Navigating Complexity: Thoughts on Addressing Palestine in the K/1 Classroom
I met with Charlie a few weeks ago to let her know that children were talking about Palestine in the Lumber Primes, and that Amy and I were beginning to think and plan about how we might address this very fraught topic with the kindergarten and first graders in our class. Many children in our class have not been exposed to what is happening in Gaza right now, but some children have. In these children we are seeing some limited understanding, some clear misconceptions, and a beautiful, admirable, passion for justice.
Mindful Minutes in the Forest Primes
If you’ve ever seen the Forest Primes during morning meetings, changing gear in the hallways, attending All School, or at play in the Forest, you might have noticed that silent they are not! Well these days, the Forest Primes are trying something new.
Ambitious Projects (AP) Night in the 8th Grade
The spring is full of activity for our 8th graders. We have started our final collaborative filmmaking projects, are rounding the final corner of math and thinking about graduation and high school.
Cross-Age Opportunities in the Dancing Primes (Toddlers)
The Dancing Primes have been having Uppers students come do community service work in the classroom for most of the year.
Pysanky Eggs with the Uppers (6th-8th)
This week the Uppers hosted Jane Stephenson, local artist and former long-time Center School staff member, for a workshop in pysanky, traditional Ukrainian Easter egg dying.
Maple Syrup Time in the Lumber Primes (K/1)
It's that time of year again when the Sugar maples awaken and share their stored sunshine with us! Lumber Primes have been diligently working for weeks, turning liquid into gold. They've eagerly anticipated this time of year since September, and now, they're almost done!
Community Service in the Mups (2nd/3rd)
The Mups, our spirited group of 2nd and 3rd graders, have been deeply engaged in exploring the concepts of wants versus needs. Through discussions, readings, and activities, they have gained a profound understanding of the essentials for a healthy and happy life. From clean water and food to shelter and education, the Mups have recognized these as fundamental needs for all individuals.
Uppers Band Rising to the Challenge (6th-8th)
At the start of the second trimester in January, the Uppers Band made the bold move of choosing a trimester-long project: a music video to revive an all school song that had been lost to the pandemic. They chose the rockin' bop known as Humpty Dumpty. It's a song that plays with some of the most well known nursery rhymes- Twinkle Twinkle, Mary Had a Little Lamb, Old King Cole, etc.- and makes them rock out a bit.
Space and Space in the Puzzle Primes (3 yr-old)
Space: a continuous area or expanse which is free, available, or unoccupied.
What is the difference between space and space? “Personal space is when you ask someone to give you space and outer space is up there.” – Helen age 4
Empowering Education: Uppers’ Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences (6th-8th)
Conferences in the Uppers yield many memorable moments.. Students, parents, and teachers come together in conversation, laughter, and a greater understanding of the Center School experience. Together we puzzle over social issues, ask meaningful questions, and uncover the depths of each child’s learning.
Outdoor Play Pedagogy in The Mups (2nd/3rd)
At the beginning of the academic year, the Mups spend the first six weeks focusing on building the foundations of our classroom. One of the biggest ways we do this is through spending lots of time playing outdoors. By prioritizing outdoor play, our goal as teachers is to foster social-emotional growth and build a sense of community among students.
Studying Sol LeWitt in The Middles (4th/5th)
On a beautiful late winter day, the Middles set out on a visit to MASS MoCA. The drive from the Center School was long and windy, passing favorite landmarks along the way… the ice cream spot, Berkshire East, and the iconic view of North Adams from the hairpin turn.
Studying Black Environmentalists in The Forest Primes (K/1)
The Forest Primes have been deepening their thinking around the underrepresentation of the Black community in nature by learning about some influential Black environmentalists from the past and present.
Supplementing Our Work With Real People in The Uppers (6th-8th)
Teaching a book for the second consecutive time allows teachers to delve even deeper into the material, try new lessons, and uncover subtleties and details that might have been overlooked.
Celebrating Black Musicians in The Dancing Primes (Toddlers)
For Black History month in the Dancing Primes classroom, we decided to really focus on learning about and celebrating black musicians. We listened to a lot of different music by black artists such as Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Prince, the list could go on and on.
Experiencing Shakespeare in The Uppers (6th-8th)
On Friday, March 1st, my Shakespeare Elective class took a field trip out to Lenox to see a production of Midsummer Night’s Dream at Shakespeare and Company. This show is part of their Northeast Regional Tour and is a student-friendly 90-minute version of the play.
Thinking About Rights in the Lumber Primes (K/1)
For the past month, the Lumber Primes have been thinking, learning, reading, talking, and creating art focused on the idea of rights.
Wondering About Outer Space in the Puzzle Primes (3 year-olds)
In our preschool classroom, we adhere to an emergent curriculum approach that pivots our teaching strategies based on the evolving interests of our students. Recently, we observed a collective fascination with outer space among the children, prompting us to integrate this theme into our curriculum organically.
Spending Time in the Sunshine in the Uppers (6th-8th)
One of the most striking things for teachers teaching outside during the early Pandemic was how well regulated people felt just by being outside. Every extra noise made by a toe tapping energy, a door opening and closing, a side conversation between a teacher and student, was swept away by the…
Artist Study in the Mups (2nd/3rd)
In mid-January, the Mups embarked on our third art unit of the year, an artist study. With three teachers available to teach art this trimester, we thought we would take advantage of the abundance and teach three different artists.