April 23-27  

Wherein students created an auctionable chandelier,  planned a large-scale structure project, began a poetry unit, and celebrated Worm Day.

Julianne help us to create a chandelier for the TBS auction.  Students gathered rocks, strung wire through tin cans, and later worked with Anna's dad, Keith, to solder their individual constructions to the central hoop of the chandelier.

Kate came in for community meeting to help us talk about the Zones of Regulation.  Students looked at a card and acted out the emotion pictured and written.  Their partner was then asked to guess which zone they were currently in.  The activity helped to reinforce the significance of each of the zones and promoted a discussion of the tools you might use to self-correct.     

How-to-Book writing
Children are currently embroiled in writing How-To books.  We will be binding and publishing them soon!  

News of the Week

If you haven't visited recently come take a look at your child's most current work. 

1st Grade Book Bags
WIll's mom, Kim, donated her time, materials, and expertise to help the First Graders design and then sew book bags.  These will be used to transport books to and from school.  Kindergartners have this activity to look forward to next year!

Reader's Workshop sorts

Structure Planning
Laurel Creek students broke into small groups where they worked to design a structure that we will build in Zev's dad, Eitan's, shop.  The next step in the process is to create a small scale model.  In this planning phase students were challenged to be realistically imaginative.  And while they will not be able to build everything they can imagine, the structure they do imagine will actually get built.  There is great excitement surrounding this project!  

presenting their plans

Library Trip field trip
This will be our final trip to the West Berkeley library this year.  It is being renovated in May.  We have something bigger and better to look forward to for next year.
  

Estimation jar
This week, how many tongue depressors?

Math Workshop
Students worked through an extensive word problem based on the book Alexander Who Used to be Rich Last Sunday.  Starting with $1 they subtracted the various expenditures until they were left with nothing.  Students used the 100's chart and other tools and strategies to get to zero.    

Terry and Tommy meet the letter W -- the Wet Wind Woman sound

Lyssa and Ben read to small groups during Siesta 

Put a Poem in Your Pocket
Leif's mom, Sissel, informed us that Wednesday was put a poem in your pocket day.  Here we are enjoying a reading.  This was also a kick off to our next writing unit, poetry.  Students shared what they know about poetry in order to get us thinking about this written form.

Reader's Workshop
Students were given sets of cards that told a short story.  They then told the story in their own words working carefully to create a logical sequence.

 Free Friday

Bejeweled pillow made in the project studio

Reading the Morning Message

Worm Day
Lucas' mom, Sherry, came in and brought with her dozens of squirmy friends to help us celebrate Worm Day.  Students observed the worms, made predictions about their behavior, and recorded results in their Worm Journals. 

Planting seeds for our plant sale and playing infinity tag with out buddies.  A lovely end to the week.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Ben & Lyssa