Pysanky

Spelling/Handwriting-  We began the day by discussing our new spelling list.  Some of the words on the list are related to what we will be learning in our classes this week.  Some of the words are to practice certain spelling rules.  In this list, we have many words that use the letters "au" to make the "aw" sound.  We incorporated our cursive handwriting practice into spelling today, as the group wrote some of the new words in cursive.  For those who were working on cursive writing last year, they specifically worked on transitioning proper size and letter structure on regular wide ruled paper.

Writing-  In writing class today, Ms. Bev began with a review on topic sentences.  The students took turns reading their topic sentences out loud and helping each other improve upon them.  Further, the facts within a paragraph are related, giving the paragraph a common theme.  Today was a day of slowing down.  Ms. Bev used the material that the class has been working on to help illustrate what the concepts they have discussed.  On a side note, Ms. Bev unknowingly backed up the lesson that I taught a few weeks ago on respect, behavior, and being kind in class and at home.  She got onto the topic of Mother Theresa.  She explained that Mother Theresa has three rules:  Be kind, be kind, and be kind.  Ms. Bev explained that you can be kind using your words, your tone of voice, and your body.  I was so pleased to hear the kids bring up my example of how our words are like shooting arrows from a bow.  Once they are out, they cannot be taken back.  They will inflict injury or give praise and lift a person up.  They listen.  They do.

Grammar-  In grammar class today, the class completed our review of common and proper nouns, pronouns, and capitalization rules (Lesson 34 in our book).  We will be moving on to learning about the four types of sentences tomorrow in our video lesson.  Be sure to keep practicing the poem, "Ozymandius".  We will record them on Thursday of next week!

Spanish- Ms. Rose has been working with the class on articles and feminine and masculine nouns.  They have been writing, speaking, and applying these grammatical concepts in Spanish and, as a mother and a teacher, I am thrilled! 

Social Studies- Through reading, discussion, and comprehension exercised, the class has been studying the Reconstruction period.  Today, after Mr. Dennis talked about their at home reading assignment, the class worked in small groups on a vocabulary crossword puzzle from the passages.

Art- Today, I was the art teacher!  I taught the class about the Ukrainian art of pysanky.  It is a tricky process, using a series of dyes and wax application.  In a nutshell, you begin with a white egg.  Hot wax is applied with a tool called a kistka to keep the parts white that you would like to keep white.  The egg is then dyed in the lightest color for your design, for instance, yellow.  Wax must then be applied to everything in the design that you wish to remain yellow.  Then, the egg is dipped into a darker color.  This process is repeated until you end with the darkest color, which is usually the background.  It is a hard process to master!  Today, we practiced using white crayons instead of melted wax.  The class did an amazing job and really got the hang of it!  With children, the disappointment of working on an egg only to have it crack can be heartbreaking.  I prepared them for the very real possibility, and probability, that one of their eggs would not make it.  I then explained that if their egg does crack, they get to go out and throw it at a tree!  Disappointment was replaced with excitement.  Problem solved!

Next week, they will be taking the designs that they worked on in class and creating new eggs with the use of kistkas.  It's a messy process, but it is always a hit with kids and adults alike!