Specialty Class Highlight April 2023: Spanish

First grade -Third grade

In all three grades, we have covered vocabulary for the spring season. Classes learned about planting and the growth cycle of plants, from seed to sprout to flowering plant, including dirt, buds, leaves and trees. We practiced spring clothing vocabulary words such as raincoat, boots, umbrellas. Discussions about activities that we do in Spring like flying kites and jumping in puddles; what fun we have together! We learned farm animals, and made connections to our Learning Farm animals too. Additionally, in second grade, we learned the vocabulary for weather such as thunder, lightning, clouds, rainbow, fog and dew. In third grade, we extended the lesson to include insects and animals that hibernate, such as tortugas, sapos, and lombrices (turtles, frogs, and worms). Third graders also sang about mariposas, abejas, y pájaros (butterflies, bees, and birds).

All grades played games and sang songs about the days of the week and morning routines, like vestirse, peinarse, and desayunar (get dressed, comb your hair, eat breakfast). Second graders also learned about afternoon routines (eating lunch, learning, doing homework), and third graders included nighttime routines (setting the table, having dinner, taking a shower).

Fourth grade

The fourth graders continue to take dictations of the lyrics of songs that we learned in previous years. The class was introduced to the written words for spring and also the days of the week. They were able to write a short paragraph about the climate including observation of nature and activities. The days of the week lesson included the use of action verbs which described a student’s routines throughout a day in the present, past, and future tenses. As we practiced talking about our day, students continued observing pronouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Fifth grade

In the fifth grade the class practiced writing sentences and identifying pronouns, verbs, and adjectives. We took dictation of the lyrics of the Days of the Week songs. We were able to touch on reflexive verbs by writing about the daily routines of the students. We also continued reading and improving pronunciation. 



Specialty Class Highlight April 2023: Music

Hello Garden School Families,

For those of you who were able to make it to Grandfriends Tea, I hope you enjoyed the songs that the children composed, arranged and/or performed for you. We have some creative and musical children and it’s exciting to watch them exhibit those qualities. 

In class, we continue to explore different musical modalities and meters in all the grades. First and second grade worked on different tempos (speeds) of music and continued proficiency on the penny whistle.  Second grade learned about quarter rests and they continue to work on keyboard geography and basic music notation. In Third and Fourth Grade, we have been doing a listening unit called March Madness, in which the students vote for their favorite songs in a winners bracket format. We have also done a lot of ear training. In addition to preparing for Grandfriend’s Day, Fifth grade has been preparing for Pentathalon and doing some improvisation exercises. 

This month’s record time features the album “When Will Then Be Now” by Project Trio. If you’ve ever wondered what if would be like to have a trio, featuring a beatboxing flute player give a modern modern take on classical themes, your wonderings can cease. Project Trio has solved that mystery for you. It’s fun. It’s quirky. And it comes with high praise from a certain 5th grader who said, “I might actually listen to that.” Can’t ask for much more than that. 

Enjoy,

Ki Ben





Specialty Class Highlight March 2023: Mandarin

1st Grade:

The first grade class has had a lot of fun making origami hats and fortune tellers.  They have learned the poem: Gesse, Gesse, Geese, and the Farmer. Together, we have practiced simple conversations about greeting each other, asking each other’s names, thanking each other, and learning how to apologize to one another. We are learning more vocabulary, and applying what has been learned in simple conversations.

2nd Grade:

In our second grade class, we have learned how to write the numbers 1-10 in Chinese characters. We spent two classes writing numbers from 1 to 99 in Chinese characters. Everyone did a great job. Now we are learning a facial song. Later, we will continue learning new vocabulary and using this in simple conversations. If time allows, we will practice using the Chinese abacus.


3rd Grade: 

The third grade class finished the first set of the twelve basic Chinese characters. We have memorized how to write them in the correct stroke orders. The students have put a lot of effort into focusing on speaking beautiful Chinese with the correct pronunciation. Now, we are moving on to learning the finger song, and new vocabulary. If time allows, we will practice the Chinese Abacus.


4th Grade:

Our fourth grade class has practiced how to use pinyin to pronounce the characters from previous lessons. We have learned the second set of basic Chinese characters. Besides practicing pinyin and tones for the characters, we have also learned the methods to build up more complicated Chinese characters. Through these lessons, the students have a window into Chinese culture and way of thinking. We will continue learning some new vocabulary and apply these new concepts to our classroom conversations.


