Is there gre
ater joy as an educator than watching students scamper into the classroom every morning, eagerly pleading for hints about the learning activities awaiting them? Every morning, I pinch myself- expecting to wake from this amazing “dream” I seem to be experiencing. Instead, this “dream” only becomes more incredible with each day that I spend teaching my new class of Dragons! Truly, I am blessed!
This month, my Dragons have been “bringing in the harvest” of their learning. Over the past two months, they have been working on several projects and research presentations; progressing through their challenging novel study; furthering the creation of their individual dragon cosmologies in written compositions and drawn illustrations
; growing their vocabulary trees; building new math skills; activating their poetic voices; and developing effective learning strategies and organizational habits.
Now, as we near the end of the first grading term, each student is bringing forth their “harvests” or evidence of their learning progress. Watching and listening to my students when they have shared their completed assignments this month, I am filled with pride and a child-like sense of wonder, as I witness the profound manifestation of the learning these gifted students are demonstrating every day. I have been so impressed with every student’s efforts and the work each has produced.
Recent Pursuits
In addition to the culminating learning activities mentioned, the Dragons are engaged in new work, as well. Their poetry stud
y has moved on from learning how poets use metaphors, to understanding how and why poets develop a heightened awareness of their senses. Using sensory input, we can recognize the “miracles” around us when we focus our attention.
Most recently, my Dragons have been focusing their attention on nature- specifically, the seas
on of autumn. Through discussion and investigation, we have identified how powerful sensory input can be when we learn to use our senses effectively. To prove the point, each Dragon gathered her/his own individual seasonal cache, as evidence of autumn. They were asked to find visual, auditory, tactile, taste, and olfactory evidence and bring their caches to class to share. Setting their evidence atop their desks, everyone ventured around the classroom looking for similarities and differences, commenting on details, noticing unique features and marveling at those that appeared unnoticed until then.
Next, the students were asked to examine their own items more closely, as if learning about each item for the first time. Focusing their senses activated a greater awareness within my students. They noticed changes in textures, coloration, size, weight, and shape, even form. Afterwards, they acknowledged a genuine appreciation for the many changes that occur in nature during the autumn transition.
Lastly, I took my students on a sensory walk around the Quest 
neighborhood. We stopped to examine fallen leaves, noticed wrinkled berries dried and barely hanging on to brittle branches, heard the songs and chirps of seasonal birds, felt the cool dampness of the soil in fading flowerbeds, noticed the differences in grass becoming dormant, delighted in watching playful scampering squirrels on the hunt for food, and enjoyed the cool caress of a gentle autumn breeze. Senses activated, my 
Dragons were ready to craft their own autumn poems!
In our World Geography class, the Dragons are creating digital physical maps of Africa using MapBox. While working through the basic formation of their maps, the students are learning to embed short video clips, insert photographic images, include sound effects and voice recordings. The students are learning from each other, as well as from teacher instruction. As their classroom teacher, I am learning a great deal from them, Mr. Garcia our technology support teacher, and through hands-on experimentation. This is truly discovery learning!
Finally, this week the Dragons and I were pleased to welcome St Paddy into the Dragon classroom on S
In between wagon trail challenges, the pioneers have begun working on their hand-made pioneer crafts, as well! The girls have made their pioneer bonnet patterns, pinned their patterns to their lovely calico fabrics, and will cut pattern pieces and learning their stitches this week.
eek, they will continue preparing their wood pieces. Once the sanding is completed, the boys will learn to use a hand-saw and a coping saw to cut the leg pieces!
Stay tuned for more Pioneer-Wagon Train updates!
