May 4 - May 8, 2020

Seems Like Old Times!

In some ways, this week resembled the KW we knew when we were back at school.  Perhaps most significantly, the conversations flowed quite naturally, even though we were "together" on line.  This was especially true during our Thursday Fancy Feast zoom.  Just like the way we start lunch at school, we included a virtual moment of silence which was perfectly delivered by Lane and Louise.  
Thursday's conversations were similar to the way we chat when we are around a lunch table together.  The topics  included: pets, dreams, family rituals, activities, use of materials, and jokes.  The jokes were a fun way to end our time together.... and inspired Leigh to post a great joke on Seesaw today.   Here's a look at our fancy group:

Likewise, when we are at school, conversations naturally flow while we work with materials.  This was true on Tuesday when we used photos as inspiration for mark-making.  Tuesday we talked about strategies we were using, materials, our sources of inspiration, and references to our chapter book.  Jen was on the  Zoom call had was working on the challenge of drawing a reflection of a dinosaur.  When she had drawn the reflection, she asked the children for suggestions to make it look more like a reflection.  Here's their great suggestions:
    Lane - Get a blue pencil and draw under it. (To represent the water)
    Joslin - You could get the clearer marker in your house and  draw over it.
After completing several journal pages, Lane brought up the subject of fatigue, saying " I did one hundred arts.  I feel like I'm tired of doing arts."

Tuesday's Journal Work

Different Strokes for Different Folks

Another way of being together that was reminiscent of being in the classroom was the choices made by children.  Although our Zoom calls usually have a big idea or specified materials experience, children were not limited to those experiences.  During last Friday's dance party, Ellie was still focused on making messages.  While classmates boogied, she kept up her work on them.  During our mark-making zoom on Tuesday, Evelyn was engrossed in a detailed building.... one that she kept working on during our building zoom today.  It reminded us that we would work in this fashion during our KW afternoons.  some children would be working with materials, while others were building, or making messages, or exploring shadows or doing a puzzle.  Sometimes just being together, having conversations, and sharing ideas is more important than doing the same experience as everyone else.  We look forward to more connections and conversations in the coming weeks.

Today's Builders

Thank you so much for all the ways you reached out to us for Teacher Appreciation Week and for all you do to support our work during this unusual time.  Happy weekend, Happy Mother's Day!