tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84421445218276994572024-02-20T00:41:19.123-08:00A Day in K-1Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-23725103495989806262016-05-22T05:42:00.000-07:002016-05-22T05:42:21.810-07:00Reflections on play <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Looking around the classroom during these last few weeks fills me with a complete sense of pride, wonder, and amazement for these incredible little beings. They've sailed through the year and will soon embark on new adventures. It wasn't always smooth sailing, of course. There were rocky times, there were tears and frustrations, but most of all, there was learning, growth, and happiness.<br />
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It's been a year of learning to trust in themselves and each other and how to be a member of a community. They've been allowed time to move, jump, dance, sing, and play. We've learned important skills and concepts this year - in reading and writing, math, science, Spanish, and social studies - but inherent in all of this learning, has been holding sacred the time to play and explore our environment. Giving the children the gift of play has been an invaluable learning experience. They've learned vital social and emotional skills that could not be learned anywhere else – how to get along with others, how to be empathic, nurturing, kind, strong, generous, how to deal with difficult people, how to be a part of something bigger than themselves, how to get their own needs met without upsetting the needs of others. Learning how to play is as important as anything that can come from play. We want them to know that life can be fun, that they have the ability to solve problems and communicate their needs. <br />
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Through play, children learn how to get along with people. Every opportunity to play with other children is a crash course in what works and what doesn’t. There is compromise and negotiation. They will learn the edge of their own boundaries, what feels right and what doesn’t, and how to respect the boundaries of others. Sometimes there is a need for assertiveness. Sometimes there is need to walk away. Even as adults it can be hard to know which way to go.<br />
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I feel grateful and honored to have spent the past year with this incredible group of children. Just as I have taught them, they too, have taught me - how to laugh easily, how to be silly, how to see the wonder and joy in simple things. Our children have such a limited time to explore, experiment, grow and be enriched in the way that only free play can do. It isn’t long before responsibilities and schedules set in. But if, as the adults in their lives, we can foster a love of play, not just because "that’s what kids do", but because of its inherent importance, we will be giving them something that will serve them well in relationships, in work and in life. <br />
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-30169402756379350262016-03-08T17:40:00.000-08:002016-03-08T17:40:43.652-08:00Enjoy the nowIt seems that as adults we're constantly preparing children for what's to come. Early on we prepare our three and four year-olds for kindergarten by teaching the alphabet and how to write their name. We worry that we should always be looking ahead, making sure our child is ready for that next step - whether it be kindergarten, second grade, or middle school.<br />
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The problem with looking forward, always in preparation mode, is the loss of the here and now. Children will never get those Pre-K years back or their time in first, second, third, or fourth grade. They'll only be five once.<br />
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What our children really need from us, the adults in their lives, is trust. They need us to trust that they are exactly where they should be at any given moment. That they possess great intelligence and the innate curiosity to learn about the world. That they'll reach those milestones. They will learn to read, tie their shoes, ride a bike, write their name. Trust, whenever and wherever it’s possible, reasonable and age-appropriate, is one of the most profound gifts we can give our children. Through trust we offer children opportunities to fully own their achievements and internalize the validating message: “<a href="http://www.janetlansbury.com/2010/02/the-powerful-gift-of-i-did-it/">I did it!</a>”<br />
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Trust is also a gift for adults, because it means we don’t waste our energy trying to urge development forward or “fix” issues that are usually best resolved by providing children with a nurturing environment and leaving the rest up to them. Attempting to force development before a child is ready sets us both up for unnecessary frustration and failure. We all know the expression, “you can lead a horse to water, but…”<br />
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So let's all appreciate this small window of time in our child's life. It is magical, filled with wonder, and ever so fleeting. <br />
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<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-44687428575673405702016-01-24T10:49:00.000-08:002016-01-24T10:49:06.267-08:00Fostering empathyEmpathy is one of the most important character traits to foster in our children. Children with a sense of empathy can see a situation through eyes other than their own, helping them to gain another perspective. These children are aware of their own feelings and are also able to relate to common feelings. They can imagine how others may feel in a given situation and respond in a way they imagine may be comforting to that person.<br />
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Research shows that people who are empathic tend to have better social interactions, academic performance and accomplishments later on in life than others. A strong sense of empathy can help children in so many ways - making and keeping friends, making smart decisions that are right for them without hurting others or seeking approval from peers - all crucial things when navigating the social waters of childhood, and later on during the teen years. <br />
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How do we foster this all important character trait? Is teaching our children to say sorry necessarily enough?? Often times the first thing that comes to mind when developing empathy is the ubiquitous "I'm sorry." For children, "sorry" can be a hazy concept to understand. Saying sorry doesn’t change whatever has happened and it doesn’t necessarily ease the pain.<br />
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In the classroom, instead of expecting a simple "I'm sorry," we utilize something more tangible and meaningful - it's called "<b>Apology of Action.</b>" This is a way for the offending child to actually do something for the child who is sad, hurt, or upset. Whether it is drawing a picture, helping to fix a broken block tower, sitting next to him or her at lunch, or giving the friend a hug, children are given the opportunity to fix their mistake in a concrete way. </div>
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Actively trying to put things right can help children to feel better in a couple of ways. The first is the effect of undoing some of the harm by making things right. The second effect is by showing the child that the person who hurt him or her is sincere and genuinely wants to make things better. When it comes to apologies, children might know it’s the right thing to do, but they might also be completely lost about why. When they see someone hurt it can be difficult to understand how a little word can strip the pain and make things right. Children live in the here and now - they benefit from seeing how their immediate actions can actually help ease the pain of others. Seeing the smile on a friend's face after giving a hug or delivering a thoughtful picture allows children to feel the strength in being kind, empathic and emotionally responsible.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helping a friend fix her backpack</td></tr>
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Another practice we adopt in the classroom is the role of "<b>The Comforter,</b>" one of the classroom jobs. The job of the comforter is to literally help comfort children when they're feeling sad or may have gotten hurt. This is taken very seriously. If a friend is crying in the classroom, the other children rush to find the comforter. The comforter then promptly attends to the child in need, doing whatever is necessary to make the friend feel better. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hugs are always welcome!</td></tr>
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It's also helpful to <b>adopt a "feelings vocabulary."</b> Identifying and labeling emotions helps children organize their emotional world. Early on, children master the basics such as happy and sad, but it is helpful to expand their understanding to feelings of disappointment, frustration, excitement, nervousness, fear and so on. Once the child understands his own feelings, he can understand other people's feelings and cross-reference them when his actions affect someone else. For instance, if the child felt sad when a toy was taken away, later they have the language to recognize that another child may feel the same way if their toy is taken away. </div>
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Being a kid is hard work – there’s so much do and on top of that they have to get savvy with some hazy concepts. Fortunately, childhood comes with plenty of opportunities for them to explore, experiment with, and discover the best ways to navigate the world. Developing empathy can be a lifelong process. We can't expect 5-year-olds to master this skill, nor can we expect children to feel empathy when they are in the midst of overwhelming feelings of their own. What we can expect is an open and ongoing dialogue and to hone our own abilities to model empathy in our daily lives.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silliness with a good friend</td></tr>
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-76709730570146919362015-12-13T04:22:00.001-08:002015-12-13T04:22:40.031-08:00Growth Mindset...... <br />
The kids are all growing by leaps and bounds in the K-1s. They are stretching themselves daily, reaching above and beyond their limitations, and learning new things. Yes, there are frustrations at times, but we talk about frustration being a normal part of growth. Kids can easily get bogged down by feeling they "can't do it." My response is always the same - you can't do that <b>YET.</b> <br />
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This brings us to the all-important idea of the <a href="http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/11/16/growth-mindset-clearing-up-some-common-confusions/">growth mindset.</a> Children generally tend towards one of two types of mindsets – a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. Praise that focuses on intelligence promotes a fixed mindset, which is the belief that intelligence cannot be changed in any meaningful way. Children with a fixed mindset believe that they are born with certain character traits and a fixed amount of intelligence and creativity, and that nothing they do can alter that.<br />
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In contrast, praise that focuses on effort ("You’ve worked really hard on that!") promotes a growth mindset, which is the belief that intelligence can grow and be strengthened with effort. Children with a growth mindset believe that they are capable of achieving what they want if they put in the time and effort to get there.<br />
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A growth mindset will supercharge their capacity to learn and grow. We know that for certain. I'm seeing this over and over again in the classroom. We've been taking on some challenging work, and often kids get frustrated when things are not easy for them. Recently, after a challenging morning writing animal poetry (that left a few children feeling frustrated), we sat down together and I explained the growth mindset to them in a way they could understand.<br />
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<i>"Imagine that in your brain are billions of tiny light bulbs. There is a light bulb for everything you could ever do. There’s a dancing light bulb, a math light bulb, a crossing the monkey bars light bulb, a writing light bulb, a riding-a-bike light bulb, a cooking light bulb, a reading light bulb …. You get the idea. The thing is, they only turn on when you do what they are there for, so not all of your light bulbs will glow all the time. <br /><br />If you never ride a bike, for example, the riding-a-bike light bulb won’t glow at all. The first time you ride a bike, that light bulb will glow just a little bit. The more you ride your bike, the brighter the riding-a-bike light bulb will glow. It might take a lot of practice before your riding-a-bike light bulb is as bright as your teeth-brushing light bulb, but when it is as bright, you’ll be just as good at riding a bike as you are at brushing your teeth.<br /><br />Of course, your teeth-brushing light bulb is very bright because you brush your teeth every morning and every night! When it comes to riding bikes though, you might fall off a few times but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be great at riding bikes. It just means that you’re not good at riding them<b> yet.</b> You’re still charging up that light bulb."</i><br />
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This idea of a light bulb charging up and glowing the more it is used has resonated deeply with the children. A particular boy said to me this week, "My reading light bulb is really starting to glow. I'm getting better every day!" Another boy, out at recess this week, said, "Wow, my monkey bars light bulb is so strong! I can now cross the monkey bars!"<br />
