Here's what it looks and sounds like when the class is fully engaged in reading aloud to the wall.
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Our previous hallway bulletin board received one of the first Bulletin Board of the Month awards. The board had student writings from awards. The board had student writings from our first Mood Music assignment. Students drew to the music of Bring Him Home, as performed by the Piano Guys. Following the drawing, students wrote short stories (most of which had a dark and sad feeling). It was simple to display the work, along with revised drawings on the bulletin board. Now, we're on the next board. For a reminder of how students created that board see this post from January: Mood Music Breeds Passion for Writing. All year, we have endured construction outside our windows, on the other side of our outside walls, and on our roof, but it looks - finally - as if the construction is coming to an end. I have refrained from putting photos of the construction from anywhere other than outside the door just outside our classroom. Much more has occurred with this construction, and we will soon get more of a full photo essay of the combination gym and community safe room. In this rear entryway, we can now observe that most of the work is done. Since the last time I posted a photograph, the walls were painted, the windows and doors were installed, the lighting and ceilings were installed, and other electrical work was done. With flooring and some minor issues, this thing will appear complete from this view.
In order to practice reading fluency, students chose from nonfiction books and quickly found a space along the wall and read, aloud, to the wall. The idea is that reading at a conversational rate assists in understanding.
Every month, classes are awarded with "golden awards" for positive behavior in various locations in our school - the hallway (golden shoe), the cafeteria (golden plate), music class (golden note), art class (golden brush), PE (golden pennant), and the library (golden book). Awards are also given for the cleanest restroom (golden plunger) and the cleanest classroom (golden broom). Our class has earned most of these through the course of the year, and some of them more than once.
We planted seeds and watered them in our terrariums to simulate the upcoming spring rains. After making and recording some quick observations or our rye, alfalfa, and mustard seeds, we delivered water to the soil until it dripped through the bottom, at which time we recapped the terrarium. We recorded the amount of water delivered, and will repeat the process in upcoming days. Hopefully soon, we will have a miniature forest of greenery and can introduce some critters. Students were very engaged in the learning process.
We have windows, but still no doors. Walls are being primed, and work is being done on the ceiling in the rear entry hallway of our new safe room and gymnasium. The inside of the gym is all but finished.
For the fourth quarter, we are entering into the season of spring...in more ways than one. As we anticipate new growth in our yards and forests, our class has occupied some time, this week, in creating a terrarium ecosystem. This, when combined with the upcoming aquarium ecosystem, will form the final science project of something we are calling an ecocolumn. We placed gravel and soil into a two-liter plastic bottle with the bottom cut off. This was all in anticipation of living organisms that will be introduced soon.
What we really need is a video to demonstrate the switches in our electric circuits! In our next Electric Circuits lesson, students made a switch to complete - and break - a circuit and light their bulbs. Amazingly, the switches are made of paper connectors, paper clips, a note card, and other basic materials. Most groups were able to light their bulbs with little problems and in a short time, but as the pictures demonstrate, the girls seemed to take the lead in this project. Raise your hand if you think they might be able to design their own flashlights!
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