Math Flex is a time in our day when students have more support on their math learning and basic skills. Some students have a pull out and attend Title One or other support learning at this time. Some students remain in the classroom. There is usually a whole group activity. If there are students who struggled during the core lesson and practice, Ms. Leom can work individually or in a small with those students to clarify and give direct feedback. Today we played a game.
We have daily classroom meetings. We focus on our social emotional health, bully prevention, celebrating each student, and listening to each student.
Twice a month, we also welcome Mrs. Terhaar to our classroom. Mrs. Terhaar is a school psychologist. She works in a role similar to our social workers, Ms. (Maren) Erickson and Mrs. (Michelle) Stupar. Students who participate in friendship, family change, or other groups would meet with Mrs. Terhaar.
She is using the Second Step materials to explicitly teach us skills that support our learning and health. Today she talked about paying attention. We are respectful When we make eye contact, have our voices off, a calm body, ears to listen, and let our brains focus to pull all the details together. We work to avoid distractions. We can use self talk to help us be successful.
We played another new game this week in Math. We are working on some count-ons. We spread out around the outside of the room. We talked about clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
On the board, we wrote the count-ons. Then we chanted the count-ons until we reached the ten of the count-on (for threes, that would be thirty). We were trying to figure out who was the one left standing. I've played this game for over twenty years, and I am always amazed at how excited students are to play. They jump and and shake in anticipation. It was so fun to hear their laughter, and even though the masks covered their smiles, their eyes sparkled brighter than sparklers on a warm summer night.
When it was all over, and we were lining up for Recess, students wanted to be reassured we would play it again. Can't wait for the next time our learning sparkles bright!
One of the best parts of being a part of a school community, we get to admire the work and learning of the other members.
It is fun to look back and think about ourselves when we were preschoolers. This year for the first time, there are students who want to be clear they didn't attend preschool. We remember they were three and four year olds at one time. It is an important age. We all grow and develop new skills ever the four to five years.
We had our second Friday Fun Day! We walked the edge of our district boarder, along the water and river. This is a special class. There are years I would not consider taking students near the river.
The best part of this walk, we are on the move! We don't stay in one spot for long. The students, run, scamper, look at sticks, rocks, and leaves. They have stories that overflow, and they are so excited to just be.
Love these moments!
