More Than Words Can Say

(Photos: top left - the completed city of "Glenboxen"; top center - disability dodge ball; top right: playing "Sleeping Queens" with disabilities; bottom center - eating lunch with disabilities; bottom right - communication "Heads to the Ground")

On Thursday, we began our inquiry into the different ways people communicate their needs, ideas and feelings. We started by engaging in an activity called, "Heads to the Ground." In groups of 3 or 4, each boy was given a corner of chart paper where he could sketch, list, web, etc. as many different ways of communication he could think of. The boys in each group then shared their thinking and wrote common methods of communication they all identified, or listed the ones they felt were most important. They came up with so many ways we communicate, from language, gestures, hugs, kisses, writing, maps, drawing, technology and more! We even noted that this very blog is a way that we communicate what goes on in our classroom. Those boys who have had the opportunity to look at the blog with their parents noted that we are now communicating with friends and family all over the world through our blog. "Have you noticed the map on the blog and how the little red dots on the visitor map are growing and showing up to represent visitors from other provinces, countries and continents?" I asked. Some nodded yes, some were amazed to discover that people in other parts of the world are reading about what is happening in our classroom each week. Isn't communication (and technology) amazing? So, this week the boys would like to say "hello" to all those family and friends from faraway places who are keeping up with the weekly events in 2 Dynamite through our class blog. We are so thrilled that you can take part in our learning this way! Feel free to send us a comment - I will be sure to share them with the boys!

The Beginning of the End!?

Last week marked the wind-down of our very first unit of inquiry. Much of our learning in the classroom is built around the concepts we focus on through our units of inquiry. Our unit on diversity helped the boys to use their thinking skills (planning, preparing, discussing, constructing, sorting, comparing, analysing, justifying, observing, recording and reflecting), research skills (locating facts, taking notes and making sentences), communication skills (collaborating, sharing orally, writing, presenting and discussing) and self-management (using time wisely, planning, self-control and cooperating) - just to name a few! We've come a long way since we started this unit in September! The end of such a major conceptual study also marks the beginning of a new unit of inquiry, which will also come to it's own end; hence, the "beginning of the end" cycle that we will repeat many times this year!
Our next unit of inquiry will focus on the concept of communication. We will explore different ways we communicate, how people in the world with challenges communicate, how we communicate using signs and symbols, how authors and illustrators communicate through books, and much more! The concept of diversity will still live on this unit, as communication also relates to diversity! Aspects of what the boys learned will be applied in a new context that will continue to expand their understanding of this very diverse world in which we live.
In math, we are also coming to the end of a focus on skip counting patterns, even and odd numbers, and ordinal numbers, and will be moving on to adding and subtracting, fact families, and memorizing as many of our basic facts as we can.
We've also just begun our study of the three states of matter, which will bring us the opportunity to put our "lab coats" on and engage in lots of experiments with solids, liquids and gases.
We are always busy in grade 2Dynamite - there is so much to learn!
Stay tuned for photos from the Diversity inquiry on our Grade 2 bulletin board in the hallway!

The Growth of A City

This week was a big week - we had lots going on! We started the week with disability day. The boys had the opportunity to experience 5 different disabilities including: moving using a wheelchair, vision impairment, hearing impairment, using only one arm and loss of the ability to feel with their hands. They were good sports, even when they felt extremely frustrated by one of the disabilities. Although the wheelchairs were popular, they soon realized just how hard it is to move in a world designed for upright people. Many of the boys made the connection that someone who is confined to a wheelchair would need really strong arms and shoulders.
On Thursday we visited Oak Bay Recreation Centre. We were taken on a tour to look for ways the Rec. Centre accommodates diversity. The boys pencils were bursting with writing as they attempted to track accommodations ranging from ramps, wispa lifts, railings, parking, classes for all ages, age and gender specific change rooms, and more. Collectively we came up with a list of 17 different ways the Rec. Centre meets the needs of its clients. While we were there, we saw just how diverse the clients are. We observed a blind man, an elderly woman in a walker, young families, a senior aqua fit class, and young men playing hockey. A highlight of the trip was when John got to demonstrate the wispa lift. We all oooh'd and ahhh'd as John was lifted up over the water. John laughed and said he felt like he was being raised up to heaven. For someone in a wheelchair, I'm sure that wispa lift must feel the same as it enables them to go into the water and have a nice dip!
The city of "Glenboxen" is now complete. On Friday, the boys added their final buildings and also had the idea that it needed a power grid and rapid transit. Please do come in to see it this week, as it will be taken down on Friday after school. The boys used tape to create both the electrical lines and the rapid transit. Strips of tape representing electricity have small balls of black play dough along them. The rapid transit lines have small rail cars on them. Lots of really amazing thinking, planning, team work and implementing have gone into building "Glenboxen" and the boys are SO proud of it!
This week we will begin to wrap up our inquiry into diversity. The boys have learned quite a lot and I am so pleased with the growth that all of them have shown in just 5 weeks!
I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. I am so very grateful to have the wonderful job of being a teacher. It is a real privilege to spend my days with your amazing boys!

"Glenboxen" is Born!

The boys had a great week, mostly with Mrs. Mac who filled in during my absence. The class moved full steam ahead in our diversity inquiry, learning about disabilities and how they affect a person's life. On Monday, we will participate in "Disability Day" where the boys will have the opportunity to "try on" 5 different disabilities over the course of the day. This will help them to see the world through a different perspective and respect that disabilities are a part of a diverse community.
Today, our diverCity "Glenboxen" was born. The boys are working in community planning teams to construct an open-minded and diverse community out of little boxes, paper and clay. We will continue to analyse and add to "Glenboxen" to ensure that it is as diverse and open-minded as it can be. All of the boys are contributing their ideas and insights, and it was amazing to watch them in action this afternoon as buildings were erected, roads constructed, parks grown, etc. Stop in to see "Glenboxen" as it grows and develops over the next week and a half. It is a wonderful reflection of their new understandings of the concepts diversity and community.
Our Friday Morning Live presentation is now rescheduled for Friday, October 9. We look forward to sharing with you how diversity "takes shape"!