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Every time something is hard for the kids, I use this expression. It helps them to actually visualize their brain getting stronger by the day, and they're encouraged to keep going. Intelligence is not fixed and can be flourished with time and effort. Nurturing this belief in children is one of the greatest things we, as the adults in their lives, can do to help lift them so they can reach their full potential. The effort will come from them, but it’s important that we do what we can to have them believe that the effort will be worth it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFwSi1bONIT_OiDwzSF4MCmKIamPnX8O_a2luuYZpDmiGc9n6w98wF1IzGX1vYFOHyEFAPTd8Nu-wjABxyNkB99rwoyhWHvGw8rU1MQGo35SEr4OPenRAdeqpQstngPMdSGrf-bxeFTo/s1600/IMG_0999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFwSi1bONIT_OiDwzSF4MCmKIamPnX8O_a2luuYZpDmiGc9n6w98wF1IzGX1vYFOHyEFAPTd8Nu-wjABxyNkB99rwoyhWHvGw8rU1MQGo35SEr4OPenRAdeqpQstngPMdSGrf-bxeFTo/s320/IMG_0999.JPG" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing a book with the class </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCDNOYzRzWDaxowBiRRn23WzqeX6eJxek3a2Qk154Rzr73cemKCG4kduh6S1wpfx0o-qYNqRWOQ0-c2DIs4EO9kJ4SMAS18d_07p9CrM_4rVeA5ewQg2P3-_AtTzFMurWj44HUCYfB0o/s1600/IMG_1003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCDNOYzRzWDaxowBiRRn23WzqeX6eJxek3a2Qk154Rzr73cemKCG4kduh6S1wpfx0o-qYNqRWOQ0-c2DIs4EO9kJ4SMAS18d_07p9CrM_4rVeA5ewQg2P3-_AtTzFMurWj44HUCYfB0o/s320/IMG_1003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working with clay to make a hawk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYJcaEf1SXTXcJd2zWYsGTMKZHCeu3Z0H8YKSVjrtWH5fEfGWR081fk9GMlyAmMSueKa3_X8fh2isFdsT0Rqz0G_NJPq5PLp9r_oY7xDDwZ_d49m-0qPaHifBbWBeQ5FxkPGSXa0V0YY/s1600/IMG_0991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTYJcaEf1SXTXcJd2zWYsGTMKZHCeu3Z0H8YKSVjrtWH5fEfGWR081fk9GMlyAmMSueKa3_X8fh2isFdsT0Rqz0G_NJPq5PLp9r_oY7xDDwZ_d49m-0qPaHifBbWBeQ5FxkPGSXa0V0YY/s320/IMG_0991.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing and reading the morning message at morning meeting </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JeMMEaxl9niNd0C9rHpS5MbZ5TbjPBm27HqvaJd3ymRGv-kmToaF1NLGgEabjVt56G646QvmygrwQOQgueiNSlKA8eY6h1NwG2hqJP7PwB_dqml-hdnwSbZS9YRdGKlEvz7mdKuF7pw/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JeMMEaxl9niNd0C9rHpS5MbZ5TbjPBm27HqvaJd3ymRGv-kmToaF1NLGgEabjVt56G646QvmygrwQOQgueiNSlKA8eY6h1NwG2hqJP7PwB_dqml-hdnwSbZS9YRdGKlEvz7mdKuF7pw/s320/IMG_0984.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creating a diorama </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2e5EmrfoUhhwAXfSO-9LGFihjDD6XTQ67KJrhseZLm8s0PHtJIbZ9bxTgJ7TyepQdzSxKKFMiyMzCDL0_KG07oGzz-RvT87iYOcsid68FcbINewvnIQ8Ebdmsi35E5LbENKLP3_Txzg/s1600/IMG_0981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2e5EmrfoUhhwAXfSO-9LGFihjDD6XTQ67KJrhseZLm8s0PHtJIbZ9bxTgJ7TyepQdzSxKKFMiyMzCDL0_KG07oGzz-RvT87iYOcsid68FcbINewvnIQ8Ebdmsi35E5LbENKLP3_Txzg/s320/IMG_0981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost done! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC3dZUrW-7wW4Wl2whzR9EchVvIkBz06JX6ZA9d_C5s7fH48RyOv_I8vRjw8TsGQgjV7bXp5G1EfYRfpKE3oasF4vEzZOJJX2FFt1bVQ0q7EbdGtc7NhxmC_4uHi3NVZ5MjxyqB2B4Hw/s1600/IMG_0980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC3dZUrW-7wW4Wl2whzR9EchVvIkBz06JX6ZA9d_C5s7fH48RyOv_I8vRjw8TsGQgjV7bXp5G1EfYRfpKE3oasF4vEzZOJJX2FFt1bVQ0q7EbdGtc7NhxmC_4uHi3NVZ5MjxyqB2B4Hw/s320/IMG_0980.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding detail to a diorama about the snake </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW5Fczkqrbexi8vtox7xmMdrOSiO6ejeARQ59lsTAzFoa4iH2RyW9yO-eNhFcA2D4QSAXaIGtvI84M328Onwpw5zhagvQOYzsSnRm4_CSvCKL0Nx2Y5vMe_fdDCkbfKfb9mbmh4BTWbQ/s1600/IMG_0972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW5Fczkqrbexi8vtox7xmMdrOSiO6ejeARQ59lsTAzFoa4iH2RyW9yO-eNhFcA2D4QSAXaIGtvI84M328Onwpw5zhagvQOYzsSnRm4_CSvCKL0Nx2Y5vMe_fdDCkbfKfb9mbmh4BTWbQ/s320/IMG_0972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading a Mo Willems book aloud to classmates </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4s0j0RFK8NUiGcSJXD9HztQ2CQ48fttdeXIaT2L3TSbFX2RKyl9imUUTxzqdeUS9BJPdEjputSdWElXCxS8YH1XHRyVmOSHA4iCv8e7DtyTw812i_Dpf9UflDSkz7sM3dcKAq3HlQLxc/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4s0j0RFK8NUiGcSJXD9HztQ2CQ48fttdeXIaT2L3TSbFX2RKyl9imUUTxzqdeUS9BJPdEjputSdWElXCxS8YH1XHRyVmOSHA4iCv8e7DtyTw812i_Dpf9UflDSkz7sM3dcKAq3HlQLxc/s320/IMG_0951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting to get the perfect size paper to cover the outside of the box</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp__euoMvTDrYLVe0Hfqte0h4i5sUeNJ0a-6k4TI8V_zxSJ6WUPqNqJP2t93wlWKq1ejE-sPYFxy5OqycnlpG3GH-K3fbepsK6xd83QGDndBCoypSkUWlyNmJBvJha5uqoI5PuDvBRz88/s1600/IMG_0934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp__euoMvTDrYLVe0Hfqte0h4i5sUeNJ0a-6k4TI8V_zxSJ6WUPqNqJP2t93wlWKq1ejE-sPYFxy5OqycnlpG3GH-K3fbepsK6xd83QGDndBCoypSkUWlyNmJBvJha5uqoI5PuDvBRz88/s320/IMG_0934.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A self-created book! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGx3y5Fd6Y46ypUgcsiRpKvWo-QDTso7RFbwM7J7A5hiHPfpzwOoIMVZJRny2INhQDZWdRr2iMCphON7o6ra4fYasWxzKcHmqxLgYT9A3qrMAIiuAh0GWPDr4DPSIgCM3Ok5hzpzisXg/s1600/IMG_0708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOGx3y5Fd6Y46ypUgcsiRpKvWo-QDTso7RFbwM7J7A5hiHPfpzwOoIMVZJRny2INhQDZWdRr2iMCphON7o6ra4fYasWxzKcHmqxLgYT9A3qrMAIiuAh0GWPDr4DPSIgCM3Ok5hzpzisXg/s320/IMG_0708.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proud author of a frog research guide! </td></tr>
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-40401493403287318662015-11-30T17:24:00.000-08:002015-11-30T17:24:51.878-08:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One of the favorite routines that we've established in the K-1's is our daily "gratitude circle." This happens at the end of each day as kids come in from recess and get ready to say good-bye to one another. We sit in a circle and take turns sharing what we are thankful for. Here are some of the common responses:<br /><br />"I'm thankful for....... " <br /><ul>
<li>My teachers and friends </li>
<li>Parker school </li>
<li>Recess </li>
<li>My family </li>
<li>My pets </li>
<li>Holidays </li>
<li>My birthday </li>
<li>Books </li>
<li>Being at school </li>
<li>Playing sports</li>
</ul>
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Fundamentally, gratitude is about being aware of who or what makes positive aspects of our lives possible, and acknowledging that. Looking at this list and hearing all of the meaningful things the children are thankful for each day, makes me realize that they are beginning to understand this concept. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Gratitude also grants perspective - in children and adults. When children recognize that the things they own and the opportunities they have come from someone other than themselves, it helps them develop a healthy understanding of how interdependent we all are - and they may be more inclined to treat others with genuine respect.<br /><br />Teaching our kids to say "thank you" is important, but truly instilling a sense of gratitude in them is another matter entirely. Gratitude goes beyond good manners - it's a mindset and a lifestyle - one that can help us all live happier, more satisfied lives.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our class gratitude tree </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I'm thankful for winter, frogs, and friends. </span></td></tr>
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-37749915186961805402015-11-12T08:38:00.000-08:002015-11-12T08:38:50.582-08:00Learning from our peers Lately, we've been doing a lot of learning from one another in the K-1's. A few weeks ago, we welcomed George (Emmett's older brother in the 2-3's) into the classroom to teach us about the solar system. He sat in front of the students and talked about his passion - space. The K-1's sat rapt with attention. Here was a peer, not much older than them, teaching about something that was meaningful to him. A few days later, he followed up with another "lesson" and take-home activity for the kids. This turned out to be a memorable learning experience both for George and the K-1 students.<br />
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Last week, the first graders presented the geometry books they made during math to the kindergartners. One by one, they each got up in front of the class and taught their classmates something they had learned. Their faces beamed with pride as they read their books and answered questions. Then came the kindergartners turn - they had the chance to share their counting books with the first graders. The first grade children showed genuine interest as they looked at each book. This time it was the kindergartners beaming with pride. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading geometry books to the class</td></tr>
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We also recently gathered together as a community to share ideas about kindness, friendship, and solving problems. The K-1's and the PreK 4 children got together for a "Peace Summit" to share ideas and learn from one another. It was a productive community building activity. The K-1's had the chance to be experts on a topic very close to their hearts.<br />
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As a teacher, I am always looking for ways to create opportunities for my students to showcase their abilities as well as demonstrate their knowledge. Designing projects and activities that develop higher-level thinking around a chosen topic is just one way to achieve this. Having the students create these projects themselves and teach their peers is a much more fulfilling way to reach this goal. <br />
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Beyond the mastery of the material, these types of activities can instill confidence and a level of engagement that comes with pursuing a genuine interest. While it’s unlikely that you have ever heard a person say, “that worksheet changed my life,” most people have an assignment from their childhood that they remember with pride because it was meaningful to them. More often than not, that memorable assignment was one that allowed them to express themselves and follow their passions - maybe space, math, or even kindness.Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-3866538787500021492015-10-21T17:50:00.000-07:002015-10-25T05:54:00.659-07:00We have noticed many new friendships blooming in the crisp, autumn breeze. Many of our morning meetings have been devoted to discussing how to handle the new and often challenging dynamics of friendship. Helping children move between friends on a weekly and daily basis is a lesson in flexibility for all of us. Young children can have a very difficult time recognizing social cues sent by their peers.<br />
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The most common complaints we hear are that “Mary” either won’t play with me or isn’t my friend anymore. There are a couple of directions we could take with these statements. The first is to call over the other student and directly handle the issue, attempting to solve the dilemma for all involved. The second, and more commonly used within the Responsive Classroom approach, is to meet with the affected parties and oversee a discussion in which they solve their own problems.<br />
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We encourage the children to tell each other what they are thinking and feeling. Young children (and even adults) often forget to take the other person’s perspective into consideration when weighing an issue. The emotionally injured child frequently finds that the offending party simply “went off to play somewhere else,” not even realizing that someone was left behind. At other times, we discover that the child didn’t truly ask “Sally” if she wanted to play. Instead, the child stood near “Sally” and was disappointed when “Sally” wandered off. Often children perceive there is a huge social injustice going on when in fact the offending party didn't even realize they were in the midst of game!<br />
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Perspective taking is not something we expect our four, five and six year-old students to master. In fact, it is a skill humans continue to work on throughout life. We can help our students to use language to express their own perspective. Vocalization both cements their personal understanding of a situation and allows others to consider a differing point of view. Being able to talk about a problem with a friend is a skill that will be necessary over a lifetime. It's our goal to give children the tools needed to navigate these tricky social waters.<br />
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<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-41563739332176840082015-10-14T02:29:00.000-07:002015-10-14T17:27:06.638-07:00Dyken Pond<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We had a spectacular day at Dyken Pond last week. After what seemed like a rather long bus ride over some very windy country roads, we arrived to a beautiful Fall day at the pond. We were greeted by two excellent educators, Ian and Casey, who gave us a guided tour of the property, pointing out signs of animal life along the way. We stopped by the lake to learn about differences between lakes and ponds, and about the animals who live there.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A stunning view of the lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the rocks </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what I see! </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We paused along the way to notice a dusky salamander and the telltale signs of beaver activity. Ian and Casey talked about the animals that live near the lake and gave us the opportunity to see and touch different animal furs (fox, beaver, and bobcat). The children also got to see the large shell of a snapping turtle and the skull of a beaver - both items that generated lots of ooohs and aaahhhs from the group. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We ended the hike by hearing various bird calls and looking out for these specific birds on our way back. After a picnic lunch with friends, we gathered together for habitat relay races and a rousing game of "Bat and Moth" where kids took on the role of either a bat or a moth - exploring the idea of echolocation. We ended the trip with a careful observation of the pond and last look around at the gorgeous fall foliage. The children returned to school tired and happy, asking when our next field trip will be. ;) </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A salamander</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the pond</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peak Fall foliage! </td></tr>
