Kurkinen Kindergarten

Our Personal Best Gets Even Better

2012-01-20T13:17:00.000-08:00

"I wish I had 100 hands so I could write and write and write!" -Kindergartener

Thank you Dr. King

2012-01-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

We love the colors of our school!

Snow: Science, Math, Art, Literature and Fun

2012-01-20T11:49:00.000-08:00

Dendrite snowflakes have six widely spaced branches.
Sectored Plate snowflakes have small spaces between their branches.

Plate snowflakes do not have branches. They should also be hexagonal.
Column ice crystals form is the coldest of weather. They do not branch out.
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012.
We give thanks to the weather for helping us support our learning!

Kindergarten Lit Party

2012-01-17T15:15:00.000-08:00

Our kids read 192 books over winter break! They earned a day of cozy reading, writing and rich literature.

Pajamas, stuffed animals and cocoa make it especially cozy.

We got to share our own written works with our animal friends as well!

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-31T18:36:00.000-08:00

The Legend of the Poinsettia

2011-12-31T18:18:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, we just have to get a little messy to make something beautiful.

Christmas Expert

2011-12-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

Winter Solstice Expert

2011-12-31T18:13:00.000-08:00

We learned a lot about the planet, its orbit and the tilt that makes our days longer and shorter.

Hanukkah Experts

2011-12-31T18:02:00.001-08:00

The Tree Lady

2011-12-31T17:58:00.001-08:00

Our local botanist, Ms Sandi Reid, comes to kindergarten three times a year to enrich our year-long study on trees.

A Kindergarten Feast of Thanksgiving

2011-11-21T08:45:00.000-08:00

Stone Soup?

2011-11-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

Every child brought a vegetable (Or a fruit pretending to be a vegetable) for our annual Stone Soup Feast.

A big thank you to all that help chop, spice and cook our deliciously crunchy meal!

The Test's the Thing

2011-11-21T08:39:00.000-08:00

Our Kindergarteners endured many an assessment in preparations for conferences. Though they have been tested many times with the teacher alone, this was different. A whole class, quiet, working, thinking and learning to share their thinking on their own. Its a beautiful thing!

Sharing our Personal Best

2011-11-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Everyday we write! We write a lot. Everyday we share our writing. And everyday we decide what is included in our personal best writing. Stop by before or after school to see our Personal Best Writing wall of fame!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-21T08:26:00.001-08:00

Thank you Mrs. Bond and all our parent volunteers for making this day possible.

The Kindergarten Kittens that Lost their Mittens!

PB&J

What a way to welcome our two new students!!

Show-and-Tell

2011-11-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

Once a week student bring one item to show the class. The class must sharpen their skills of deduction by asking five yes-or-no questions to find out what the item is.
After the class has guessed, the presenter will give five details describing the item and why is it important to them.

The Pumpkin Comparison

2011-11-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

Kindergarten sharpens their observational skills as we compare and contrast a variety of squash.

The seeds are observed, estimated and counted.

Of course, there must be a taste test for further comparison. And yes, every five and six-yea-old tried at least one!

Kindergarten in the Wild

2011-11-21T08:13:00.000-08:00

We love stepping out of the classroom for some outdoor learning!

A Lesson is Family Culture

2011-11-21T08:06:00.000-08:00

Our first Family Culture Presentation was a great example for our kids. We are looking forward to learning about all our classmates.

Family Culture Presentations are assigned on Wednesday and given right after our morning meeting. Parents, siblings and family pets are welcome to join us. Visuals can be displayed on a poster or simply a collection of photos, drawing and captions sent to school in the home folder. I like being able to tape them up in our "Family Culture Window". Visuals can be turned in early on Monday for early viewing.

The Patch

2011-10-24T16:20:00.000-07:00

Mrs. K's Family Culture

2011-10-24T16:17:00.001-07:00

Kindergarten Culture is one of sharing. Each week we will celebrate the culture of one of our peers. Stop by to see Mrs. K's family rules, responsibilities and how the Kurkinens have fun after school!