5th Grade:

In our fifth grade class, we practiced how to use pinyin to pronounce the characters that we have learned before.  Next, the students will learn the second set of basic Chinese characters. The class has put a lot of effort into speaking beautiful Chinese with the correct pronunciation with the help of pinyin. We will continue to learn new vocabulary that will be introduced and applied to classroom conversation. Additionally, as we enter into these last weeks of school, we will continue to practice pinyin and tones for the characters and we will learn the methods to build up more complicated Chinese characters. Through the study of Chinese characters, the students have an opportunity to learn about Chinese culture and ways of thinking. 


Specialty Class Highlight March 2023: EE/ Farming

The weather is certainly keeping us on our toes!  We are often outside, regardless, working on our varied projects and exploring all the gifts our campus offers.  Please always send your student to school dressed as needed so they can enjoy all we offer.

First grade: 

 The first grade class continues building the birdhouse. We are almost done sewing all of the pieces. Taking time to create a project helps to increase its value to the makers.  We are enjoying the process very much. We are also doing an obstacle course in the forest. If you asked this youngest grades class, they can tell you that there are some times on an obstacle courses when being little is definitely an advantage.  

Second Grade:

In second grade, we passed by the compost area and realized that there are tiny pumpkin plants growing out of the old pile. That’s thanks to the pumpkin seeds from the pumpkins you all put in the compost last year.  It was a happy discovery. We are also busy making ropes out of the willow tree bark. The class made a small flower bed for Ki Ieva and planted flowers that will be used next year to create natural dyes to color wool used for school handwork projects.

Third grade:

The third graders began planting in the garden. We planted green onions, peas, beans, radishes, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, and broccoli. We hope that our seeds will withstand the current cold spell!  It is a healthy and sound experience for the students to learn what an impact weather patterns have on plants, the growing season, and the animals.  Mother Nature, her weather and her lessons, are wonderful to behold. 

Fourth grade:

The fourth graders are now working on the area where the bunny cage will be located. They removed big posts and gravel, dug deep holes and moved earth. The fourth graders are only five students but they work like many. 

Fifth grade

In fifth grade, we  were happy to have some warmer, spring-like days to help soften the ground so we can begin to work once again on our pizza oven.  The students started to lay the bricks for the floor of the pizza oven. Now we are working on building the dome, the door, and other parts needed to complete the project so we can have a pizza party. 


Speciality Class Highlight March 2023: Spanish

First grade -Third grade

These classes have similar content, however, in each grade, the lesson and vocabulary are expanded.  In all three grades, we have covered vocabulary for breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods. In first and second grades, we learned short sentences to express our likes and dislikes for various foods, and additionally, in third, we also learned about typical foods from different Spanish-speaking countries. In these early grades, we also took great care in learning about our bodies. We pointed and named parts of the body from head to toe and enjoyed games using them. A very important lesson was the one about our emotions and states. For example how to say “I am happy,” or “I am hungry.” Second and third graders also learned verbs associated with the different parts of the body. 

For winter, all classes learned the vocabulary for snow, cold, the clothes we wear, and the sports we practice at this time of the year. We also learned the colors blue and white. In second grade, our lessons included words and phrases about animals that live in cold climates and their body parts.  While in third grade, we studied the changes that take place in nature such as the migration of birds, the freezing of lakes, and things that we do to keep us warm during the cold months. Last week we started our unit about spring. Being able to observe the vocabulary we’re working on in the world around them makes the learning more relevant.

Fourth grade

The fourth grade class started to take dictations of the lyrics of songs that we learned in previous years. The students were able to sing as they read the lyrics. We practiced our pronunciation as each student took turns reading the lyrics. The class was introduced to the written words for body parts and emotions. We wrote brief descriptions of the location of our body parts using position words. The ideas of pronouns, verbs, and adjectives in Spanish were also introduced.

Fifth grade

In the fifth grade we continued learning the conjugation of present tense AR, IR, and ER verbs and worked on the irregular verbs SER and ESTAR. We also talked about body parts and emotions.  The class practiced writing by dictation and reading out loud.  The fifth grade will soon start learning the PAST TENSE.

