This week my students studied the importance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We read the picture book biography Martin’s Big Words by Doreen Rappaport. The book described scenes from King’s life, beginning with his childhood experience of seeing “White Only” signs throughout his hometown. He questions his mother about their meaning, and she assures…
“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.…
Day of Service
On October 10, Chicago Friends School students participated in Chicago Friends School’s first day of service, presented as an alternative to the Columbus Day holiday. Because we are studying where our food comes from right now, as part of our Trash and Treasure theme, I wanted to do a service day that engaged kids in…
Creating School Rules, as a Community
This week, we started the school year, by engaging students in the creation of rules for this school year. Engaging students in rule-making helps them to enter a community and feel like they have equal stakes in how the community functions. It also allows them to voice their concerns, wishes and ideas about the kind…