Your child's family culture will be posted in a window like the one above. It can be drawings, pictures and captions, lists, images...anything that helps us understand your family better.

Workstations Roll Out!

2011-10-24T16:13:00.001-07:00

Seven centers, 27 activities ranging from painting, to playing, reading to writing...This is what we do when the teacher is reading with a small group!

Author's Chair

2011-10-24T16:10:00.001-07:00

Kindergarten writing is an authentic experience. Kids write for someone to read. Everyday children get the chance to work one on one with Mrs. Kurkinen. They than get to read their work with the class. Every child get to the author's chair at least twice a week.

The End of the Apple

2011-10-11T16:48:00.000-07:00

It wouldn't be kindergarten without applesauce.

Working Together

2011-10-11T16:44:00.000-07:00

Reading Buddies

2011-10-11T16:40:00.000-07:00

Every Thursday our fifth grading reading buddies stop by for a book and some hugs.

CHOICE TIME!!!

2011-10-11T16:36:00.000-07:00

Once in a while kindergarten is just like the old days. Children get to choose how to learn through playing.
Some use what they have learned to write stories!

Some choose to develop their literacy skills with on Starfall.com or through the Tux games.

The Life Cycle of an Apple

2011-10-11T16:29:00.000-07:00

Math and Science in Apples

2011-10-11T16:21:00.000-07:00

Students count the seeds found in the seed chamber.

What happens to an apple when its skin does not protect it?

Quiet Time Evolves

2011-10-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

What started out as a rest time has become a time for kids to enjoy independent texts. At 'Dream Time' children read books at their reading level while the student of the day's music choice plays softly in the background.

Apple Observation Continued

2011-09-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

Scientists use all the senses when taking data. So far, this one is our favorite.

Fire Station 15

2011-09-30T15:47:00.000-07:00

Stop-Drop-Roll!

Letter Hunt

2011-09-30T15:31:00.000-07:00

We are writing our own ABC books with the help of examples found around the room.
Sitting is hard work. Sometimes we just have to get up and move to do our best thinking.

Good-Bye Mr. Johnson

2011-09-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten is about authentic writing. We bid farewell to the man that has kept our school safe and clean for the last six years. Ty Johnson has been promoted so we are happy, but he will be missed.
TEAMWORK at its finest.

An Observation of an Object from Nature

2011-09-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

We are slowly learning each workstation in Kindergarten. Once a week each student will do an observation of an object from nature. We observed this bamboo plant together. Next week the children will observe an object of their choosing.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

2011-09-22T10:13:00.000-07:00

Our first visit to PE was great! We move, we learn and we work together.

We Love Our Libaray!

2011-09-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

This week we visited the library for the first time. We will go every other Monday. Please help your child to remember to turn in their books every Monday in the Book Return box in the Kindergarten hallway. This way they can always take another piece of the library home with them.

Our First Scientific Experiment

2011-09-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

When we have been respectful, responsible and ready to learn, we sometimes earn the right to get our class pet, Rocky Road Milkshake Kindergarten, out for further learning.
This time we asked what kind of food does Rocky the Guinea Pig like best?

Carrots wins!

Know Thyself

2011-09-18T18:22:00.000-07:00

In kindergarten, and in life, our main job is to learn about ourselves so we can learn and live with others.

Mathematical Thinking in Kindergarten...Begins on Day One

2011-09-18T18:11:00.000-07:00

Meeting Ms. Sterry

2011-09-18T18:08:00.001-07:00

Every other Monday we will host Ms. Sterry, our school counselor, for meetings on friendship, leadership and learning together.

First Day of K - 2011

2011-09-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Lulu chases Chester the Raccoon around the school for a tour of the building and meets all the teachers who are here to help.

RECESS!!!

K-Sing with Ms. Wright

We work hard, even on the first day of K!

PaTtErNs

2010-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:00

Kindergarten searches for the patterns in our world.

Eyla notices a growth pattern in spider web.

n

r

A face is a fun place to find a pattern!

