Poetry Month

April is National Poetry Month, and several classes are enjoying the fun and challenge of incorporating poetry into their lessons.  Today I came across a wonderful project in which 7th graders used Word Art on their computers to "illuminate" a favorite poem -- a perfect blending of techmology and English.  Here is an illustration by Alexis F. of a poem called "Fireflies" by Paul Fleischman.  More illustrations can be found posted outside the computer lab.

Getting the Words Right

 

 Do you remember your first dictionary?  Here at SFA, we are very fortunate to have a relationship with the Rotary Club of Baltimore.  Each year they bring brand-new dictionaries to our third graders.  The children put their names on the dictionaries and then begin exploring.  Third grade is an ideal time to emphasize dictionary work, because the children's reading skills are solid enough that they can make use of the dictionary as a tool, but their vocabulary awareness is still developing, so a visit to the dictionary can be a true voyage of discovery.  We are especially grateful to Mary Ann Rishebarger, past president of the local Rotary Club and a former SFA parent, who makes a visit each year to our third grade for this fun experience.

Rugs In Action

Thanks to a grant from the Meyerhoff Foundation, each of our PreK classrooms received a new rug in early December.  Each rug has a different design, with plenty of learning built in.  My particular favorite is the one in the 2's room, which has a beautiful image of the earth and lots of bright colors.  In this photo, Ms. Lavonne uses a "learning carpet" designed especially for math to help our four-year-old students see patterns and relationships in a 100-square grid. 

Preparing the way ...

Our school was decked in purple today -- ostensibly as a tribute to our beloved Ravens, but also, not so coincidentally, as a tribute to the season of Advent.  Donations for the dress-down day will be given to the church to provide Christmas baskets to those in need.  In this photo, you can see the "night sky" behind the altar, which will be lit with stars representing each gift.  Our first and second graders celebrated their class mass today, with a special visit from "John the Baptist" (one of their classmates) who helped Fr. Burke bring the gospel reading to life.  This is a festive and joyful season as we light our Advent wreaths and watch the light growing and growing as Christmas approaches.

Nevermore?

Halloween fun often centers around the youngest students, who love to dress up as princesses and superheroes.  A spirit of playfulness need not end in middle school, however, as our 8th grade can attest.  Late in the day last Friday, the middle schoolers trooped off to a secluded, shady spot in the Herring Run woods.  Creaking branches and a light wind set a spooky mood as 8th grade performers recited passages from Edgar Allen Poe's famous poem "The Raven."  Staged on a large stone that jutted out of the hillside, the drama was a one-of-a-kind treat that these students will remember for years.  Many thanks to teacher Andy Bopp for making possible this imaginative Halloween drama.

SSR

A  hush settles on the second grade classroom during Sustained Silent Reading (SSR) time each day after lunch.  Today I joined the class and read my own book alongside the children who were reading their book choices.  It is a wonderful, peaceful thing to do on a rainy day.  "What we teach children to love and desire will always outweigh what we make them learn," according to author Jim Trelease.  The enjoyment and calm focus made it clear that so many of these young readers continue to love and desire to spend time immersed in stories.  In second grade, the range of choices is wide, from picture books to easy readers to more complex chapter books.  Best of all, the teacher models SSR herself.

Alphabetacaterpillars

There is so much learning that can extend out of our Monarch Garden studies.  I was impressed yesterday by this kindergarten project, which involved writing the letters of the alphabet, placing them in order, and gluing them together to fashion a "caterpillar."  The sequencing and fine motor (handwork) skills involved in writing the letters and pasting the links are perfect for kindergarteners to practice.  Especially delightful (though not shown in this picture) was one example where the student had decided to depict her caterpillar in a j-shape, which it assumes before it builds its chrysalis.  Stop by the first floor hallway to see more when you have a moment.