June 19, 2006

Dear Parents,

Happy Father's Day and happy solstice everyone!  Are you ready for the days to start getting a little shorter?  I don't know when I last saw darkness.  It always seems like the kids get a little tired this time of year, too -- not enough night.  Well, we're almost there.

This week we will continue to study the Middle Eastern cultures.  We will look at and talk about clothing, both traditional and modern.  We will spend some focused time noticing the differences between men's and women's dress and particularly the custom of wearing the veil.  We will listen to some audio tapes of Arab-American women and explore the range of attitudes towards veiling.  Undoubtedly, we will also explore gender roles, stereotypes and difference, both in our culture and in Middle East.  Stormy's mom, Chantal, who is an Art History professor will present a lesson on ancient Middle Eastern art on Wednesday.  Andria will come for cooking on Thursday (last week's Ma'amoull cookies  -- nut and date filled and beautifully molded -- were terrific.)  Farah come to talk with us about Turkish culture and the role of dance.  She will demonstrate some dances for women and girls. 

Last week, all the kids worked on a significant written piece, a response to a topic raised in Tuck Everlasting.  For the most part, they did great!  They did some prewriting, then wrote rough drafts.  I will be scoring these for any kids who want on what are commonly called the six "analytic traits" of writing.  In the same piece, the students try to demonstrate quality work in "ideas," "word choice," "organization," "sentence fluency," "conventions," and "voice."   We have worked with all these concepts in isolation, but this is our first attempt at putting it all together in a single written project, and they did great!  I know Maria will do a lot more with this approach to developing writing skills next year.

Students will do more independent reading and responding to Tuck this week.  Having gotten a good start unpacking this rather densely packed text with whole group activities, they will now proceed more at their own pace and pursue their own interests a bit more.  I know some students have been chomping at the bit to move faster!

In Math we continue working on skill work, as well as a whole class exploration of probability using dice.

There is a Board Meeting on Wednesday, June 21.

There will be an intermediate class parent meeting on Monday, June 26.

There will be no school July 3 or July 4 and a late start on July 5 (NOTE - the July 3 holiday is not on the school calendar.)

Does anyone have a slide projector we could borrow?

Have a great week!

Paul

June 12, 2006

Dear Parents,

What a wonderful week last week was.  The kids were back into "school mode" right away.  The transition was almost seamless.  What a contrast to the traditional public school September starts where my whole class would seem to have forgotten how to hold a pencil, sit at a desk, work in a group, etc...

Last week the kids worked beautifully in heterogeneous groups to complete our Building Bridges unit in math.  Each group used the geometry and engineering principles we had learned to create a huge variety of incredibly creative structures out of some dubious materials (fettuccini? marshmallows?)  We saw everything from a massive beam bridge to a miniature replica of Portland's Freemont Bridge (complete with steam bent wooden members) to "The Salmon Run Bridge," an original design that could have been right out of a Dr. Seuss book.  The groups each approached the challenge uniquely.  They modeled sophisticated communication and cooperation skills.  They solved problems as they arose with determination.  In the end, though things looked bleak on Thursday, each group pulled it together and felt great pride and success in their creations.  The bridges were really strong, too!  Quite impressive, actually.  This unit proved to be a nice example of project-based learning and progressive learning theory in action.  I look forward to a future parent meeting where I can share more of this with you all.

This week in math we'll return to daily skill work which will include a good deal of practice with computation.  We will also begin a unit on probability, which will include learning and playing the originally Middle Eastern game of Backgammon.

Last week, in our Middle East studies, we spent a good deal of time on geography.  We labeled maps with countries, rivers and seas.  We noted mountain ranges and talked about desert land forms.  On Thursday, Andria introduced us to Middle Eastern cuisine.  We made a "mezza platter," complete with our own hummus, tabouli, olives, and pita.  We learned some Middle Eastern table manners as well, which we practiced at the end.  This week: Middle Eastern proverbs, folk tales, dancing with Farah, and cooking with dates!

In language arts, we worked together in one large literature group as we began the novel Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit.  The kids did great with this wonderful, but very dense text.  We had terrific class discussion where we looked at foreshadowing, red herrings, and other literary devices.  The kids are writing and responding to their reading daily and in general are doing a phenomenal job.

I will be trying to end each day going over daily assignments with the kids.  In general, anything that was not completed in class should be done at home.  I will leave these assignments on the white board.  You  may want to look at the board with your child and check in to see if he/she has any homework each night.  Thanks for always being so supportive of the work we're doing at school!

We welcome a new student to the primary classroom today.  Claire Dudley is in first grade.  She comes to us from the Bright Water Waldorf School in Seattle.  Her mom is Heidi and her dad is Dennis.  Please welcome them and introduce yourself!

Have a great week!

Paul

June 6, 2006

We are off and running and have already had a great start to the last quarter of our '05-'06 school year.  It is great to see the kids again, although they are growing way too fast!

The main theme for the quarter will be a cultural study of The Middle East.  Our multicultural units have been some of our most memorable at Salmonberry.  I believe that it is so important to continue to expose the kids to this planet's incredible human cultural diversity and build a sense of understanding and respect for all the world's peoples.  This particular study ties in well to our previous units on the Middle Ages, during which we touched on the Crusades and European contact with "The Saracens" in the "Holy Land," which led to a vast importing of renewable and non-renewable energy sources including petroleum oil.  It also seems an important moment in our modern time to build understanding and appreciation for the traditions and culture of this often stereotyped and vilified region.

The focus of our studies will be a multifaceted cultural celebration.  We begin this week with some basic geography.  We will spend time labeling maps and defining what is meant by a cultural region.  In future weeks we will read from our extensive collection of folk tales, we will learn a bit of Arabic calligraphy, learn some Middle Eastern sports and games, make shadow puppets, read nursery rhymes, explore traditional clothing and learn some of the basic beliefs of Islam.  We will create some Islamic inspired art, make clay bricks, construct mosaics, and hopefully make some filigree jewelry.  The idea is to have first-hand and multi-modal experiences.  We will taste, smell, see, hear, touch and dance this amazingly rich culture.

We will have a series of guest instructors to enrich our studies:  Andria will come in weekly and help us with some Middle Eastern cooking.  (This week we will make hummus, tabouli and Middle Eastern flatbreads.)  I am hoping to arrange for a series of lessons on Middle Eastern dance with a local expert.  And we will be visited for a series of slide show presentations by Chantal (preschool parent, Art History professor.)  There will be several other surprise visitors as well.

In math this week we will continue to work on our applied math unit on bridges.  We will also continue to work in skill level groups on a variety of skills.

In language arts, we will be working together as a group on a novel study of Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit.  This is one of my favorite books, very compelling and suspenseful and full of surprises and truly beautifully crafted prose.  We will integrate a lot of writing, plot and character analysis, and look at many literary devices.

NOTE - We will take a break from Wordly Wise (though, of course, you are welcome to continue with your children independently.)  In its place we will be working on firming up some spelling rules and patterns.  Students will have daily class work, which, if unfinished, should be completed at home.  Check in with your child and see what they're learning!

Have a great week!

Paul

May 8, 2006

Dear Parents,

Amazing....another quarter year has slipped by.  This one has been so full and so fast!

This week we will welcome (back) Chloe Hamilton, second grader, to the intermediate classroom.  Chloe is an old friend to Salmonberry.  She has been living and attending school in Paris for the past two years.  Chloe will be with us through the summer quarter and will continue at Salmonberry thereafter!