Dia de los Muertos

2010-11-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

We celebrated all those we have loved and lost.
Every child got the chance to honor their loved one.

Write Night

2010-10-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

Coming to Kindergarten at night is a great way to enforce the love of learning! We celebrate literacy we our annual Write Night. Parents and children write to prompts such as persuasive essays describing the choice between Skittles or M&Ms or the characteristics of SUPER WORM the gummy hero.

The Patch

2010-10-28T19:12:00.000-07:00

Nothing makes our learning come alive more then a trip off school grounds!
As we learn about where our food comes from, the life cycle of plants and the celebrations of harvest there seemed to be no better place then Plumpers Pumpkin Patch.

Silly face pictures are a Kurkinen tradition!

Thanks to all nine of our parents volunteers for making this trip possible!

Farm Facts

2010-10-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten learns that crafts are part of our writing curriculum when they add a farm animal fact to their respective live stock.

The Power of Choice

2010-10-11T16:10:00.000-07:00

Once in a great while...we play.

Here Comes the Sun

2010-10-11T16:03:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying the sun while it lasts.
The better our gross motor abilities, the better our handwriting becomes!

The Fire Station

2010-10-11T15:57:00.000-07:00

We listened.
We were safe.
We saw.
We heard the alarm and got out of there!

Coloring our World

2010-10-11T15:50:00.000-07:00

We are making our classroom our own.

READING BUDDIES ARRIVE!

2010-09-28T12:28:00.000-07:00

We get to know our third grade reading buddies on Tuesdays. Our friends will be with us throughout the year.

A Meeting Well Earned

2010-09-28T12:23:00.000-07:00

When we work hard to finish our work we may earn some time to get our class pet out. Our first meeting was earned when all members of our community learned how to be respectful when other friends where talking.

Know Thyself

2010-09-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

As we listen an learn how to follow directions in kindergarten we also learn about ourselves. The self portrait is a complicated art project that has many steps. This creative outlet also is a great assessment for learning how to learn from one another in kindergarten.

We read together. We read alone.

2010-09-28T11:27:00.000-07:00

There is time for reading and enjoying books together.

There is time to read silently on our own.

What Math Looks Like in Kindergarten

2010-09-28T11:25:00.000-07:00

The introduction of math manipulatives helps teach that math is all around us.

Our cl

Day One

2010-09-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

Here they come!

Sign in!

Say Goobye!
Now off to chase Chester the Raccoon.

A little overview of playground expectations.

And a lot of fun!

ART STARTS

2010-03-09T20:55:00.001-08:00

The Tree Lady Returns!

2010-03-09T20:50:00.000-08:00

Having Fun with a New Camera!

2010-03-09T20:39:00.000-08:00

We work.

We play.

We eat, kindergarten!

Baby Kurkinen's Surprise

2010-03-09T20:35:00.000-08:00

Kindergarten surprises Mrs. K with a baby shower!
Each child wrote in comment in the life sized card a-la-kurkinen.

Thank you so much for supporting us through this year of growth!

Jeffrey's Family Culture

2010-03-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

Jeffrey answered all our questions about his rules and responsibilities. We discussed what the difference is between a rule, a responsibility and what happens when, like everyone, we fail to adhere to them.

Some kids had some very interesting things to say about the consequences of breaking family rule. Jeff let one of his friends know that, "If you have fun in your room when your in trouble, it is not a consequence". Too true!

Chinese New Year

2010-03-09T20:23:00.001-08:00

We lite the way for the Year of the Tiger!

Kindergarten worked together to create our New Year's Parade Mural.

The 100th Day of School!

2010-03-09T19:23:00.000-08:00

ZERO the Hero saves a space so all other numbers can stay in their place (value).

Hundreds collections

King and Queen of Hundreds Day! It pays off to work without distractions. Sasha and Lucas were the only ones to finish this hundreds hat project on the day of the celebration. Luckily, Mrs. K happened to have 1800 stickers on hand.