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-27827409418453833302015-10-04T17:28:00.001-07:002015-10-04T17:37:10.540-07:00Taking Risks<br />
The first few weeks of school are filled with risks. All of us, from the K-1 student to the most experienced teacher, feel this. Our children have to navigate a new set of routines, manage new personality dynamics, make friends, keep friends, decipher the emotional tone of their new class, and figure out where they fit within this new community. Taking acceptable risks when steering through all of this can be daunting. Grown-ups can put it into words, “What if I fail?” Children usually aren’t able to put it so succinctly.<br />
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In the classroom and beyond, a child chooses whether or not these risks are worth it:<br />
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<li>Waiting for a teacher to call on them </li>
<li>Calling out the answers </li>
<li>Speaking up for their own rights (i.e. I don’t like this game. I want to play something different.) </li>
<li>Asking to go to the bathroom </li>
<li>Saying goodbye to a parent </li>
<li>Raising a hand during meetings </li>
<li>Attempting to write their name or other words </li>
<li>Drawing a picture </li>
<li>Joining a group or single friend in play </li>
<li>Reading aloud to a classmate </li>
<li>Crossing the monkey bars or rings on the playground</li>
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We want our children to be comfortable taking the risks that promote growth. It is for this reason that we create an environment that welcomes mistakes, experiments, discussion, and observation. All of the children in our room are capable of great things. We want to make sure they are willing to build the attempts to get them there.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy19jpLRe8sPKz-Cy00tmz0kxjuMrj9QrL9x1QpdNSKyzAVeNeS-piOpiiIsPpUu0LO7VrMhkMuRNc91Len90RymsGUwVC7cgWaVQEM1OD_zEyIe_pgZOI3d5P-XPd7nhiMRekBeBWNEA/s1600/IMG_0260.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy19jpLRe8sPKz-Cy00tmz0kxjuMrj9QrL9x1QpdNSKyzAVeNeS-piOpiiIsPpUu0LO7VrMhkMuRNc91Len90RymsGUwVC7cgWaVQEM1OD_zEyIe_pgZOI3d5P-XPd7nhiMRekBeBWNEA/s320/IMG_0260.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6bpTIe_AP4fymCMfoNAwYE9bEo16yf0h-J_ihaRGysdO1MmxTY00bisdblyKqDO8Oo_Pd5nPfv6yxdUKoogFgGF30WQJVOjCaVmmnKpJia7lFLycM7xqWcLQ3th0u3opqx3WSFerEpk/s1600/IMG_0257.JPG" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6bpTIe_AP4fymCMfoNAwYE9bEo16yf0h-J_ihaRGysdO1MmxTY00bisdblyKqDO8Oo_Pd5nPfv6yxdUKoogFgGF30WQJVOjCaVmmnKpJia7lFLycM7xqWcLQ3th0u3opqx3WSFerEpk/s320/IMG_0257.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qe-XdPg7Z7pLvbEYVsrfmSeml_atCHOBfdu9_krHPonpuiD1JR54MDxoo6Jk7go4vPY9jIlOy9ClIjKoBGLBIZkBkFrjbJC0JjtP9dLgTi0TUVKMzGwPv48YWv026prnC1JAg4pJQQA/s1600/IMG_0259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Qe-XdPg7Z7pLvbEYVsrfmSeml_atCHOBfdu9_krHPonpuiD1JR54MDxoo6Jk7go4vPY9jIlOy9ClIjKoBGLBIZkBkFrjbJC0JjtP9dLgTi0TUVKMzGwPv48YWv026prnC1JAg4pJQQA/s320/IMG_0259.JPG" width="240" /> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHsdXkqqsxB0rdjeyPOFgotsqvbFp86_GFq76LpMxhLWDmVb0VqWZ42y7TLR-XmEpiDMtJbdC2mppISgKSFTr8TGer5DsgC_ksUZpLxOK21tvlw2k1J4nbRu7ZkNNnWOeuOSDAJylfH0/s320/IMG_0293.JPG" /></a></div>
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-49628992447558800392015-09-20T17:05:00.000-07:002015-09-20T17:11:12.817-07:00And....... we're off! <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmnNDel4Nwd_DnOEg9kFb0GAHYi-mr8S0cXU2t0XQNeHNhQ9QmSiP6MkJnZxD6LHTtbzj0eX0XIDl0gIdL0CgZwjtuWxWehuZ0kYsKHSkAYkZuYmYuCX9r4CxLA-Yb_H9Vy0Iqkat4F8/s1600/IMG_0113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgmnNDel4Nwd_DnOEg9kFb0GAHYi-mr8S0cXU2t0XQNeHNhQ9QmSiP6MkJnZxD6LHTtbzj0eX0XIDl0gIdL0CgZwjtuWxWehuZ0kYsKHSkAYkZuYmYuCX9r4CxLA-Yb_H9Vy0Iqkat4F8/s320/IMG_0113.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circling up with friends in the 2-3's before muddy boots. </td></tr>
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Welcome to the new school year! It's been almost two weeks of school for the K-1 children, and we're off to a great start. This is certainly a dynamic, unique, smart, funny, creative, and kind bunch of children.<br />
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At the beginning of the year, our focus is on building community. This is essential during these early days. Our time is spent learning to listen respectfully to one another, treat one another kindly, and most importantly, learn skills that will develop and nurture empathy for one another. Having an understanding of how a friend may feel if we say or do something unkind must be the foundation of our learning at this point. We talk a lot about feelings - ours and our friends'. Spending time on these crucial social and emotional skills will pave the way for what's to come. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Community building with the 2-3's before our muddy boots walk. </td></tr>
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Below is a blog post I shared with families at the beginning of our last school year. I've included it because it is a relevant message during these first weeks of school as children are adjusting. I hope it alleviates any worry or anxiety you may have about your child's transition. These first few weeks will be full of ups and downs - some mornings will run like clockwork, and others will be bumpy. That's all normal as your children internalize the new routines and become adjusted to life as a new Kindergartner or First Grader.<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Even though we’ve been back at school for three full weeks, it is not uncommon for some of our little ones to still be adjusting to the demands of a long school day. This adjustment may manifest in the form of anxiety, inflexibility, clinginess, or just pure exhaustion as they try to internalize all that goes along with school. While they may behave perfectly fine and seem chipper at school, it is very common for them to melt down at home, falling apart at the seemingly smallest of disappointments or obstacles. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>After all, this is a big change for many of these children. For some, it is their first full day or full week at school. It is our job as adults to acknowledge the strong feelings that come along with a change. Once we have committed to the change, all that is left to do is acknowledge whatever reactions and feelings our child has. Acknowledging that it is hard to be at school for a long day, but that our child is ready for this challenge will go a long way in easing the anxiety. Encourage him or her to express any feelings of sadness, anger, or worry. Hold strong, but don’t try to talk your child out of his/her feelings. If you welcome them, they will pass more quickly. </i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When children are overtaxed emotionally, they sometimes misbehave; their intense emotions and the demands of the situation trump their internal resources. The expression of a need or a big feeling therefore results in aggressive, disrespectful, or uncooperative behavior - which is simply proof that children haven’t built certain self-regulation skills yet. Misbehavior is often a cry for help calming down, and a bid for connection.” Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., co-author of the book </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No Drama Discipline: The Whole Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Another way uncertainty can manifest is clinginess. Clingy periods tend to coincide with children taking developmental steps toward independence (like starting school). Sometimes they occur when children face new situations or transitions. I advise never resisting clinginess. Yes, there are times we need (or want) to separate, and that’s a healthy and positive thing to do. When we trust that our child needs to be close and give him or her the assurance that we don’t resist this need, separation anxiety eases. So whenever possible — give in wholeheartedly. Hold your child close and try to imagine the day he or she no longer wants to spend time on your lap (or doesn’t fit very well). </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Encourage autonomy - a taste of independence doesn’t eliminate separation anxiety and clinginess, but it definitely seems to lessen the frequency, intensity and duration of these episodes. This makes sense, because children who have tasted autonomy have the knowledge that they are capable and will be fine throughout the school day. With more and more opportunity for independence, their confidence will grow and they will begin to venture out of their comfort zone, trying new things, making new friends, and taking risks. </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>At school these little ones are doing great - they are happy, fully engaged, eager, curious, fun, loving, and cheerful. They are spending their days learning, playing, listening, and talking. Even though this is extremely worthwhile, it is still tiring and a big effort to keep it together all day. It is not surprising that many of these kiddos come home and collapse into a heap of obstinate, stubborn, and headstrong behaviors. Luckily, this will not last forever. In a few short weeks stamina will increase, expectations and routines will be mastered, and these kids will seem like they’ve been doing this forever. Until then, we need to give them our understanding, unconditional love and support, and instill in them the confidence that they have what it takes to master a new year at school. The first step to handling any change is a parent’s conviction. Certain about the change ourselves, we can project that certainty for our child and give him or her the united front of conviction he/she needs to handle this new experience. </i></span></span></div>
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And there you have it......this all holds true as we enter our third week of school. I'm also attaching an article that I found to be relevant (and comforting) during this time of transition. It is about staying present with our children - allowing ourselves to acknowledge their challenging behaviors and trusting that they too shall pass. <br />
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<a href="http://abundantlifechildren.com/2015/09/09/staying-present-with-our-children/">http://abundantlifechildren.com/2015/09/09/staying-present-with-our-children/</a></div>
Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-26291953165558607192015-05-17T04:37:00.000-07:002015-05-17T04:37:09.420-07:00Book ClubsThis past week the K-1's started their "book clubs." We gathered together to talk as a group about what makes a good book club and what members of a book club do. We all determined that book clubs are about coming together with a friend to celebrate and talk about reading. Sharing ideas, thoughts, and opinions are the primary purpose of our little clubs in K-1, all while practicing our reading strategies and comprehension skills. The goal was not going to be to read the most challenging book in our classroom library, but to choose that "just right book," one that your friend could read as well, one that you could retell smoothly and logically, and one you could have a worthwhile discussion about afterwards. <br />
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We brainstormed a list of potential book ideas - all titles that would appeal to a variety of readers. For the First Graders that list included anything in the <i>Frog and Toad </i>series, <i>Mr. Putter and Tabby</i>, and of course, the beloved <i>Magic Treehouse</i> series. Kindergartners are also participating - reading shorter books appropriate for their age and interests - <i>Elephant and Piggy</i>, as well as duplicates of classroom favorites. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duplicates of favorite books</td></tr>
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Children have time to read during reading workshop time, and after completing a few chapters, we gather together for a discussion. Favorite parts, characters, plot, and storyline are all items for discussion. As I listened to two Kindergartners chat about a book they had just finished, I overheard, "Were there any tricky parts for you?" Then the friend answered, "Yes, I had a tough time with the word <i>compost,</i> but I sounded it out." Coming together for discussions like this is an invaluable experience - to share ideas, struggles, and opinions is something these children will need to do throughout their school career and their lives. To start this at such a young age is preparing them for the road ahead. <br />
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These book clubs are more than simply reading the book. They're about talking, thinking, and listening to a friend. The challenging part for many children is actually listening to one another. Reading comprehension is all about listening at length to another person's words and ideas and stories, even if this means holding back our own ideas and words for a time. Comprehension often involves having one's own mind changed because of what another person says. It's about coming to think differently because of what we've heard. Teaching comprehension has everything to do with teaching listening. <br />
