Hopes and Dreams

For the past week or so students have been working on their hopes and dreams for this school year. Students are really given the chance to think about what they want to get out of 1st or 2nd grade. These aren't hopes and dreams for things they would like to get (ex. a horse), but what they hope they can achieve this year in school. Students were encouraged to really think about if they could do more of, or get better at, one thing this year what would it be. Students came up with ideas like becoming a better reader, writing more detailed stories, doing more engineering tasks, reading longer books, etc. Their hopes and dreams will be displayed in the room all year so that come June they can look back and see what they hoped for at the beginning of the year, and reflect back on how they did. For our hopes and dreams project this year we made balloons. I thought about the idea of releasing a lantern or balloon into the air and making a wish, and thought that might be a fun way to represent our wishes for ourselves this year. The students helped to make the paper used to make the balloons. We used shaving cream and food coloring. These materials helped to give the paper a tie-die look. The students were so excited to come in the room and see themselves hanging around the classroom. They have been enjoying reading each others' hope and dreams, and seeing that many of them are working toward similar goals. I have heard some students say things like, "Your hope and dream is to be a better reader? But you are already such a good reader." and their classmate responding, "Yes but I can always get better, and I want to start reading chapter books this year." Come check them out if you have the chance.

School Wide Swarm Party

This week we had our first swarm party! Throughout the day students are earning "buzzies" for following our school rules. If students are seen being safe, kind, or responsible and adult might give them a buzzy to put in their classroom jar. When the jars are full we empty them into a big beehive in the front office. When the beehive is full the whole school has a celebration! For our celebration this week the students made crowns and then we all gathered outside to attempt to hold hands and link our bodies all the way around the building. We were really close but we didn't quite make it. Then we walked over the school garden and sang Count on Me by Bruno Mars together. It was so fun seeing every student in the entire school out together singing. As we continue to make good choices in school and earn more buzzies we will continue to earn more celebrations. In the past some of the celebrations we have had at ABS were Jazzercise in the gym, pajama day, a visit from Champ, and many more things. I look forward to seeing our amazing students being safe, kind, and responsible this school year.

Kiva Share

Every Friday our team gathers in Harmony's kiva for Kiva Share. During this time a few students from each class get up in front of the whole team and share some of the things they have been working on during class. Students often choose to share writing pieces, projects, books we've been reading together, and a variety of other things. It is a great chance for us to find out what the other classes have been doing throughout the week. It is also a good opportunity for students to practice their public speaking skills. Sharing during kiva is voluntary; students are not forced to get up and do this, however we do try to encourage everyone to do it at least once. Of course some students want to share every week.

Busy Bees

We have been very busy this week getting into our classroom routine. One of our focuses this week has been on Readers' Workshop. During this time the students have the opportunity to choose "just right" books to read on their own. They may also choose a few choice or interest books to include in their bin. While they are reading independently I meet with small groups. This week I was able to meet with almost every child in a small group. It was really fun reading with them and getting a better idea of what skills we should be focusing on this year. We have also been getting to know our classroom library. Students are learning the organization of the books so they know where to look when they want a new book, and they know where to return the books to when they are done.