100 Kindergarten Memories

Valentine's Day Tea

2010-03-09T19:04:00.000-08:00

Lukas' Family Culture

2010-03-09T19:00:00.000-08:00

Lukas' family loves music, literature and traveling! After we heard him play we got to discuss the importance of practice and perseverance. Thank you for the wonderful lesson Lukas.

We Saw it Through 'Till the End

2010-02-09T19:47:00.001-08:00

This month's math unit focuses on counting, adding and measuring. When the class gets hold of measuring equipment there is a stir of excitement.
One person measures a pencil, then the next a chair, the next a classmate until five or six peers are working together to measure the length of the classroom.
The following day Sawyer proposes the longest distance of all..."How long is it between our classroom to Mr. McKie's?!?!" The class as a whole worked together to connect our one inch unifix cubes into a train reaching the total length of the kindergarten wing. But that was the easy part.
Once the measuring tool was assembled it was time to count. We thought about counting by thousands, then decided it would take too long to count out another thousand by ones. We counted by ten's all the way up to 2060! We now know that the kindergarten hallway is 2060 unifix cubes long.

HOMEWORK CHALLENGE: How can we tell others how long the hallway is using terms everyone understands?

Jame's Family Culture

2010-02-09T19:40:00.000-08:00

James' astonishing presentation was something to be remembered and valued for years to come, or at least until third grade speech presentations are assessed. With the flair and timing of a professional speaker James systematically introduced us to life on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. He even connected with his audience after he described the importance of the Chinese New Year, and the related zodiac, when he revealed that "My mommy had an Ox in her tummy, but most of us are monkeys and Mrs. K is having a tiger." He then went on to recite a famous Chinese poem and began translating it without delay.

The Informed Voter

2010-02-09T19:30:00.000-08:00

After meeting our new class beta fish we considered how to go about choosing a name. Everyone had such good ideas. However, only one can be chosen.

Therefore, campaigns sprang up with slogans and solid reasoning behind their choice.

Kindergarten then made some informed decisions in a private vote.

Some opinions were not so secretive.

We still have not counted the ballots so stop by Room 31 and let your voice be heard! Make sure to read all the compelling evidence for each and every Beta name. You may want to introduce yourself to the fish before voting just to make sure you are fully in the know.

The Fish Finally Makes His Debut

2010-02-09T19:20:00.000-08:00

After months of working our way to earn each and every piece of tne environment needed to sustain a class fish...WE DID IT!!!

Kindergarten had to show extraordinary diligence to earn each part of the fish's bowl, gravel, castle, plant, food and even the water before Mrs. K went out to choose a fish for the class.

Our fish was happily received and examined before names could be considered.

A Day Downtown

2010-01-27T19:06:00.001-08:00

It began with a bus ride...

a walk...
a climb...
Then we waited...We took in a show (pictures are prohibited)
We lunched in the park...
We played.
We raced.

Then we practiced some childrens yoga with our resident instructor Sra. Cameron.

We played Duck Duck Goose.

We know how to fill up a sunny morning jaunt!

The Peer Editing Process

2010-01-27T19:00:00.001-08:00

Editing our own work is the first step to publishing our work. However, as we continue to progress in our abilities it becomes possible to share our work with a friend and ask for help. A new set of eyes read over our daily writing, ask questions, add detail and at last offer suggestions concerning punctuation, spelling and word choice.

We just love sharing our writing!

Emma's Family Culture

2010-01-27T18:53:00.000-08:00

Emma began with some background. Dad is from Ireland. Mom is from California. She then proceeded to share many memories expressed from beach to the lake to her home here in Portland. Kindergarten got to discuss their connections with Emma's favorite things to do and her responsibilities. Daily chores such as cleaning your plate, putting your clothes away and brushing your teeth are big ones!

Our Snowy Day

2010-01-27T18:45:00.000-08:00

Literature inspires the craft of writing and art. Ezra Jake Keats "The Snowy Day" is a staple of any winter kindergarten curriculum. We work together to create a similar collage. Each kindergarten thinks of an adventure they've had in the snow, makes the necessary piece and meets together to discuss the project as a whole before gluing down their portion.

