Pilgrims

We have been learning about pilgrims.  Today is the last day we arelearning about pilgrims. Since today is special we dressed up. We learned that pilgrims go to bathroom in a chamber pot because they did not have flushing toilets and electricity. Do you know any facts about pilgrims?

Learning with a Plant 'Menu'

First graders have spent the last few enrichment classes using a menu to continue their exploration of plants.  Student menus provide them with a list of 'have tos' and then a variety of options.  Students were also given time in order to add additional classroom choices to their menu. 

This type of learning allows students to have choices in their learning style (some students chose to play computer games about plants in order to test their knowledge of plant parts and the plant life cycle, while others created scientific drawings of a sunflower after viewing a real sunflower with a magnifying class).  A menu approach allows students to find entry points for their learning and it gives me a chance to work with small groups and individual students. I also find that the giving students the ability to move and change between tasks gives them a physical outlet for their energy that is controlled and supports their learning. Plant menu choices included: scientific observation and drawing of a sunflower, online games and stories about plants, creating a plant 'wonder', brainstorming what plants need (one group of students thought of 14 legitimate needs---how many could you come up with?), and reading plant books. In addition to these plant centers, students also had the opportunity to explore and work in a variety of centers around the room from watercolor painting to the kitchen to space manipulatives!

The menu approach to learning requires students to take control of their own learning.  Some students took the knowledge that they had three weeks to complete the menu and spent the first week without completing any of their 'have tos', while other students decided they wanted to get to work right away and save up their choices until the end, still other students spent some time each week making choices. As students are in first grade, helping them to understand how much work they have to do and how much time they have is part of my job as the teacher. It is sometimes challenging when I fear that they will not finish--but experience has taught me that this is rarely the case.  Students relish the chance to drive their own learning and when given the opportunity they show me their independence and enthusiasm for learning.

Next we will use some of our basic knowledge to work on a group project on plant life cycles.  Stay tuned to watch some of our essential understandings of plants come to life in student made videos!

Learning During Playful Exploration

Enter the enrichment classroom on any given day and you may be surprised by the  level of movement, activities going on in parallel and the energy and playfulness of our space.  I think that sometimes this playful exploration can be confused for a lack of planning, or learning opportunities.  This week during enrichment I took a few minutes to capture some of the ways that our students in grade K through 2 use their choice time to support their writing and reading.

You will find that students are engaging in a variety of writing and prewriting activities.  Our earliest writers are drawing pictures and telling stories.  You can find them in the puppet theater, at the easels, in the fairy house or creating islands of sand in their ocean scenes. You might find them collaborating to build structures as they develop a story that explains the details of their design.  Students negotiate and revise as they build and collaborate.  These prewriting activities lead to amazing stories and oral communication.  Our writers are producing stories ( one was even published and placed in the classroom library!), making lists and menus for our kitchen space, creating signs, and even' blogging 'on the chalk easel! In all of these cases, I am not requiring them to write, but instead they see a need and so are driven through authentic learning!

You will also find students tucked into a space in the classroom library, or sharing a book with friends.  Students are reading and writing by choice and this freedom is exciting and engaging.

It is empowering for students to be given space and choice in learning and I am lucky to be able to be a participant in their learning journey!

Enrichment

All classes love enrichment.It is sooo fun.We study everything from plants to light.Sometimes she lets us have choice.

I love Mrs Rankin.

RES Cougar Cats

Cats are the symbol of RES because there are paw prints on the walls. Cats make paw prints.

Puppets

I really like underwater creatures. My favorite one is the underwater dinosaur. Do you have a favorite sea creature?

Rabbit Show

It is really fun to watch puppet shows.   I like to do puppet shows with the bunny.  Do you like puppet shows? Do you like bunnies?