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Sharing favorite books with a friend also teaches children that we are all unique as readers. While one club may love the Magic Treehouse <i>Carnival at Candelight,</i> another group may prefer <i>Mr Putter and Tabby Feed the Fish</i>, or <i>Elephant and Piggy Go For a Ride</i>. These groups are about sharing thoughts and ideas, and coming together to think, puzzle over, and open up a story. Our children will grow up expecting that talking about books will be fun, that friends will hang on their words when they respond to texts, and that those words will spark grand conversations. We are teaching children that reading is a magnificent way to be together with friends and with authors who become distant friends. They're on their way to a life in which it is possible to sit down with others to talk about ideas, to change minds, to hold fast to opinions, to listen, and to learn. <br />
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-64380254743307072082015-04-26T17:51:00.000-07:002015-04-26T17:51:35.905-07:00Shaking things up.....I'm a firm believer in the value of routine and predictability for young children. Children thrive on knowing what is expected of them and having a sense of structure in their day. However, I also feel strongly that there is a time and place for shaking things up, and allowing children to develop skills that enable them to "go with the flow" when necessary. These past two weeks have done just that.<br />
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As soon as we returned from Spring break, we immediately got started with our Shakespeare rehearsals. For a few of the children this was new territory, and definitely caused a bit of anxiety. At this age, anxiety in the unknown is extremely common - and normal. Their imaginations get carried away thinking of all of the things that may go wrong, or worse, the new and challenging things that will be expected of them. Throughout the week we came together as a group to share our worries, fears, as well as enthusiasm for the show. Hearing classmates voice their concerns, or talk about previous experiences with Shakespeare, allowed children to feel they were not alone, and gave them the reassurance they needed to participate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rehearsing the balloon act</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching intently while the other group rehearses</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having fun! </td></tr>
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I loved watching the kids stretch themselves during our rehearsals, and ultimately, at the amazing performance last week. Acting asks a lot of the kids - they need to listen, take turns, cooperate, memorize lines, and most definitely leave their comfort zone. After a few days of rehearsals and getting the hang of things, I could tell even the most tentative children were showing genuine excitement. It was hard not to get caught up in the funny stories that Sean-O had created. By the end of last week, the kids were bursting with excitement about going on stage. Their enthusiasm about the experience was so evident watching them on stage. They all literally beamed with energy, emotion, and joyfulness. Not only did they all have a great time, they also proved to themselves that this was something within their reach. Getting up on stage, despite the worry or anxiety they felt, was actually fun! It also provided the children with a huge sense of accomplishment. They were so proud of themselves, and so was I. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy actors </td></tr>
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<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-50245085716266318742015-03-30T12:27:00.000-07:002015-03-30T17:12:43.463-07:00Fairy TalesOur latest unit on fairy tales provided the children many experiences listening to and discussing these classic stories. We've read everything from <i>Jack and the Beanstalk</i>, <i>Snow White</i>, <i>The Snow Queen</i>, <i>The Three Little Pigs, Rapunzel, Little Red Riding Hood, Thumbelina </i>to <i>Cinderella</i>. These stories are at once captivating, enchanting, fascinating, and at times, slightly scary. There is magic, drama, adventure, strife, and usually a happy ending. The kids let out a sigh of relief when they hear those words, "happily ever after."<br />
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Beyond reading these captivating tales, we've also analyzed, discussed, compared and contrasted, and thought deeply about the stories. Students are given a chance to strengthen those all important reading comprehension skills as they make sense of complicated plot twists in <i>The Snow Queen,</i> or compare versions of <i>Jack and the Beanstalk </i>and <i>Cinderella</i>. Questions are pondered - how is the Egyptian Cinderella similar or different from the original version of Cinderella? The children get to stretch their thinking muscles and dig deep to compare and contrast.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshxT77IkZqTEpi52PO5C1fFt_a0_eiDwybRCUotMZdnwFnbm9KZMyq854nAyqGRRzhtTuWh-QbY_lhz9k3m_SmUpVKciVxav_Bxsyw-B2jFolefRCZx-uychLl2nsAvvB8FyyO1xooTI/s1600/IMG_8943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhshxT77IkZqTEpi52PO5C1fFt_a0_eiDwybRCUotMZdnwFnbm9KZMyq854nAyqGRRzhtTuWh-QbY_lhz9k3m_SmUpVKciVxav_Bxsyw-B2jFolefRCZx-uychLl2nsAvvB8FyyO1xooTI/s1600/IMG_8943.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaIVkkX_GSyHPDp2BNplbLsSwJMyh80ynacokzWkmZHTZbljK71aKByR_j9CLqclC5VMoYhI2GuNgWvyhlHISznqUbnRjRJR20ABZbEJXVxZPKo-YHrvpSECPZ1Ly0pjLkjxjH9RZMJY/s1600/IMG_8946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjaIVkkX_GSyHPDp2BNplbLsSwJMyh80ynacokzWkmZHTZbljK71aKByR_j9CLqclC5VMoYhI2GuNgWvyhlHISznqUbnRjRJR20ABZbEJXVxZPKo-YHrvpSECPZ1Ly0pjLkjxjH9RZMJY/s1600/IMG_8946.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparing and contrasting versions of Jack and the Beanstalk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuZsr9N7jqYWvL_2YI957NZizs70HtugTsxJV3ctDPaTeMHqE-wOal1ce7FP-hQjsXc4QFd_ggILsRFxuD5bPwQhXsUk4mga5eHOrDmtdK4BnKHqwxdhFYmjIOslN4okKtqCe_ObMzbc/s1600/IMG_8945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuZsr9N7jqYWvL_2YI957NZizs70HtugTsxJV3ctDPaTeMHqE-wOal1ce7FP-hQjsXc4QFd_ggILsRFxuD5bPwQhXsUk4mga5eHOrDmtdK4BnKHqwxdhFYmjIOslN4okKtqCe_ObMzbc/s1600/IMG_8945.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Identifying story components </td></tr>
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The unit culminated with writing our own fairy tales. We all started with an outline of sorts called a "Fairy Tale Formula." This helped students to choose a setting, create characters, and develop a plot - complete with a problem, magic, and a solution. For some children this was extremely helpful - a way for them to organize their thoughts and remember those critical elements that make a story shine. Other children got to work on a rough draft in their writing journals, diving right into their story. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Title page complete! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PtDpcK9Z1smCSP0f9Vh5VoK4xFGMLiOp24znlF_j-iX32sFe1vpH9pxV7qB0EtE7XiNurwEq_KCHyGY8WfJe6x3r_BguBWVC5VGt2KgDc9RzUt0wt0KriB5NQpUEz0xMgH3ydTlV48A/s1600/IMG_8905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PtDpcK9Z1smCSP0f9Vh5VoK4xFGMLiOp24znlF_j-iX32sFe1vpH9pxV7qB0EtE7XiNurwEq_KCHyGY8WfJe6x3r_BguBWVC5VGt2KgDc9RzUt0wt0KriB5NQpUEz0xMgH3ydTlV48A/s1600/IMG_8905.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First draft in our writing journals</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8GCpgzeIydabl0YXBDYH160t8OdpvDPxs-a4b6tg4mVuyjYCdYKo_tjHJ7fxGzjLORUu6R7CaQM-fth_VPJy82K9YTicIttBLSaXUyF7W39GXGpMuz-q_d5RRerR3TJq4N0spNGZ5AA/s1600/IMG_8907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8GCpgzeIydabl0YXBDYH160t8OdpvDPxs-a4b6tg4mVuyjYCdYKo_tjHJ7fxGzjLORUu6R7CaQM-fth_VPJy82K9YTicIttBLSaXUyF7W39GXGpMuz-q_d5RRerR3TJq4N0spNGZ5AA/s1600/IMG_8907.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Illustrating the cover page </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CFFH6pT4gDBP_spue4rXIJaEfF6lssEAH18cR2UqQnXO1Qlw4NA4X1A7F1v2L2p1KPn9bdkZGBaQT25vDkskvA39M5XVm49AS4LOhJZYuszZE5N8rEKz_e_iQB7QpaFfx3S-AVjxLr8/s1600/IMG_8906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CFFH6pT4gDBP_spue4rXIJaEfF6lssEAH18cR2UqQnXO1Qlw4NA4X1A7F1v2L2p1KPn9bdkZGBaQT25vDkskvA39M5XVm49AS4LOhJZYuszZE5N8rEKz_e_iQB7QpaFfx3S-AVjxLr8/s1600/IMG_8906.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to illustrate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYm9Wkv9XXtqjVI2kzgD6A0zbuCNZJG413-YxjDFio9sUWrZPgJzyPrGCchP-2MddRuezwZ2tMhn4O8Z78ijOtS_8_3vhDKoqOYrcflPtOGLTXfoq9C6L-LNWr-BUAqC8K4YxFlQQcwM/s1600/IMG_8912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYm9Wkv9XXtqjVI2kzgD6A0zbuCNZJG413-YxjDFio9sUWrZPgJzyPrGCchP-2MddRuezwZ2tMhn4O8Z78ijOtS_8_3vhDKoqOYrcflPtOGLTXfoq9C6L-LNWr-BUAqC8K4YxFlQQcwM/s1600/IMG_8912.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outline to help organize thoughts</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1xQP0jcIM2RKISBR_E_eKOU2TjqTLSKIs0RZNf-JIY6c0yoI2TXgUTNaLvSkb69M2_69HXw9wla0Ick_j435EYcIW6MXToaurDkpNwdFbgFSnbZXBavyPM_dnN9lJPd1OoYSNcYdic0/s1600/IMG_8915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1xQP0jcIM2RKISBR_E_eKOU2TjqTLSKIs0RZNf-JIY6c0yoI2TXgUTNaLvSkb69M2_69HXw9wla0Ick_j435EYcIW6MXToaurDkpNwdFbgFSnbZXBavyPM_dnN9lJPd1OoYSNcYdic0/s1600/IMG_8915.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A first draft in our "frog" books </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonqIHzOssXrqPoRtyAiXHrCH1r508sWhKF-wpJG_r82bUqtsPWV4le11IEINZyekU4vw39oQk0OGLEb5xqY4Bt8MlnqVpI2-FhrwSLZP0LcwiTlzio99iNV7TL5y0bjg4p2voSuDLHUk/s1600/IMG_8913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonqIHzOssXrqPoRtyAiXHrCH1r508sWhKF-wpJG_r82bUqtsPWV4le11IEINZyekU4vw39oQk0OGLEb5xqY4Bt8MlnqVpI2-FhrwSLZP0LcwiTlzio99iNV7TL5y0bjg4p2voSuDLHUk/s1600/IMG_8913.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One page done! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWISN6vteDL2_RU2SznM9NhvSgsZj7dG9nl-tmvqOkhM6TR2Ys8zkjilmKBP4tJ300MFwds2FftatCXuMcsE9ZRzWGKpR4OGmPC7mkZbFvgkCniFO7ARdA28kgW2yG8hA_gEJ6XU7ZtU/s1600/IMG_8908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWISN6vteDL2_RU2SznM9NhvSgsZj7dG9nl-tmvqOkhM6TR2Ys8zkjilmKBP4tJ300MFwds2FftatCXuMcsE9ZRzWGKpR4OGmPC7mkZbFvgkCniFO7ARdA28kgW2yG8hA_gEJ6XU7ZtU/s1600/IMG_8908.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding illustrations to the title page</td></tr>
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The finished products were original and imaginative. Some children borrowed ideas from one of the many tales we read in class or used other familiar stories as a starting point, while other children developed completely original ideas. Getting inspiration from quality literature is a useful tool for even our youngest writers. Some of the children may take off on their own - ideas brimming over while the pencil tries to keep up with the brain. Others may need gentle coaxing to get their stories out. This is all part of the writing process. Organizing thoughts into a logical structure to make sense for readers is no easy task. This takes planning, thinking, and hard work from our students. The weeks we've spent sharing examples of these magical stories surely helped to prepare and inspire the students as they wrote their own fairy tales. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKbNOXAeJQtlQXwPT9FkUVn9B0Wr8DhfMLuHwx3g8HJNZPLduTxWWwAJtd4YmPKYo9xz0Uwp8TlHBJiX4dsptrsB9MNKULQBrAqFp-1rT4UUjbeqBzy1mPYPADjFfShwskDeMXYWeFYM/s1600/IMG_8929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRKbNOXAeJQtlQXwPT9FkUVn9B0Wr8DhfMLuHwx3g8HJNZPLduTxWWwAJtd4YmPKYo9xz0Uwp8TlHBJiX4dsptrsB9MNKULQBrAqFp-1rT4UUjbeqBzy1mPYPADjFfShwskDeMXYWeFYM/s1600/IMG_8929.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the table getting ready to illustrate their stories</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished stories awaiting assembly</td></tr>
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This week it will be time for the children to read their stories aloud to the class. Sitting in front of their classmates, reading their work, and taking comments and questions provides that all important, final layer of learning. A true highlight for all. Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-45096860099478893142015-03-14T16:19:00.000-07:002015-03-14T16:19:28.058-07:00Owls - a quick snapshot At Parker, we talk a lot about project-based learning and teaching multiple subjects through the use of thematic units. I thought it would be fun to take you on a little behind the scenes tour of how a thematic unit is developed and executed from start to finish.<br />
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1. <b>Start with a topic: </b> Obviously we want to appeal to the developmental age and interests of our students. Our most recent unit on owls was a perfect example.<br />
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2. <b>Generate interest:</b> We brainstormed what we already knew about owls, activating some prior knowledge and generating excitement. Kids were bursting with facts, stories, experiences, and ideas about owls during our initial brainstorming and idea gathering sessions. I knew this was going to be a great unit......<br />
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3. <b>Begin! </b> In this stage we read books, learned new information, and watched clips of owls on the internet. We began discussing owls in science as well, learning about the special characteristics of owls, and all the fun facts that capture a young child's imagination. We listened to various owl calls, providing yet another glimpse into the life of this mysterious creature.<br />