Warmly,

Ki Maria

Specialty Class Highlight March 2023: Games

In fifth grade, the students are practicing for the pentathlon. Part of the Waldorf philosophy is to give an outer expression for what lives within the students. In fifth grade, the students are in perfect balance and harmony and so they get to learn about the Greeks, and to learn the sports of the Greeks. The students are working on running the baton, throwing the discus, long jump, throwing javelin, and wrestling. The highlight of the event will be at the end of April when all of the Waldorf schools from the area will meet for a three day event during which the students will play, perform, and meet new friends.

We also started games classes with the third, fourth and fifth grade. Students play new games and work on their social skills, teamwork, and supporting their friends besides, of course, having fun. 

Warmly,

Mr. Matan



Specialty Class Highlight: Woodworking February 2023

During the past weeks, the students in first, third and fourth grade were busy continuing to develop skills with sawing, using a plane, and hammering. Our second and fifth grade classes are working on other skills at the moment.

In first grade, we continued to work on building a birdhouse. The students are getting experts in handling a saw, sawing straight, and working together for this common goal.

Third grade started to build a house out of logs from the forest. They came up with a design that everyone was happy with, and now they are busy collecting the wood, sawing it to the right length, and hammering pieces together. Aside from supporting them with a structure and making sure that everyone is contributing, it is entirely their project and I'm excited to see what it will look like when it’s done.

Fourth grade is almost done with the bunny house. We have just a few more panels to attach. We also started digging holes for the posts when the handle of our spade gave up and broke. We replaced the old one with a new and much stronger handle carved by the students from the cherrywood we had harvested in our forest. It was a great opportunity to learn that when something breaks we can fix it rather than always buying new things.

Specialty Class Highlight: Handwork February 2023

First grade.

All students in the first grade are knitting! We are looking carefully as we knit to not lose any sheep (drop stitches) or accidently take sheep from a neighbor’s pastures (add stitches).It is fun when the students say how they took a neighbor's sheep by mistake or ask where is their sheep if they drop a stitch.  Using this type of imagery is very helpful to students learning a new skill.

All students completed their first knitting project, each making a small pocket with a strap. We have a school tradition in which students from an older grade make a small gnome for the first graders finished pockets.  This year, Ki Gaby's third and fourth graders made the pocket gnomes. It is sweet as these older students recall when they made their first pocket project in first grade and received a gnome from an older class.  Such special memories!

Second grade.

The second-grade class is full of hard-working knitters! They often ask me to skip the opening verse so they can start knitting as soon as class begins (we do the verse anyway ;). They all are working to firmly establish their knitting skills, learn new stitches, and work on new projects.

For our gnome project, the students learn how to knit and purl. We look at the difference it makes when you knit one row and purl one row. Working toward the end goal of a finished gnome helps keep the students motivated and they enjoy the processes hey are learning.

Third and fourth grade.

For the past few years, our school has created a tradition in which an older grades’s class makes a special gift of small gnome babies for the first grade students once they have completed their first knitting project (a small pocket with a strap). This year the third/fourth grade students made the pocket gnomes for the first graders. 

While we were working, some students remembered when they got something special for their first knitting project. Some of the students also wanted to make a pocket baby for themselves too. Another lovely part about this process was that many from our class have siblings in the first grade. These students chose to make a pocket baby for their younger brother or sister; a sweet gesture.

More on third grade.

All students are crocheting circle-shape projects. Every student has their own work rhythm. They will progress through theses projects during the semester: penny whistle holder, hat, and indoor frisbee.

After the February break, we will pause crocheting and learn about fibers. Someone whispered to me that we might go on a spring field trip to visit Angora goats!  Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks!

More on fourth grade.

All students work so effortlessly that our lesson speeds past us, and we can not believe it is time to end each class.  All students have have all finished their scissor holders and needle holders and are now working on their handwork bags. For their handwork bags, they have to design their monogram (initials) on paper which they will then transfer on their bags and finish the project by embroidering them.  After our handwork bags, we will move to our cross-stitch projects.

Fifth grade.

We took a break from our socks knitting project as all students were working on the Chinese New Year puppet show puppets. Each student made their animal, cutting the felt shapes, hand stitching these patterns into forms, adding details, stuffing and, along the way, helped each other when needed.  It was a great opportunity to remember all the sewing skills from last year. 

The puppet show was a wonderful experience for them to write, make, and perform. Fifth grade shared a beautiful project with all the school students.  Next, we will return back to the traditional fifth grade knitting project of a pair of socks.

