More Updates For Kim's Room!!

Greetings again!

I just want to say how much I enjoy your children. I love watching their personalities come out!

We are going to be engaging in some activities to break down barriers of discrimination (primarily gender, but also the 'cool' vs. what some kids consider the 'uncool').

Here is the weekly schedule I would like to keep:

Monday
8:15-8:55 Social/Emotional - Journal
9:00-10:00 Direct Instruction - Language Arts
10:00-10:10 Break
10:10-11:00 Direct Instruction - Math
11:00-12:00 Lunch - first 30 minutes on the field for free play
12:00-1:00 Library (tentative)
1:00-2:00 Science
2:00-3:00 P.E.
3:00-3:15 Announcements and Dismissal

Tuesday:
Everything is the same until after lunch at which time (12:15-1:45) we are currently working on art pieces to sell (we are oil painting and an artist-friend is teaching with the help of Jim and myself - Jim is Yvana's grandfather and also a painter) in order to microfinance entrepreneurs in developing countries - thus the country reports brought home. Although we have a "no-homework" policy, many of the children did not focus during our one hour of computer time this week, so I decided to send their reports home. I was hoping the children could focus better in a quiet home environment. By the way, the art pieces are beautiful!

Wednesday:
Everything is the same, except the 12:00-1:00 period. I'm planning a history unit in this period - starting this week. I am planning to focus on U.S. history first - then California. Part of my motivation to start at this point is because I listened to children talk about the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and they had no idea which came first or the time frame. I hope to engage them in re-enactments, posters, portfolios, and more.

Thursday:
Again, all is the same, except the 1200-2:00 period. This is project time and at this point, students are exploring developing countries (i.e., poverty, government, geography, history...). This is also when we have access to the computer lab.

Friday:
The same except for the 12:00-3:00 time period when students are engaged in learning from Community Partners. Right now, students are engaged in Creative Movement, Engineering through Legos, Drama, and Art. They will have classes in Archeology and Drumming in the coming months.

I hope this informs you about what your children are doing. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any of your concerns.
Sincerely,
Kim