Month: November 2015

Snapshots of Learning: Creative Writing Adventures

/ HSE_21

Often the most difficult aspect of creative writing, for adults and for students, is the character and story ideas. Who–or what–will be my characters? What will happen in my story? Take a peek into Amy Murch’s class to see how she and several other HSE elementary teachers are using Night Zookeeper to foster creative ideas and promote writing fluency this year. Night Zookeeper is an online adventure land for students, built to encourage creative writing and provide a global network for story sharing. The Night Zoo is full of adventures waiting to happen…if only the students will write them!

 

Snapshots of Learning: Research in First Grade

/ HSE_21

Think back to your own first grade experience. Was the term research a part of your vocabulary? Did your teacher ever refer to you as a researcher? An inquirer? For my part, I’m fairly certain that at age six I had no idea what research and/or inquiry meant. These terms…well, they just never came up in class conversation.

Not so in HSE primary classrooms today. Check out this 2-minute example from TCE teacher Courtney Gibson’s class. The first-graders’ curiosity about geodes has led to exploration, discovery, and the sharing of new knowledge. According to TCE Principal Sara Curran, these young investigators “are still sharing what they are learning, as I heard more about geodes yesterday in the hallway!”