Warmly,

Ki Ieva



Specialty Class Highlight: Music - February 2023

The quests proceed! The children continue their attempts to return a peanut butter spoon to the baker. Along the way, the children have been exposed to various tonalities (Major, Minor, Lydian, etc.) We have also started learning the basics of reading and writing music. The children danced with a melting snowman who sang the blues and did a bit of sock skating too. We have started playing rhythm pieces with multiple parts and singing in rounds and we studied the percussion and string instrument families. 5th grade has begun The Dragon Quest. So far, they have composed and notated a song that a troll would sing, so they can get past the troll guarding a bridge. Next they will use their compositions to turn on the water in a magic river. 

The record time suggestion for this write up centers around a beautiful, mellow mood. It features the acoustic guitar joined at times by other instruments, including the pennywhistle. I hope you enjoy Beyond Nature, by Phil Keaggy, an album that has been important to me, personally, for over 30 years. 

Warmly,

Ben

Specialty Class Highlight: Mandarin - January 2023

1st Grade:

This is our first Chinese New Year! We have learned the Chinese zodiac of twelve animals in the order and the Chinese New Year story: the monster Nian. We understand the Chinese custom for Chinese New Year. We have learned how to draw rabbits, which is this year’s animal. We also made a rabbit dragon. We also have learned Chinese New Year Song. After Chinese New Year, we will learn more traditional poems.

2nd Grade:

This is our second Chinese New Year! We reviewed the Chinese New Year song that we learned last year. We will learn a new song as well. We have mastered the Chinese Zodiac and Chinese New Year custom. We have learned how to draw rabbits, which is this year’s animal. We also made a rabbit dragon. We will continue to learn origami arts. After Chinese New Year, we will learn new songs and how to write Chinese characters.

3rd Grade: 

We have finished our 2023 Chinese calendar. We have learned many things during this project, including patience and concentration along with how the calendar works. We reviewed the New Year's custom, and learned how to make origami rabbits. After we finish up lessons around the Chinese New Year, we will learn the first set of Chinese characters.

4th Grade:

We have learned pinyin and pinyin songs from through thiese exercises we are able to pronounce Chinese characters. We practiced how to put pinyin on the Chinese Zodiac. We have reviewed and practiced Chinese New Year customs. We have learned how to make origami rabbits. In our next block of lessons, we will learn the second set of Chinese characters.

5th Grade:

We are working hard to prepare for the Chinese New Year puppet show. Our class students wrote the story with the teacher translating it into Chinese. We have learned pinyin, and how to use the pinyin to pronounce Chinese characters. The students made puppets for the show with the help of their handwork teacher.  After the Chinese Puppet Show, we will learn more Chinese characters and songs.

Specialty Class Highlight January 16-20, 2023: Environmental Education

Hello Families,

Coming back from the long break, the students were very eager to start working on the new projects and continue the old.

In first grade, we started giving the nuts we had previously collected to the squirrels and chipmunks. The students are working on their numeric skills by counting how many acorns the squirrels are getting every time. The students also started working on making bird houses.

In second grade, we are continuing to work on the compost. We also started collecting clay from the riverbank and sifting it so we can make things from it. The students figured out that if we mix the clay, the sand will sink down and so we can harvest the clay on top.

In third grade, the students and animals were very excited to be reunited. The chickens even started laying eggs again. Besides the farm work, the students worked on cutting the kudzu vines that are surrounding the trees and choking them in the summer. The students also finished the parts for the wheelchair and wagons. 

In fourth grade, we finished the interior of the bunny house and now the students are working on putting the panels on the exterior. The students also started to prepare the space where the bunnies will go. They are digging holes for the posts and moving gravel.

Matan



Specialty Class Highlight December 5-9, 2022: Spanish

FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD GRADES

We had a great time with our Fall themes.

First grade learned to talk about clothing, the weather, and the turning of the leaves.

Second grade added outdoor jobs, gardening tools, fall crops, and sizes to their vocabulary.

Third grade learned about squirrels, spiders, bears, foxes, and bats.

We’ve also been learning about breakfast foods. The first graders learned to talk about what foods are their favorites. Second graders added the fruits, and third graders added even more foods. We’ll return to food lessons in January.

FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADE

Fourth grade has become familiar with Spanish writing using the silabas (syllables) method. In Spanish, we sound words out in simple syllables of just a consonant and a vowel: ca-be-za. We practiced listening, reading, and writing from the book La Lectura Inicial (Santanilla).

