On Tuesday we worked with our reading buddies to make paper plate masks- a fun and relatively low key way to celebrate Halloween!

During math one of our stations is almost always a game.  Games are fun ways for children to work on various math skills including counting, number recognition and decomposition (different ways to make one number.)   While we play these primarily to strengthen our math skills, it is also a great opportunity to practice the social skills involved in playing a partner game, including being kind, flexible, and patient.   We have had discussions about the importance of playing the games the right way (not cheating!),  playing willingly with any partner, not just close friends, helping each other, and being a good sport.  We always end our games by shaking hands and saying "good game!"

During our last couple of ECO sessions we have explored the changing forest.  Two weeks ago we explored leaves.  We learned about chlorophyl , one of three important ingredients used by trees to make their own food, via a puppet named Claraphyl.  She gives leaves their green color in summer, but is pulled back into the tree as it prepares to rest for winter, revealing the colors underneath.  We did a leaf scavenger hunt and talked about the differences in leaf shape and texture.

Last week we focused on what happens to all of those leaves once they fall to the ground.  Imagine if they just piled up year after year!  Fortunately we have decomposers to take care of natural waste.  Ask your child about the job of a decomposer and some of the decomposers we discovered in the forest - it's amazing how many can be found once you start looking!

We have four more ECO sessions this fall, with the last one on November 8th, just before hunting season.  Parents (and grandparents) are always welcome to join us!

A regular and much anticipated part of our Morning Meeting each day is sharing.  On most days 2-3 children have something to share.  This is a great opportunity for the child who is sharing to practice speaking with a loud, clear voice, using specific details to describe the share.  At the same time it is a wonderful opportunity for classmates to practice listening.  After a share three children are called on to ask a question or make a comment about the share.  We have talked about making specific comments and keeping both questions and comments focused on the person who shared (rather than saying "I have the same thing" or "that reminds me of the time I..."- a great life skill for everyone!)

Children are not assigned share days, but they may share only once in a given week.  I used to put parameters around what could be shared, but after many thoughtful, insightful discussions with different classes, I have decided that as long as it is important to the child it is worthy of sharing.  However, most shares need to be put away in the child's backpack after sharing, unless their is a direct connection to learning (books could be looked at during reading, a notebook could be written in during writing time).  Some ideas for shares include objects with special significance, favorite books, something a child has made, or a favorite of mine, telling shares about an event or experience.