Dear Grade 2/3 Families,
What a terrific first 3 days of school we have had! Together we began sorting out, arranging, and organizing our school supplies so that they are systematized and accessible (a mathematician's dream!) If you haven't yet purchased a Student Planner for your learner, it's OK...we won't be putting them into practice until mid-year, so it's not a time-sensitive purchase. : )
Aside from start of the year "housekeeping", we hope your learners have come home with stories about the many other things that have been happening in our learning space! Among them include: a Math Survey and Math "Show What You Know"-- a math beginning of the year assessment, several math games (O' No 99, Pico-Fermi-Bagel, and a Warm-Up called: Chains of 9.) We also began gathering seed ideas and "jot downs" in our Writers' Notebooks as we begin living our lives as writers. We brainstormed what it means to be a proficient reader, and Larry and Gaby even shared their own reading book boxes to show the balanced diet of reading they engage in as proficient readers. We also have been playing several community building group games during Morning Meeting at at the end of the day. Below are a few comments highlighted during closing circles or overheard in passing conversation:
"Can we play Pico, Fermi, Bagel again?"
" I think I know what it is...."
" Actually, Double Play means you HAVE to play a card, draw again, play another card, then draw another card again. Good luck!"
"When I add 9, I just add 10 then subtract 1. It's easier...I mean, more EFFICIENT for my brain." (*grins at teacher*--obnoxious and adorable at the same time. Who can ever resist it?)
"Can we play Silent Ball? With the structured guidelines?"
"Wait-- we're having a snowball fight with real snow?"
"I'm not good at math-- it makes my palms sweaty. So...yeah. I'm just no good at it. And neither is my mom so it runs in the family."
Try asking your learner the following:
2nd Grade:
"What can you tell me about your class library, your book box, and your reading log?"
"How do you play the game 'Don't Say 21'?"
3rd Grade:
"What can you tell me about how you guys are using/setting up your math journal at school?"
"Tell me about the game O' No 99-- How do you play? What did you like about it? How would you make a second edition, more challenging version?"
"What is this Pico-Fermi-Bagel game all about? Can you teach me how to play? I've never played it before...sounds interesting."
All children:
"What kind of books do you think you might put in your book box next week?"
"Did you really have a snowball fight?"
"Why ON EARTH did Mr. Anton and Mrs. Vovsi give you guys ROCK CANDY at 9:00 in the morning?!?!"
Important Reminders:
**Monday is Spirit Day. Children are welcome to wear a PJS shirt or the school colors (black and yellow).
**Friday is our first Friday Focus day. Children will be dismissed at 12:00
**All School Picnic on September 18.
**Date for Back To School Night HAS CHANGED-- it is now Wednesday, September 21 from 7-8:30pm. Please make sure to have at least 1 representative present for your child as important information on curriculum, classroom culture/philosophy and homework will be discussed in a most engaging way!
**Please do your very best to have your learner at school no later than 8am each morning. This helps to decrease anxiety by setting them up for smoother transitions at the start of the day, as well as consistence towards internalizing our morning routine.
** Panel Discussion on Progressive Education, Thursday Sept 22nd 7-9pm. Come support PJS panelists! Check it out here: http://www.princetonwaldorf.org/calendar/2016-09/educating-forward-progressive-learning-models-princeton
See you there!