On Wednesday, we will be saying "good-bye" to Liz Shiffler.  Liz has been with us all year and worked in a variety of capacities with all the elementary kids.  Wednesday she will finish up and go on to a summer job at Lime Kiln State Park on San Juan Island.  She will then continue to pursue the completion of her teacher licensure program.  Liz has been a wonderful asset to the classroom and we will miss her very much.  You are welcome to join us for a farewell lunch/recess on Wednesday at 12:00.

Robin Freeman will be taking the summer quarter off and will have her last day with us on Thursday for both Spanish and form drawing.  She plans to return to us in September.

This week we will tie up all the loose ends: the kids will complete some "bridge challenges" in which they will design and build model bridges and hope to bear the greatest load possible.  In a second activity they will will attempt to achieve the greatest span.  We will also finish up some solar energy activities, including running a small solar panel, and looking at the effects of different forms of insulation.  We will wrap up poetry with some shared readings.  We will also spend some time looking at students' writing and beginning to analyze six different traits embedded within each writing piece (more about this in a future parent meeting.)

Sneak preview: I am so excited to be planning during our May break for the summer quarter.  We will again pursue an integrated thematic unit to help unify our studies.  This time we will do a cultural study and celebration of the Middle East.  These studies will certainly include cooking, music and dance.  We will learn geography, history, and a bit about the religion of Islam.  I selected this unit because of its tie-in with our medieval studies from fall and our energy studies from spring.  It also seems like an important time to build a sense of understanding and appreciation of cultural differences and commonalities between ourselves and this culturally rich and diverse region, though I do not plan to cover current events or contemporary politics in our studies.  We make an effort to include at least one cultural study each year at Salmonberry Elementary School as we consider it part of our mission to build awareness of world cultures and global diversity.

Thanks to everyone who helped out at the May Day Festival.  Special thanks to Tammy who handled set-up and helped to organize other volunteers.

Have a wonderful vacation!  See you all in June!

Paul

April 24, 2006

Dear Parents,

Happy Earth Day!  

While we were waiting for the sun to come out last week, I launched an applied math unit called "Bridges."  In this unit we began by learning some vocabulary and discussing the roles of bridges and their different types.  We learned about different forces including tension and compression which act on bridges and their components.  We experienced these forces firsthand by doing a series of kinesthetic exercises where our bodies, in varying positions, were subjected to some of these same forces to see what they feel like.  Then kids made some simple beam bridges out of craft sticks, cardboard, and toothpicks.  In future lessons  the class will study increasingly sophisticated bridge designs and engineering concepts.  They will use a large variety of materials to design original bridges and demonstrate their understanding of these concepts.  They will gather, record, and display data as we quantify the effects of different variables and challenge themselves to design bridges which will bear heavier and heavier loads and span greater and greater distances.

On Friday, the sun was kind enough to show up for our first visit from Eric Youngren, aka "Mr. Sun."  Eric taught us about solar, wind, and microhydro systems.  He showed us a photovoltaic panel and led us through some experiments as the panel generated electricity to run a small fan.  Now that the sun will be out in abundance we will continue to do daily hands-on experiments with our own solar collectors, while we manipulate many different variables in a series of controlled experiments.

In language arts, we should be finishing up some "bookitos" of original and collected poems.  They are coming out very nicely, if not quickly.  There will be no Wordly Wise this week, due to our field trip.

Speaking of which, our attention will also turn this week to our Thursday/Friday field trip.  We'll talk in class about what we'll be seeing in Oregon.  If you haven't already done so, PLEASE complete the necessary forms (medical releases, chaperone contracts) and make out a check to Salmonberry School for the requested amount.  If you have any questions at all, please let me know.

One more thing: it has been a Salmonberry reality that our very tight budget has not included any designated salary for our specialist instructors.  These classes have been paid for by generous donations from individual families.  At this time, I'm afraid the well is running a little dry again.  So, I am appealing to you to consider making a donation to feed the Specialist Fund.  I feel this has been an important and high quality aspect of the elementary program.  Right now the specialist program consists of twice weekly Spanish language and once/week form drawing for the intermediate grades.  We are hoping to add a PE teacher for the summer quarter.  Through the careful hiring of highly qualified specialists over the years, we have been able to offer students many experiences that the teaching staff has simply not had the skills to do otherwise.  A quarter of elementary specialist instruction right now is running about $700.  A donation of $100 would help a lot!  Thanks!

Have a great week!

Paul

April 17, 2006

Dear Parents,

Happy Easter Monday!

This week at school we continue our science work with a plunge into solar energy.  We will begin by learning about the concept of energy transfer.  Then, over the next several weeks we will be performing a series of controlled experiments involving careful observation and quantifying the effects which many variables have on energy transfer in solar collectors.  The students fill specially designed trays with water and other liquids, and over these sessions they adjust the covering of the trays, their color, their angle, the type and amount of liquid used and the use of reflectors to increase energy transfer.  In each case, the relative temperature gain is precisely measured and recorded.  Eventually, the students are asked to design their own original solar collector to maximize energy transfer.

This week we will also have our first visit with our volunteer scientist-in-residence, Eric Youngren of Rainshadow Solar Systems.  Eric will be bringing in a photovoltaic panel and several mechanical devices which will run from the power that we generate on the spot.  In future weeks, Eric will take us on a field trip to see solar and other alternative energy systems in use on Orcas Island.  This will undoubtedly be a high interest and informative part of the energy unit -- so let's all hope for a little cooperation from Mother Nature -- THINK SUN!

Much more info on the upcoming field trip including detailed itinerary, maps, driving directions and fees will be coming this week.

There is a Board Meeting this Tuesday, April 18.

Have a great week!

Paul

April 10, 2006

Dear Parents,

Thanks to all those who turned out for Sunday's work party.  The intermediate classroom had near perfect attendance.  I so appreciate your consistency and continued commitment.  Thanks for being such wonderful role models for your children and other parents.  This school only works through the sustained partnership of the staff, parents and children.  Much progress was made and we didn't get too wet; well, it could have been worse.

This week we'll wrap up our studies of electrical circuits.  The kids will construct some circuit puzzles and then participate in a series of cooperative hands-on assessment projects and we'll see what we learned from these studies.  Our attention then shifts to a discussion of electricity generation.  We will discuss different methods of production in some depth and then begin a month-long hands-on exploration of solar energy.  We have several visits planned with Eric Youngren of Rainshadow Solar Systems who will act as our scientist-in-residence.  Looks like a very exciting unit.

In poetry, we had terrific fun last week looking at poems for the eye, and writing our own drafts.  We also had a great time playing with sound as we learned about euphony and cacophony, alliteration and assonance, and of course, onomatopoeia.  This week the kids will begin writing and assembling a final poetry project, a book of compiled original and copied poems.  For those who haven't had a chance, please visit the public library's poetry display to see some of our students' fine work.

There is a brief parent meeting after school today to finalize plans for the upcoming Oregon field trip.  I will have complete itineraries with maps and directions for you in another week or so.

Have a great week!

Paul

April 3, 2006

Dear Parents,

Thank you all so much for attending Friday's conferences with your children.  It was great to see them share their work and articulate their own goals.  I know it made some kids anxious, but as a whole, they are clearly at a place where they can reflect meaningfully on their own work and purpose.  Let's continue to include them in this process and give them the tools to assess their programs meaningfully.  If there's anyone who would like to meet with me again, please let me know.  I am happy to make time for you.

