12/19/19 - 12:30pm Forest Room Class Party and Homemade Gift Exchange 12/20/19 8:30am - Festival of Lights 12/20/19 - 10am - Holiday Happenings and Noon Dismissal
Hello Forest Families! October has been a great month in our class. We wrapped up our geography studies and enjoyed a visit to Lost World Caverns, a perfect adventure for showing local geography in real time. We have celebrated Halloween and the fall season with a color and nature study (see bulletin board in front of Forest cubbies) and I know how excited the students are for celebrating with their families. In November we will be focusing on animals in our science studies. We will be learning about life cycles, habitats, the five types of animals, predators and prey, and much more. I will confirm our field trip to Greenbrier Humane Society and send dates to you as soon as that is confirmed on their end. This month we will incorporate mindfulness into our daily routines and find ways to express gratitude to those around us. The culmination of our studies this month will include an animal research project and Grandparents/Special Friends Day leading into Thanksgiving Break. I can't believe the holidays are approaching so quickly! We will maintain our routines as much as possible during these exciting times and look forward to the celebrations ahead. Ms. Caroline
Reflecting on the last few weeks - we have been very busy adding more challenging work to our Daily 5 and Number Corner components, and with that came a deeper sense of classroom community.
Over the first six weeks, the primary focus of all GCS classrooms is to set up the structures and behavioral atmosphere needed to create the ideal learning environment for all students. Students co-create this environment so that they feel safe to voice their concerns and needs, clear in their understanding of behavioral and academic expectations and inspired to learn and grow as a valued member of a real community. Click on the links below on the right for details.
Every classroom has a daily agenda and the day begins and ends with a morning circle to discuss the the goals for the day and what may have been missed at the end of the day so students are aware of what adjustments will be made for the agenda on the following day.
Students make lists of what will make the class work smoothly. Procedures are set for how students operate in the classrooms, how they transition from activities, how materials are used and put away, and how they will take responsibility in the classroom for their behavior for their needs.
Procedures for how teachers respond to breakdowns with students, and how peers respond to each other if there is a conflict are developed. Teachers model behavioral responses for students to emulate, which helps to set the tone for a harmonious classroom environment.
Teachers connect with students on a human level to create relationships as caring community members not authoritarian teacher/student roles. Strategies such as being at the door in the morning, saying good morning, showing empathy with separation from parents or emotional concerns of students may have.
A behavioral contract for the rules that govern the class is co-created by students and facilitated by the teacher. All students sign or add hand prints to validate the contract. The contract may get read daily and students are reminded that failure is ok and the class promise is in place for students to realign with if a breakdown occurs. Teachers post the promise in a visibly prominent place in the classroom for students to refer to often.