Fifth grade has concentrated on the conjugation of the regular verbs and pronouns. We practiced listening and writing and reading short sentences.

In December, 1st through 5th are learning an Aguinaldo. Aguinaldos are Venezuelan Christmas carols, often specific to a particular region of the country, referencing its geographical features, fauna, flora, and games. The Villancicos are also traditional Christmas songs.

Wishing you all a happy Winter break,

Ki Maria



Specialty Class Highlight November 29-December 2, 2022: Woodworking

Our woodshop is growing! We are continuing to expand the physical workshop and the programs we are offering to students and the wider community. 

During the Thanksgiving break, we installed four new vises. This means we now have eight workstations for student work.  After returning from our break, the fourth graders added a door for the bunny house. The students thought about the mechanism for the door. They had to consider how the door would open and shut and how to lock the bunnies at night. We also started to work on clearing the area on the farm that will house the bunnies. In fifth grade, we finished our coat hangers for the outdoor classroom and started working on candleholders to bring home some light for the holidays. The students had to saw the wood and split it in half using an ax. Later, they used a planer to flatten the bottom and used gouges to work on the top.

I am excited to share that we have started our adult woodworking program. Interested community members can now join us once a week for an adults-only woodworking class. (If you missed the registration period for this current group, be on the lookout for upcoming information on our spring class.) We are currently working on building mallets. This involves bashing through the hard wood with axes and then shaping the wood. While woodworking, we explore the forces of the will and discuss some fundamental theoretical concepts of the educational philosophy behind Waldorf education.

Matan

Specialty Class Highlight November 2022: Handwork

Hello Garden school families,

Tuesdays and Thursdays are my favorite days. I am excitedly learning new skills along with my students. As they learn handwork, I learn how to be a better Handwork teacher. 

First grade:

We warmed up our fingers during the first months. Now we have moved on to our planned projects. We have started knitting! As expected, students are working at different paces: some have almost finished, while others are working on developing their skills. They all work hard on their projects. This class is very focused. Once we come back from the break, we are planning some exciting projects that will involve other grades too. Plus, we will have a fun project before the Winter break.

Second grade:

This class continues speeding ahead like NASA’s new Artemis rocket. We continue to work on our knitting skills. The students have established their knitting skills at a level where I trust them to keep their handwork bags in the classroom. They are allowed to work on their projects during their free time. As a class, we have agreed that they shouldn’t go ahead if they are stuck though overall, the group has also matured to a level where they are comfortable fixing their mistakes. Our current project is to knit animals. The students who have completed their animal project are working on either knitting a washcloth or a gnome.

Third grade:

The third grade has finished their landscape weaving projects which are on display in the hallway of their classroom for all to admire. They have started learning to crochet. We started with a belt project to practice basic sticthes. Students who grasped the required skills moved on to the potholder. The potholder requires crocheting back and forth. Next, students move on to crocheting a circle-shaped project. They the can pick to either crochet a hat or a holder for a penny whistle. We are working on our ability to focus and to learn to troubleshoot before asking for help.  

Fourth grade:

The fourth grade has finished their landscape weaving projects which are on display in the hallway of their classroom for all to admire along with the third grade projects. The class has started working on embroidering by hand. Their first project was to make a holder for their scissors. This project taught them multiple stitches. Now they are working on a needle holder, which will add additional stitches to their arsenal. This project will also teach them how to develop their own design. Once we have finished with the needle holder, we will make our own handwork bag with their monogram stitched on the bag. The class has a good working rhythm that moves them forward at a nice pace.  

Fifth grade:

We continue our journey towards knitted socks. We have learned a style of knit stitch and purl stitch. Everyone has finished their warm-up project. We are now using four double-pointed knitting needles to start knitting the socks. This method is called circle-knitting. It is a more advanced knitting technique that will allow them to master more complex projects. We are also thinking about how we want our socks to look. Students are allowed to come up with their designs. I am so excited to see all the great ideas and colors that will emerge from their designs. After the break, we will have a guest visit to another grade for a fun surprise.

Warmly,

Ieva

Specialty Class Highlight November 2022: Music

In music, the grades students have been having lots of fun. We’ve been playing games that teach musical concepts such as rhythm, rhythm reading, the way notes move (ear training) and an introduction to music notation. We warmed up our voices and learned to sing and play the lovely Lantern Walk songs. The classes have also been playing their pennywhistles, bells and ukuleles, and exploring the many moods that are created by music. 

