Rules and Routines

We set up our classroom "Norms and Expectations"

It looks like Jorgie is getting use to math class as the only first grader.

But if you look under her chair you can see she has plenty of support and company.

As I said in our last post, this week was the first time that all of the students and teachers have been together since we got back from Christmas break. In a way it felt like we were just beginning the new year. We had a lot of routines and procedures to nail down and get use to. I realized that in the Fall we had never set up any "classroom norms and expectations." I guess that is what happens when you have the same three kids for three years (they kind of know what is expected!) But with our new additions we decided it would be a good idea to go over some classroom guidelines. I am always amazed by how good kids are at coming up with rules to make the classroom a safe and comfortable place for everyone!

Along up with setting up our classroom's norms we also just got used to a normal schedule with lots of little routines built into every day. All of the kids have portfolios where they keep track of their work and grades. Everyday the kids get the work out of the "outbox" and organize it in their portfolios.

Watching my students organize paper work makes me very happy! Let me tell you, it is a life long skill!

Good ol' paper work!

Fourth grade math class with Donna! Yay for TWO fourth graders!

Meet Jorgie and Arlo!!!

So, I need to begin with a great big apology for my lack of blogging! It has been a crazy January, which is actually kind of fun because it is making the month FLY by! Last week teacher Jessie was away at a fantastic teacher conference in Boston and the kids had a blast with the best subs in the whole wide world. Then we had the long weekend and today was our FIRST day where we had ALL of us together! (And just so you know... it was an AWESOME day!)

Now that I am back in the routine I wanted to post a little bit about our two newest students, Miss Jorgie and Mr. Arlo. What a dynamic duo these two youngsters are.

Jorgie is an animal loving, bright color wearing, high jumping, hard working, strong minded, little ball of energy! It is so great to have a girl in our school! She is a great listener and loves picking things up and putting things away (and she has a teacher who LOVES her for it!) She is VERY smart and has a fantastic giggle.

And then there is Arlo! Arlo is a self proclaimed bookworm, who is one heck of an artist. He pays great attention to detail and if you have the eye strength to read his incredibly small handwriting, you will see some fantastic creative writing skills! He is a avid chess player and gets more excited to take a spelling test than any child I have ever met! He is a great addition to our gaggle of guys!

I had our fantastic teaching helper (the one and only Marjorie!) "interview" the kids awhile back, and I wanted to share those interviews with you!

Jorgie's Interview:

Question: If you could be any animal for a day, what would you be and what would you do!?

Answer: I would be a monkey, so I could swing and jump all day long!

Question: What is one difference between your school back home and the Monhegan School?

Answer: Jessie brings a dog to school!

Question: If you had ONE MILLION dollars, what would you buy?

Answer: A ceramic doll that I used to have. It fell on the floor and broke.

Question: What are you most excited about living on Monhegan?

Answer: EVERYTHING!

Arlo's Interview:

Question: What would be three words you would use to describe yourself?

Answer: Bookworm, mathematician, and crazy!

Question: If you could be any character from a book who would you be and why?

Answer: If I was a character from a book I would be Harry Potter or Percy Jackson (from The Lighting Thief). I would want to be these characters because I am reading these books right now.

Question: What do you think is the coolest part about being at the Monhegan School?

Answer: The best part is I get to have my own laptop!

Question: If you could have any superhero power in the world, what would it be?

Answer: I would want the power of Poseidon!

Well, there you have it!! We are very happy to welcome Jorgie and Arlo to our school! The rest of the year is going to ROCK!

And weeee're back!

Gabe's Birthday Cake! YUMMY!

Yay! Welcome Jorgie and Arlo!

The Monhegan School is back in action. After a long, restful, wonderful, jam-packed Holiday break we are back at school and starting 2010 off with a bang! It was exciting week... our new students, Jorgie and Arlo, are here, Gabe turned 14, and Maya is just SO glad to be a working school dog again. We are missing Dalton and Quinn though! They come back from Alaska next week and we just can't wait.

