Dear Families
Happy Mother’s Day! The students did so enjoy making the
bookmarks for you. As this period of child development is still a sensitive period for language,
they love jokes, puns and other word plays. When I explained the French work
play, they delighted in it and wanted to use it on their bookmark.
It was most precious to see their reaction to the pressed
flower. To hear their wonder at the delicate, pressed petals they opened a week later and to watch them
take it so gently and place it on the book mark was just wonderful.
Throughout these weeks, we are studying about flowers, trees
and types of leaves. As Spring arrives and new growth comes, we will go outside
for little botany samples whenever possible. We hope to use our work in botany
to touch on concepts of symmetry, how to graph categories of things and finally
plant processes and reproduction.
This past week, we had a group lesson on the dissection of
a flower. I showed then the male and female parts of a flower, how the pollen
arrives and travels in the pistil and also, how this makes the new seeds in the
ovary.
Over the past few weeks, several students have taken to a
few things with great dedication. First, many have started sewing embroidery of birds which has been a fun way to apply and close up their bird study work. Julian,
such a wonderful artist has been so patient and helpful in drawing with them
the bird of their choice or research. Second, the students have recently
discovered oil pastels and eagerly use them to make research projects that
involve a drawing of some sort or a map. Lastly, the students have started
creating their own Daily Book of Joy.
In our classroom, we have a ritual of reading from our Daily Book of Joy nearly every morning.
The book sits on a stand at the entrance to the classroom and a ribbon marks
the page of the day. The book has a beautiful photograph from nature and a
quote from a well-known person who is typically a poet, philosopher, writer
etc. For some time now, the children have reminded us each day at morning Gathering to get the Daily Book of Joy. They enjoy seeing
the picture and hearing the quote of the day. Now however, they take the book
and bring it to their work space and copy the quotes and draw the pictures to
make their own Daily Book of Joy. Honestly, it is quite endearing for Julian
and me to see play out all on their own accord.
We have resumed our Oshibori practice which is the use of
hot or cold towels for the hands and face. Now, when the students come in after
being outside in the heat, they prepare with cold water, serve out and enjoy
cold rolled towels for their hot faces and often dirty hands. Over the next few weeks, we may need some
families to offer to do the weekly laundry as this cold towel service generates
dirty hand towels. Please send us an email if you are open to having this
responsibility.
We have several end of year events coming up. You likely
received the announcement of the Como Park Pool trip in your child’s folder
last week. We will send a separate email with all the dates and events that are
coming up to close the year. So little time left together.
We are looking forward to seeing more parents in this week’s
Work Share time. Please know that if you can not make it, you can always set up
a Wednesday afternoon meeting time with us after school.
Enjoy all the photos!
Kateri and Julian
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