Talking Circle

A talking circle allows people to share their thoughts and ideas in a safe environment. We are very lucky to have Pam come and visit with us every day for three weeks to show us ways to use a talking circle and talking circle protocols.   We have been learning a lot!

Making Mental Images

This year, we have been learning that brains THINK when we are reading or listening to a story read aloud.  By wondering, making predictions and connections from the book to our life or even to another book, we better understand the story.

Today, we practiced a new comprehension technique called: "Making Mental Images."  When we listen carefully to the words in a story, the children are able to make a picture or movie in their mind using their powerful imaginations.  A story was read aloud and the illustrations were not shown.  Instead, the children drew what they imagined.  Soon, we will start listening to a chapter book and wonderful mental images will be created!

Seven Teachings

Our class will be learning about the Seven Sacred Teachings this year.  Each teaching helps children to learn how to live a good life and is partnered with an animal to represent the value.  We learned that the bison represents the teaching of respect.  We have read stories about respect and the children each wrote and illustrated one page of a classroom book about respect.  Each page tells how we can show respect in different places.  Here are a few examples:

Arabella wrote about showing respect at the dinner table:
Chew with your mouth closed. No playing at the table. No spilling at the table.

Tess wrote about showing respect in the lunchroom:
Do not go out of the lunchroom without permission. Be quiet. Clean up.

Lizzie wrote about showing respect on the playground:
No pushing. Go up the stairs. No Kicking. No yelling. Play politely. Don't go away from teachers. Play with everyone.

Matthew wrote about showing respect for your parent"
I will say, "Please pass the salt." I will clean up the living room. Listen to your mom. Be nice to your mom.