This week we'll continue with our electricity explorations.  We'll be looking at light bulbs and how they work.  Then we'll make our own bulbs.  These hands-on, cooperative experiments have been so much fun.  The lessons are very intriguing and lead us sequentially through some surprising discoveries as key concepts are taught and reinforced.  The very best part has been stimulating true inquiry-based learning.  Each week the kids brainstorm experiments they'd like to do, then we have at least one session with the materials where the kids can really investigate independently.  Last week, one pair of students inadvertently invented a potentiometer (at least that's what Crosby told them it was.)  Who knows what this week's investigations will uncover.

We'll return to poetry this week and work on poems for the eye and for the ear.  For the eye, we'll look at how poets can arrange words on the page to create different effects and how line breaks can be used to guide the eye to produce certain effects.  For the ear, we'll look more closely at alliteration, assonance, and rhyme.  We'll revisit rhythm and explore onomatopoeia.  The kids will experiment with each of these devices in their own writing and journals, too.

Robin Freeman will begin visiting us three times each week, twice to work on Spanish and once for my new favorite hour of the day: Form Drawing!  If you haven't had a chance to see this in action, you might want to stick around after drop off on Thursday and check it out.  It is a carefully crafted and beautiful integration of the child's body, mind, and hand.

There will be a parent meeting this Friday April 7 at 3:15 to look at our upcoming field trip to Oregon (April 26-27) and finalize the itinerary.  The main issue on the table is do we want to keep this short and fairly intense, or would you prefer to extend the trip with an extra night of camping and exploring or city hotel and sights.  Anyway, please come on Friday if you can and we'll make some choices.

Have a great week!

Paul

March 20, 2006

Dear Parents,

Hooray, we made it!  Happy equinox! Spring is here!  The sun is shining!  The mold is withering!  Life is good.

Last week at school was terrific.  The electricity curriculum kit we are using has been excellent.  The materials and concepts are fairly simple, but the activities require everyone to think deeply and really focus on cooperative inquiry-based experiments in order to be successful.  The kids have been extending the learning as they seem driven to explore very advanced questions.  There have been some surprises and everyone is engaging and learning.  So far we have worked on basic circuits in series and parallel.  This week we will continue designing and creating circuits with increasing complexity.  First, more complex parallel circuits.  Then we'll invent and add switches to the circuits.  Finally, this week we'll experiment with and compare the conductivity of different solid materials.

The kids seem almost as into our poetry work too!  We worked last week on imagery and image poems.  These have ranged from traditional Japanese haiku to William Wordsworth, William Carlos Williams and others.  The students write daily in their poetry journals, either responding to poems they have read or writing their own.  On Friday afternoon we took our journals and a focus activity sheet, and went for a poetry walk.  We stopped in several different spots to do some writing.  At each stop, everyone was silent and pencils scribbled furiously.  The kids are anxious to share their work with one another.  They are using more creative words and literary devices.  Moreover, they are beginning to see the world through poets' eyes.  They are noticing minute details, personifying inanimate objects, adopting unexpected perspectives.  I am very proud of their work and their willingness to give this process a serious try.  This week, we'll begin to work on some revisions and rewrites from the rough drafts that are filling the journals.

Wordly Wise  This week we'll officially begin this language and vocabulary building program.  Each day there will be an activity to complete.  Each week every student will complete one word list.  At the end of each week everyone will have an opportunity to demonstrate mastery of his/her words through an extra project.  You can help by checking to make sure your child is keeping up with his/her assignments.  We will staple an assignment sheet into each workbook which will show the work to be done.  You can also help by checking your child's understanding of the words.  Finally we will use the word list as a way to learn some conventional spelling.  By the end of each week we will expect to spell all words correctly and learn some relevant spelling rules and exceptions that come up in the context of the word lists.

Conferences:  Please sign up for a Parent-Teacher conference.  This time I'd like to try including the kids in our goal setting.  Your child will prepare a short portfolio of work to share as well as some demonstrations.  He/she will have some specific written goals which we can use as a starting point for our discussion.  If you'd like to reserve some of the conference time to talk with me and without your child, let me know and we can either reserve the last fifteen minutes of the conference or schedule and additional appointment.

Save these dates!  I have spoken with many of you about a likely field trip in late April.  Well it looks like it's a go!  My best guess right now is: we will head down to Portland on Thursday, April 27.  We have an electricity and magnetism class in the physics lab at OMSI (The Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) in the late afternoon.  Then, the museum closes to the public and the fun begins.  We will scope out a quiet corner of the museum and set up camp.  We get to explore the exhibits, participate in a space program and view a late night show in the huge planetarium.  We are fed dinner and then camp in!  The next morning we get breakfast early, have a little more time in the museum.  Then, we are off to The Bonneville Dam.  We get a tour of this colossal hydroelectric dam which supplies Orcas Island as well as much of the Pacific Northwest with power.  We will have a two-part tour focusing on hydroelectric power as well as salmon (a tie-in from last year's studies!)  Some of us will head back Friday afternoon for a late return.  There may be an option to stay on.  I am looking into other programs and learning opportunities.  For those driving themselves, the Columbia Gorge, where Bonneville is located, is a place of dramatic beauty, incredible waterfalls, spectacular vista views, and historic and lovely scenic drives.  This is an area with a lot of relevance to our Lewis and Clark and Oregon Trail studies, too.  So you may want to explore.  I'll have some recommendations for sightseers.  Anyway, many more details, itinerary details, directions, etc... will be forthcoming.  For now, save the dates!

The South End String Band concert/fundraiser is Saturday, March 25.  Thanks to everyone for signing up to help.  Please call Andria if you have any questions about your job.  (We could still use a few extra hands with clean-up after the show.)  Now let's make sure it is well-attended.  Please invite your friends, relatives and acquaintances.  This is such a fun event, but more people makes it even better!

There is a Board Meeting next Monday, March 27 at 3:15.

Have a great week!

Paul

March 13, 2006

Dear Parents,

Okay, whose idea of a joke was the snow last week?  Some of us are trying to write spring poems, here!

What an extremely busy and satisfying last week was as we settled into the routines of the new classroom space and figured out how to navigate through the opportunities as well as the challenges the new configuration presents.

In our thematic work, we introduced the idea of energy, first through art.  The children created some eye catching "current quilts" which represent the pulsating waves of many forms of energy.  Then we defined "energy," "work," and "force" and learned about "potential" and "kinetic" energy.  One fun demonstration of potential and kinetic energy included the releasing of the potential energy stored in a large mass of hardened concrete onto the awaiting raw egg three feet below.  We created graphic illustrations of potential and kinetic energy using a magazine ad format.  Finally, the kids took notes on a discussion of electricity generation.  We began to explore and compare coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric, and solar generators -- this was just a start on this complex subject.  We examined the inside of a lightbulb and figured out how it works.  And we had a surprise guest appearance by Jay, our heating contractor, who happened to be working on the school's heating system and showed us a solar water heating cell, explained how it worked, and let us try it out.

This week we'll begin our hands-on explorations of electricity.  We begin working in small groups.  The kids will construct simple circuits using batteries, wires, and light bulbs.  They'll experiment to discover some basic principles of electric circuitry.  Then we'll design some more complex circuits and learn how to create diagrams and symbols to represent the circuits we make.  Finally, this week we'll learn about series and parallel batteries and use these different configurations within our circuits.

Our poetry unit started out well.  Everyone read several poems together including "The Red Wheelbarrow" by William Carlos Williams.  We began some poetry journals and each wrote a rough draft of an original poem.  We learned about the "theme" and the "subject" in poetry as well as "lyric," "narrative" and "didactic" types.  The kids had some time to explore our collections and anthologies and record favorite lines, phrases, words and whole poems in their journals.  We each shared some favorite poems aloud.  We are also reading a wonderful book in class, Love That Dog by Sharon Creech.  In this book we see a young boy's poetry journal entries as his teacher gradually leads him to discover his own poetic voice and love for language.  It seems to be a fun compliment to the unit.

