Spring is Here! Whoot! Whoot!

Oki - Hello

I realize that I haven't posted in 93 days (93 days?!) and being the 45th day of Spring and all, I thought I better hop to it.

Napi Elementary, Browning, MT

Official Class Photo:  Ms. Rich, Grade 6, Napi Elementary

Art Class: Koru Spirals

Things have been BUSY in Room 20.  We received all of our art supplies from Donors Choose and had our first official Friday art class in early March.  We learned about the Maori culture of New Zealand and how they use the spiral motif of the fern frond in their art and daily lives.  The fern represents rebirth and my students and I agreed, by March, we were more than ready for spring.

Vibrant Maori Inspired Art

Students created their own spiral art incorporating the spiral (of course) and focusing on perspective.  Our first use of the oil pastels was a success, some students loved blending the colors with their fingers for a softer look while others were impressed with the brightness and boldness they could create.

Rm 20 artwork proudly displayed

The finished pieces are breathtaking.  Thanks to the generosity of Donors Choose and the creativity of my students, our classroom is filled with pride and vivid artwork.

Eight of Room 20's Fine Artists

Spelling Bee

In-between art projects, I was elected to coach and chaperone the students participating in the Glacier County Spelling Bee.  Back in 1992, I won Thomas Jefferson's spelling bee.  

If they could see me now…

1992

The spelling bee was a blast.  One of my students made it to the third round and the overall winner was from Browning Middle School so it was a win for BPS.  We celebrated at Pizza Hut in CutBank. 

Dulci, Representing Room 20, thanks for making us proud!

State Testing: Smarter Balanced

Last week, we survived our first ever run at the new state testing, Smarter Balanced.  Smarter Balanced is a computer test and this year is the pilot year turning my students into pioneers.  After practicing for weeks, my students rose to the occasion and not only completed the tests but also took the time to write constructive feedback about the content and user-friendliness of the test.

The pioneers working hard on Smarter Balanced

Art Class: Georgia O'Keeffe

After all that grueling testing, we voted to have another art class.  We started our study on Georgia O'Keeffe.  The students were captivated by the images of O'Keeffe's work and they were intrigued about how she depicted realistic subjects in a surreal way.

Work in Progress - Dedication

Before and after - Perseverance

Students were given the choice of two projects:   "Zoom-ed in Flower" or "Skull".  

Heads down and focused

This project has truly been a collaborative effort.  First, Donors Choose provided the art supplies.  Each student received a 15-sheet watercolor paper artist's pad and will have their own set of watercolors.  We are also incorporating the oil pastels used in our Koru Spiral project.  I also have to thank my friend, Dawn, for donating a gift card to our class that I used to purchase the faux flowers.  

At first, I planned to only have students work with the flowers.  After much deliberation, I asked around for a skull that students could also have the option of painting.  

Before and after - Creativity

Two of the teachers at Browning Elementary pulled through a skull was delivered.  It is amazingly beautiful and the students were in awe.  And, I get to keep it :)

My favorite part of this day was watching students relax and sketch, letting their mind be free and in the moment, focused on creating lines on paper.  Art is therapeutic.


Step-by-step: Diligence

We decided that these O'Keeffe inspired pieces will make lovely Mother's Day gifts.  Here are some of the breathtaking results/works in progress:  

Our first experiment with watercolors

First finished flower - focus & pride

Sunflower - determination

Language Arts: Virtues

In Spelling/Language Arts news, as a 6th grade, we decided to focus on virtues.  Each classroom has a bulletin board with four-five virtues.  When we anyone catches a 6th grader "In the act" of demonstrating a virtue, their name will go on the respective bulletin board.  Room 20 has been participating in various activities using virtues in order to deepen our understanding of the words.

Below is one of our favorite activities:
Spelling with Cheez-It crackers.

Cooperation, caring, respect, modesty, assertiveness, perseverance, loyalty, integrity,  and determination.  Delicious.

Proudly displayed Virtue posters.  Each student was assigned a virtue and wrote at least three synonyms to help classmates learn the words.  

Reading

Reading classes were cancelled for three weeks due to the Smarter Balanced testing schedule.  Last week, it was like seeing old friends again having my Reading group back and I even had 4 new members added to my group as two of my students moved on to a higher level.  We wish them the best.

Partner work - Fluency Practice

Partner Reading, part of our daily routine

Earth Day

April 22 was Earth Day, one of my favorites.  Although, shouldn't every day be Earth Day?!  Anyways, I showed my students this awesome Ted Talk on saving paper towels and the students started a class spreadsheet on how many paper towels each saved by logging what they normally used and comparing that to what they use now!  I have caught students moving paper from the trash to the class recycling and one gal even brought in newspapers from home.  Hooray!  

April 22 - Earth Day - Students designed posters with three ways to save:

Life in East Glacier

It's almost unbelievable that there are only 21 days of teaching left until June 3, our last day.  Things somehow feel as if they are speeding up instead of winding down at Napi.  It is hard to comprehend that this school year is quickly coming to a close.  And, as school nears the end, things around Glacier National Park are just perking up.  The roads to Two Medicine and Many Glacier are now open!  My daily walks are met with new friendly faces.  Day by day, we are starting to see the boards come down on all the business.  The most exciting openings of all would have to be Serrano's and the Rock & Roll Bakery, both in full-swing since May 1.  I've been to each once.  This shows that I am exercising extreme restraint!

Springtime in East Glacier

Browning Public Schools does not schedule a typical week-off Spring Break, we have a long weekend around April 19 - Record Store Day.

I spent Spring Break with dear friends from both East Glacier and Missoula.  It was a lovely weekend.  Highlights included a trip to the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee, live music from Shovels & Rope at the Top Hat, and a quick soak at Symes Hot Springs.

Garden of One Thousand Buddhas, Arlee

Spring is my favorite time in Montana.  The weather is unpredictable and hilarious.  It is not uncommon to have rain, hail, snow, and sunshine in the same day.  But, it sure is pretty.  

Beautiful and conveniently located in my front yard

Sunset, Hwy 49

Walk into Two Medicine from the Boundary, Sunday, April 27

I'll leave you with the peaceful sounds from what the East Glacier-ites call, Froggy Flats.  Enjoy.  

Happy Spring!

-Natalie