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4. <b>Go cross-curriculum:</b> In art, the students carefully drew owls while observing life-like models of two owls that Susie provided. This enabled the children to look carefully, observe certain features, and again, get excited about the topic. They also began work on 3-dimensional paper mache owls, providing another outlet for their knowledge. In music, the children sang owl songs. We walked (or swooped) down the hall as silent as owls, "keeping an eye out for our prey." We learned about which owls are present in our neck of the woods and why - incorporating a bit of geography. In language arts, the children read about owls, looked at owl guides, and heard owl poetry. In math, we counted and graphed the various types of owls the children were all studying, adding yet another way to assimilate and use our knowledge.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjjPTg6osID0jLEqSU9-vI5nugMIPw0NygmO5qU0MvLGzp1cgO06qZuR2Vtw2_oOd-MvN4Y7YB35BhqERgqzaKIlMsrFib6IczVEkHvQN7MfFpftZCu8Y9VBicOsr3HwTa_LLadQQNr8/s1600/IMG_8647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjjPTg6osID0jLEqSU9-vI5nugMIPw0NygmO5qU0MvLGzp1cgO06qZuR2Vtw2_oOd-MvN4Y7YB35BhqERgqzaKIlMsrFib6IczVEkHvQN7MfFpftZCu8Y9VBicOsr3HwTa_LLadQQNr8/s1600/IMG_8647.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First grade mathematicians graphing owl types </td></tr>
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5.<b> Hands-on learning: </b> In science we looked at the feathers of owls through the lenses of microscopes and made observational drawings. Using real taxidermied owls, the children noticed all the amazing features - the soft feathers, the intricate coloring, the sharp talons and beak. We then drew our observations. We dissected owl pellets (the remains of an owl's meal), giving us another hands-on, concrete example to connect us with our topic.<br />
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6. <b> Research and write! </b>After weeks of study, discussion, and observation, the students were ready to choose an owl to research and write about. We turned to our extensive collection of owl books and guides, along with the internet, and got to work. We even worked with our middle school buddies to find and record facts. Once the fact gathering was complete, the children got to work writing. Each child chose a few important facts about his/her owl to include in the book. They made wonderfully detailed illustrations to go with their facts. After some time revising and editing, viola - an owl book was born! <br />
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7.<b> Share and reflect:</b> Now it was time to share our knowledge. The children sat in the "author's chair" and presented their books to their classmates and teachers. It was a proud moment for all of the children. They shared their expertise, took questions, and were able to reflect on their learning. <br />
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The children were actually disappointed when the unit was over. A sure sign of true engagement! <br />
<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-20266567515565429152015-01-19T06:04:00.000-08:002015-01-19T06:04:34.219-08:00Nature DetectivesLast week the K-1 students had the opportunity to participate in a true interactive science activity - dissecting owl pellets. Over the past two weeks the children have been enthusiastically learning about owls. We've discussed various characteristics and types of owls, including where they live and what they eat. The children learned that owls swallow their prey whole and cannot digest all of their food. They subsequently cough up a small pellet with the contents of their last meal. The pellet resembles a small, packed fur ball and once opened, reveals clues about what the owl last ate. The children found various small skulls, leg and hip bones, jaws, and other tiny bones from the unlucky creatures that happened to be dinner. <br />
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At first some of the children were unsure, wondering if the contents of the pellets might be "yucky." Quickly, they all became mesmerized as they began discovering the bones and determining what animals the owl may have eaten. Students became nature detectives, attempting to unravel the mystery of an owl's dinner. <br />
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This was a perfect illustration of the importance of "hands-on" science. Children were doing the discovering themselves - which is always the most memorable and meaningful kind of learning. I have no doubt they'll remember this activity for quite awhile. <br />
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<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-28706947454105157532014-12-14T07:29:00.000-08:002014-12-14T07:29:36.336-08:00A Community of Writers <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As the K-1's come together as a community of readers, we're also coming together as a community of writers. Writing happens every day - formally during writing workshop, writing the morning message, writing notes and letters to friends and family, labeling drawings, and during shared and interactive writing. <br />
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The children are learning that writing has many purposes. It's more than a collection of words on a page - writing is about constructing good stories and sharing important ideas. Children may begin by drawing a picture and labeling their pictures with a few words. Then we'll encourage children to say more about what they've drawn and add on to the picture. Soon we'll help them say enough that they need to start a new page, next they'll start a new chapter, and next a new volume. And, so it goes......<br />
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Even if some of the children are simply writing a few words to accompany drawings, they're learning about story structure and language, about how books go from front to back, and top to bottom. This process of writing is helping children to become better and stronger readers. As children work to construct and write the "morning message" for their classmates, they understand their words have importance - they're not only sharing a message with their class, they're also learning about spelling, punctuation, and relying on strategies for writing we have been practicing since September. <br />
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During our writing workshop, the children are completely immersed in work with sound-letter correspondences. As they work in their green "frog books" (our preferred name for our writing notebooks) constructing stories, children learn to stretch out words, isolate chunks of sounds, relate the sounds in one word to the sounds in another word, and search their memories, the alphabet chart, and the word wall to match sounds with letters. Once they've encoded a chunk of sounds into print, they reread what they've written and continue supplying more of the needed letters. The writing workshop could almost be retitled "The Phonics Workshop" except that, of course, so much else is being accomplished as well.<br />
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We know children learn language best when using it for real purposes. We know that words are easier to read when they occur in a story than in a list. Our approach is to let children learn words as they encounter them in texts that are funny or sad or otherwise, memorable. I highly doubt you'll find any child who says, "Wow, that list of spelling words for my spelling test was fascinating!" But, you will find a child who may struggle with an unknown word while reading about the adventures of Jack and Annie in the <i>Magic Treehouse </i>series, or while laughing along with Frog and Toad, and the next week use that very word in his or her writing. This is exactly the type of meaningful learning we strive for in both reading and writing workshop. <br />
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We want school to say to children, "Welcome. Come in. You can feel at home here. Bring your life and your stories and your ideas and energy - we are going to have a blast here, exploring all sorts of amazing things together. One of the greatest things we'll explore here are letters and words." I want letters and words to be a cause for our celebration, exploration, invention, talk, and laughter, and I want letters and words to be all about community. We are involved in this process together, helping one another to sound out a word, or to spell a tricky word while writing. Children need opportunities to construct their own understandings of sound-letter correspondences and of spelling patterns. What better way to do this than write about what's important to us, to share our stories, and gather together around a shared exploration of print? <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Responding to a note </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing for fun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing the morning message</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing in our "frog books"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing with our grandparents on Special Friends day </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Writing with our families</td></tr>
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<a href="http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2014/03/cursive-print-or-type-the-point-is-to-keep-writing/">Here </a>is more food for thought as we continue the debate about handwriting instruction. What really matters is giving students time to participate in real writing each day - something Parker students are fortunate enough to do. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-70378095847472060362014-11-16T08:16:00.001-08:002014-11-16T08:16:34.706-08:00We are readers! Wow.....things have really been moving right along in our little K-1 community. I use the word community, because, happily, that's what we've become. Those early days of figuring out the rules, getting used to transitions, and that all important work of making friends, have led to a cohesive, settled classroom of confident, happy children. They all arrive eager to start their day, greet their friends, and get right to the work of learning and playing. <br />
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An overarching theme within our school day has been creating a community of readers. We started slowly by introducing the concept of Reading Workshop, DEAR time, and coming together for many, many read alouds. This work has payed off - we have a class of excited readers. Children who read during choice time, children who read to one another, children who talk about and borrow books from the classroom, and children who listen intently and carefully during story time. <br />
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One of my goals this year is for children to know what it is to open a good book and become lost in another world. For them to connect with books on a personal level, for them to identify with characters, and feel that an author may be speaking directly to them. I know these goals sound lofty for 5, 6, and 7 year olds, but they are not. Whether or not children are formally reading, they are still surrounded by quality literature and exposed to its beauty and magic everyday. For children, reading wonderful literature with friends in the classroom has the power to help us escape the boundaries of ourselves. We feel less alone when we understand that our pain and joy are shared. When we read <i>Wemberly Worried</i>, about a mouse who is nervous about starting school, suddenly our own worries do not feel so strange or isolating. When we read <i>Charlotte's Web</i>, we watch as Wilbur the pig comes to realize that "friendship is one of the most satisfying things in the world," and we apply that to our own experience in the classroom. <br />
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By reading we cross the boundaries of time and space, we read the words and live in the worlds of people from long ago, of people on faraway islands, of people that may have lives totally different from our own. Reading allows us to walk down city streets and stand in fields of wheat, live inside skin that is black, brown, or white, or see through ancient eyes or those of a child. <br />
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We need to read and talk about books in the social world of the classroom for these very personal reasons, as well as for intellectual reasons. When we teach comprehension, much of what we teach is a depth of listening, understanding, and response. Part of teaching comprehension is making a place for thoughtful and active listening. If we want children to listen to an author, won't we also want children to listen to each other, and be able to solve problems with their friends? If we want children to empathize with characters in books, won't we also want them to hear each other's ideas and perspectives, and show empathy with their classmates? <br />
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If we want children to read with wide-awake minds, then we need to invite them to use these skills in the dailiness of the classroom. Teaching reading, then, is just like teaching living.<br />
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Here are some snapshots of the children enjoying D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) time. <br />
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Next up! Writing in the K-1 classroom.......<br />
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Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-56684770567270038272014-10-12T16:50:00.000-07:002014-10-12T16:50:57.584-07:00Farm to Table<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week the K-1 class was fortunate to be able to spend the morning down at <a href="http://katchkiefarm.com/">Katchkie Farm</a> in beautiful Columbia County. It is an organic farm with a children's learning garden, animals, an outdoor kitchen (and on-site chef!), and gorgeous views of the surrounding Catskill mountains. We arrived at the farm and were given a wonderful overview of how a seed starts out, and what it needs to grow - air, soil, water, sun. To reinforce this idea, the kids (and parents) played an interactive game together. Next children were guided into a greenhouse where nasturtiums and all sorts of tomatoes were growing on trellises from the ceiling. They were encouraged to try the nasturtium flowers (which were declared a bit too spicy) and pick super sweet cherry tomatoes directly from the vines. The kids loved walking through the "tomato jungle" sampling as they went. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting an overview before exploring the "tomato jungle."</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here we go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaking out </td></tr>