The next day we used our artwork to dictate our speech bubbles mimicked in the text. Stop by our hallway to see the finished product.

Isabella's Family Culture

2010-01-27T18:38:00.000-08:00

Isabella shared about her family celebrations, her friends and family and activities her family love to do. Many children saw themselves in Isabella's everyday life.

Isabella got the share an impressive collection of stories made from her family pictures. Ask your child about "what Bella likes best"!

The Kick Off of Science Fair

2010-01-27T18:34:00.001-08:00

Science never looked so good!

The Morning Message

2010-01-27T18:23:00.000-08:00

The Morning Message is one of the many tasks the children complete in the first ten minutes of our day. After they read the poem, crawl through the tunnel, get a drink, read the sight words hop spots, say hi to Rocky they then proceed to read and respond to the message on the white board. Sometimes is it simply a yes or no question on a graph, sometimes it is a little more thematic.

When the Morning Message was first introduced in November it was a simple sign in. Look how far we have come! No 'run away capitols' in names now :)

An Author's Visit

2010-01-27T18:18:00.000-08:00

If you've been hearing about the "Geometry Flu" Sawyer's Uncle Luke is the blame! Luke visited our classroom with his new math story about a boy who's sense of geometry is suddenly turned on its head.
We wondered if a published author can sit down and make a book in one day or if they must edit, rewrite and ask for help...we decided our newly introduced writing process was even employed by the best of the best.

Work or Fun?

2010-01-27T18:13:00.000-08:00

There is a very blurred line between fun and work in kindergarten. Rocky Road get a clean cage while the kindergarten gets messy.

Gavin's Family Culture

2010-01-27T18:04:00.000-08:00

Gavin is responsible for one chore a week. Sometimes he needs to keep the dishwasher unloaded, sometimes he helps fold laundry, sometimes he feeds the dog. We asked ourselves what would happen if Gavin didn't complete his weekly responsibility. "There would be no dishes." "He wouldn't have any clothes." "AND the dog would DIE!" I am glad we are beginning to understand the weight of responsibility as five-year-olds : )

Gavin let us in on his family traditions. We all agreed that Friday Night Pizza was a great idea! We also thought that eating at least one bite of everything you are offered it a great house rule. "Even your vegetables? Any vegetables??!" Yup, the Conrads are good healthy eaters.

Another Reason to Celebrate: Our Lit Party

2010-01-10T20:43:00.000-08:00

WE DID IT!!!!

Over winter break the 18 kindergarten students in Room 31 read 213 books and wrote 107 pages in their journals. Everyone took part by reading at least five books, some reading as many as 45! Ten of the 18 filled every page of their journals with stories of Christmas morning, our snow day and visiting friends and family.

To celebrate we had a Literature Party! We read our favorite books in pairs, we wrote stories and made words, we recited poems and sand songs. Of course, no Lit Party and be complete without a warm beverage. Mrs. K's local Starbucks donated cup WITH LIDS for our homemade cocoa.

The Year's Best Assembly

2010-01-10T20:28:00.000-08:00

Our Run for the Arts dollars go directly to the exposure and enrichment of our student through hiring local artists and teachers to help our kids learn as best they can. During January Mrs. Jorgansen invites two local teachers to help our kids work both sides of the brain. In short, they teach them to juggle.

This assembly is always the favorite throughout the year. Dan and Chris juggle various objects, while teaching the importance of cross-lateral body movement. Many volunteers are selected from the audience...some rather reluctantly. Our aid, Leah, was one such volunteer.

Fully enraptured, the students cheer when they hear that our guest teachers will be here all next week to help all Ainsworth students succeed in PE.