Please, PLEASE, remember, your child needs to bring their instruments and folders every Monday so your child will stay successfully learning with their class.

1st grade - pennywhistles.

2nd grade - pennywhistles.

3rd grade - pennywhistles, ukuleles and blue folders.

4th grade - pennywhistles, ukuleles and blue folders.

5th grade - ukuleles and blue folders.

Remembering to bring their instruments and music helps the children to build healthy habits that will support them throughout their lives. As the students are young, please help them with this at home. One suggestion is to have your child to draw a picture or write a note to leave in a certain spot as a reminder. 

Record Time: This month's record time will be two parts. One because this is the last chance before the winter break for me to remind you all how wonderful the music of The Nutcracker is and encourage you to share it with your children along with the rest of the wonderful music that comes once a year. 

The second album I would like to recommend to you is “Live Art” by Bela Felck and the Flecktones. It features Victor Wooten, who tops the list of incredible bass players, Future Man on “drums” which aren’t really drums and Bela Fleck, the preeminent Jazz banjo player. Yes, that’s right. Jazz Banjo. There are several special guests including Sam Bush, Branford Marsalis, Chick Corea, Edgar Meyer, Jerry Douglas and Bruce Hornsby. 

Enjoy!!! 

The song “The Message” has a positive message, but it does talk about war (and peace) so may not be suitable for some.

Kind regards,

Ben


Specialty Class Highlight November 2022: Environmental Education

Dear Garden School families,

During the past month, the grades students have been keeping very busy doing a variety of activities around campus.  They have been at work in the garden, on the farm, and in the forest. 

After harvesting their own clay, the first graders molded various animals. They found some bamboo sticks and used them to build houses for the city they are creating. We also passed by the farm to pet the chickens.

The second graders have distributed compost buckets for every class. Once a week they collect the buckets for each class. They continue to be responsible for the community compost and are very excited whenever the wheelbarrow is full and heavy. The second graders are also working on building a new compost pile since the first pile is almost full. Keep those food scraps coming!

In third grade, the students are observing the different seasons and how they affect the animals. For instance, the chickens stopped laying eggs a couple of weeks ago. The students harvested some vegetables from the garden and made a salad. We also had a class cookout over a campfire and made some delicious soup using our garden’s veggies complemented by fresh vegetables brought from home. Additionally, the students finished the garden for Joyful Beginnings. Our younger friends have planted violets in the wooden planters. The third graders are now building a path that will lead into the forest and allow people with wheelchairs and wagons to access the forest.

The fourth graders are busy working on their rabbit house. It is shaping up very nicely. The future rabbits even have two doorways built into the hutch! Please help your child to continue to use their skills at home to saw or split wood. We cannot wait for the rabbits to join our farm. 

The fifth graders are wrapping up their work on the structure of the pizza oven. They learned how to make the roof just with bamboo and earth. This roof will be strong enough to hold the bricks and the dome and hopefully the pizza itself.  

Kindly,

Matan


Specialty Class Highlight November 2022: Mandarin

1st grade:

Yeah! We can count to 100 in Chinese now. And we also learned a Chinese number song. This semester, we will end with learning Thanksgiving and Christmas songs, as well as some Chinese vocabulary. 

2nd grade:

We have finished learning all fourteen basic strokes. Everyone tried hard to practice every stroke, and did a wonderful job. Our class is ready to learn the real Chinese characters. 

3rd grade:

We have finished reviewing all fourteen basic strokes, and learned how to write numbers below one hundred in Chinese. Now we are practicing how to do numbers and simple math on Chinese abacus. 

4th grade:

Our class has learned the first set of twelve basic Chinese characters. Everyone did a very good job.  Now we are practicing the math time table on Chinese abacus.

5th grade:

After we have reviewed the first set of twelve basic Chinese characters, we are finishing the math time table on Chinese abacus. Later, we are going to learn some Chinese vocabulary and prepare the puppy show for next Chinese new year.

It is fun learning and playing together!

Kindly,

Ki Cerina



Specialty Class Highlight October 2022: Spanish

Our year in Spanish is going very well. First through Third are learning vocabulary through songs. They’ll learn a song one year, and then come back to it and add more verses the next. We practice the vocabulary by playing games, then use the new words to respond to simple questions. We’ve learned about greetings, name, school, age, family, pronouns, and numbers 1-100 with sign language.

