Week of April 28- May 2nd

We've had a busy week here at School #33.  I feel like I can say that any time of the year, but this week was exceptional in all of the right ways.

It started on Monday with a visit from the Buffalo Niagara Riverkeepers for all of the second grade classes. This is a volunteer organization that devotes itself to cleaning our rivers and the shorelines and parks that line the rivers. Chris was wonderful, showing the students the wildlife that lives in the Red Jacket Park so close to our school.  The students were enthralled and the half-hour demonstration went a whole hour due to the questions and student interest levels! We hope to work with them again in the future.  Click here to visit the Riverkeepers' site.

Later that day, the kindergarten classes and I went for a nature walk to the river.  We talked about our senses, saw a train go over the train bridge, drew something that we found interesting and just enjoyed a beautiful spring day together in nature.

This was an exciting find! 

Tuesday and Wednesday:

On these days, we had a visit from our mentors of the Reggio-Emilia Approach- Ashley and Louise Cadwell. These were busy days, as we learned, reflected and critiqued our program. Everyone feels revitalized and ready to finish off the year with a bang! 

Tuesday was also an exciting day for us because it was the Day of the Child, a celebration in which many Buffalo dignitaries came to School #33 to visit and read to our students. I love when visitors meet our kids and see how wonderful they are. They are always impressed. 

Thursday:

120- I pushed in and we worked on creating drawings using geometric shapes.

116- We relived the Riverkeeper visit by looking at the photos I took, discussing the animals Chris taught us about and drew observational drawings about the wildlife.  The students will add a fact about their animal and I want to compile the final copies in a book to send to the Riverkeepers.

108- I pushed in and observed both the habitat diorama creation and block areas. One of the goals of our professional development was to encourage more writing in our Reggio inquiries, so I asked the block area students to write and draw about what they've created.

118- We did the same as 116- revisiting the Riverkeeper visit through photos and drawings.

102- I brought in some students to finish their nocturnal animal paintings. We're almost done with these and moving onto plants next. 

101- I met with Ms. Burdick to do curriculum planning while the students worked in centers. 

Friday

120- Same as Thursday- I pushed in and worked on geometric drawings.

112- We did the same as the 116 and 118 riverkeeper revisit. 

108- I helped students work on their habitat dioramas.

118- I took the other half of 118 for the Riverkeeper revisit. 

101- I pushed in to finish up a project. 

103- The students had a chance to arrange the pine cones they'd previously painted.