Curriculum Corner: 'Amber Autumn'
Bookshares are intended for children to gain experience with speaking and sharing information in front of a familiar group. It is an opportunity for children to share a love of literature with each other as well as a time for students to share stories and ideas that are special to their families.
By Jacob Sisson,
Blue Mountain School Amber teacher (serving 7-9 year olds)
On Thursday morning I was standing by the entrance path to the enrichment pavilion listening to beautiful singsong talk of children learning. I could hear my Ambers, as well as Sapphires and Jades, as I waited for recess to begin.
I closed my eyes for a moment to center myself in that moment and smiled in appreciation of where I was. I heard the leaves rustle and opened my eyes to a small breeze that enticed a hearty group of leaves to fall slowly and vicariously to the ground. Autumn is coming! While I surely did have a magical summer, I am truly happy that my favorite season is near!
During Language Arts we’ll celebrate Autumn's return with themed vocabulary I’ve selected for our peer reading groups. Students will be reading stories and nonfiction articles, as well as practicing word study during our morning rotations.
Our writing will focus on writing letters. During our “Writing Buddies” last Tuesday students expressed that not only did they miss friends that were absent, they also missed sharing the same class together. I’m grateful for our Jade neighbors for providing an excellent learning opportunity as we’ll be brainstorming reasons why people write letters and then putting pen to page and crafting what we feel is important communication. I look forward to this and what our writers choose to write about.
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Our student shares are beginning this week!
Bookshares are intended for children to gain experience with speaking and sharing information in front of a familiar group. It is an opportunity for children to share a love of literature with each other as well as a time for students to share stories and ideas that are special to their families.
On the Bookshare day students will bring in a special book and will have prepared a few ideas on the book, which might include: showing favorite pictures in the book, describing or acting as a favorite character, retelling the story, sharing important facts from a nonfiction book, telling what you like about the story, or telling why the story is special to your family.
The goal of our Kid Science program is to give children an opportunity to explore, share, and celebrate their own scientific interests. This work grows out of the natural desire children have to share their science and nature discoveries. As the Kid Scientist, the student (with family) will choose a science idea that excites them.
Andrew Blevins
210 N Locust Street
Floyd, VA 24091-2105
(540) 745-2777
Next to School House Fabrics on Route 8 in the Town of Floyd.
After researching and exploring the idea at home, the Kid Scientist will practice a short five-minute presentation. The share can take any format, including experiments, sharing a picture or diagram, games, performance, songs, showing an animal, sharing plants or fruit, etc.
I'm sure your child has many good ideas to explore. A trip to the library is always a good way to stir up ideas.
Possible topics include: Sinking and Floating, Baking Soda Volcanoes, Dogs (with doggie visitors), How a Detective Takes a Fingerprint, Fossils, Fruit, Cooking Experiments, Family Pets, Favorite Rocks, and of course Dinosaurs.
Blue Mountain School is a progressive, contemplative school in Floyd where intentional curriculum planning is part of the everyday. “Curriculum Corner” is a bi-weekly column written by Blue Mountain School teachers to share insight and school happenings.