Week of March 2-6

Proud Scholars

After reflecting on and writing about their progress for several weeks with their self-assessments, students took the lead in their Monday and Tuesday conferences this week. They guided their parents through centers as they rotated between Math, Social Studies, and Just Right Book/Self-Assessment/SeeSaw online portfolio. Students spoke with confidence about their learning, about what they are most proud of, and about where they hope to grow and improve.  They are fearless and joyful learners!

Poetry

This week began our reading and writing unit on poetry.  They began with poems about feelings, moved to poems with rhythm, and ended the week with rhyme!  They were beautifully engaged while writing their poetry. Developing this comfort with writing of all kinds is a focus of The Cooper School across all grades and it is impressive to witness! This study is school-wide and we have read first grade poems from older students and siblings from past anthologies as examples and inspiration. They are learning to jumpstart their thinking around poetry by thinking about five things they care about. Poetry surrounds them on the walls, in the poetry museum, and with poetry books.  This helps them practice seeing things with a poet’s eyes!

Centers

First graders look forward to centers at the end of each day. They use materials from the math cart to build and design, they write and draw, they read and wonder.  This is a special time for them to reinforce their prior learning, exercise individual choice, and interact with their classmates in an unstructured setting.  

Important Dates

Sunday, March 8 Daylight Saving Time Begins

Saturday, March 14 Spring Planting Party (9am-12pm)

March 23 – 27, 2020 Spring Break