Kids are all working on handwriting and vocabulary daily.  We are collectively working on organization.  Kids are trying to remember to put their name and date on everything, and file all papers in the appropriate folder or section of the binder.  "No loose papers" is our new mantra.  We are also working on heightening and refining and awareness of aesthetic sensibilities.  We'll be talking about what makes things "look nice" and how we feel when we are surrounded by beauty.  Kids will be gently encouraged to take greater care in their written work as they start to apply their emerging aesthetic awareness.  I anticipate this will be an ongoing process, of course.

Math groups are going very well and all students are working hard and making steady progress in their math skills while building ever deepening conceptual understandings.  On Thursday and Friday we worked as a whole group on Geometry.  Specifically, the kids learned (or relearned) some vocabulary.  Then they created original three-dimensional shapes out of toothpicks and clay and dipped them with string into a bubble and water solution.  There were some surprising and stunning results when they pulled them out.  Everything was recorded on individual charts and we looked for patterns as we counted each shape's vertices, edges, faces, and "panes" of bubble juice.

It will be great to have Desmond and Brodie return to class this week, and if everyone stays healthy, we'll be at full strength!  Happy 11th birthday Crosby!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!  There is a Board Meeting this Thursday March 16 at 3:15 pm.  Whew!

Have a great week!

Paul

March 6, 2006

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school everyone and happy almost-spring!  A time of change!  I am both nervous and excited to begin this spring quarter with a reconfigured classroom.  Our new intermediate grades class will include ten students.  Liz will join me for three half-days per week.  Our friends, Grayson and Tara and two new kindergarten students, Milo and Chloe, will be with Mairi in the next door primary classroom.  We will visit with each other often; every day for lunch and at least one recess; Spanish language and gymnastics class, and for various shared learning experiences, particularly in the afternoons.

In the intermediate class, our thematic studies will focus on the topics of energy and electricity.  We will look at many aspects of energy, and engage in a host of hands-on explorations, experiments, and field trips as we explore this area of science together.  We will begin with electricity.  We'll learn about where electricity comes from, how it is generated, how it gets to our homes, and how it is used.  The kids will work in small cooperative groups to investigate and build electrical circuits.  We'll construct parallel and series circuits.  In coming weeks we'll investigate resistance, the electrical conductivity of different materials, discover what factors affect the flow of current, and much more.  We'll visit OPALCO and talk with some local folks who help bring electricity to our homes.  Of course we'll talk about energy usage and conservation issues.

Later on in the quarter we'll look at alternative forms of energy generation.  We will focus on solar energy, another exciting hands-on unit.  We'll also talk with some local experts who design and build alternative energy systems.  In addition to solar power, we'll explore wind power, micro-hydro systems, and touch on other more experimental sources.  There will be many fun surprises and guests, possibly some big field trips.  I will keep you informed as things develop.

I am very excited about a language arts unit I have been designing on poetry.  This will be a challenging foray into the world of grown up literature.  We will read William Carlos Williams, Wallace Stevens, A.E. Housman, and many other adult oriented poets.  We will learn about poetic voice, word choice, figures of speech, imagery, rhyme, alliteration, and symbolism.  Students will learn to write criticism of poetry; they will write poems; they will memorize and recite poems and they will share in a celebration of language.  I'll have more details on the full language arts program in the near future.

Math groups will resume on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays with Liz and I each working with five students.  Students will continue working on various developmentally appropriate subjects from multiplication to fractions and decimals.  On Thursdays and Fridays we will pursue math as a whole group.  On these days we'll pursue a unit on geometry; we'll learn some vocabulary, do some geometric constructions, explore area and perimeter.  We will also use these days to work on math problem solving strategies, puzzles, games, and student led explorations.

I will be making an effort to integrate more handwork and art this quarter.  We will do more art activities.  We will direct our attention towards developing an aesthetic awareness.  We will begin regular cursive handwriting and discuss penmanship and the way our work looks.  In this vein, we will also be working with Robin Freeman once per week to learn about and practice "Form Drawing."  This is a process originally developed by Rudolf Steiner which involves both gross motor and fine motor exercises toward the creation of beautiful "forms."  Robin will get you all a letter which explains more about it.  One result of these exercises is increased fine motor control and an attuning to graceful flowing lines and shapes.  It is a process I have read about but not yet included in the classroom.  It is a passion of Robin's and we are both very excited to see how the kids do with it.

Hopefully you have just received, or are about to receive your child's progress summaries from the fall semester.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts or concerns you'd like to share after reading them.  Keep in mind that we will have goal setting conferences again on March 31.

Have a great week!

Paul

February 6, 2006

Dear Parents,

We are winding down to the end of another academic quarter.  This has been a wonderful winter, despite the dampness.  But I do think we are ready for a little break.  

This week skill groups will finish up their studies.  Each will end with a small culminating project or event.  The two literature groups will be finishing up their novel studies and do some final writing projects.  These have been the most challenging novel groups and most focused Language Arts work we have seen at Salmonberry.  The children should all be congratulated for their patience and determination in getting through it all.

The Math groups similarly have witnessed the introduction, concept building and mastery of some very challenging concepts this quarter.  These have included: place value, introduction to fractions, multiplication, and long division.  Again, the students have done well and worked hard to learn new skills.  Bravo!

Our thematic work picked up last week, too.  We moved from appreciating diversity and difference through understanding points of view, perspective, and developing empathy, and we even worked on the challenging processes of negotiation.  The kids have done particularly well using improvisational skills which Samara has introduced to practice some imagined situations which demanded sophisticated negotiation skills.  Well done!

This week on Monday we will visit Max Jones at the fire station to finish our work on disaster preparedness.  On Tuesday we'll have a return visit from Catherine Gincig, who will take us a step further towards understanding the challenges of being a blind child, and she'll introduce us to more of the adaptations and aides which are so important.  On Friday we will be exchanging Valentines.  Students are welcome to bring in small Valentines for each classmate anytime this week.  We will distribute them on Friday.

We are also planning an "idio-idio-idosyncrasy potluck" for Friday (this was a vocab word in one reading group.)  Students are encouraged to bring in a food or drink item that they really enjoy, but which many people may not have experienced.  These could be unusual fruits or veggies, and unusual ethnic preparation, or whatever.  Each child should bring enough to share small portions with 12 students.  In addition, this may be a time to share other unusual loves or comforts: a special stuffed animal, some wacky slippers, again...whatever!  The point is to share with our safe and supportive peer group anything personally important.  This is not intended to be a parent attended event, but if your child needs your support feel free to join us, as always.

The staff are working hard and will spend much of break hammering out the details of our newly configured elementary classrooms.  The goal, as always, is to provide instruction in the most individually appropriate way possible.  Mairi will be assuming primary responsibility for planning and implementing the primary program and I will do the intermediate grades.  Liz will continue working part time with all students.  We will be trying some new teaching and grouping strategies and we will be ever watchful of the program's effectiveness for each child.  The staff will continue working very closely together and we'll keep you well informed of all that's happening at school.  We also anticipate adding three or four new students to the primary grades in March!

I will be working on progress summaries over break.  These will either be mailed to you or will be available upon our reopening.  We will again have goal setting conferences in March.  I am seeking input from parents on how to make these conferences as useful and meaningful as possible.  Please let me know if you have any thoughts.  (I am thinking about inviting students to participate in the upper grades.)