Here is what some of our week looked like...

Jorgie adding a masterpiece to the murals in the bathroom.

Arlo's turn.

I have never seen a more beautiful bird.

Arlo's Roman man!

A little Stratego during break.

Making personal shields.

Maya LOVES having the kids back.

Gabe LOVES paper macheing.

Maya think mache tastes yummy.

Arlo working hard.

Gabe's final project. It looks JUST like him.

Jorgie and her head.

Maya does not know what to think.

The United States of Christmas!

Wow! It has been a longggg time since we last blogged! I am finally getting up pictures from our Christmas play. I tried numerous times over break to upload the video to this site, but I think it is too long for the blog to hold. I might try to post it on another site and then post the link here. Anyways, the pictures will have to be enough for now.

The play lived up to all of our expectations and I think really blew the community away. The kids put SO much work into this production. They designed and constructed all the sets, organized and made the props, picked the music and costumes, and when the night came they were on fire! Everyone knew their lines and I have to say their timing on stage is priceless. It was my favorite play by far and we got rave reviews. I just hope I can figure out a way to post the video so you can see for yourself! 

Our polar bear in the Alaskan igloo! (Next to a picture of Sarah Palin of course!)

Surfing and tanning in California.

Gabe stole the show as Govenator of California.

At the corn palace in South Dakota!

Hoedown in Texas!

Gabe as an old man! 

The nursing home scene was the best.

Wyatt as "Running Bull" the security guard.

The Oval Office in D.C.

Quinn and Donna made it to the Canadian border!

Curtain call!

The happy audience eating their dinner after a fantastic production!

Monhegan Christmas

Well, I can't believe it! It is officially Christmas time! We have already made it through four months of school and now it is almost like we are going to be starting a new school year with Wyatt leaving us and Jorgie and Arlo coming. So many changes, so many good memories, and one great holiday season!

The morning of the play is traditionally just a big celebration at school. We have our gift exchange, play games, and just rest and relax to prepare ourselves for the big production that evening. This year we had a holiday breakfast prepared by Angela and myself. We feasted on homemade waffles, muffins, bacon, juice, and coffee (for the teachers of course). It was DELICIOUS! I think breakfast will be a new holiday tradition at school.

The gang eating some yummy breakfast.

Maya LOVES the holidays.

After breakfast it was time for our gift exchange. I remember my first year on Monhegan I was surprised to learn that we all got gifts for one another. I thought it was kind of crazy for all the kids to buy presents for each other AND their teachers, but then I realized how our school really is a family and it seems only natural that we would want to celebrate Christmas with each other by exchanging gifts. The best part is that the gifts these kids give to one another and to their teachers are so thoughtful because we all know each other so well. This year was probably the best Christmas I have had on Monhegan. The teachers requested homemade gifts and man did we get some amazing presents! It was a perfect celebratory morning.

Look at all the loot under that tree!

Gabe delivering gifts.

Maya got a present from Schooner! (It was a box full of tennis balls! What more could she ask for!?)

Gabe gave me a homemade quilt made by his mom! I am going to be nice and warm this winter.

Dalton got some cool new shirts from Gabe.

Quinny got LEGOS! LOTS OF LEGOS!

Gabe opening his gift!

Wyatt was pretty darn funny opening his gifts! He was SO excited! (We are going to miss that little boy VERY much!)

Wyatt gave Donna a picture he drew of her and Schooner!

Dalton got the new Battleship!

Dalton made me a shirt with Maya on it!!!!

I think the boys were more excited to give their gifts than receive them.

Donna got a shirt from Quinn with a chicken on it.

It sure looks like Christmas.

And of course we had to have a wrapping paper fight!

The teachers gave the kids (and ourselves) Monhegan School sweatshirts.

This is the back that says, "Where dork is the new cool." A quote from Mr. Dalton Burroughs.

These boys deserved a great Christmas and I think they got it.