A peek at the auction project!

Wow!  Check out our second auction project!  The table turned out so cute!  It would be a great addition to anybody's home!   With two terrific (and adorable) projects, we're sure to raise lots of money for Seabury.  See you at the auction!

It's all about science!

There is nothing better than a good friend!

Counting out 100 items for our 100 day snack.

We had some great collections for 100 day celebrations.

Science experiments are so much fun!

As part of our group study of communication, one of our dads  came  to class to teach us about GPS.

Then in the middle of everything, a tooth fell out!

This quilt should be a hot item at the auction!

Sometimes, science is just messy!

This week we started off with our 100 day celebration.  It's hard to believe we are more than half way through the school year.  We counted by 10's, shared a snack with the Sharks and Superstars and wrote a book about things that come in 100's.

With the science fair just around the corner, we have been talking about the scientific method.  We are learning about hypotheses, procedures and conclusions.  The kids are loving these hands on activities.
We are talking about surface tension, observations and chemical reactions.  Check out the smiling faces in the pictures, one of the kids thought this was the best day ever!   A note about the video, it's a skill I'm still working on.

Learning in the Ladybugs

Playing "Go Fish", perfect for counting and number matching

working on communication, writing postcards

a sneak peak at one of our auction projects

science trays-this one is sink and float

this one is identifying objects that are magnetic

Research shows that children learn best by using hands-on exploration and using concrete materials.  In the Ladybug room, we are using materials that engage young children and encourage them to explore.  Sink and float items let the children explore the concept of density, playing "Go Fish" is a fun way to learn number recognition, play with your friends, learn to take turns and count items on the cards.  Writing postcards gives us the opportunity to plan what we want to write, figure out if we need help with the actual writing, build relationships with classmates and read our classmates names and other simple words.  After the postcard writing, we need to sort the mail, deliver it to mail slots and think about a response.  The class quilt was an opportunity to plan a drawing, plan the space to draw it in, pick the colors and do a little writing.  It also gave us a chance to build class unity and pride in a job well done.

Every activity that takes place in the classroom has a goal that is bigger than is obvious.  Every piece of equipment was chosen to give the children opportunities to explore different concepts.  Many times it takes multiple exposures to the equipment for the children to fully explore it.  While you won't see the children all sitting and doing work sheets, you will see children learning about themselves, their environments and the building blocks of reading, writing and math.  We are working on the "big ideas".  We are learning what math looks like and feels like, reading for the joy of learning, writing our ideas in books and illustrating them because now we are starting to learn the power of the written word.  While we are working on these things every day, we are remembering that these are young children.  Young children with lots of energy and joy.  Children who are learning to wait, take turns, learn how much is enough, how to verbalize the ideas in their minds and take care of their belonging and material for a whole day at a time.

Ladybugs-Learning and Sharing Together

working on math skills-everyone does it their own way, some use all of one color or  one shape, some used a variety of color and shapes

the last of the swimming lessons-it's been great!

another Harry Potter character comes to Seabury to help out with the auction !

working on math equations

paintings for Mrs. Wollum=2 jelly beans each, it's hard to decide which two

working on our class auction project, it's going to be great

sharing the books the kids wrote with Seabury friends and parents

One of the things I like best about teaching at Seabury is when the whole school rallies around our youngest students.  This past Friday, the Ladybugs shared books they had been writing/dictating and illustrating with other Seabury students and Ladybug parents.  The older kids are so supportive and encouraging with the younger children.  It's like watching magic.  Their faces light up, it's hard to tell who is more excited, the younger or older kids!