Fun: Crickets Work Together

During the month of October, the Crickets have been sharing stories and building relationships with the people who fill their lives with love and excitement: friends and family! On this windy October day, the Crickets agreed that they would work together to keep the parachute from flying away! Everyone held a part of the parachute and used all of their strength to keep the chute in the air so friends could run under it! The Crickets were filled with laughter as the wind blew and the parachute covered them "like an umbrella." 

Community: First Elementary School Town Hall Meeting

We had our first Brevoort Town Hall meeting this morning and it was a great success! The idea behind these monthly meetings is to come together for school-wide announcements and to provide a place where we can share all of our wonderful classroom happenings with one another. 

We started with a song:

 And then introduced our new Spanish teacher, Alex:

Then classrooms each shared something special that they have been working on.

The PreK Beetles sang their fun Popcorn song:

The PreK Bumblebees shared their new class pet, Cocoa the fish, along with her hilarious biography:

The First Grade Chipmunks modeled how to use the scooters appropriately on the playground:

As well as how we should all play with the ropes:

The PreK Dragonflies showed us the letters they are collaging with bottle caps and other various recycled materials for their classroom ABC chart: 

They also presented their amazing biographies that they have been working on for their Self Study:

The PreK Grasshoppers talked to the school about their new exciting Take-Apart Center! They showed us some tools that they have been using as well as the inside of a phone!

Finally, the Kindergarten Jets demonstrated how they use Sounds in Motion to spell words with their body. It was really fun to watch:

We look forward to seeing what's in store for next Town Hall in November...

Blocks: New Brevoort Block Room!

We thought about what we could do with the amazing HOLLOW BLOCKS we fundraised for last year and the staff room that was being underutilized - we decided to create a fabulous new block room! The classes will get the room for 1 week at a time so that they can have time to plan and build something over a week span. After this they will be encouraged to sketch and photograph their creations to add to the wall of fame.

We love blocks at The Co-op School. Here are a few articles on why blocks are so cool:
Scholastic's All About Blocks
Blocks May Help Spactial and Mathematical Thinking
Why are Teachers So Passionate About Blockbuilding?

Art: Meet the Butterflies!

As the Butterflies kick off the new year together self portraits are a must!!  This project is a Butterfly favorite and is prefect for our month study on "Me, Myself, and I." For this Art lesson each butterfly looked into a mirror to help them collage the best "me." They each had a chance to pick out their own paint color that they felt best reflects their skin color. They then used magazine cut-outs of eyes, mouths, and noses to finish off the pieces. 

Get to know a Co-op Teacher!

The 10-Question Teacher Interview for Irving Preschool Teacher, Eddie Laguna

1. How long have you been working at The Co-op School?

"This is my third year already!"

2. What’s your favorite part of being part of The Co-op School?

"Watching the kids faces light up with excitement and the warm, supportive community."

3. What do you like to do for fun?

"I play guitar in a jazz/indie type band, skateboarding when the weather is nice, painting anything, and channeling my inner Lebowski when I go bowling."

4. What’s your favorite restaurant?

"Toss up between Farm on Adderly and Chavela's. And Bogota. And Habana Outpost. And Beast. I like food."

5. What’s your favorite sandwich? 

"The roasted chicken panini from Choice." 

6. What’s your favorite song?

"Prince - I Wanna Be Your Lover"

7. Where do you want your next vacation to be?

"Somewhere tropical!"

8.  What are you reading right now?

"Let's Explore Diabetes With Owls  by David Sedaris."

9. If you could buy yourself anything what would it be?

"An old wood framed house in Brooklyn with a front yard, backyard and a driveway. Actually just a driveway is fine."

10. What TV sitcom family would you most like to be a member of?  

"If Larry David does another season of Curb Your Enthusiasm, I would love to be awkward on that show."

New Science & Music Room at Irving Place!

Coolest music room around!

And the new gorgeous science room!

This is magnetic!

Science: New Science Lab at Brevoort!

We are loving our new science lab!