possibility that they will need to pick up their child. We look forward to finishing off the year in ways that are joyful and safe for all students!"

And finally, a bonus for reading this far! 

"I like the Montessori method," said Thomas Edison according to historians at the Thomas Edison National Historic Park. "It teaches through play. It makes learning a pleasure. It follows the natural instincts of the human being. The present system casts the brain into a mold. It does not encourage original thought or reasoning."

A Photo Update (of some not so recent pictures)

http://littleelkriverclass.blogspot.com

Some Old Pics from Back in the Day When Spring Was Winter

A miscellaneous collection of photos from the last couple months. I didn't get everyone in, but next time I will focus on GM, YB, MH, WW and MN.

work on the Decanomial

the Pin Map of Asia

It's getting closer... (view from the hallway window)

Spring is a coming.

presents bookmaking in St. Croix River. 

Okay, so it's winter again. We can deal with that.

Ryan, our EA, is the one that doesn't look like an elementary student.

clean the cage.

Our Words

Dear Parents of Little Elk,

On Wednesday morning I held a collective to talk about the language we use, about the words we give each other. Words are powerful. They carry meaning. That's why something that someone says to you can hurt your feelings. That's why something that someone says to you can make you feel really good. Words have power.

Because we have the freedom to move about the classroom during work times, we also have many opportunities to talk to each other. When we do decide to talk to each other, let's remember to use our words wisely, mindfully. If we use them, we own them. Let's only say what we mean.  

One of the words that I am speaking about is "sucks." This is a word that floats around freely when people feel down or dejected. They use it to describe something that they do not like. They use it to blame their feelings on something else. The reason I feel this way is because that "sucks." We need to hold the line and keep that language out of the classroom. That language leads to a kind of thinking which short circuits the process of wondering, "How can I make this better?" 

The other words I discussed at the meeting are death/dying/dead. In the last month, these words have been used in negative ways in Little Elk. I explained that death is a serious topic, and that if anyone feels like dying, they need to tell that to an adult. There are people around them who care about them, love them and can help support them. I also told them that death is something that we can talk about. It's real, and it's devastation is closer to some in our community than to others. It's not a word to play with, joke with, and certainly not okay to use against someone. But there are times in class when we will talk about death as something that happens to human beings. We will not, however, direct that talk at our peers.  When we talk to our peers, we need to use words that build each other up, not tear each other down. It's one of our responsibilities.

I hope you are able to ask your child what they got out of this discussion. Please keep the conversation going. And, as always, let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Thank you, and Happy Spring.