There is a Board meeting on Tuesday at 3:15.

Have a great week and a wonderful vacation.  Be healthy!  Travel safely!

Paul

January 28, 2006

Dear Parents,

Is everyone enjoying the lingering winter weather?

This week we will take advantage of the teachable moment and embark on a multidisciplinary exploration of the concept of wetness, particularly as it applies to one's meta awareness and concept of self within a learning community.

We will conduct several science experiments: one will look at evaporation rates and relative humidity, another will examine rates of fungus growth between one's toes and in window sills in moist climates.  Needless to say we will remind ourselves of the process of the water cycle, and review the fact that, despite common misconceptions, Earth's atmosphere does not contain twice as much water as it did last year, but rather has had a constant amount of water for millennia.

In language arts we will write rain Haikus, as well as persuasive letters to the rain gods from the multicultural perspective on an indigenous island-dwelling culture who has had just about enough.  We will focus on students' word choices as we recognize the importance of distinguishing between various types of moistness, i.e. soaking and drenched vs. clammy and damp.  We will also write similes such as "I am as wet as a drowning duck," etc.  And we will look at common colloquialisms in American literature and their derivations.  These will include "a wet noodle" and "waterlogged," "water off a duck's back," etc.

In our thematic studies, we will be taking the unique perspective of a falling raindrop and we will be gaining holistic awareness as we evolve into a single large puddle, yet retaining our unique identity as an individual molecular unit (H2O).  We will then talk about "difference" in the context of a class meeting during which students will be asked to assume either a damp or saturated perspective.

In math, students will work in small groups to estimate the number of consecutive days of rain needed to completely cover Mt. Constitution at various rates of precipitation.  We will also continue to look at fractions as we use liquid measurement in various hands-on activities.

In Spanish, we'll learn the word "agua" and play kinesthetic games to reinforce the learning.

If time and resources allow we will try to schedule a field trip to a local wetland.  I will let you know if we need additional drivers.

Have a great week!

Paul

January 17, 2006

Dear Parents,

We have had a terrific start to '06.  I am particularly happy with our new skill groups and our new Spanish language program.

For both math and language arts, the kids are working in small (three to six student) instructional groups with one of the three teachers.  Thus far, this has been a fairly rigorous academic time.  The activities are designed with their skills and learning styles in mind and they receive immediate feedback and attention from their teacher and peers.

The language arts groups have begun novel studies, creative writing, letter writing, integrated vocabulary and building reading comprehension skills.  We are all working on building awareness of writing conventions, including spelling, punctuation, handwriting and grammar.  This awareness is integrated into our readings of quality literature and in the completion of fun and engaging multidisciplinary projects.  In general, the kids seem excited and motivated, and they are rising to the challenges we offer them.

In math, the students are pursuing a wide range of skills from place value to fractions, multiplication and long division.  The work always emphasizes building conceptual understanding with manipulatives and physical models, then moving towards visual and eventually symbolic representations of these concepts.  Students are encouraged to pursue a constructivist approach and build their own understanding of each concept.  Finally, students learn algorithms and conventions and work to practice and refine accuracy.  Ultimately, we strive to provide them with opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills as they work through problems and projects that are intended to be personally meaningful and relevant.

The new Spanish program consists of twice weekly visits by Robin Freeman.  She leads the whole group through a series of songs, chants, kinesthetic activities and repeated verbal and oral practice.  Robin displays a calm and quiet demeanor.  She commands respect and attentiveness while creating a safe and caring environment.  Thankfully, Kim (Desmond's mom) is volunteering her time and knowledge to extend the kids' learning.  She is planning a variety of language activities to supplement Robin's lessons.  Students who are interested meet in a small group with Kim for an additional Spanish elective.

Our theme work has been rich and compelling.  We have focused on "point of view" and "perspective."  We have explored the idea of seeing the world through another's eyes.  We particularly focused last week on empathizing with disenfranchised and differently abled peoples as we discussed the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.  We have begun the amazing story of Louis Braille, and we will be visiting on Wednesday this week with Catherine Gincig, who teaches and advocates for a blind student in the Orcas community.

There is a Board Meeting on Thursday 1/19 at 3:15.

There will be an elementary school parent meeting on Monday 1/23 at 3:15.

Have a great week!

Paul

January 5, 2006

Dear Parents,

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

Mairi, Liz and I have been busy planning and preparing for this six week session.  I am very excited about what we have in store.

We will be resuming our pre-guilds school structure.  That is, we'll we dividing up into three skill level groups for both language arts and math instruction.  These groups will provide a focused time to pursue skill work in an intimate small group setting.  The math groups will be focusing on building computation skills, using a manipulative based conceptual understanding and progressing through algorithmic number manipulations.  The language arts groups will work on reading with increased accuracy and fluency, and writing using increasing skills and developing improved writing traits including appropriate word choice, organization and conventions.  All groups will work on handwriting, vocabulary and spelling.  The goal is for all learners to derive meaning, relevance, and joy from reading, writing and math.  (Should be a piece of cake!)

In the afternoons we'll cluster our specialist instruction: Drama with Samara, PE with Liz, and Spanish language with Robin Freeman.  Many of you know Robin from other settings; she has taught at the Montessori summer program, OASIS, and the OI Recreation Program.  I have talked with her a great deal regarding her program and it sounds great!  She'll also get you a program overview in writing and will introduce herself at a future parent meeting.

The afternoons will also be a time for art, music and thematic work.  The theme for this short quarter will be "conflict and understanding."  Having just concluded a fairly militaristic and glamorous study of the Middle Ages, the staff and I thought it essential to reflect critically and creatively on issues regarding conflict, including: hierarchy, equity, fairness, and kindness.  The focus of the study will be: "Taking perspectives" and "points of view."  We will work toward building an increased awareness and sense of compassion and empathy in our classroom community and recognize the possibility of such a shift in the larger world community.  These issues will be addressed primarily through the media of art and literature.  We'll be doing collage and drawing from different and unusual perspectives.  We'll read multicultural folk tales and rewrite them from different perspectives, or invent different resolutions that might be possible if the characters were able to take different perspectives.  We'll spend some time in "someone else's shoes" and write about our adventures.  We'll touch on some familiar themes including appreciating difference and diversity.  We'll read about the amazing life of Louis Braille (thanks Lynne) and imagine the perspective of being disabled (or differently abled.)  We'll discuss the notion of "taking care" being a natural consequence of developing empathy.  I anticipate lots of rich discussion and some important reflection.

Have a great week!

Paul

December 5, 2005

Dear Parents,

We have had a terrific beginning to our three week guild focus intensive.  The kids seem universally invested and excited to be exploring deeply in a subject area of personal interest.  They are excited to be doing "grown up" work and learning in cooperative groups.

The woodworking guild has learned a bit about forests and tree species.  They have explored properties of different woods and the many types of hand tools used to work them.  They have learned to sharpen chisels and knives and how to use a large variety of hand tools safely and effectively.  They have learned to dress warmly and deal with frigid weather!  Each student is starting with a log and making a kitchen item, spatula or the like as well as a slab seat stool of their own design.  This week we'll be visiting the woodworking studio of Todd Spalti who is finishing up some beautiful Haida style totem poles using traditional hand tools.

The domestic arts guild has been to the library to research recipe books.  They have been to the market to select ingredients and comparison shop, and they have been involved in some wonderfully messy cooking and baking projects.  This week they will be cutting their own quill pens from feathers and practicing calligraphy with Kim, Desmond's mom.