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After this we walked past rows of colorful zinnias, just beginning to fade with the cooler fall temperatures. These vibrant rows of annual flowers planted along the pathways attracted moths, bees, and butterflies. Children delighted in noticing the monarch butterflies darting and briefly resting on the beautiful blooms. We gathered at a small area that held the farm animals. There were chickens with beautiful feathers, pigs, and two friendly sheep. We split into half groups - some of us were introduced to the chickens, having a chance to hold one and collect the colorful eggs inside the small, cozy chicken coop. The other group met and fed the pigs and held out apple cores for the two sheep to enjoy. Meeting and interacting with the animals provided yet another layer of learning on this interactive trip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zinnias!! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We meet some chickens</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, I can hold one! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting acquainted with a new friend</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMd_C7zIsDznfZpzFu0IDup0tWR48n_DGPMLDTkNxPKlfVg9a9WlCn4JZMB5wJHvuyJyCWO88GX9ao4NRRWFIA7UBrSp6C9Uwi2DI0H9nj85YR4gKbB6BzL7WcfnXQag3mp_crJaGDSJQ/s1600/IMG_7991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMd_C7zIsDznfZpzFu0IDup0tWR48n_DGPMLDTkNxPKlfVg9a9WlCn4JZMB5wJHvuyJyCWO88GX9ao4NRRWFIA7UBrSp6C9Uwi2DI0H9nj85YR4gKbB6BzL7WcfnXQag3mp_crJaGDSJQ/s1600/IMG_7991.JPG" height="320" width="167" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is fun! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found a feather! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the chicken coop</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A friendly sheep</td></tr>
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We then made our way down to the children's learning garden - an acre plot of all types of vegetables, flowers, and fruits. The kids learned about the various things that were growing, and harvested kale, carrots, kohlrabi, ground cherries, and tiny, speckled cranberry beans. Most of these ingredients would later be used in the lunch that we would prepare and eat as a group. It was amazing to watch how fascinated the children became when given the opportunity to pick and subsequently try these vegetables. After pulling a kohlrabi directly from the ground, the children were bursting with enthusiasm to try this new food. Had this been given to them at dinner with no prior exposure or experience, I highly doubt their reactions would be the same. Orange, purple, and white carrots were pulled from the ground, then sliced up and given to the children to sample. Again, the kids acted as if these were the best things they ever tasted. They picked tiny ground cherries off the ground - little jewels of fruit hiding beneath a papery husk. "Mmmmm......I love these!" was the consensus from the kids. We picked sunflower seeds nestled in the dried up flower heads of a sunflower - kids worked hard to crack open the hard exterior to reveal a tiny seed inside. Again, the question was, "Can we eat these too?" The enthusiasm for trying these wonderful things growing from the earth was clearly contagious. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenlFotYfIZ6IuBVTuzI1L-xXB4FbRR_kuIyB36UPAkDltSOAJv-VuWDLc-BBO8ENUy-hB6TOEaltAYjBDg3qhP1mjXnrFsoXlvLCt9gaR-05lUQhk0wkCpFFfwbb-iYjnCMizauepEQ0/s1600/IMG_8064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenlFotYfIZ6IuBVTuzI1L-xXB4FbRR_kuIyB36UPAkDltSOAJv-VuWDLc-BBO8ENUy-hB6TOEaltAYjBDg3qhP1mjXnrFsoXlvLCt9gaR-05lUQhk0wkCpFFfwbb-iYjnCMizauepEQ0/s1600/IMG_8064.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shelling the cranberry beans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK1vcyislVoTj8utx6TpIrIbV1H6gv5bs-t1z6AxQl66iRXEIx1JnZdq_9Z0BO5TwuyhF2xmoUg34v8PdwTP5yNQ4swf3EVqH3f1bWQeU8Z2khPqsRg3my8vTMhyGj15LH3zag1bT3us/s1600/IMG_8063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPK1vcyislVoTj8utx6TpIrIbV1H6gv5bs-t1z6AxQl66iRXEIx1JnZdq_9Z0BO5TwuyhF2xmoUg34v8PdwTP5yNQ4swf3EVqH3f1bWQeU8Z2khPqsRg3my8vTMhyGj15LH3zag1bT3us/s1600/IMG_8063.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out this carrot! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lbR18bfwjh1ZZb488Fim547fyEeYbK9At9zDi583vHX7Gdy_hh3IKVi26T4COc5wHHwUXMkXI6BdkwvVgP0sEvypjltTibRnsD_VSvCASM54ImK9YrBKaGwrWcOG4mr7V9bscrtaBFo/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lbR18bfwjh1ZZb488Fim547fyEeYbK9At9zDi583vHX7Gdy_hh3IKVi26T4COc5wHHwUXMkXI6BdkwvVgP0sEvypjltTibRnsD_VSvCASM54ImK9YrBKaGwrWcOG4mr7V9bscrtaBFo/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harvesting beans</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKpL1mNFO0cJ5cM3jZfcPy0M8sjKU1aSSsG1HQYai8ltQPIwTTrkOxrhvZrPz4P0waiMpmo6o2Y92GdzjKFIvAIJDQ1hwITQQPGOWY7jl3zPBOkPjKrGv08OLyRnA3O40hgOh83hGwMw/s1600/IMG_8070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGKpL1mNFO0cJ5cM3jZfcPy0M8sjKU1aSSsG1HQYai8ltQPIwTTrkOxrhvZrPz4P0waiMpmo6o2Y92GdzjKFIvAIJDQ1hwITQQPGOWY7jl3zPBOkPjKrGv08OLyRnA3O40hgOh83hGwMw/s1600/IMG_8070.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kale growing in the children's garden</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAesIXlCiycbAxzNKxOjqKRYLjbfEeT1kBD9J31EWzd4svSi1QuwtlR0gY3FNCHt5r21mmVZewzeBPqmrzsvbyWv7W2jnO0pZNweS00yyEFCyqCZwXggBaIWepS1ipKJ_7J8OVHr10KMI/s1600/IMG_8067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAesIXlCiycbAxzNKxOjqKRYLjbfEeT1kBD9J31EWzd4svSi1QuwtlR0gY3FNCHt5r21mmVZewzeBPqmrzsvbyWv7W2jnO0pZNweS00yyEFCyqCZwXggBaIWepS1ipKJ_7J8OVHr10KMI/s1600/IMG_8067.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgmwZtr8W-IcZabE7T-TE3LweKt42nTG60YBWOPY2wHt4Byha3YMjDmrGgv04CkdmUvBffe4L8XY2j0bFJjUCx3_YpsXHogwMvANpZPINgfXaq7sYa1DhGbHbYUZ6TXC0RH8vnSHhZ9Y/s1600/IMG_8066.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgmwZtr8W-IcZabE7T-TE3LweKt42nTG60YBWOPY2wHt4Byha3YMjDmrGgv04CkdmUvBffe4L8XY2j0bFJjUCx3_YpsXHogwMvANpZPINgfXaq7sYa1DhGbHbYUZ6TXC0RH8vnSHhZ9Y/s1600/IMG_8066.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunflower seeds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg-CmNhUyTJRXw6KUe94K_Rvi8lg8RtoZFK5pdLJ4UiJHyebCwO4kpwLUtPnZU8DDEOfix7SBeXuWHpsOI8YTGiq7tczUq2mFxw8dhHoxeh2zVx3vBlqpOeYPK055Yx6hnWfWfYIM2Lc/s1600/IMG_8073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBg-CmNhUyTJRXw6KUe94K_Rvi8lg8RtoZFK5pdLJ4UiJHyebCwO4kpwLUtPnZU8DDEOfix7SBeXuWHpsOI8YTGiq7tczUq2mFxw8dhHoxeh2zVx3vBlqpOeYPK055Yx6hnWfWfYIM2Lc/s1600/IMG_8073.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1pdkMW7le4obMJ5bLTs9sRMUtPlXIV2It35P4UuVms6VVdHsCjwdE7DxjI2b_al5wVbvaL3TowkFATWjkcXa0y24fg7QMRXeXjvDY4-gdOcbRvq0jbY2t8FyMw5jAdxhe7MgCGLwMWI/s1600/IMG_8099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1pdkMW7le4obMJ5bLTs9sRMUtPlXIV2It35P4UuVms6VVdHsCjwdE7DxjI2b_al5wVbvaL3TowkFATWjkcXa0y24fg7QMRXeXjvDY4-gdOcbRvq0jbY2t8FyMw5jAdxhe7MgCGLwMWI/s1600/IMG_8099.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cranberry beans </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc2ZpJ3cVLVDdSC5PzuADHOsOyoW8kpF40CalSIU3Eke-S6T686MldFQRKRSTg5EF2rQZbaSbf2dt8DFvWKhRmj-YV52NAdebOrwsZ24kwbgHGdtIm1Siu7CqRM1rho5wPGL8vAUnNUI/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTc2ZpJ3cVLVDdSC5PzuADHOsOyoW8kpF40CalSIU3Eke-S6T686MldFQRKRSTg5EF2rQZbaSbf2dt8DFvWKhRmj-YV52NAdebOrwsZ24kwbgHGdtIm1Siu7CqRM1rho5wPGL8vAUnNUI/s1600/IMG_8108.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrots! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking a kohlrabi</td></tr>
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After spending time harvesting and learning about the growing cycle of these vegetables, it was time to cook! We headed down to an outdoor kitchen - complete with a wood fired oven, multiple burners for cooking, work surfaces, and rows of bright orange picnic tables where we would later share and enjoy a meal as a community. Children got right to work slicing apples and pears to be cooked down into a sweet apple sauce, and spiralizing the same brightly colored carrots they had picked only moments ago. Purple kale was washed and cut to be included in the soup, and eggs from the chickens were hard boiled to later be placed upon colorful carrot "nests." The children (and parents) worked under the guidance of the two farm chefs - learning how to properly hold a knife and the apples so they would remain stable on the cutting board, and how to use a spiralizer to create long, curly, strips of carrots. Soon the outdoor kitchen filled with the delicious smells of soup and apple-pear sauce the children had helped to make. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outdoor kitchen </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutting apples </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spiralizing carrots </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHFZs49RmAKW3oWMa1yoPFnPW11s5puGK9aSRwrBhMdSKzGi_-rvZdGFQYMFRRKX5TAnoJZ7NoE6bfYshxy_kiEzPLnSMfvImASQbUXVtdmA3yfzYpn6oWVnDktwidjOi0v1NJjDQxao/s1600/IMG_8083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHFZs49RmAKW3oWMa1yoPFnPW11s5puGK9aSRwrBhMdSKzGi_-rvZdGFQYMFRRKX5TAnoJZ7NoE6bfYshxy_kiEzPLnSMfvImASQbUXVtdmA3yfzYpn6oWVnDktwidjOi0v1NJjDQxao/s1600/IMG_8083.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beans ready to go into the soup </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJLGsyr7sAWPcH2lR0e9121pIOjI857MzTqeLlIS0gss39nThwokidLnnaQt5XyoWM1plXUiRGTLM3GfqsEi5AiQ2SGZLEPoBiGda9M0xEZvhAUk48ov6L8ltWGs5CygnOWdeMwBjOC8/s1600/IMG_8086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJLGsyr7sAWPcH2lR0e9121pIOjI857MzTqeLlIS0gss39nThwokidLnnaQt5XyoWM1plXUiRGTLM3GfqsEi5AiQ2SGZLEPoBiGda9M0xEZvhAUk48ov6L8ltWGs5CygnOWdeMwBjOC8/s1600/IMG_8086.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful, purple kale harvested for our soup </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlaLRXFfyWk8560QtK7TMWq17N9czLNeZ5P9mXpK6SJxpSErUQw5rLwEj_vm1FshbCq03EeiNw2hr_jeJ63tFIO-PIL3uT0WoPCvRF2z4MgoWOJkL8ePua_ctb-OL1jSpaqpHo9O5A-I/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVlaLRXFfyWk8560QtK7TMWq17N9czLNeZ5P9mXpK6SJxpSErUQw5rLwEj_vm1FshbCq03EeiNw2hr_jeJ63tFIO-PIL3uT0WoPCvRF2z4MgoWOJkL8ePua_ctb-OL1jSpaqpHo9O5A-I/s1600/IMG_8082.JPG" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working together </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzuftf-DD-EeKgY3qx1j6DIQWNJ5-jrbrZT3yVQCFap5miPPQLdOuvPurgKYmZZoE2zpuzYAtgw8FtEu_bAMa8KnMl4TjTH8LOUqmJfgM7LbvoKPRj_fcNM6Bgx6kyPR1Db3vZmd5Gc4/s1600/IMG_8084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzuftf-DD-EeKgY3qx1j6DIQWNJ5-jrbrZT3yVQCFap5miPPQLdOuvPurgKYmZZoE2zpuzYAtgw8FtEu_bAMa8KnMl4TjTH8LOUqmJfgM7LbvoKPRj_fcNM6Bgx6kyPR1Db3vZmd5Gc4/s1600/IMG_8084.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A peak into the applesauce</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs0lyGXmIligm0Pjzc8_28PMm2X3mJ_908gH-lihpUXHgs4pIRWxElnWCFQ7S8OCpvyDeB7ViQgIzm3vmnv_cLwtgFA41cQMmMpE5w3bd5_lEUsEsoUj3uzZYb_bbwh3Z4SXgz2_rFFE/s1600/IMG_8094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGs0lyGXmIligm0Pjzc8_28PMm2X3mJ_908gH-lihpUXHgs4pIRWxElnWCFQ7S8OCpvyDeB7ViQgIzm3vmnv_cLwtgFA41cQMmMpE5w3bd5_lEUsEsoUj3uzZYb_bbwh3Z4SXgz2_rFFE/s1600/IMG_8094.JPG" height="320" width="248" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to use the spiralizer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9B74sCK_KEWC2T8HclGJAgG8SUx15oVDOVxR5EzKJjIY5GM2GaIeBR_8YSST3UqoJA9jC4WrtjuVTnMK27LAakZ8PQZfHLRxHW8yHJj5p13XTiqK38twQJ6ghCuAvFLdJqqlhIwke9Q/s1600/IMG_8096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg9B74sCK_KEWC2T8HclGJAgG8SUx15oVDOVxR5EzKJjIY5GM2GaIeBR_8YSST3UqoJA9jC4WrtjuVTnMK27LAakZ8PQZfHLRxHW8yHJj5p13XTiqK38twQJ6ghCuAvFLdJqqlhIwke9Q/s1600/IMG_8096.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slicing carrots </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_BgHGGEfFWjvTWysyeDeGuF-WHdmpbas3DKz6wrVeU7obDKAwMnsA7pv402pg0joZ0cvQEp14KXcJNICIOo-rsQr3Yoxgl3d5GO9VL57HWLZAWZsy6BeFFzTXLmDRJ_CLUkVrE-6wdM/s1600/IMG_8121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_BgHGGEfFWjvTWysyeDeGuF-WHdmpbas3DKz6wrVeU7obDKAwMnsA7pv402pg0joZ0cvQEp14KXcJNICIOo-rsQr3Yoxgl3d5GO9VL57HWLZAWZsy6BeFFzTXLmDRJ_CLUkVrE-6wdM/s1600/IMG_8121.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for lunch </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uiNJ0rVQxA21RT8pT8OXVoWlpQGUv4Hz9msMjSABoesghogtU01zUEdAWbf3fXnyu38l8vhyD5877z8GeNwBa_P-PZMDlXVpT6bxxCxDOeX-y5_ENmADbj4FPN0z5o_YPzu_rR5CxC8/s1600/IMG_8080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-uiNJ0rVQxA21RT8pT8OXVoWlpQGUv4Hz9msMjSABoesghogtU01zUEdAWbf3fXnyu38l8vhyD5877z8GeNwBa_P-PZMDlXVpT6bxxCxDOeX-y5_ENmADbj4FPN0z5o_YPzu_rR5CxC8/s1600/IMG_8080.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning views from the kitchen<br /></td></tr>
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We sat down to a first course of a perfectly hard boiled egg sprinkled with sea salt and then placed on top of a multicolored carrot nest. Kids gobbled these up and lined up for seconds. The kale and bean soup was then ladled into our bowls - steaming hot, with freshly grated Parmesan cheese floating on the surface. It was amazing to see how much the children enjoyed a lunch prepared by them with the ingredients they had picked and learned about that very day. Many of the children asked for seconds and thirds - hungry from our morning outdoors and eager to try something they had invested so much personal energy into. We ended our meal with a wholesome dessert of warm apple-pear sauce - which was happily eaten by all the children. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Choosing the colorful carrots to create our "nests" </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8VdslvIHbimaN-oOTGqp5XV-QlB7dfwvy1kcr8nsM5E2sLtd-aMIKA0eNYQal0iwvT3OcshKca9IOURhcJWQRHpPhuys6gscEUuH1kFQmMZMZ2KLtuYOzaPKOp0Wo3eC7Oj2NC1gj7Y/s1600/IMG_8128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8VdslvIHbimaN-oOTGqp5XV-QlB7dfwvy1kcr8nsM5E2sLtd-aMIKA0eNYQal0iwvT3OcshKca9IOURhcJWQRHpPhuys6gscEUuH1kFQmMZMZ2KLtuYOzaPKOp0Wo3eC7Oj2NC1gj7Y/s1600/IMG_8128.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRAR7Gwl4TuNVVJxf7sF6wWEB3O8ERYdfL0EcvqsBR8RdQxf8sone6bBAbKfdNs-HH9sL2LosG9S9kwGSRAH_pU1Cisay_o788_05ur9Ft4ZaQDnM2sj3xLpgtMkbm_KUgfokt_FRKWk/s1600/IMG_8127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRAR7Gwl4TuNVVJxf7sF6wWEB3O8ERYdfL0EcvqsBR8RdQxf8sone6bBAbKfdNs-HH9sL2LosG9S9kwGSRAH_pU1Cisay_o788_05ur9Ft4ZaQDnM2sj3xLpgtMkbm_KUgfokt_FRKWk/s1600/IMG_8127.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soup! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the applesauce</td></tr>
