Embracing New Beginnings in the Owls Classroom

by Sarah Post

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The Excitement of a New School Year

The start of the school year in the Owls classroom is filled with excitement and anticipation. We are thrilled to see old friends and meet new students joining us as first-year Owls. The fun activities awaiting us include Hawgolwood, field time, snack time, cooking, outdoor living skills, math games, making art, singing songs, reading poems, and playing with blocks. The list goes on and on!

Transitioning from our summer selves to our back-to-school selves brings comfort and familiarity. We settle into our rhythms and daily schedules. Owls enjoy their morning routines, which include putting belongings in cubbies, reading the schedule, and heading to the field. Hand washing, listening to each other, and expressing our feelings in healthy ways are also essential parts of our day.

Building Healthy Habits

Owls work on listening to their bodies and building the stamina needed to make it through a full day. During snack and lunch times, we often discuss the importance of eating food to fuel our bodies. We create a safe space for all emotions in the Owls classroom. It’s perfectly okay to miss home and feel ready for the end of the day.

During our Closing Circle, we reflect by sharing parts of our day: rose (favorite), bud (looking forward to), thorn (did not like), and stem (grateful for). Owls practice active listening skills during this time by keeping their eyes on the speaker and their voices off.

Flexibility in Learning

This fall, Owls have been practicing flexibility in our minds and bodies. Every day, we read our schedule, which anchors us to our day. However, sometimes we need to be flexible when things change unexpectedly. One day, we had to stay inside during Hawgolwood time due to a thunderstorm and lightning. Another time, we practiced a fire drill that interrupted our morning work time.

Every Friday, we enjoy a different kind of day. We explore our community through field trips and special guests. Flexibility is an essential muscle to flex, both figuratively and literally! Speaking of actual muscles, every day after morning field time, Owls take time to do stretches and exercises in the classroom before our morning meeting.

Energizing Our Bodies

Pushing, pulling, and stretching helps our bodies feel ready to listen and try our best. We also like to try new morning exercises. Some fun ones we’ve learned this fall include boat, happy baby, full-body stretches, dead bug, superhero, and bird dog. Another routine that flexes our brains is sharing daily riddles.

As we listen to the riddle, we turn our brains on. If we have an answer, we keep it to ourselves until snack time to avoid turning anyone else's brain off. Oftentimes, Owls come up with equally funny alternative answers to our riddles!

Exploring Our Identities

Our first project of the year focused on investigating our identities. Owls read the books Twig, All Are Welcome and We’re Different and It’s Totally Cool to start discussing what makes us unique. We used mirrors to study our features closely, talking about the shapes of our heads, eyes, noses, ears, and mouths.

Then, we experimented with various shades of colored pencils to find the one that matches our skin tone. The result was a collection of beautiful self-portraits that the Owls are proud to display in the classroom. In another book we read together, we noticed a fun activity and wondered what would happen if we tried it!

Creative Expression

What if we traced our bodies and made life-size cutouts of ourselves? This was a fun and engaging way to continue exploring how we identify through our appearance and style. The next step is an identity collage that will include many ways to share about ourselves, such as how we celebrate special occasions and holidays, our favorite foods, and the languages we speak.

The Joy of Reading Aloud

Another routine that Owls love is Read Aloud. This fall, in addition to many picture books, we read all six chapter books in the Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo. Owls loved reading about the silly adventures of Mercy and how they always seem to end with hot buttered toast. We all agree that life is better with hot buttered toast, especially when eaten with eggs from our own chickens.

The Importance of Routines

In the Owls classroom, we understand the importance of having routines and being flexible when the unexpected happens. Leaving space for questions and following the lead and personal interests of Owls creates an environment that is fun and engaging. The balance of choice, structure, and process is crucial.

Fall is a wonderful time to give students the opportunity to slow down, think, build, create, learn from mistakes, and be themselves.

Elsa

We visited Bromley Manor in our Halloween costumes. I wore my Rapunzel dress.

Emerson

We do riddles in Owls. We put a thumb up when we think we know the answer.

Fritz

I went on a field trip to the cemetery. I saw my Dad and Piper there.

Jack

I danced to music in music class with Heather. We learned a new song called “We Are the Agents of Change” and I love it!

Leif

I played with Fritz in Hawgolwood.

Madi

We like to draw in Owls. I drew Red Fox school with hearts around it.

Conclusion: A Year of Growth and Discovery

As we embark on this school year, we look forward to the many adventures and learning experiences that await us. Each day is a new opportunity for growth, discovery, and building lasting friendships. The Owls classroom is a place where we embrace new beginnings and cherish the journey together.

Through our routines, flexibility, and creative expressions, we are not just learning; we are growing as individuals. We are excited to see what the rest of the year holds for us!

As we continue to explore and learn, we remind ourselves that every moment is a chance to embrace our unique identities and celebrate our differences. Together, we can create a vibrant and inclusive community where everyone feels valued and heard.

Let's make this school year unforgettable!