The inventors guild has looked at the invention process and read about some historical inventors.  They have brainstormed ideas for a cooperative group project as well as individual inventions.  They have walked through Eastsound on a hunt for cool inventions and have visited the Exchange and selected mechanical items they can deconstruct.  This week they'll be visiting the fire station to look at ways inventions can help save lives.

The afternoons have been busy with reading and writing activities.  We are working in guild journals.  We are reading independently and aloud.  We even read Abbot and Costello's famous "Who's on First" dialogue (just for fun!)  We are working on a class tapestry (mural) that illustrates memorable moments from our Medieval studies.  We are also doing some whole group logic problems.

We will have the first in a while of our monthly elementary parent meetings next Thursday, December 8 at 3:15.  The staff will use this time to describe some of our specific classroom activities.  We will also begin a process of teaching the parents about our curriculum and theory and resources which is guiding our practice.  We'll begin on Thursday with a look at math.  I will update you all on the status of our Alternative Learning Program participation and discuss some options on where we go with this opportunity.  There will be time for questions and discussions including having input on ways we can use these monthly meetings to solidify and unify our parent/staff community.

Have a great week!

Paul

November 28, 2005

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school everyone!  I trust you all had a pleasant vacation and a happy Thanksgiving.  I am rested and rejuvenated and so excited to see your children again!

These three weeks (plus two days) we will be following up our Medieval thematic work with an elective intensive we are calling "Guilds."  Students have selected membership into one of three Salmonberry Guilds: "Inventing" with Liz, "Domestic Arts" with Mairi, or "Woodworking" with Paul.  We will spend most mornings for 2-3 hours working on our guilds.  This time will include integrated reading, writing, math, and science investigations as we learn history, social studies, and craft skills.  Mairi, Liz and I are very excited to have the opportunity to pursue some of the kids' and our passions in depth and in small groups.  The learning will be deep and meaningful, and the experiences will be varied and multisensory.

The afternoons will include a variety of activities but will mostly involve independent quiet work time.  Students will read, write in their journals, work on handwriting, vocabulary building, and math packets, as well as participate in art projects.  Much of this work will mostly be individualized and independent.  

I wanted to thank everybody for helping to make the Night of the Notables such a huge success.  Over sixty parents, friends and relatives were in attendance.  The food was incredible and the spirit of support and caring for your children was inspiring.

Thanks to Lynne for organizing the Cooperative Games fundraiser and Lynne and Lydia for working on the upcoming Rose's wine and cheese tasting.  Don't forget to see Lydia to purchase your tickets.  It's Thursday, December 1!

A super special, and unfortunately belated, thanks to Paul Kamin who continues to put in many, many hours at Salmonberry, including weekends and vacations to install cabinets, plumb the kitchen, build play equipment, roof the sandbox and chicken coop, and countless other tasks - all volunteer hours, of course.  Talk about inspiration!

We will have the first in awhile of our monthly elementary parent meetings next Thursday, December 8 at 3:15.  This will be an opportunity for staff to explain specific program practices and lessons as well as hear feedback, answer questions and brainstorm together.  More information next week regarding specific focus for this first meeting and possibly some homework for you!

Have a great week!

Paul

November 7, 2005

Dear Parents,

Wow, has this quarter flown by!  As is often the case, in some ways it feels like we are just getting started, yet it also seems like we've been hard at it for years.  Already there has been so much growth and change this year.  As always, I feel privileged to be allowed to witness and participate in your children's development.

Thanks to our seven member Board and five member staff for devoting many hours last weekend at our annual Board retreat.  It was a very productive use of our time as we grappled with challenging issues regarding our ever evolving vision of the Salmonberry School.  We looked critically at current classroom practices and curriculum.  We discussed long-term goals  and worked to develop strategies for meeting these goals.  We studied the budget and made some important decisions regarding our continual effort to achieve financial stability.  It was wonderful for me, personally, to be able to devote extended time and energy while collaboratively working with such a caring and committed group.  Please see the Board Minutes for complete details on the retreat.

Last week, as a conclusion to our study of medieval monasteries, we had a fabulous visit with Mother Hildegaard and the Benedictine nuns at the Monastery on Shaw Island.  We got a tour of this beautiful facility, where the nuns engage in the common Benedictine monastic practice of farming for self-sufficiency and in reverence of nature.  We got a wonderful instruction in the history of monasticism and the practice of Benedictine Catholocism.  We visited with the Highland cattle, the llamas, the chickens, the Cotswold sheep, and ate lunch in the hay barn.  We saw the dairy facilities and other farm processes.  After lunch we got to sit in the chapel and witness the noon mass of All Soul's Day (in Latin!)  Mother Hildegaard was great, very animated and engaging and the kids were terrific as well.

We have now turned our attention to the Medieval Crusades.  We have done some background reading and discussion.  This week we will engage in a simulation exercise in which the students will "travel" from Rome to Jerusalem in their cooperative manor groups.  They will demonstrate knowledge of the Middle Ages which will move them from city to city across Europe and into "The Holy Land."

This week, during language arts (aka research time), with most of the kids' visual displays complete we will work on the writing of, and dramatic oral delivery of their speeches.  We will practice many skills leading to effective verbal communication.  Beginning Wednesday we will practice some dressed rehearsals  for Friday's Night of the Notables so please have all costumes to school by Wednesday.

Remember the event will be on Friday, beginning at 5:00.  Kids should be delivered by 4:45 to get ready.  We'll have a waiting area for parents during this awkward few minutes.  Then we'll allow you all in, have you deposit your food offering, then circulate to visit the Notables.  Introduce yourself to a Notable, and ask who he/she is.  They will tell you a bit about themselves.  Then you may ask a question or two from the cards provided on their individual table.  Bid farewell, and go on to visit another.  It may get loud and difficult to hear one another so please do what you can to keep things calm, quiet and focused.  Thanks for your help in pulling off this memorable event.

A quick preview of December: In past years this has been the most difficult part of the year to plan for, a short session of three weeks or so between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This year we will try something new: a craft "intensive."  The one part of our Medieval simulation we will not get to is a section called "Guilds."  The intention is to give the kids an opportunity to experience a deep comittment to a craft or trade and move, under skillful direction, from Novice to Master Craftsman.  This three week period seems a perfect opportunity to explore this concept.  Liz, Mairi and I will each become a Guild Master and the kids will be guided to choose an appropriate guild to join.  We will spend significant blocks of time during these weeks working in our guild, practicing and developing skills and integrating academics into our craftwork.  The exact focus of each guild is still under development and will be decided in conjunction with kids' interest.

Have a great week and a wonderful November break.  Happy Thanksgiving.  We'll see you back at school on Monday, November 28.

Paul

October 17, 2005

Dear Parents,

Alright, enough of the sword play and knightly battle lust.  The next phase of the simulation will take us to the quieter and more contemplative world of medieval monastic orders.  We will learn about what it meant to be a monk or a nun in the Middle Ages.  We'll study a bit about the Catholic Church structure and hierarchy and we'll have some simulated experiences as we fast, feast, and contemplate in silence and seclusion.  We'll learn more about herbal medicines, calligraphy and illuminations, and practice a few Latin phrases.  (Okay, it's true, we'll be building a small seige weapon at school this week too!)

In terms of the kids' research projects, (for grades 3 and up) you can help by completing your child's costume with his/her help, of course.  This week we should continue our note taking in class and begin designing a display for the event.  We'll try to complete research and not taking by October 28.  We'll complete each student's visual display by November 4, and write and practice a short oral presentation to be ready for the Night of the Notables on November 11.  I will let you know individually if there is work to be done at home, but you might check in with your child and see how he/she is progressing toward these goals.