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While this trip wasn't purposely planned to introduce and encourage children to try new foods, it definitely served that purpose. Getting their hands muddy, digging in the soil to find a carrot, or opening up pods of beans or husks of ground cherries, inspired a curiosity that couldn't be ignored. Tasting things that you've picked and sliced is something all together different that being presented with a meal that has no personal experience behind it. I was pleasantly surprised to hear many of the kids declare kohlrabi as their favorite new vegetable, or find my own daughter asking for seconds of a kale and bean soup. In addition, coming together as a community to eat and enjoy a meal that was prepared collectively is a worthwhile and powerful experience. I'm confident this will be a trip that will be remembered for a long time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outdoor cooking and eating area</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breathtaking views from the farm<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"The Sylvia Center at Katchkie Farm: inspiring children to eat well"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDrSRNMcRyVR72F_IQf8H8LvKqLKAdmJxLwrAm1y7QWNtJABVgmKNVm1VjThG5GShtsyhsC7Ee6clLMeuG2yPVS5vFSPDtB-zqjkfsCfeFM_xKTjT2kPXSwmw5wIkHHye_ehr37I90s0/s1600/IMG_8048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDrSRNMcRyVR72F_IQf8H8LvKqLKAdmJxLwrAm1y7QWNtJABVgmKNVm1VjThG5GShtsyhsC7Ee6clLMeuG2yPVS5vFSPDtB-zqjkfsCfeFM_xKTjT2kPXSwmw5wIkHHye_ehr37I90s0/s1600/IMG_8048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the pond, from the farm kitchen </td></tr>
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<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-25051441695141105592014-09-27T06:11:00.000-07:002014-09-27T06:11:12.441-07:00Change......<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even though we’ve been back at school for three full weeks, it is not uncommon for some of our little ones to still be adjusting to the demands of a long school day. This adjustment may manifest in the form of anxiety, inflexibility, clinginess, or just pure exhaustion as they try to internalize all that goes along with school. While they may behave perfectly fine and seem chipper at school, it is very common for them to meltdown at home, falling apart at the seemingly smallest of disappointments or obstacles. </span></span></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-9ef9af6f-b728-79d7-40ee-e27ed2d5d80e" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After all, this is a big change for many of these children. For some, it is their first full day or full week at school. It is our job as adults to acknowledge the strong feelings that come along with a change. Once we have committed to the change, all that is left to do is acknowledge whatever reactions and feelings our child has. Acknowledging that it is hard to be at school for a long day, but that our child is ready for this challenge will go a long way in easing the anxiety. Encourage him or her to express any feelings of sadness, anger, or worry. Hold strong, but don’t try to talk your child out of his/her feelings. If you welcome them, they will pass more quickly. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“When children are overtaxed emotionally, they sometimes misbehave; their intense emotions and the demands of the situation trump their internal resources. The expression of a need or a big feeling therefore results in aggressive, disrespectful, or uncooperative behavior - which is simply proof that children haven’t built certain self-regulation skills yet. Misbehavior is often a cry for help calming down, and a bid for connection.” Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., co-author of the book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">No Drama Discipline: The Whole Brain Way to Calm the Chaos and Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind. </span></span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Another way uncertainty can manifest is clinginess. Clingy periods tend to coincide with children taking developmental steps toward independence (like starting school). Sometimes they occur when children face new situations or transitions. I advise never resisting clinginess. Yes, there are times we need (or want) to separate, and that’s a healthy and positive thing to do. When we trust that our child needs to be close and give him or her the assurance that we don’t resist this need, separation anxiety eases. So whenever possible — give in wholeheartedly. Hold your child close and try to imagine the day he or she no longer wants to spend time on your lap (or doesn’t fit very well). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Encourage autonomy - a taste of independence doesn’t eliminate separation anxiety and clinginess, but it definitely seems to lessen the frequency, intensity and duration of these episodes. This makes sense, because children who have tasted autonomy have the knowledge that they are capable and will be fine throughout the school day. With more and more opportunity for independence, their confidence will grow and they will begin to venture out of their comfort zone, trying new things, making new friends, and taking risks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At school these little ones are doing great - they are happy, fully engaged, eager, curious, fun, loving, and cheerful. They are spending their days learning, playing, listening, and talking. Even though this is extremely worthwhile, it is still tiring and a big effort to keep it together all day. It is not surprising that many of these kiddos come home and collapse into a heap of obstinate, stubborn, and headstrong behaviors. Luckily, this will not last forever. In a few short weeks stamina will increase, expectations and routines will be mastered, and these kids will seem like they’ve been doing this forever. Until then, we need to give them our understanding, unconditional love and support, and instill in them the confidence that they have what it takes to master a new year at school. The first step to handling any change is a parent’s conviction. Certain about the change ourselves, we can project that certainty for our child and give him or her the united front of conviction he/she needs to handle this new experience. </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn78db50JJOckKSmpN5MdCrbTC0kEBKDiLjb8sLscaATS6hhqCJlbnevDmsDO9SVBTioBDVb-gx33Ab7Vt5lNjbDz9WzGV89kgBphcK0wE3tU11rpciNLdxEcq-bPnZCjXlA964VaGKDA/s1600/IMG_7805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn78db50JJOckKSmpN5MdCrbTC0kEBKDiLjb8sLscaATS6hhqCJlbnevDmsDO9SVBTioBDVb-gx33Ab7Vt5lNjbDz9WzGV89kgBphcK0wE3tU11rpciNLdxEcq-bPnZCjXlA964VaGKDA/s1600/IMG_7805.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We opened the sand table! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working together</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG52o8-CL-I3DxNEyijXeVePoKJTK7gVR19ADJ_2-KxjwKu5W56sstod0T3CAnR-6nsIdjokwmE1Uzodi72VtVVz981wFmk3dg6a97JmRsMQDjiYoikTUJ-_eV9RPBs8s96KfRQX-FP0o/s1600/IMG_7806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG52o8-CL-I3DxNEyijXeVePoKJTK7gVR19ADJ_2-KxjwKu5W56sstod0T3CAnR-6nsIdjokwmE1Uzodi72VtVVz981wFmk3dg6a97JmRsMQDjiYoikTUJ-_eV9RPBs8s96KfRQX-FP0o/s1600/IMG_7806.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This resulted in an amazing marble path! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFS61o4suiJw0UKtvLpUrRbTY3uiuLxFO1HVx68WBMulnLU2DbCea6aU_LlTqm573QjcPWN97PT6feN-ZTbT-PaIrzVgM_FeizWOA3QUNVqunwq4dlbqNdyt7IOLJnp9NDU989nbqrtoc/s1600/IMG_7814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFS61o4suiJw0UKtvLpUrRbTY3uiuLxFO1HVx68WBMulnLU2DbCea6aU_LlTqm573QjcPWN97PT6feN-ZTbT-PaIrzVgM_FeizWOA3QUNVqunwq4dlbqNdyt7IOLJnp9NDU989nbqrtoc/s1600/IMG_7814.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorting alphabet stickers</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4VvE4rXpXRR-yEEcbvgfU2DeZ9fDst2HOo2lRzKRtL0XduOFQ8pxjd2dgTHNJiuOj5BhvP2CF3_UFP6hdpQUlB28fMb-1MNfyFlHbWRij0ugJqTKZo7uPyXqaya5XMQBW5jG_D9J_jY/s1600/IMG_7798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4VvE4rXpXRR-yEEcbvgfU2DeZ9fDst2HOo2lRzKRtL0XduOFQ8pxjd2dgTHNJiuOj5BhvP2CF3_UFP6hdpQUlB28fMb-1MNfyFlHbWRij0ugJqTKZo7uPyXqaya5XMQBW5jG_D9J_jY/s1600/IMG_7798.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring math manipulatives</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Sy2Xy9J5nHQ1OjI4BtuQ3KXnD8B1tnfQYIBzPu0UCmuREU0QPrkLeqx6qjYuSMKlmwDzwsvZxogmuSLwKFmncCJo5E5_s38B6nB7VHAuBgbUe0mQK8zvYfAvi__0K3Funsr33eeETzc/s1600/IMG_7682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Sy2Xy9J5nHQ1OjI4BtuQ3KXnD8B1tnfQYIBzPu0UCmuREU0QPrkLeqx6qjYuSMKlmwDzwsvZxogmuSLwKFmncCJo5E5_s38B6nB7VHAuBgbUe0mQK8zvYfAvi__0K3Funsr33eeETzc/s1600/IMG_7682.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An intricate log house</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWrur2RcbFnpx7Lp2NVC_c3JT1GIiET4GZGO_ygMlvSK8lnebJVGLpMhNSuEiilCLzYOsYZI2UOQtnukADZtHnaGuk8RC_qoau6l3djgb8yYWXTD5KAHxIOO40UGPVp9QsnZ4W9b8Hvg/s1600/IMG_7659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWrur2RcbFnpx7Lp2NVC_c3JT1GIiET4GZGO_ygMlvSK8lnebJVGLpMhNSuEiilCLzYOsYZI2UOQtnukADZtHnaGuk8RC_qoau6l3djgb8yYWXTD5KAHxIOO40UGPVp9QsnZ4W9b8Hvg/s1600/IMG_7659.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun at recess! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWFQE8-ujvQ0n5Gpm4bz96QcITn2V1Rr7dC81g0vdjxDqMwHk3ogMRsCpuZLebU4Ejoejv8IvcISKWEaZxJQ4QRvCso107UQTwdAKkRD9y1UitYntvAxhHulszyEPPJKubTMwZ5f_BXA/s1600/IMG_7707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWFQE8-ujvQ0n5Gpm4bz96QcITn2V1Rr7dC81g0vdjxDqMwHk3ogMRsCpuZLebU4Ejoejv8IvcISKWEaZxJQ4QRvCso107UQTwdAKkRD9y1UitYntvAxhHulszyEPPJKubTMwZ5f_BXA/s1600/IMG_7707.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A math game</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table blocks<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-1842549966817591052014-09-20T04:25:00.000-07:002014-09-20T04:26:18.121-07:00Ready to fly! It was a week full of excitement in the K-1's. We arrived on Monday morning to find that all seven of our painted lady chrysalises had hatched. The children watched with curiosity and wonder at the delicate butterflies flying around our butterfly habitat. We fed them oranges and sugar water and were able to watch with amazement as they landed on a orange, drinking the juice. They lived in the habitat for almost four days before we released them out into the butterfly garden this week. I think we were all a bit sad to let them go, but knew this was what nature intended - for them to fly free. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8pT7gS4v67LhZir5J9lnMkSIPKhcr8Q6s3SUNodLVkQ32hChjj6K4eu6oHBhFTfj__sFgwEtit_aKxE0y2aAcoJ4mX3dZLeHFC1gjPWvX4-BrsaTtco_p2HksvWyA5c8dzANdOtDcIc/s1600/IMG_7768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8pT7gS4v67LhZir5J9lnMkSIPKhcr8Q6s3SUNodLVkQ32hChjj6K4eu6oHBhFTfj__sFgwEtit_aKxE0y2aAcoJ4mX3dZLeHFC1gjPWvX4-BrsaTtco_p2HksvWyA5c8dzANdOtDcIc/s1600/IMG_7768.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to take off!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMQ7NztWWdwts_4mHVBuyxRxH1PsMZr80PeWzwlii11Yxit4-7DsmBR-3KFXjHwF0PBdBuSC46dFPv5GZxtmyrmIWODURNQ0Qeba54gnmRGiD2oVMlefo5BvSCMh4IjTGQUoJ-YdY0ZM/s1600/IMG_7758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMQ7NztWWdwts_4mHVBuyxRxH1PsMZr80PeWzwlii11Yxit4-7DsmBR-3KFXjHwF0PBdBuSC46dFPv5GZxtmyrmIWODURNQ0Qeba54gnmRGiD2oVMlefo5BvSCMh4IjTGQUoJ-YdY0ZM/s1600/IMG_7758.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping in for a landing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUpgv2qeTNHBIv8VQzOS92Q6DXsgzqt5732aBDXo5z3KayASmPMGArVODEgwNfFKE5KPE8lOcKgc8m5jDKrAoIZ6sNDyimMe66I93R9Bj-BBn3EL8qqvZ0FibD9U03gcZbL2Re1O9ZaU/s1600/IMG_7746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxUpgv2qeTNHBIv8VQzOS92Q6DXsgzqt5732aBDXo5z3KayASmPMGArVODEgwNfFKE5KPE8lOcKgc8m5jDKrAoIZ6sNDyimMe66I93R9Bj-BBn3EL8qqvZ0FibD9U03gcZbL2Re1O9ZaU/s1600/IMG_7746.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlWUi-uJLbtW7Zb45LnCATs39GxZVRbQZmHEpZVRZ6P6mc-ILO3Qwc2cLYLhYvSGxeL8S2fCPvXB593CCY7JbvD3dxZ6Ws0C1aykOaaYTMw67Fvaxrl7pzpN0idlSz3R954VdtPVgFm0/s1600/IMG_7737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIlWUi-uJLbtW7Zb45LnCATs39GxZVRbQZmHEpZVRZ6P6mc-ILO3Qwc2cLYLhYvSGxeL8S2fCPvXB593CCY7JbvD3dxZ6Ws0C1aykOaaYTMw67Fvaxrl7pzpN0idlSz3R954VdtPVgFm0/s1600/IMG_7737.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's on my dress!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrHgF5oS-s-ayCx3tMOfIga8-Z8I5xT1ugKF8uZf8BQnvQ_YglSxjFS2MfIeJD4aDREjdhZDktaPWjSNnEsj2473TqAlTS5lv6Skw2-NKhCP8YUMjW6E290ja9ER0UHp49y4ZH11M8v0/s1600/IMG_7735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrHgF5oS-s-ayCx3tMOfIga8-Z8I5xT1ugKF8uZf8BQnvQ_YglSxjFS2MfIeJD4aDREjdhZDktaPWjSNnEsj2473TqAlTS5lv6Skw2-NKhCP8YUMjW6E290ja9ER0UHp49y4ZH11M8v0/s1600/IMG_7735.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here it goes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u2-XU8ODbqU5VzBG6m3K9aAR0UldouXIayohhWMG1XkdRYEYW8LeWqbipYplP0wH9KggG31SAq5tsvWNMEBle5xTVwHRzUdnFKAD94NnXIvkRIz-L5uO5o1MtKbBMuoq3_3OvVplHkg/s1600/IMG_7724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6u2-XU8ODbqU5VzBG6m3K9aAR0UldouXIayohhWMG1XkdRYEYW8LeWqbipYplP0wH9KggG31SAq5tsvWNMEBle5xTVwHRzUdnFKAD94NnXIvkRIz-L5uO5o1MtKbBMuoq3_3OvVplHkg/s1600/IMG_7724.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching the take off.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg-bsTQ-VOTUuyGINiNbmV17oSoJ1rIIJYG0hBxq2VzvRMODEk6CTchOY1QwGbyz1RJ2DvpOjrxDwHsp4VHNvsOG6RpbXs-SM90sKqTzCw5p0M74ImYEzzdJGPYz37KuUjge48tPi_sg/s1600/IMG_7721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGg-bsTQ-VOTUuyGINiNbmV17oSoJ1rIIJYG0hBxq2VzvRMODEk6CTchOY1QwGbyz1RJ2DvpOjrxDwHsp4VHNvsOG6RpbXs-SM90sKqTzCw5p0M74ImYEzzdJGPYz37KuUjge48tPi_sg/s1600/IMG_7721.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excitement</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mrrb5Rg5Fbr7mVbE84COFnEJBGTJ4hL3JFip2vsiQO1qsbIstb25cpWzkkkDXgL3-McEyeTKT57epMF26Co-a6YMen2tKVmlp4psXO11hBJ5wxJt8EZYQx-vd7iHVqzOjjnwqG4aBIs/s1600/IMG_7716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6mrrb5Rg5Fbr7mVbE84COFnEJBGTJ4hL3JFip2vsiQO1qsbIstb25cpWzkkkDXgL3-McEyeTKT57epMF26Co-a6YMen2tKVmlp4psXO11hBJ5wxJt8EZYQx-vd7iHVqzOjjnwqG4aBIs/s1600/IMG_7716.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous morning.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One found a friend! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6sabLAYQIjBQU56hTyJx_6W7T0mhunEJlq4PMEzqKkCh43DMcJ4tpnf55pZHu7WCH_OLWZuwsUkvV1t9KSPSwP0EHx3eOmIZtDriXAf9CpvdKFSOU_IE2YVj35fqhcUsUHTY_Xk8S3w/s1600/IMG_7760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6sabLAYQIjBQU56hTyJx_6W7T0mhunEJlq4PMEzqKkCh43DMcJ4tpnf55pZHu7WCH_OLWZuwsUkvV1t9KSPSwP0EHx3eOmIZtDriXAf9CpvdKFSOU_IE2YVj35fqhcUsUHTY_Xk8S3w/s1600/IMG_7760.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopping in for a drink.</td></tr>
