Classroom News: September 19th

Dear Barn Swallow Families,

I'd like to share with you the following description of what level 1 will be working on this school year!

GARDENS AND LOCAL ECOSYSTEMS

"Children in level 1 will experience the changes of the seasons through taking an active, hands-on role with growing food in the school gardens, observing, exploring, and comparing local ecosystems, and using their knowledge to enhance habitats in the school yard. Children will learn how the garden and ecosystems follow similar natural rhythms and cycles through hands-on experiences. They will also explore the similarities and differences in how humans and animals interact within their environment throughout the seasons. Through various creative means, children will regularly share their knowledge of local gardens and ecosystems with their community."

YEAR 1: GARDENS AND FORESTS

"Children will compare and contrast the ecology of gardens and forests throughout the seasons through regular experiences in the school gardens and trips to nearby forests. In the fall children will identify what is ready to eat for humans and animals in the gardens and forests. Harvesting, tasting, comparing, and observing will happen regularly as children study and explore new vegetables and fruits in the gardens. Children will study the emerging seeds, fungi, and the decomposition process happening in the gardens and forests. As the weather turns colder, children will learn how humans and some animals can store and preserve the bounty of the fall harvest in preparation for the dormant winter. In the winter, they will explore various ways that humans and forest animals stay warm during the cold months and will observe how the rainy season affects the life of the gardens and forests. Children will also begin to plan the school gardens for the year and begin to plan how to enhance the forest habitat on the school grounds based on their experiences and observations in the forest. They will witness the dormant natural spaces of the gardens and forests 'come to life' in the spring. The children will explore the first plants that are ready to eat for humans and animals after the cold, dormant winter. While they observe seeds naturally sprouting on the forest floor, they will also be sprouting their own seeds for the school gardens. Students will learn about plants of the garden and forest, witness and study life cycles of garden and forest creatures, and observe and learn about the pollination cycle. Finally, children will plant, tend, harvest, cook, and eat produce from the school garden as well as take steps towards enhancing the forest habitat on the school grounds. This year is especially important, as level 1 students will be working hard to reconfigure the school garden beds, allowing more than 40 students to be working in the garden at the same time!"

Trips are currently being scheduled for the school year and soon we will be looking for parent volunteers! I will send out an email to Barn Swallow families the moment we have firm dates in hopes to have 3 to 5 parents accompany our class on each big trip. The more volunteers we have, the more successful the learning experiences are for students while "Out and About". We also anticipate that we will need the help of our families when it's time to dig the new garden beds. I hope you can join us!

Last week students brainstormed a list of possible class rules and responsibilities. Then we took the long list and categorized it into four easy to remember rules for school time:

• Take care of each other and critters that we meet.
• Be safe.
• Do your best.
• Take care of all things.

Students also practiced new reading routines and are quickly gaining independence! They have been working on self portrait paintings and they will be up by the end of this week! In Ms. Karen's first grade math class, students explored the many manipulatives that they will be working with this year, as well as got to know each other. Students in the second grade math class picked cherry tomatoes after recess and used them to review counting by tens. We also used the tomatoes to practice estimating how many we had, and then dissected them to count their seeds. Students were introduced to place value as they sorted out the tomato seeds into ones, tens, and even hundreds! During our Out and About to the Backyard garden, students identified and picked over 10 vegetables and herbs. We blended our 'Secret Garden Pesto' ingredients in the food processor, which the students have named "Cropper Chopper". Taste tests on Friday afternoon were mostly positive!

This week we will begin our writing routines as well as start italic handwriting. Students will share their 'Secret Garden Pesto Recipe' with you through their artwork and writing.

As students gain independence throughout the day, I will be starting one on one reading assessments. Reading assessments help me know where students are on the continuum of reading, allowing me to meet children where they are and guide them along the continuum. Please ask your child what 'reading stamina' is, as well as how to choose a 'just right book'.

Time spent on establishing community and routines provide an extremely important foundation for the entire school year! Students are off to a fantastic beginning and I'm looking forward to our indoor and outdoor time together!

Please email me at S.Reuter@fgcschool.org with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Sherry