 In fourth grade, we read and write. We started by learning the alphabet. We practice sounds and learn how to spell words. We work on reading and taking dictation. We are currently writing out the songs we learned in first -third grade.

 Fifth grade started the year learning hand-clap rhymes. Now we’re practicing conjugation of the regular and irregular verbs in the present tense. Students learn short sentences that allow them to write about themselves and others. We are learning to identify nouns, pronouns, adjectives, and articles, also counting to 1000, and telling time.

 All the grades learned the short poem, “Sol, Solecito”. Second and third grades made pictures to show the meaning, while fourth and fifth graders wrote it down. I’m excited to continue teaching your children!

 

Ki Maria



Specialty Class Highlight October 2022: Woodworking

As The Garden School of Marietta school grows, new needs and opportunities arise. In fifth grade, Waldorf students traditionally start their woodworking lessons. Wood is an important medium for students of this age. By working with its resistance and shaping it into new forms, students develop their will forces.  

When I learned that I would be joining the Garden School as a woodwork teacher and would be tasked with building a new woodworking program from scratch, I reached out to my friends and my community and received a lot of support. Some offered me generous tool donations. Additionally, our school has supplied many items to begin this program. These tools are now available for the students’ use and open up new and exciting opportunities for our lessons.  I also had an amazing opportunity to chose specific types of hardwood for the students to work with which was donated by Top Tier Trees (a warm thank you to them!).

The year started with the fifth graders by preparing a space outside that will grow into our outdoor woodshop. The students used the wood from the area to whittle coat hangers using whittling knives. The coat hangers will serve us in the outdoor classroom. We also worked on making shields for the second grade for the Day of Courage. The fourth graders are working on building a rabbit hutch that will soon house our school bunnies. This will be such a fun addition to our farm. With the second graders, we made swords that helped them to face the dragon during our Day of Courage celebrations. All of this is just the beginning. Soon we will open our first woodworking courses for interested adults. Details will be forthcoming. So stay tuned! 




Specialty Class Highlight September 2022: Handwork

Handwork projects are well underway as new skills are learned and projects are excitedly being worked on during class.

First grade:

It is always exciting to work with our first grade. Lessons and techniques are much like freshly planted seeds, you may not see anything just yet, but soon the saplings will start to sprout!

We started the year warming up our skills to start knitting. We worked on learning to make a slip knot, finger chaining, finger knitting, knotting, winding a yarn ball, and making our knitting needles. All of these skills moved us slowly and purposefully toward knitting. We are letting these new skills rest a bit while we take a break to sew our penny whistle holders for Music class. We will return to learning to knit once we have finished with our current project. At home, you are welcome to give your child a small basket or box with some string or yarn. They can use the string or yarn to practice finger chaining or knitting.

Second grade:

Second grade is flying ahead like space rockets! The students were eager to work on their handwork projects. I was nicely surprised that they had kept their knitting skills from last year. Our new students were also able to pick up the required knitting skills quickly. Some of the students were able to finish their projects from the previous year. We continue working on our basic knitting skills and basic knitting stitches. Soon we will begin new knitting projects and the students will be able to apply both their refined and new skills.

Third and fourth grade:

We started the year with the weaving project. This project is part of our grades curriculum, as we learn about different fiber types, the sources of these fibers, and how to work with the fiber to create a finished project. Weaving is a great warm-up project. Students started by making their own looms. Then we listened to the story about sheep and the students then imagined a landscape based on this story for their weaving project. Their finished weaving projects will be put on exhibit in one of our second-floor hallways. Projects will be sent home before the next break. After our weaving project, the third grade will start learning to crochet. The fourth grade will learn embroidery and cross-stitch. They will be sewing scissor holders, pin cushions, and handwork bags. I am so excited to see their learning journey.

Fifth grade:

Fifth grade handwork is all about working towards knitted socks. The students will learn more new terms and many more skills this year. If you can knit a sock, you can knit anything! This project requires knowledge of all the fundamentals that you need for knitting. We started this year by learning to knit differently. This new method will help us knit a little bit faster. It also will also make it easier to work on more complex projects. Our first project will help us master knit stitch and purl stitch. The students have been very excited to knit once again or to learn how to knit for the very first time!