January 09, 2018 This week we learned about the brain: specifically the right brain and the left brain. We learned that the left brain is more logical, organized, and desires order; and then the right brain is more creative, emotional, and non-verbal. Sometimes though, these sides of our brains aren't integrated and one side takes over.
We learned about the River of Well-Being, and how our goal is to stay on this river, but sometimes life, events, and people pull onto the banks of chaos and rigidity. When we're on the bank of chaos, we feel out of control and emotional; and this might look like screaming, yelling, crying, giving put downs, popping bubble space, etc. And we're on the bank of rigidity, we're trying to control the chaos; and this might look like bossing, giving put downs, being stubborn. We've brainstormed strategies as a class to stay on our river of well-being.
SITTING WITH OUR ANGER
January 09, 2018 We also read a book, Ahn's Anger, that inspired us to visualize and create our own Anger Monsters. After reading, Anh's Anger as a class. I told the class a story about a student I had two years ago who was finally able to verbalize how he was feeling and in a way that I will never forget. That student told me that he feels that there is a monster inside of him--that monster isn't always angry (in fact, it starts out blue but turns red). That monster lives behind a door but every time someone knocks on its door by doing something that makes him angry, the monster turns red and eventually, with enough knocks, the monster will come out and will make him do or say things that he might not mean. The class made connections to feeling like Anh in the story and like the student.
They then got to go off and draw their own monsters and fill their doors with their "door knockers." The kids were all so engaged with this activity. We then got to share with each other about our monsters and what knocked on our doors. As a class, we also talked about how it was okay to have these big feelings because clearly everyone does! I am so proud of the empathy that all of us are having for each other. The more we understand each other, the more we will be able to respect each other.
PEACE WEEK
September 28, 2017 In honor of International Peace Day on the 21st, we decided to do a whole week focusing on peace: how to find it, what is it, how to give it, and how to keep it. We read a few books: Peace Week in Miss Fox's Class, Peace Begins with You, and Peace is an Offering to inspire us and for us to grow our schema on peace. Each class then did different activities to celebrate this special day.
In Miss Hwang's Class...we brainstormed a list of "Peace is..." It amazed us how many places and moments we can find peace, especially in the chaos of the world. We then took our favorite, wrote it on a sentence strip, and then worked collaboratively as a class to create a class poem.
MORNING MEETING IN MS. HWANG'S CLASS: DIGGING DEEP WITH INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES
September 28, 2017 In the mornings, we are greeted with an inspirational quote. We reflect on these quotes--what connections can we make with it? What does it mean to us? How can we apply it in our lives? We then write down our plan or our goal to make that quote come alive while we're school. Here's all the quotes that have really inspired us so far...We go back to these quotes often when we reflect on our behavior.
GROWTH MINDSET / COLLABORATION WITH STEM CHALLENGES
September 17, 2017 This week, we challenged the students to work in small groups with various challenges. The first challenge was to use 20 index cards and 1 foot of tape to build the tallest freestanding tower they could. After 10 minutes of some groups struggling to work together, we reflected as a whole class as to what went well and what we need to work on for next time. Some things that went well were:
Their group didn't give up even though it kept falling down.
In one group, each person had a job but they also took turns doing each job (they learned from the geese!)
In one group, they didn't use put downs and kept encouraging each other
Some things that didn't go well were:
In one group, one member quit and left the group.
In one group, team members weren't listening to each other and were just doing what each person wanted.
In one group, team members were using put downs and not respecting each others' ideas.
In one group, one team member felt that the other members weren't taking it seriously.
Using this reflection, we tried another challenge: to build the tallest freestanding tower using 20 marshmallows and 10 toothpicks. Collaboration amongst team members improved but we know that we'll continue to work on working together and also having perseverance during challenging times.
OUR CLASSROOM AGREEMENTS
September 8, 2017 After talking in depth about the Levels of Community, we were inspired by our new knowledge and by the lessons we learned from the geese (see below) to create our own classroom agreements. Together as a class we talked about what we needed so that we could all meet all of our needs and accomplish all of our goals. Please look to see what your class' agreements are! Ms. Hwang's Class Agreements:
Be Respectful. Respect others, yourself, and property.
Be Empathetic. Take care of each other so that we're all safe.
Make Good Choices. We will be problem solve, and try to make "Cooperative" or "Democracy" choices.
Have Integrity. We will be responsible and make good choices even when an adult isn't looking.
Persevere. We will try our best and not give up when it gets too hard.
Miss Williams' Class Agreements: We Agree to...
Be Respectful of ourselves, of others and of our surroundings
Be Kind to ourselves and others
Have Integrity by doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
Use the Golden Rule by treating others the way we want to be treated.
Miss Ackerman's Class Agreements: We Agree to...
Use the Golden Rule by treating others the way we want to be treated.
Remember C.P.R. Treat everyone and everything with CARE, PEACE and RESPECT.
LESSONS FROM THE GEESE
September 8, 2017 A flock of geese is an incredible and inspiring structure for community. From them we learned...
It is stronger to be a part of a group rather than to be alone.
The v-formation helps lift each other up, and allows them to go faster and continue on their journey longer.
We need to give "encouraging honks" to each other to keep our spirits positive.
One bird is not a flock. / There is no "I" in team.
They are all heading in one direction and have a common goal.
The geese help each other. If one is sick or injured, some go down to protect it until it is better or it has passed.
No one gets left behind.
They have to trust one another to help each other survive. Each goose has to do its part.
The geese take turns being the leader. They carry each other and share the responsibility.
It takes a lot of empathy to be a team and to take care of each other.
LEVELS OF COMMUNITY
September 8, 2017 Inspired by Dr. Marvin Marshall's Without Stress, we brought the Levels of Behavior into terms that we can all understand and apply in our classroom (and school) community. Through various read alouds, we have really explored each level and how our choices can positively or negatively affect our community.
Anarchy:
Focuses on self / Is selfish and greedy
Absence of order
Aimless and chaotic
Bossing:
Focuses on person or one group in power
Person or group is seeking control within chaos
Us vs. Them
Cooperation / Conformity:
Focuses on the group and its common goal
External motivation: i.e. fear of getting into trouble
Democracy
Focuses on the group and its common goal
Integrity & responsibility
Internal motivation: You do what's right because you want to and because it's for the greater good of the community