Two more field trips this week:

Wednesday, 10/19 we will be visiting the Coffelt Farm.  This is another in the series of Garden Project experiences which Liz is coordinating.  We still need drivers.  We'll be leaving school at 12:30 and returning by 3:00.

Thursday 10/20 please drop off your very warmly dressed children with us at the main parking lot at Camp Orkila.  We'll be spending the morning on the archery range (weather permitting.)  We are looking for drivers to help us get back to school around 11:45.

Thank you all so much for your continued enthusiasm and support in extending our learning beyond the classroom walls.  We depend upon you all to make these field trips possible, and they are such an important part of our program!

Next Sunday will be the Salmonberry work party.  Please see the sign-up board outside the door and sign up for whatever seems appropriate.  Last work party was very well attended and it'd be great to keep up the momentum.  Even if you can just spare a half hour or so, it feels so exciting to be part of a committed team working toward a shared vision.

Next Wednesday, October 26 will be a meeting to discuss the International Travel plans for this spring.  Immediately following the Salmonberry meeting (@5:00) will be an Orcas Island School District meeting to explain this new Alternative Learning Program.  It should be informative and all are welcome.

Have a great week!

Paul

October 11, 2005

Dear Parents,

What a fun field trip!  Thanks to everyone who came and for all your flexibility with scheduling and transportation.  For those who missed it, we had two medieval stops on Sunday.  The first was a visit with a huge trebouchet (a counterweight powered catapult), which the day prior had set a world record for distance in the pumpkin fling (over 1600 feet!)  We got to chat with the machine's designer and ask lots of questions about the physics, engineering, aesthetics and history of this amazing machine.  Then we spent the day with the wonderful re-enactors at the Cam Lann Medieval Village.   We chatted with the inkeeper, learned about the animals, and timber frame construction.  We visited with the blacksmith and his apprentice, a spinner and dyer, the scribe who did calligraphy and illuminations, and the clothier who wove and sewed garments.  Then we enjoyed the ploughman's lunch (feast style); we ate on trenchers and drank "fuste."  The setting in the woods of the recreated fourteenth century English village was lovely.

Last week at school we spent some time learning all the rules of heraldry.  Quinn led these lessons and did a great job directing us through the creation of original coats of arms.  These included: "ordinaries," "fields," "charges," and "crests."  We learned much of the symbolism and meaning behind our designs.  This week we will finish up with the "supports," the "mantling," and the "motto" (in Latin of course!)  We also practiced some calligraphy under the direction of "Sir Phil" our visiting calligraphic artist.  Many of the kids have also started handwork projects including needlepoint and weaving.  We also have nearly finished a "wattle hurdle" (a woven wooden fence made from willow and alder.)  As a UPS delivery man said upon stumbling onto our project time one afternoon, "This can't be school; it's too much fun!"

Our morning time has settled into a definite predictable rhythm which includes large blocks of skill group instruction and practice in Math and Language Arts.  All math groups are exploring "patterning" at different skill levels, while we also practice number concepts and calculations daily.  The older language arts group has focused on reading, researching and note taking, while the younger group is engaged in a wide variety of developing reading and writing skills.  The morning times are pretty focused and serious work times and the kids are responding well to our high expectations at these times.

Last week we also began weekly music time with Sabrina Brazier from Lopez.  Sabrina has a wonderful rapport with the kids and we sang many of our favorite songs from last year.  In future weeks we will work on singing in rounds, building awareness of our voices and developing rhythm through songs, games and movements.  This week we will also start Spanish language instruction with Alyssa Knickerbocker.  The focus of this study will be listening to language, building vocabulary, and developing conversation skills through songs, games and movements.  We'll also go on a few "Spanish walks."

This week we will learn about falconry and we will be visited by Alice Himmelfarb, who trains raptors to hunt.  She will bring her Harris' Hawk and, as Alice said to me, "just let the kids be in the presence of this majestic bird."  We'll also continue to learn about knighthood and in particular the "code of chivalry."  For those that haven't yet taken the "squire's challenge" please see me for all the details.  For those who need a bit more time completing their "quests" feel free, the 10 farthing reward will be waiting.

Advanced notice: We are definitely planning a culmination event for the evening of Friday, November 11.  This will be our Michaelmas Feast, as well as our Night of Notables.  Please don't plan any early fall break departures if you can possibly avoid it!  This will be a memorable and important event.  Please help your child to begin planning for and creating his/her costume for his/her Night of the Notables character.  These can be quite simple, but there are tons of costumes and accessories online if you're into it. (Of course, these will make great Halloween costumes, too!)

Super advanced notice: It is looking increasingly likely that I will be offering an international travel opportunity in May.  This will be in conjunction with the students' enrollment in the Orcas Island School District's international program.  I would like to schedule an initial orientation and planning session for Wednesday, October 26 at 3:15.  I'll explain the program and we can preview the trip itinerary and go over the fees.  We'll likely have to meet several times on this one, but this'll get the ball rolling.

There is a Board meeting this Friday, October 14 at 3:15.

Have a great week!

Paul

September 26, 2005

Dear Parents,

Thanks for the huge volunteer efforts last week and this week.  Mairi should be back next weekend and will attend parent conferences on Monday, October 3.  No school that day!

This week we will continue thematic work in our "manor groups."  The groups have been working on some wonderful three-dimensional models of their manors.  During this process, we have learned about group process, communication and decision making models.  We have discussed self-sufficiency, and the key elements necessary for human and community survival.  We have learned about manorialism, and compared and contrasted agrarian-based life in the Middle Ages with our modern society.  We have learned about timber framing and other traditional construction techniques.  We have touched on division of labor and social hierarchy.  All this and we've had a lot of fun being creative and working cooperatively!

Students began receiving "Feudal Farthings" last week as a small token for prosocial, cooperative, and kind behaviors.  These will be redeemed later in the quarter.  This system is meant as a positive reinforcer and group-oriented reward system.  It is not intended to inspire competition or individual comparison, and so far has not.  During the simulation, to increase realism and raise awareness of some of the dangers and perils of medieval life, the kids will also receive "fate cards."  These may result in increases or decreases in each individual's fortunes.  It's all in fun, but please let me know if anyone is feeling stressed about any of this.

On Friday of last week I began discussing a research project that I am asking each of the kids to complete this quarter.  They will each select a character, real or from literature, to study.  I will help them to find appropriate material for their research.  They will take notes on their subject and go through all the phases of research writing: brainstorming, rough drafting, revising and editing.  They will each create a visual display showing their learning.  Then as a culminating event we will each come to school costumed as our character and with a short prepared talk from the character's perspective.  We are calling this culmination The Night of the Notables.  Don't worry; it'll be fun and we teachers will help everyone out and ensure their success.  There will be much more info coming in future weeks!

This week we will continue to the theme of Manorialism.  On Wednesday, we visit a modern Orcas Island "manor" of sorts, the Bullock's farm in Deer Harbor.  Here the Bullock clan and a team of apprentices and interns reclaim the ancient practice of "permaculture" in an effort to farm for self-sufficiency and diverse food production in harmony with nature.  We will also begin building a medieval style "wattle fence" at school using centuries' old tools and techniques.

In the meantime, we continue to spend a good part of each day in age/skill groups.  The younger students continue to work with Liz on Language Arts activities including shared reading and writing activities, songs, chants and stories.  The older group is writing paragraphs, working on a variety of reading comprehension strategies using some very challenging thematic texts.  Both groups will be pursuing some math activities this week as well.  We plan to begin daily math skill groups as soon as Mairi returns.

