Edition 2012 #7 - 1st Grade Learning Centers

by William K.

Below is a picture of Sister Mary and her first grade class.
This is a wonderful, fun group of young students!

On many school days, Sister Mary organizes Learning Center times for her class. This is something new this year for 1st grade. The Learning Centers are educational, and the kids love them. Here's a clever example... math fishing:

Most learning centers support focused activities for 3-4 students. Examples are:

• The Math Fish (above) - Students fish out a math problem from the table and then solve it.

• SuperKids reading - Students read stories on the computer, and the SuperKids website tracks their progress.

• Microscope - Students look at magnified versions of bugs and sticks and, well, everything.

• Book reading - Students read from their favorite books.

• Shapes building - Student build designs or structures using foam/plastic shapes.

• And more! Including: Word search puzzles, Magnet games, puzzles, and rubber band shapes.

Here's an accomplished SuperKids reader:

This is Sister Mary's 5th year teaching 1st grade at St. Ethelreda. She does a wonderful job and her students love her.

Thank you to our first grade student and to Sister Mary for the wonderful story and visit! We learned a lot.

There are many more fun photos of 1st grade students at work in the complete photo set from our Eagle Way visit:

www.flickr.com/photos/stethelreda/sets/72157629553714079/

Edition 2012 #6 - Fun at Preschool(s)

by William K.

By popular demand, St. Ethelreda has grown from 2 to 3 preschool rooms. Each room has a great teacher helping our youngest kids to grow and learn: Ms. Clair, Ms. Holland, and Ms. Blakeley.

Preschool with Ms. Clair
Ms. Clair has been teaching preschool for the longest here at St. Ethelreda. She explained that in addition to the extra preschool room this year, each classroom is a mix of 3 and 4 year-old preschoolers. In the past, these age groups were taught separately.

We are fortunate to have two UIC students aiding Ms. Clair in preschool: Charlise Berkel and Kenneth Brown. I spoke with Ms. Berkel and she explained that the UIC graduate students were there as part of a Department of Education grant on creating preschools of excellence. The grant hopes to study and create a preschool curriculum with a strong literary focus. Excellent.

Preschool students are busy! Some of the activities going on this day included:

• Dramatic play at the laundromat: sort clothes, wash, fold, put clothes away,
• Computer time using the Starfall educational website for reading,
• And work at the writing center

Of course, there's always painting!

Preschool with Ms. Holland
Ms. Holland runs our second preschool room, and she has a long history with St. Ethelreda. She is an alumni of our school and also is a member of the St. Ethelreda School Board.

Ms. Philpot is Ms. Holland's aide in the classroom. She is new this year and things are "going well so far." Ms. Philpot lives right in the St. Ethelreda neighborhood.

During our visit, Ms. Holland was playing a memory game with the preschoolers.

Preschool with Ms. Blakeley
This is Ms. Blakeley's second year teaching preschool at St Ethelreda. She enjoys the new combined 3 and 4 year-old arrangement as it provides "more balance" in the classroom.

The children had an elaborate ice cream parlor setup where they were playing and learning housekeeping tasks. A number of the other preschoolers were at the computer accessing the www.pbskids.org educational website.

Here, Ms. Blakeley is helping some inquisitive students with their wood block puzzles.

Thank you so much to our preschool teachers and students.
What a great group!

More preschool photos can be seen at our photo set: Fun at Preschool(s) photo set
Photos by William K and Chanel B.

Edition 2012 #5 - 100 Days of Kindergarten

by Dejah W

It has been 100 days of school already, can you believe it. Wow. The kindergarteners, Mrs. Boatman, and Mrs. Griffin had a party celebrating 100 days of school. When I walked into the classroom they screamed 100 days of school. All the boys and girls had on their adorable 100 day hat and glasses. They were so excited. They were really having a lot of fun.


Mrs. Griffin gave Trechelle a very special 100 award (below). Trechelle was at class each day for the first 100 days of school. Way to go, Trechelle!

I went around the classroom and I got a lot of different answers from the kids. Here is some of the response I got:

What have you learned in 100 days?

Kyra F: I learned how to tie my shoes.

Laniya W:  I learned my words, ABCs, and my numbers.

Zariah J: I learned how to count by tens.

Miracle S: I learned my words, numbers, and to count by five.

 

Why are you are 100 days smarter?

Brooklynn C: I am a hundred days smarter because I am good.

Tony D: I am a hundred days smarter because I do my work.

Eric F: I am a hundred days smarter because I do my homework.

I asked Mrs. Griffin: What is your best memory out of the 100 days we’ve been in school?
 
Mrs. Griffin: My best memory was the first day I saw the kids try to read on their own.

Big thanks to Mrs. Griffin, Mrs. Boatman, and especially the Kindergartens. I really enjoyed spending time with you guys.

Photos by Mr. Bill and Chanel B

  
You can see our entire Kindergarten photo set here:

100 days of of Kindergarten photo set