Opinion Writing

Greetings!

We are very excited to have begun our opinion writing unit last week! Students had a great time sharing their collections and learning to give detailed opinions as we examine what makes an opinion strong AND why we like what we like. Students have been working hard to understand and apply words such as characteristic and trait. These have been fundamental in helping students to justify and give deeper reasoning in why they hold the opinions they have. Here is a clip of a couple students hsaring hteir first finished piece, way to go K-1!

Math Update! Grade 1

Hello and Happy New Year Everyone!

The students and I were both very glad to be back at school last week. This week we continue our exploration and study of geometry. Students have been working very hard to recognize, name and connect shapes. Last week we began exploring different ways to sort shapes with a game called "Guess My Rule". Students would be shown two or three shapes with some kind of geometric similarity and they would have to deduce what the connection could possibly be.

We introduced the word vertices and discussed noticing how many sides a shape has as well as how they can be manipulated to create different shapes. Students came up with a variety of observations and rules that they worked to represent on posters that they produced in partnerships and later presented their thinking to the class. This resulted in a great math talk amongst students, both in noticing new thinking as well as thinking that was the same.

Enjoy our clips of the "Guess My Rule" sharing!

Each Kindness

Today in K-1 we read a very special story related to our guidance theme of kindness. It was a story written by Jacqueline Woodson about a young girl who is outcast because of her poverty. It is a story that brought up a lot of conversation within our class about both kind and unkind experiences that students have had.

Some students shared that they had been exclusive to others before due to differences. We spoke about diversity and the concept of poverty as well and how no matter where someone comes from we owe it to one another to show empathy and kindness.

The book compares acts of kindness to ripples in the water, the idea being that kindness is something that continues to affect the world around us in a positive way. Students dropped pebbles in a bucket of water after sharing a kindness they have done in their time here at Beeman,

This is a great story to check out and re-read at home. We will continue to focus on kindness throughout this year.

Thankful

These are coming a little late... But throughout the year we try to remember to be thankful for all that we have. Students were asked to write about what they were so glad to have in their lives. Hear here what your child had to say! 

Student Expression

Hi Everyone,

Here are some updates of what has been new in K-1. We have been working with lots of different technology in literacy, science and explore. Students are starting to capture their own moments using written word and photography while working with me to produce different videos and share their ideas. Be on the lookout for more of those to come via Twitter and Animoto!

We also have been experimenting with different explore stations this week and last. Students have been very interested in learning more about geography and where different places are in the world, we have been using puzzles, interactive travel games on the SmartBoard and more to learn more about where we are. We also had some kinetic sand donated to us and we have been experimenting with what it means to have an object in motion.

Catching Up

Hello Everyone,

Here are some snaps and a sample of what we have bee working on in K-1. We are really starting to delve more deeply into our units of study in the areas of writing, reading, math and science. Students are coming to school with ocnnections and questions that they clearly take outside of the classroom, which is wonderful to see! Keep up the great conversations!

Science Videos

Hi Everyone,

Today we discussed the concept of same and different in science, we spoke about the job of a scientist which is to be a through observer. After students could explain their role as scientists we broke into small groups to observe what was the same and what was different between two apples. In small groups students worked to share their ideas about their apple set before sharing in a whole group.

Students worked very hard to notice different things and illustrate their findings. This would be a great thing to dialogue about at home as we will continue honing our observation and journaling skills!