All students have spent time this week beginning to talk about feelings and our expression of them.  We are working on reading one another's body language and increasing our awareness and sensitivity to one another's feelings and needs.  A lot of these communication and conflict resolution lessons build on a shared background Liz and I have in "compassionate communication."  We will continue to revisit these issues throughout the year as the need arises.

Of course we are also noticing the changes of season.  We sang some fun fall songs on Friday and celebrated the Autumnal Equinox.  We are likely to go on a leaf walk this week, press some leaves and sew some colorful leaf garlands.

Have a great week!

Paul

September 19, 2005

Dear Parents,

Sorry for the lack of newsletter last week.  I just got my computer back from high tech intensive care and while not completely recovered, it seems to be on the mend.  I suppose it's good to have these moments when we adults feel completely at the mercy of a knowledgeable authority (or tech guy.)  It helps us to have empathy with the kids who are in this situation continuously -- it's no wonder they can seem a little stressed at times.

Anyway, we've had a terrific couple of weeks getting settled at school and establishing some rhythms and expectations.  The kids have been wonderful!  Thanks for all the kind support from parents as well.

On most days now, the majority of the morning is spent in grade-level groups.  Math and Language Arts activities occur in each of the two classrooms, with the one oriented more towards primary experiences and the other with intermediate kids in mind.  Most afternoons we have the kids in a more heterogeneous environment.  We have a silent reading time, sharing, and a combination of whole class activities or mixed ability group content area projects.  The kids seem to be doing well with this configuration and are getting a lot out of all the various learning environments.

The younger kids (grades K-2) have been working on patterns in math, and a variety of reading and writing activities in language arts.  The older students have begun with a look at logic problems and problem solving strategies in math.  They have begun to analyze sample writing and determine the difference between good writing and great writing.  They have also selected chapter books which they will read and respond to regularly.

In our simulation, all students have created fictitious historical identities.  They have been placed in manor groups and begun to learn about life in the Middle Ages.  The focus for the first two weeks was on Feudalism, the complex system of contractual agreements between different hierarchical levels in Medieval society.  This week we will turn our attention to Manorialism, the agrarian based economic system of the Middle Ages.  Groups will be designing manors, and exploring the history of farming as well as architecture.  By the end of the week we should begin construction of a medieval style "wattle hurdle."  This is a woven wooden fence which was used as a portable enclosure as well as the infill of timber framed houses.  Willow is being donated by Craig Zeferoni and Faith.

This week's special events include Monday's visit with Gail Bulletset's West African dance group featuring live drumming and the performance of traditional harvest dance.  This will be part of Liz's OICF funded garden project and will mark the beginning of our garden's winter rest.  Monday after school is a Board meeting.  All are welcome.  On Tuesday, at 8:45 we will be heading over to Orcas Elementary School library for Picture Day.  If you'd prefer you can meet us there at 9:00.  If your child will not be participating in Picture Day you can meet us back at school at 10:00 (assuming all goes well.)

Conference day is scheduled for Friday, September 30.  However, due to Mairi's absence we are postponing conferences to the following Monday, October 3.  Look for a conference sign-up sheet at school this week.

Field trip reminder:  we will be going to the Cammian Medieval Village on Sunday, October 9.  There is no school on Monday, October 10.  I will be traveling on the 7:00 AM ferry to Anacortes on Sunday morning and returning to Orcas Sunday night.  I am happy to take any child and arrange for others' transportation.  I am guessing that many parents and possibly siblings will be joining us and that you may prefer to make your own travel arrangements.  There will be a sign-up at school this week on which you can indicate your plans.  There is also an optional ploughman's lunch for $5/person which we need to reserve in advance.  Check your calendar and let me know.

A couple of other requests:  I am looking for small "lap looms" or tapestry looms on which the kids can work at school.  I have a few but could use some more.  I am also excited to start some needlepointing but could use some help procuring materials and assisting with start-up.  Anyone interested?  Other subjects we'll be pursuing that could use the assistance of a semi-skilled helper are calligraphy, juggling, archery and art history.  If you have any such skills or knowledge and can help, or if you know someone who can, let me know.  Thanks!

Have a great week!

Paul

September 6, 2005

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to school!  New beginnings are always a little scary but also exhilarating!  I am very excited to be returning to many familiar faces as well as getting to know some new folks.

This week we welcome new students Desmond, Tara, Maggie, Grayson (a.k.a. Wolf) and Peter Miller to the primary grades.  We welcome back Peter Kamin as well.  The newest addition to the staff is also a familiar one, Liz Shiffler will join us as a half-time teacher.  She will also take on the design and implementation of a new PE program focusing on cooperative games and activities.

This quarter's thematic focus will be the Middle Ages.  We will, as usual, use this theme as a way to integrate many of our other disciplines while we immerse ourselves in an in-depth content area study.  The unit, of course, will continue to be developed and will evolve with the students and staff as co-learners, and we will be responsive to one another's needs, wants, and interests.  A few highlights however include: we will participate in a classroom simulation in which, over a period of weeks, the students will assume fictitious identities and work in cooperative "manors" as they engage in a wide variety of learning experiences.  We will learn about feudalism, manorialism, knighthood, monasteries, crusades, guilds, and much more while the students complete hands on activities, respond to chance events, and gain content knowledge.

We will be exposed to many skills, arts and crafts during our studies.  These will include: weaving, spinning, and needlepoint, woodworking and traditional fence-making, calligraphy, strategy games, archery, stained glass, juggling, and even falconry.  (We will visit with a trained Harris Hawk and her owner/trainer!)  We will build a trebouchet, cook traditional medieval fare, listen to music and dance.  We will read a wide variety of literature set in the middle ages, and we will research historical characters from the era.  This will truly be a multidisciplinary and multisensory experience.

There are many reasons for choosing this theme as a focus, but two are perhaps most salient.  First, the Middle Ages is an area of high interest for many of the students.  Many are reading dragon and knight stories and are enchanted by the pageantry of this exciting and colorful historic period.  Having the kids invested and interested is always a good place to start!  Secondly is the recurring sub-theme in our studies: hierarchy and social inequality.  Medieval European society, from the Catholic Church to the feudal system had as an underlying tenet the belief that all people are not created equal.  This fundamental difference from our modern egalitarian sensibilities, and the idealistic sense of "fairness" so important to elementary age kids will force us to wrestle with our own morals and beliefs.  We will find ourselves discovering and in some cases reenacting some very unfamiliar hierarchical relationships.  This will provide a rich opportunity for discussion and growth.

This week we will be getting to know one another and reuniting as a community.  We will be doing some community building activities, expressing ourselves and sharing our self-expressions with the group.  We will establish some routines and lay the groundwork of creating a truly safe and supportive environment for everyone.  There will be a good amount of exploration time, both inside and out.  We'll take a hike or two, and just celebrate being together again.

I am looking for some good medieval music (anyone have a CD of Gregorian Chants?), more medieval books, especially easy chapter books, and any other classroom adornments: posters, silks, etc. related to the theme.  Let me know if you can help or just bring items in to share.

Field trip:  Looks like the first off-island field trip of the year will be Sunday, October 9.  We will be going to the Cam Lann Medieval Village east of Seattle.  There will be no school on October 10 in order to allow families the opportunity to stay over, and just to have some recuperation time after the long day trip.  NOTE: this is a change to the calendar.  Much more info on this trip will be forthcoming.

Have a great week!

Paul