Thank you, Calvert!

My Sixth Age Reading class recently finished reading a story titled Try Your Best, about a coach who helps his team try their best through motivation and praise.  Upon reading, the students were asked to brainstorm a list of Calvert teachers who have helped them try their best, along with reasons why these Calvert people are so special.

Students drafted a "rough" or first draft, where they were encouraged to phonetically sound out words independently or utilize their sight word books.  Students realized that mistakes are often made on first drafts (I'd like to think that showing my students a sample rough draft paper of my own was helpful).

Second, or final drafts, were written and then hand-delivered and read to these Calvert teachers this morning. Students were beaming afterwards! Thank you to my students for your hard work!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The 6D students celebrated Thanksgiving and Grandparents' Day last Wednesday afternoon by dressing as Wompanoag Indians in the Pilot/Sixth Age Thanksgiving Play.  After much rehearsing, lines were recited and festive songs were sung.  I am so proud of my students for their hard work! Kudos to a job well done!

New Toys

Madame Cooke recently gave me a few of her children's old, well-loved toys for use in the 6D classroom. After dusting and a little washing, they look like new! I enveiled them during last week's morning time, where many students enjoyed playing together.

Playing "Dad"

Playing "House"

Additional toys added to the classroom include a cash register, large pink Barbie cadillac and a highchair- what fun!

Friendship Bracelets

Miss Preston's class joined 6D this month to make friendship bracelets.

The students had a wonderful time!

Mrs. Cooper reads to 6D!

Thank you to Mrs. Cooper, who read to 6D last week! The students enjoyed your visit and the wonderful books you shared!

Go, Ravens!

Class parents recently gave my husband and I tickets to the Ravens game against the Houstan Texans. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Spahn! We had a blast!

Thanksgiving Play

It's that time of year again...time for the annual Pilot & 6th Age Thanksgiving Play!  The Pilot boys and girls will be the Pilgrims and the 6th Age boys and girls will be the Native Americans.

In honoring the true spirit of the Wompanoag tribe, the 6th Age students will be creating costumes that are reflective of what the men and women of this tribe would have worn during the first Thanksgiving.  Take a look at the following pictures which will serve as a guide:

The boys will make decorative breechcloths (to be worn over khaki pants), a pasta necklace, and a simple headdress with one feather.  In addition, they will wear a mantle (to resemble an animal skin) and red face paint.  Did you know red was a popular color of the Wompanoag tribe?

The girls will make fringed skirts (to most likely be worn over their jumpers) and a pasta necklace.  They will also wear a mantle and red face paint.

The play will begin promptly at 11:00- we look forward to sharing the festivities with you at this time!  A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Elliot, our music teacher, who has spent countless hours prepping the students in song over the past several weeks.  Thank you, Mrs. Elliot!



Picture Books and a Middle School Tour

The 6D students recently visited the middle school and spent time with their 5th grade partners.  The 5th grade boys read a picture book to each 6th Ager

before taking them on a tour of the middle school.  They showed these young students their lockers, their laptops, and even introduced them to a new middle school friend. 

Thank you to Mrs. Liotta's class- we look forward to visiting with you again soon!

Mrs. Niccolini reads to 6D!

Mrs. Niccolini recently read a selection of books to the 6D students. Thank you for spending time with us!

Fall Book Club

 The 6D and 7A students participated in a book club activity during the month of October. As students are still developing their reading skills, a book was read to the classes as a whole versus allowing them to choose individual books.

Ms. Pontier chose David Goes To School which is a silly tale about a character named David who gets into trouble at school. 

After the story was finished the students worked in pairs to draw a character and story setting of their own.  These were placed in a class book which will be shared between both classes.

Thank you to Ms. Pontier's class- we had a lovely time!

School Photo

Class photos arrived within the past week. Isn't 6D adorable?

The Birds, The Bees, and Our ABC's

Where have I been, you ask?

As you can tell, I have not been by my computer.

I have been exploring nature on Calvert's campus with Mrs. Miles readers.

A few weeks ago our classes gathered together in search of five organic items on a nature walk to Molly's Garden and Castalia.

Some of us collected these items in ziploc bags or small plastic cups.

Upon returning to the classroom the students used their phonics skills to list these items in word form.  Students were encouraged to sound out the words independently, without teacher-support.

The students then organized these words in ABC order.  They glued the words next to each item found on their nature walk.  I was very pleased with the results- take a peak!

Again, I did not assist students with the spelling.  Aren't you amazed?