The Rookery

The school year has its rhythms.  In the Herons we typically wrap up a very large theme in late December and then reflect and recuperate in early January.  This is also when I am writing narratives about each child – a joyful but writing-intensive process that leaves other forms of…

It was such fun to see the Herons at our culminating event.  I wandered the Jiang with all of our guests – fetching the occasional glue stick, reminding an exuberant second grader to slow down or making an extra copy.  Basically, I was totally unnecessary – my favorite role as…

I couldn't resist the allusion…but it is very appropriate for the Herons these past few days.  We are getting ready to teach all of you at our culminating event on Monday and the Herons are full of energy…yes, perhaps even a force.  We started a week ago, filling the white…

We are currently in the midst of a math unit on probability.  It's a logical next step after our work on fractions since one application of fractions is probability.  Throughout the unit we stress the importance of trusting math more than one trusts one's "gut."  If I flip six heads…

Today the Herons were able to perform with Gao Hong at the All School Gathering.  I have to admit – I was a little nervous.  We practiced this morning and I was amazed by how much the Herons remembered from yesterday.  They were taking their work very seriously and it…

The Herons took advantage of this week's snow "storm" to get the cross country skis out.  On Monday we brought everything up from the basement, dusted it off and organized it.  This has become an annual school service for the class and the Herons take ski and boot care very…

The Herons have had a wonderful three days so far with Gao Hong.  We have learned how to count to a million and how different chinese characters have developed over time.  We each received a Chinese name.  "Gao Hong" means "high rainbow" and the names she gave us each had…

The turkey eaten, the pie devoured, the young ones tucked into bed, and the dishes washed (mostly), it seemed a good time to reflect on what I am thankful for. Flexibility and Trust - last Wednesday, the creek was full to brimming.  At recess, a student and I were standing ten feet away from…

It's been too long since I shared about our theme work.  It is a multi-faceted theme and our work has taken many different forms.  As you know, we began the theme with a look at the geology, geography and ecosystems of the Straight, Cannon, and Mississippi.  We learned about how…

After several weeks of writing circles, students last week were asked to pick one of their pieces to publish.  Each piece they had written had been read to their writing circle audience who had shared specific places where things were confusing, needed a description, needed more of the character's motivations,…