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This lovely end of summer weather has allowed us to get outside again this week with the 2-3's for muddy boots. We walked the trails of Parker noticing pre-fall colors and changes in our environment. It was a wonderful time to be outside, spend time with friends from another class, and enjoy the natural beauty around us. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A buddy trio.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy buddies!</td></tr>
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Also this week, we had our first buddy time. The K-1's met with the middle schoolers, mostly to play outside and get acquainted. We'll be finalizing the buddy pairs next week, and continue getting to know our special friends. This is such a wonderful relationship to watch develop - one that will grow throughout the school year. <br />
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Another very busy, productive, and fun week with these amazing kiddos!Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8442144521827699457.post-36228748787687407512014-09-13T03:55:00.000-07:002014-09-13T03:56:43.124-07:00Beginnings..... It's been an exciting and eventful first week in the K-1 classroom. Children arrived, some tentative and watchful, others confident and ready, eager to see old friends. The children all got settled quickly, finding activities and exploring the room. All the first graders scanned the room for changes and similarities from last year, finding comfort in the old familiar things - the schedule of the day, the monthly calendar, the block area, dress ups, and the classroom frogs. These areas of the room that stayed the same provided needed continuity from last year, while the few small changes kept things fresh and exciting. <br />
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If I can capture a feeling from this past week, I think it is safe to say "beginnings" is an appropriate sentiment. The children worked hard to learn the routines, interact with their peers, listen to directions, and be an active part of our classroom community. In these early days, life in the classroom focuses on these comforting routines - how to walk quietly in a line down the hall, how to listen to a story on the rug, how to be respectful of our friends during both classroom time and recess. I could tell all of these little ones were working hard to internalize these routines. Some days a little friend would ask at 11:00 am "Is it time to go home yet?" This is all very normal for this time of year. For many, the classroom expectations, and all that coincides with the first days in a Kindergarten and First-grade classroom, prove challenging. We're definitely getting there - both Lauren and I noticed increased stamina, friendships being made, and a sense of classroom community being built. <br />
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We're already getting some wonderful work accomplished - reading together and independently, investigating the butterfly life cycle, making books and drawings, exploring our math materials, building, creating, exercising, talking, singing, dancing, and having fun. This is an amazing group - I can't wait for all the adventures that lie ahead!!<br />
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Warmly, Jennifer<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0RH3Qik9kBpUfVCxYyj1-mlKQsqrEDu-rfQO8wkk-oJanJrtD9Lm0PJMDCXQc1Um8iVLpvTWARMtXYD_mRB1FZ9-_XaPH5lfsfE0fURv6uDa8QAyA5odeL0yHaI0IZniFVCQ7ehyyPg/s1600/IMG_7584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0RH3Qik9kBpUfVCxYyj1-mlKQsqrEDu-rfQO8wkk-oJanJrtD9Lm0PJMDCXQc1Um8iVLpvTWARMtXYD_mRB1FZ9-_XaPH5lfsfE0fURv6uDa8QAyA5odeL0yHaI0IZniFVCQ7ehyyPg/s1600/IMG_7584.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy to be with our friends! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvrbQTMjDKzsTK8g3OwPSOFiN9-Ep2BAxGOUOB-VB3OyhkNDYQOTqMYsEr58iuBi7dJsSlajWUntazf-CH7-8UQho7W47lZVOWa1zlCDJ4lKrGKzi8KWRQ3XtQGDNz9-j3VitlJoX4UA/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvrbQTMjDKzsTK8g3OwPSOFiN9-Ep2BAxGOUOB-VB3OyhkNDYQOTqMYsEr58iuBi7dJsSlajWUntazf-CH7-8UQho7W47lZVOWa1zlCDJ4lKrGKzi8KWRQ3XtQGDNz9-j3VitlJoX4UA/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking for caterpillars</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first Muddy Boots expedition </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy Boots</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring our math manipulatives</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnjMVfXtPGgcXUpzMJNiEUdHWivm1c0tcL7qrdKWq01jIqAoaF04IsRdAvwmB4d8UcnLj7cJduUiwFQ2_7Aft53UGgM-7SOzhpejeN91uB100_iA54QvFhuoahAEXCy-TnID-DvUMU0k/s1600/IMG_7602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnjMVfXtPGgcXUpzMJNiEUdHWivm1c0tcL7qrdKWq01jIqAoaF04IsRdAvwmB4d8UcnLj7cJduUiwFQ2_7Aft53UGgM-7SOzhpejeN91uB100_iA54QvFhuoahAEXCy-TnID-DvUMU0k/s1600/IMG_7602.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More caterpillar searching</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mastering the monkey bars! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU1LQx1LYZlKQDeF_F3BXg3ZE2mfY4QuE37BhOytyXozmb0B_rkklTybFMrse8aUXfhTWQhypm9dT-7lE5Pqu9tHYLgEVvIafq2GWzs_DyQ7qIxfFWcJddeLJykDstplLzBifaJfj09w/s1600/IMG_7603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYU1LQx1LYZlKQDeF_F3BXg3ZE2mfY4QuE37BhOytyXozmb0B_rkklTybFMrse8aUXfhTWQhypm9dT-7lE5Pqu9tHYLgEVvIafq2GWzs_DyQ7qIxfFWcJddeLJykDstplLzBifaJfj09w/s1600/IMG_7603.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmmm.....what's this?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsqKrXjY2LexaWSvc_4cTdXz-lrDN0acrOO0WIOQbad1IzEW3PX_7BgkVt3jXqC5uuxhz3bV7OolLic1u1HoLSqa1DwYbrYUFAEqmSYxvzmO2MoiMU8wVibcZhcu2JNG5Zlmj_zy1dis/s1600/IMG_7607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwsqKrXjY2LexaWSvc_4cTdXz-lrDN0acrOO0WIOQbad1IzEW3PX_7BgkVt3jXqC5uuxhz3bV7OolLic1u1HoLSqa1DwYbrYUFAEqmSYxvzmO2MoiMU8wVibcZhcu2JNG5Zlmj_zy1dis/s1600/IMG_7607.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Listening to a story with Lauren</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4W-fgrrJb5vVttlIvZ-BoSD1Ry8W2U55AyQz6Fkh0CasssH2_mS6IJqmm7OilpNcMl-wZsGmyEVtftAsL35rFCQt6an1VtNuBNbazj403-IzcUI_Vxl7fcJ1a_sii0H8tEDW5WmaEhE/s1600/IMG_7636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT4W-fgrrJb5vVttlIvZ-BoSD1Ry8W2U55AyQz6Fkh0CasssH2_mS6IJqmm7OilpNcMl-wZsGmyEVtftAsL35rFCQt6an1VtNuBNbazj403-IzcUI_Vxl7fcJ1a_sii0H8tEDW5WmaEhE/s1600/IMG_7636.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This looks interesting......</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim03LRYMgYbRVrm7Z9g_sCf_trtgYOfcoBRz7tE7KFpM001Zf9FjwgPGZgPfSNRpXon56c5ycKggmeQ_3JrnEV50ykDMXqAPfBDaxKBlCKLCIDnUaMP39GgT0ZStvIje2OM5PsCrbWLlk/s1600/IMG_7645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim03LRYMgYbRVrm7Z9g_sCf_trtgYOfcoBRz7tE7KFpM001Zf9FjwgPGZgPfSNRpXon56c5ycKggmeQ_3JrnEV50ykDMXqAPfBDaxKBlCKLCIDnUaMP39GgT0ZStvIje2OM5PsCrbWLlk/s1600/IMG_7645.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what I made! </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsopFQdsMtWsB0JNjNAuoz_laLgRHU1Oh0yC-JLzAh1jfaw8pUFbPa3OhQhFH_MvaNJVgQWfjSMAMn3XuGqsRyXUrrewBGycKi_FEcBjSxvVgbpl0LDjEB3YoTrSuPCUb6cg9SL6zL68Y/s1600/IMG_7615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsopFQdsMtWsB0JNjNAuoz_laLgRHU1Oh0yC-JLzAh1jfaw8pUFbPa3OhQhFH_MvaNJVgQWfjSMAMn3XuGqsRyXUrrewBGycKi_FEcBjSxvVgbpl0LDjEB3YoTrSuPCUb6cg9SL6zL68Y/s1600/IMG_7615.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">TaDa!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QEB_OAvmGUqTwqHDoKSy29bGnm4f1keQOMCTGxisgc8GzM2G7g0HRSWbTqKBbHSk8xlKznWoddYtd-9qZKNo6JGWterGUJb28-0CyrzBJCUp0RUArIhWxhFDUhm6pCVCTcb_lqdp8I4/s1600/IMG_7625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QEB_OAvmGUqTwqHDoKSy29bGnm4f1keQOMCTGxisgc8GzM2G7g0HRSWbTqKBbHSk8xlKznWoddYtd-9qZKNo6JGWterGUJb28-0CyrzBJCUp0RUArIhWxhFDUhm6pCVCTcb_lqdp8I4/s1600/IMG_7625.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to document! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GIzCAFb_KhFIYukr1M2sQZrHQ3EziltwXT9Cbk_yNeAlB2lDgi87V2Q7Gq2OWi_clykyv6G4nMt4J_RB3Mph5-HJKPF0aR7ZrluAq698MntDKpCzvUZEKwObv5FzzmfZy3_nlvWFOrM/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GIzCAFb_KhFIYukr1M2sQZrHQ3EziltwXT9Cbk_yNeAlB2lDgi87V2Q7Gq2OWi_clykyv6G4nMt4J_RB3Mph5-HJKPF0aR7ZrluAq698MntDKpCzvUZEKwObv5FzzmfZy3_nlvWFOrM/s1600/IMG_7639.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to take some notes out at Muddy Boots</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_57Gwg4Y5nuT0W77VxsrothOgNk1sK7BIX2am8nJHKIkRFWknJgsLeuxoGRzYe6Qy8_e1n1wmEw8jCeYjAJUABx-NhHz9ROgnlbhik0VROINIWT4nb2mL3kpDLhaRlZrIJSZvW5NJno/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_57Gwg4Y5nuT0W77VxsrothOgNk1sK7BIX2am8nJHKIkRFWknJgsLeuxoGRzYe6Qy8_e1n1wmEw8jCeYjAJUABx-NhHz9ROgnlbhik0VROINIWT4nb2mL3kpDLhaRlZrIJSZvW5NJno/s1600/IMG_7672.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressing up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq5URac9QD2Ew1CJFSZ190YwRha7nP9KQMQhU1SkiQRcrGbgXkZEvmGgKHKNQOjhatWZMP2p8yrZCpzRSRE6yC5LnnytaoKrW7CpV_LYGyJqOTuPy2itLU6CyyBg4sGOf8bptSqOT9Bg/s1600/IMG_7676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwq5URac9QD2Ew1CJFSZ190YwRha7nP9KQMQhU1SkiQRcrGbgXkZEvmGgKHKNQOjhatWZMP2p8yrZCpzRSRE6yC5LnnytaoKrW7CpV_LYGyJqOTuPy2itLU6CyyBg4sGOf8bptSqOT9Bg/s1600/IMG_7676.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at us! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhoKX_NwiD20t-wAq17Iead8pHQ2qESEuYxgf6GpWDko_L0_Qth-xQqR9o4FPQn7DPtFw_duxZ-WJSTnaU1ym8QPOcK2U8JLAFxcIBOCBUWkokJEwf6Fgyp2bchpt8oXR4poXpRGs4Xk/s1600/IMG_7682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhoKX_NwiD20t-wAq17Iead8pHQ2qESEuYxgf6GpWDko_L0_Qth-xQqR9o4FPQn7DPtFw_duxZ-WJSTnaU1ym8QPOcK2U8JLAFxcIBOCBUWkokJEwf6Fgyp2bchpt8oXR4poXpRGs4Xk/s1600/IMG_7682.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intently building </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQXEH6Gpk9yptwGVm_ZshWel-YHWXzZ44KjbYn8SdzUUlo2eR9KRp9baDEuSjpi3wDW4h5ABylGmwjPL2DA1pQfU6-KVWzKf-gpNXYO-rNF2pBsQemQLgHIyihEaS0hq45JHMzU0MKx0/s1600/IMG_7684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvQXEH6Gpk9yptwGVm_ZshWel-YHWXzZ44KjbYn8SdzUUlo2eR9KRp9baDEuSjpi3wDW4h5ABylGmwjPL2DA1pQfU6-KVWzKf-gpNXYO-rNF2pBsQemQLgHIyihEaS0hq45JHMzU0MKx0/s1600/IMG_7684.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working together</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kumulEjJJ4hZGw0vnPRmHQOIKRpr-jcjUyUpvXOCOZeRLwJq4W1uiQsX1qhaXbthJhOGfrilhTgoVP3JTcloH7P6Vuw_-ezZtgG69d7juWyEnQXKRgUi7rNBr6rJVNv1W_8u7zaOGKY/s1600/IMG_7680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kumulEjJJ4hZGw0vnPRmHQOIKRpr-jcjUyUpvXOCOZeRLwJq4W1uiQsX1qhaXbthJhOGfrilhTgoVP3JTcloH7P6Vuw_-ezZtgG69d7juWyEnQXKRgUi7rNBr6rJVNv1W_8u7zaOGKY/s1600/IMG_7680.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Careful work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3m9tB5PR0XuCk-1byKHngJcNtQ9OD2ztxQubDQCHzxGKuesYybQxDHStPc7AucGRJe_L-kxEI0y72Hlj4sAckFx1stGJCSzaQH3vkJMNmvsweHQ6SMAgGfqloZGE049z9q5aZxUWx2w/s1600/IMG_7693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3m9tB5PR0XuCk-1byKHngJcNtQ9OD2ztxQubDQCHzxGKuesYybQxDHStPc7AucGRJe_L-kxEI0y72Hlj4sAckFx1stGJCSzaQH3vkJMNmvsweHQ6SMAgGfqloZGE049z9q5aZxUWx2w/s1600/IMG_7693.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Muddy Boots with the 2-3's!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRT-KJWqRvdgGt14r6sTwfEx8ozRgirfKqyLy-PAh0xWE5rP1JzHWV5-eVIbd272EOc0oso8GbFhmQdMGSnS2Kd-j7pBAkS0jfiX-8srY12dblo0g4EpMHUvO6PtQDQ-GOsFKijmShlY/s1600/IMG_7698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRT-KJWqRvdgGt14r6sTwfEx8ozRgirfKqyLy-PAh0xWE5rP1JzHWV5-eVIbd272EOc0oso8GbFhmQdMGSnS2Kd-j7pBAkS0jfiX-8srY12dblo0g4EpMHUvO6PtQDQ-GOsFKijmShlY/s1600/IMG_7698.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to explore! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxFK-1JGqDjdDAZvaLdTME0Hb0i6VU4SOizxZ28psiUVcyUTrmfglmellKdyznTF4x5Zemvdeu8VZqLeTPXn79d482kYmDmO-ZGSOcXraIvxR8d4Ep9vB3hELLyDKdtbwGbhCntCEu0c/s1600/IMG_7696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxFK-1JGqDjdDAZvaLdTME0Hb0i6VU4SOizxZ28psiUVcyUTrmfglmellKdyznTF4x5Zemvdeu8VZqLeTPXn79d482kYmDmO-ZGSOcXraIvxR8d4Ep9vB3hELLyDKdtbwGbhCntCEu0c/s1600/IMG_7696.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Friends! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jennifer Gresenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09599007252984475124noreply@blogger.com0