Weekly Update 5/16

Important upcoming dates:

May 19 & 20: Yearbook signing. These are the only days our scholars can bring their yearbooks for friends to sign.

May 21st: Kindergarten Graduation! 11:00 Please enter through the playground gate. Doors open at 10:30. Children do not need to bring backpacks on this day.

May 20th-22nd: Half-Days. Pick up is 12:30.

Literature: 

We recently finished reading Grasshopper on the Road, and the students really enjoyed all the different stories and characters we met along the way. One favorite was the housefly who started cleaning and couldn’t stop—his obsessive tidying had everyone laughing and sparked some great conversations about balance. Another memorable moment was when the dragonflies zoomed through life so fast they never noticed the world around them, which led to thoughtful discussions about slowing down and paying attention. Each story brought something new and fun, and the students looked forward to every chapter with excitement and curiosity.

Spalding:

 Spalding has been a great method for helping the students continue to practice all 70 phonograms, and they've really been getting the hang of recognizing them. As they read, they’ve become more skilled at identifying phonograms within words, which has boosted their confidence and fluency. Whether it's a simple word or a more complex one, they are starting to notice the familiar sounds and letter combinations that they’ve practiced. This ongoing focus on phonograms has made reading more intuitive for them, and they’re excited to see how many phonograms they can spot in different words. It’s been wonderful to see how this practice is improving their reading skills and deepening their understanding of language.

Math:

 In math, we recently completed our final assessment, where the students demonstrated their progress with counting on, counting by 5s and 10s, and addition and subtraction within 10. It was exciting to see how confident they’ve become with these skills. They were able to count on from any number with ease, and counting by 5s and 10s was no longer a challenge. The addition and subtraction within 10 also went smoothly, with many students solving problems quickly and accurately. The assessment showed just how much they've learned and how well they can apply these strategies in different math situations. It was a great way to celebrate their hard work and progress!

History:

 In history, we explored the fascinating world of tall tales, diving into the legendary stories of figures like Davy Crockett and Sally Ann Thunder Ann. The students were captivated by these larger-than-life characters and their incredible feats, like Davy Crockett's wild adventures in the wilderness and Sally Ann Thunder Ann's superhuman strength. The exaggerated storytelling and humor of tall tales sparked lively discussions and imaginations, as the students loved hearing about these iconic figures who seemed to bend the laws of nature with their daring deeds. It was a fun and engaging way to learn about American folklore and the colorful stories that shaped its history.

Science:

In science, we learned about the Wright brothers and their groundbreaking work in aviation. The students were fascinated by how Orville and Wilbur Wright’s persistence and innovation led to the first successful flight. To bring the lesson to life, we followed up by making our own paper airplanes, testing different designs to see which ones flew the farthest. The students loved experimenting with their creations, and it was a great hands-on way to connect the science of flight with the history of the Wright brothers. It sparked curiosity and excitement about how science and creativity can come together to change the world.