Category: Pure Magic

Division 7 is extremely fortunate with the opportunity to be involved in Story Workshop with the lovely Ms. Field each Wednesday morning. This was our second introductory class to Story Workshop, what it entails, the purpose and what it will look like. The students were beaming with excitement, bursting with creativity and eager to become authors and creating their stories. Today our young and budding authors were introduced to the purpose and importance of a story setting.

With the materials presented in front of them, what setting could be created before their very eyes? What did the buttons represent in their story setting? Was it still a leaf, or had it evolved into something so much more? Did each material represent and mean the same thing for each student, or was it different?

As I circulated throughout the class and asked the students about their settings, a student shared with me that she was so ‘impressed with how we are using the same materials and creating different things!’ I could not agree more, it was wonderful to witness the creativity and originality that flowed throughout the library during this time as the students were hard at work.

Why Story Workshop? 

Story Workshop is a method of writing. I feel that students exude confidence with their writing through the creation of their story, by physically making it with their hands, essentially they are bringing their story to life. Through hands-on story making, their imagination is endless, their creativity comes more effortlessly and before their very eyes a story has been created. At which point it is much easier for our blossoming authors to then write pencil to paper to document and record their story. In addition to confidence, I feel that Story Workshop also supports and cultivates creativity, compassion, leadership and communication skills. Students were communicating to one another and problem solving as they developed their story based on the available resources. How could they share and take turn to ensure that everyone in their group felt that the materials were distributed fairly?

Stay tuned as our skill-set unfolds and our young authors become immersed within our Story Workshop.

Division 7 has lots to be thankful + grateful for:

• Thankful for this school
• I am thankful that Canada exists
• I am thankful for having a teacher like you
• I am thankful for my friends, my family and all my things
• Thankful for all the things that I see at Parkcrest
• I’m thankful because I like all my classmates
• I am thankful for having Ms.Ralph as my teacher and I am thankful for playing with my friends
• I am thankful for my Mom and Dad
• Thankful for my friends in class and all my friends for playing with me outside at recess
• I am thankful to learn
• I’m thankful for everyone because I hope they have a good Thanksgiving
• Thankful for my family, friends and my teacher
• Thankful for Ms.Ralph and learning!
• Thankful for my community
• I’m thankful for my family to come over to my house for Thanksgiving
• I’m thankful for new students and new friends
• I’m thankful for my best teacher in the whole world
• I’m also thankful for being in Grade One
• Thankful for all my friends, my lovely sister and my family

During some exploration time in the gym, the students were divided into two teams. They were given 15 minutes to apply their critical thinking skills in order to communicate and cooperatively work together to develop ‘something.’ The students were thrilled and hit the ground running with ideas.

Planning, building, re-building (after the first attempt was not always as successful as envisioned), trying again, working together, navigating different ideas and compromises quickly evolved right before my eyes. It was fascinating to observe these curious, creative and enthusiastic thinkers. I stressed to the students that I wanted them to explore + play and to use their communication skills to share, and build upon one another’s creative ideas. Compromise can sometimes be a tricky thing for our young learners to handle, but this group quickly navigated this new territory and effectively worked together.

This open ended activity fits perfectly in line with our thinking core competency, “I can get ideas when I play. I get ideas when I use my senses to explore. My play ideas are fun for me and make me happy. I make my ideas work or I change what I am doing.”  

When we are playing, are we still learning? What do you think? 

Answers from the students of Division 7:

• we can learn how to build stuff
• if we are playing, we are still using our eyes which helps our eyes grow
• when you build with Lego it is like you are on a construction site and being a real life construction worker
• your brain is still working
• your brain gets bigger and stronger when you are playing
• you play and work with others
• you learn to be a good friend
• you are a communicator

A new year + new beginnings await!

Welcome families to our class website, here you will get a glimpse into the magic that occurs within our classroom walls. Your child’s individual Blogfolios will also be up and running very soon so please stay tuned.

During the last few weeks we have settled beautifully into our class routines. We continue to build and develop our inclusive, safe, forgiving, nurturing, kind and loving classroom community.

Ask your curious learner about some of our big ideas below:

• Language Arts: what is the job of your think maker? what is the job of our feelings keeper? what’s in your thinking bubble right now?
• Science: Penguins – do Penguins live in the Northern or Southern hemisphere? besides Antarctica where else can some Penguins live? what do you visualize when you think of a macaroni penguin?
• Socials: Families – what makes our family unique? what is your favourite thing to do with your family?

Our school came together on Friday to honour Terry Fox and continue the Marathon of Hope.

What values does Terry Fox instill in you – determination, perseverance or grit? During one of our class brainstorms, one of our young learners shared in class, “Terry Fox is my hero because he inspires me to do anything!”  Why is Terry Fox YOUR hero?

It is with sadness that I write this last Blog post for Division 6 class of 2019. What an incredibly special group of young learners this class was. I look back upon this past year with the fondest memories, a full heart and an excitement to continue to follow the journey of possibilities that lie ahead for the children.

Thank you to all the wonderful, curious, eager children I had the chance to work and grow with this school year.  To the families of Division 6, thank you for your unconditional support, involvement, dedication, commitment and joy that you shared with your child and myself. It meant the world.