Aneel's Family Culture

2010-01-10T20:21:00.000-08:00

Aneel shared many photos of his family and friends as well as his nautical travels around the world! Aneel also introduced the class to Shikhism, his belief that there is one god which can be celebrated in many ways. The class discussed this similarity between Aneel's Indian heritage and that of other shared in past culture presentations. "They believe there is one God in Romania too!", "And Russia believes that". Many other comments included frequency of tooth brushing and saying please and thanks you.

We cover a lot of ground in kindergarten.

Workstations Expand

2010-01-10T19:56:00.001-08:00

Room 31 has matured greatly! Our daily workstations now include three new centers: jumbo journal, technology and engineering. These eight centers will now be rotated through on a two-week basis during small reading group instruction. The workstations groups now consist of only two to three children; making it much harder for children to blend into the masses while the teacher is focused on her readers.

Although we have grown up a lot in the last five months, we still need your help during workstations! If you can make it into the classroom to volunteer 12-1pm is the time! Just look how much fun we are having!!!
Children should still be coming home with three to four response sheets or projects Monday through Thursday if they visited one of the former workstations such as: Reading, Writing, Math, Science or Word Making. Here Emma completes a word making exercise where she makes three words in the -ay family our of play dough (way, may, say) and records them in sentences on paper.
Audrie enjoys the technology center where she learns to navigate through educational web sites, reading software and math games. The purpose of this center
Gavin and Indi write stories at Jumbo Journal. First adding detail to their masterpieces and then writing about their work on the bottom.
Lucia and Stefan work cooperatively at engineering. This center is open ended...as you can see by the zoo wall extending out of the block area and almost reaching the hallway.

Cooperatation: 1 paper, 18 five-year-olds

2010-01-10T19:48:00.001-08:00

The assessment of kindergarten social skills: give the average kindergarten class one sheet of paper and watch what happens...
They breakup into letter patterning task forces...
They divide space and materials to share appropriately...

They achieve an authentic purpose...

And celebrate with silly faces.

Merry Winter Break!

2010-01-10T19:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all our families we ended the year with a great winter party!

The Greatest Gift

2010-01-10T19:35:00.001-08:00

Our poinsettia project took many days to complete. Proving its worth as a gift of love.
Yes! We are in kindergarten! Sometime we still get the chance to finger paint.
(Just make sure to wash in cold water and check clothing before drying...)

And we clean up after ourselves.

Each festival of light we studied focused on good triumphing over evil. In all five celebrations gifts are given to reflect gratitude and commentate a miraculous occasion. The legend of the poinsettia comes from Santa Ana. When a poor boy had nothing to give he was ashamed and cried. However, the ground below him burst with poinsettia the following Christmas morning. This little boy gave the greatest of all gifts, he gave the gift of love.

Las Posadas

2010-01-10T19:09:00.000-08:00

Las Posadas is one of the five festivals of light studied in kindergarten. It is the Mexican celebration of the quest for hospitality within the nativity story.

Children are lead by the elected Maria y Jose through the community asking for 'posadas' (room at the inn). During our parade through Ainsworth we sang "Noche Buena" a carol dedicated to ninos y ninas and the magic of the Noche Buena (the Holy Night).

Lucia and Jame were chosen to represent our kindergarten Maria y Jose.
Some first grade kindergarten alumi enjoyed hearing our song and reminiscing of holidays gone by.

Once we found our posadas we celebrated with buenulos (good kid candy).

Home for the Holidays?

2009-12-14T20:37:00.000-08:00

Rocky needs a home for the holidays! If you want to take part in the care and comfort of the guinea this winter break please let me know by submitting an RSVP on BigTent.

The Art of Red Ball

2009-12-14T20:27:00.000-08:00

With help from from Kim, Tiffani, Tom, and Sunita the kindergartners did their part to support our school by completing this year's Red Ball art project. You can see the determination on their well photographed faces. Thanks Rolfs for coordinating and cataloging this absolutely gorgeous masterpiece!!!

Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Light the Menorah

2009-12-14T20:12:00.000-08:00

Kindergarten celebrated Hanukkah by lighting many menorahs!

