Show-and-share is something the students eagerly look forward to every week. Show-and-share is a whole-class sharing activity in which one student after another takes the center stage and talks about what they brought in from home. The audience then asks a couple of questions. There are many benefits for kids in presenting their show-and-share to…
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…
Strategic Planning with Kindergarten and First Grade
Following the strategic planning kick-off meeting at the Chicago Friends School last weekend, I was charged with asking the students what they hope for the school. My class began by brainstorming what we like about the Chicago Friends School now. Some of the examples were the nice students and teachers, after-school care, having math workbooks,…
Collaboration in the Hallway
One of the great pleasures of my job is when the students do something entirely on their own that makes me stop and feel proud. One of those moments happened in the hall one Thursday between lunch and recess. Four students, representing two different classrooms, finished eating early. Unbidden, they clustered around a book in…
Feelings Detectives
As my class wraps up our unit on empathy in our Second Step program, I am reminded how important this is in the world right now. We have a vision for a world where all people are valued and respected, regardless of their race, gender identity, or socioeconomic level. Recent events have reminded us of…