We are already hard at work.  We began Math lesson one on day one, and we are in the midst of finding factors, prime factors and all multiplication combinations for a given natural number.  Everyone is remembering what they learned in the past, and pushing along further to see connections and patterns.

Students who were interested are working on a demonstration of the “Sieve of Eratosthenes”- it’s a very  old way to find prime numbers.

We have been talking  every day about our umbrella project relating to “relationship.”  We are first thinking about our relationship as a group- we will form an understanding between ourselves, a “social contract” in which we will decide how we should treat each other to work toward our class goal or mission-
Here is our mission-  “To become the kind of person who knows their principles, and sticks to them.”  This would be a huge goal for any group, so we know that we will have to work hard (and change, which is really hard), and we may not get all the way there this year.  Anyone who would like to join us on this most difficult of quests is welcome.

Part of our work together, so that we can really be democratic and work together, will be the job that each student has.  Each member of the class will apply for and perform a classroom responsibility which helps the class to function.  Everyone has a job description list, and an application.  They are due in on Monday, and interviews will begin then.  These jobs have salaries,  paid in “peep money.”  There will also be table rent and taxes.  The amount each student is able to save over the year will be their stake when we play “Village” after spring break.  “Village” is a 1/2 dollhouse scale town with houses and jobs and government and….

Now for some super basic information-
We have PE on Wednesday mornings and Friday mornings
We have Spanish on Monday morning and Thursday afternoons
Starting on Oct. 1 we have Minds in Motion on Tuesday afternoons (Hooray!)
Lunch is at 12:30 Monday -Thursday.
On Fridays, lunch is at 12:20 so that we can leave for Forest recess at 12:40.  We will have a work time in the forest after recess on Friday.  Usually it will be Science, but it we do have a few other things planned.
Water bottles are highly recommended.  They may be stored in cubbies (everyone has one) or next to your table leg on the floor.  Snacking is allowed during classwork time, at work tables, IF it is something neat and easy to eat.  I support reusable packaging, however, the laptop lunch type lunchboxes take up too much room on an table full of classwork.  If you could send in something in a separate container if your child wants/needs an extra snack, that would be highly appreciated.

I am really looking forward to seeing you on Back to School night, and I will have more to tell you then.  I will be happy to answer questions then, by e-mail, or in person.

Warmly,
Marla

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