Interestingly enough, this holiday brought many philosophical questions to the minds of our young ones. While reading a age appropriate text on the historical significance of the holiday many children had questions such as, "What is a God", "Why do they celebrate winning a fight" and "who was right?"

Each child got the chance to share their answers to these question when several peers brought them up. However, when asked directly what I believe we got into another discussion about what teachers teach and what families teach.

My favorite quote from the discussion was Jeffrey's, "its your job to teach us, and you have the answer...And you CAN'T teach us it!" I smiled and stated, "We all get to choose what we believe when science can't explain something." Lucia then stated, "Why do we get to share what we think and you can't? That is sad." Jeffrey then retorted, "It's just like our book Whose in the Garden. Everyone thinks they are right. And they all have good answers, but there is a righter right." Jeff then asked, "Mrs. K...what holiday do you celebrate?" He thought he out smarted me, but that is still a question I am not allowed to answer.

That's what I call social studies!

Stefan's Family Culture

2009-12-14T20:06:00.000-08:00

Wow! Stefan completed an entire research paper on his Romanian heritage!
He dressed the part as well in a traditional costume. He sang us a Romanian Christmas carol, shared some wonderful breads and told us of Transylvania and its ruthless leader. Many kids agreed they would love to visit Romania and would be brave enough to venture to Count Dracula's lair. Stefan also shared his family rules, one being: "Ask for what you need, not what you want." We had quite a discussion about the difference between those two ideas and why it is important to know the difference. Thank you Stefan for teaching us so much! No wonder there is a Christmas celebration devoted to those named Stefan!!!

The World Forestry Center

2009-12-14T19:51:00.000-08:00

Jeff experiments with the varying masses of construction grade woods.
Tom and his group control the production of a saw mill.
Aneel, Mark, Audrie and Jeff (look between the riders : ) go for a white water excursion.

The phenomenal pictures included below were taken by Tom Rolfs. Thanks Tom are the memories!

On the ride home we saw how hard our kids work on their learning!

Celebrating Diwali

2009-12-14T19:45:00.000-08:00

Kindergarten celebrates every festival of light that is represented by our community of learners. This year we had the pleasure or learning and celebrating Diwali, a Hindi festival thankful for the triumph of good over evil. This five day celebration focuses on a different aspect of the goodness in our lives. To show how evil is bested, fireworks are lit to banish the darkness. Kindergarten made paper fireworks and each student chose what they were most grateful for during the five day festival.

Lucia's Family Culture

2009-12-14T19:40:00.001-08:00

We learned that Lucia's family love to be outdoors, loves to cook together and has many friends in other parts of the country. Lucia is a master at going with the flow, being flexible and yet knowing when something has gone against her family values.

Thank You, Thanksgiving

2009-11-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

We gave thanks on Thursday thanks to all the families who came to help us!

The Test's the Thing

2009-11-28T20:13:00.000-08:00

There comes a time in all our lives when we must endure a test. In kindergarten, this starts in October and occurs every few weeks until we get into middle school. Fortunately, these kids love "telling the teacher how much we've learned." They get to use their offices and work seriously like "we're in college". SO serious in fact, that the moment the teacher takes a picture they have to look serious too!

Addie's Family Culture

2009-11-28T20:07:00.000-08:00

Addie shared many attributes of her household. She let us know what it mean to be a "sister [that] sticks together, why family like being together and how far you have to travel to see some of those you love.

Autumn Flies...Away

2009-11-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, we just need to learn a little about practical science application. After learning parts of a leaf, how they lose their color and why, and what happens to them as they decompose, we study what happens when five-year-olds have seven minutes outside with such specimens.

And once in a while, the teacher has to get in on the fun too!

Author's Chair

2009-11-28T19:48:00.000-08:00

Every week each student gets a 30 minute conference with Mrs. K about their writing. On their day with Mrs. K they get to read their work to the whole class! Every five-year-old is writing up a storm. here Jeffrey shares about his "ABC Ocean" filled with different colored fish. The ship sailing this ocean has a dog that can throw fish into the boat!