Ms. Leckie's Learners
  • Our Classroom Blog
  • Student Sites
  • Classroom Information
    • Volunteers
    • Schedule
    • Classroom Policies
    • Curriculum Overview/Resources
    • Homework >
      • Games & Home Connections
      • Online Resources
    • Scholastic Book Orders
    • Ms. Leckie >
      • Contact Ms. Leckie
      • About Ms. Leckie
  • Projects
    • PBL: Water
    • PBL: Whales
    • "The Parade" Cultural DIversity
    • Global Read Aloud
  • Wish List
  • Dwankhozi Partnership
    • Dwankhozi Partnership
    • FAQs
  • Back to QAE
  • Past Years
    • 2013-2014
2014-2015

nErDing Out!

2/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Teachers get star-struck when we get to meet authors of our favorite books and attend conferences with speakers that have been professional mentors. Last Saturday I got to attend a workshop by Georgia Heard, an author and member of Columbia Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. I absolutely love to teach children how to write and have been inspired to do so by studying books by authors like Georgia.


I am really excited to attend nErD camp this coming weekend at Western Washington University. This "unconference" focuses on literacy in learning and appeals to the book nerds we are proud to be. I have my books lined up and ready to get signed by...drum roll please.... KATE DiCAMILLO!! We have read some of DiCamillo's books in class such as The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Because of Winn-Dixie and Merci Watson. I am writing you this post (not only to let you in on my nerdiness) to let you know that Kate DiCamillo will be at the Seattle Public Library (central location), this Wednesday, February 25th. The multi-award winning author will talk about her work from 7-8 pm and it's free (no registration required). 

Home

Next week we will have an author visit from Carson Ellis. Ellis is an artist and the illustrator of Wildwood books and has just written her first book Home. Her debut book is about various types of homes around the world. The book gets released this week. If you'd like to get your own signed copy there are order forms available in the QAE library. 
Picture
0 Comments

The Parade

2/20/2015

2 Comments

 
What a production! The students worked so hard researching and creating floats to represent their cultures! I am impressed by such a great turn-out and by the contribution of food, supplies and helping hands of our community. I must say, aside from the excitement that filled the class all week, my favorite part was seeing the kids in their outfits-ADORABLE! Thank you for lining the school and cheering on our second grade celebrities. Additionally, the students created culture presentations on their iPads using Book Creator. Again, gracias, danke, dziekuje, obrigado, kamsa hamnida, salamat, kawp-kun krap!!
2 Comments

Lots of Play!

2/5/2015

0 Comments

 

Kangaroo Jumps

Who says that learning is all work and no play? Well, I don't think anyone really does. We certainly played this week. As we are continuing our work of measuring precisely to the nearest centimeter, our classroom turned into the outback as we transformed into kangaroos. Starting on both feet, we jumped as far as we could and measured the distance of our jumps. We found the average distance of our three jumps and graphed our results on a line plot. Our class jumped anywhere between 62 cm to 163 cm.! 

Day of Play

I'd say that this was a big hit! We put down our pencils and devices and without much guidance other than "have fun," the kids initiated play. They also wrote a blog about their experience, visit our KIDBLOG page here. 

Gummy Worm Measurement

Math you can eat- but only after you show your work! The students measured a gummy worm to the nearest centimeter then stretched it as far as they could and measured the stretched gummy worm. After that they found the difference between the unstretched and stretched worm. They were to show their work and must always remember to label the units of measurement along with the numeral. 
0 Comments

The Parade, Compliment Cards & Global School Play Day

2/3/2015

0 Comments

 

The Parade

Picture
"It's the self-directed aspect of play that gives it its educative power." 
–Peter Gray, The Decline of Play, TED

Our class, along with many other classes at QAE will be participating in the 1st Annual Global School Play Day this Wednesday, February 4th. The idea behind this day is raising awareness of the importance of unstructured play in the lives of young people. For a couple hours we will put down our pencils, our books and our devices and PLAY. 

Students are invited to bring in toys from home. These toys must not require batteries or electricity or contain any type of computer chip. No devices. They may bring in things like board games, Legos, blocks, trucks, cars, racetracks, playing cards, empty cardboard boxes, dolls, puzzles, blankets (for forts), social games (charades, Pictionary, etc.) If they don't bring anything in, no problem. We have lots of games to share. I know this is short notice, but I did talk with the class about this and they are full of excitement. If they mentioned to you that they're allowed to bring toys and games to school-it's true! 

Adults will not be leading or facilitating any of the play. The play will all be self directed. The teachers will be making sure this time is safe and will be taking pictures and observing. Who knows, we hope to be playing too! One of the things that Peter Gray says about this event is that it will "signify to children that we recognize the importance of play in their lives." As a mother and teacher, there's nothing like observing free & natural play! 

Valentine Compliment Cards

Picture
As a social emotional component with upcoming Valentine's day, students are to write a compliment/acknowledgement for each child. The compliment should acknowledge something specific for each child highlighting perhaps the bravery, gratitude, perseverance, or compassion of our classmates (these happen to be our monthly school themes this year). This assignment will take time to do well so please plan accordingly. If your child would like help completing some of these at school, please send me a note. All compliment cards should be returned to school by Wednesday, February 11th. Please see the handout that went home in your child's folder for more information and a class list. Our Valentines party will be on Friday, February 13th at 3:00. Students are welcome to bring valentines in addition to the compliment cards if they choose. 

The Parade

We are learning more about the students in our classroom and planning a parade to celebrate cultural diversity. While most of us have several cultures in which we identify with, we each decided on one culture to focus on. We know that we are unique in many ways and may celebrate traditions that come from a variety of sources. The students are taking the lead in organizing the event. This week they will be creating invitations to send to you and our community members, research their chosen culture, design floats for the parade, and decide on our parade route. We are requesting your involvement with assisting your child to find out more about their culture. Research suggestions include national colors, country flag, languages spoken, food, music, traditions, and popular sports and things to do. Your child will be using this information to help design his/her float and with class presentations. I have a collection of cultural research sites on the "Projects/Parade" page of our classroom website. We welcome parents and family members to talk with the class to teach us about your family heritage. Thank you to Ms. Chris for teaching us about South Korean customs. Please mark your calendars for February 20th around 2:30 for the parade and potluck. It's time to start thinking about a food dish to share at this occasion. Be on the look-out for student invitations to come.  
Picture
Aiden: Korean
Angelica: English
Asa: Indian
Fiona: Irish
Chai: Thai
Hugo: German
Bella: Polish
Jenna: American
Jack: German
Joshua: Scottish
Josiah: Cambodian
Juliette: Indian
Julius: Native American
Kostya: Brazilian 
Madeline: Mexican
Mason: Chinese
Mollie: German
Nate: English
Oliver: British
Sage: Filipino 
Talen: Filipino 
Tate: English
Wyatt: New Orleans
Zane: Indian
Zoe: Norwegian 
0 Comments

    Author

    Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn. 
    -Benjamin Franklin

    Archives

    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly