Every day before snack and lunch, all classes engage in quiet reflection time. Usually, the topic for reflection has to do with the specific Quaker idea we have discussing during community meeting on Monday mornings, such as peace, integrity, community, etc. Sometimes, the reflection is more tailored to issues or topics that have come up…
The Power of a Deadline
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed that the students’ progress on their all-about books was moving along much more slowly than I expected. I took a day or two to closely observe their progress and thought about strategies that might encourage them to try to get more down on the page during independent writing…
Growth Mindset
A noncognitive skill I have been trying to promote among my students is a growth mindset. Children (and adults) who believe that their effort can affect outcomes and improve their abilities are more likely to take risks, try new things, and persevere. They are also more likely to be successful on challenging tasks. Those who…
Service Learning and Character Education at The Admiral
On Wednesday this past week, the K–2 group headed to The Admiral, a local retirement community with a nursing care component. For me, this experience epitomized Chicago Friends School’s dedication to character education. First, just getting to and from The Admiral made me realize what a flexible, gritty, and savvy (not to mention well-behaved) group…
Love Thy Neighbor (No Exceptions)
This week, the K–2 classes gathered for a discussion on inclusivity. In light of the exclusionary rhetoric that has been in the national discussion right now, Karen and the teachers determined that making sure that everyone sees Chicago Friends School as a safe and inclusive environment is of utmost importance now more than ever. Meghan…
“All About” Writing Unit
We came back to school refreshed and ready to start the new year. With the new year, we begin a new writing unit to create “all-about” books. Students are tapping into their inner-experts. They are thinking about what topics they know enough about in order to be able to write a book with multiple chapters.…