Typical Day, Dental Health, and Teepee Update

Although our week was cut down to three days, we still accomplished a lot.  I would like to take a moment to talk about a typical day in our classroom.  On top of our Project Work Inquiry study, we have a very tight schedule and get a lot of work done in a short amount of time.  

Our morning is very busy, yet not long at all.  After the students have breakfast, we have our "calendar" time.  We work on multiple math skills including: counting to 100 several different ways, counting and identifying coins, adding numbers together, and much more.  We then work in small groups during our "Exploration Work Stations." Each student is grouped in a small group of 2 or 3 students, where the students practice their math and science skills.

We go to literacy lab at 10:30.  As you know, in literacy lab we continue to practice reading strategies, sight words, as well as comprehension.  When we return from literacy lab we have a few minutes to chat about our project work inquiry study.  We then find our way to lunch.  

After returning from lunch, we take bathroom breaks while reading a chapter book or a book from an author study.  As you know we just finished reading "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."  Today we began watching the original film, and have already begun to compare and contrast the book versus the film.  

After we read we take a break to explore  "outdoor learning" or, if it's too cold outside, "free choice."

When we return, we continue with our writing.  Last week we began working on autobiographies.  It has been a transition from telling facts about their lives versus writing a story on or about different forms of transportation.  The students are engaged with a "mini" lesson, work independently and between 4-6 students share their work everyday.

We then work in small groups on more literacy skills during literacy work stations.  Mrs. Garrabrant and I work with small groups on reading strategies as well as word wall work. Before we go to specials we have a little more time for project work as well as eating a fresh fruit snack.  

As you can tell, we have a very busy schedule.  On top of our busy schedule, last week my dentist husband, Dr. Josh, visited to speak about Dental Health Month.  He talked to the students about foods and drinks that are good for your teeth as well as foods that are terrible for your teeth.  

He brought a few teeth packaged in a sanitary bag that he had extracted the same day.  The students couldn't believe what the teeth looked like once they had been removed form someones mouth.  

He also shared a couple x-rays.  One x-ray was of a mouth that had healthy teeth, one was from a mouth that didn't have any teeth, and a third x-ray was s of a person with a few teeth missing.  

The students also had many great questions such as:  how do you fill cavities?  I think we may have a few future dentists on our hands!

We also took a look at a moose jaw from one of our trips to Alaska.  They looked at the difference between the moose teeth and human teeth.  

In addition to our busy week, we continued to work on our colorful teepee.  Mrs. Garrabrant's step-father donated several large branches for us to build our teepee.  We continued wrapping the branches.  This activity requires a lot of concentration, teamwork, and fine motor skills.  

This week we will continue our transportation study by taking a look at simple machines.  I look forward to sharing our experiences as we explore machines that help make our lives more simple.  Be sure to mark your calendar for Science Night on March 7th at 6:30pm in our schools gym.  Have a great week!  

Mrs. Julie Atkin