To culminate our unit on narrative writing we wrote “small moment stories” which were detailed true stories from our own lives. To cap this off, my class had a writing celebration and invited family and friends to join us for a reading. The process leading up to the celebration – choosing a story, revising,…
The school community took one of its guiding principles out for a walk today. The students, teachers and many parents boarded the red line elevated train for Daley Plaza where we lifted our signs and waved our flags for peace on Earth. International Peace Day is a celebration of humanity’s wish to live free of…
A long-held tradition among Quakers is silent meeting. During this time, community members come together and settle into a shared silence. During the silence, everyone tries to connect with their innermost best self and enjoys a shared sense of fellowship. If someone is moved to speak to the group, they may do so and the…
Last week, my students learned a new vocabulary word: sensationalize. The usual best practice approach to teaching vocabulary is to wait until students have grasped a new concept before introducing the word that describes it, and this is a concept we’ve come to know well lately! As a morning message last week, I asked the…
One great thing about working at a small independent school like Chicago Friends School is the freedom the teachers are given to take units and lessons in the direction of students’ interests and needs. In the school where I worked before here, we followed scripted curricula for most subjects and did not have opportunities to…
When it comes to learning, the content of what we learn is usually emphasized. However, how and where we learn is equally important. As a teacher, I’m constantly looking for new ways to motivate my students to learn, whether it’s including more hands-on activities, adding technology, or changing the space in which we learn. Understanding how our students enjoy…