Harmonica 101

Here are some pictures from our first harmonica class with John Milan. The local Oak Park artist has been teaching drums and harmonica in the area for over 30 years. His expertise will help guide first graders in their harmonica playing experience. Our next session is this Friday, January 15. Be sure to ask your child about their reaction to this learning experience!

(Photos courtesy of Patti Quilling, a representative of the Oak Park Education Foundation's Art Start program.)

Back At It Again In 2010

The first week back from winter break was a great success! Students were quick to remember their daily routines and just as eager to get back to working hard with everything. From our morning journal and phonics, to reading and math, and through writing and spelling words, children from Room 108 were positive, cooperative, and showed great signs of responsibility and respect. With all the excellent performance and effort, children earned plenty of independent work time and even a couple whole class recesses!

To celebrate the New Year, many cities have elaborate firework displays. Here is one that stuck out in my mind from the Fourth of July last year. I know it's not a New Year's Eve display but I think it's an outstanding display nonetheless. Happy New Year!!

Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks in New York City: Canon 5D mark II from Mike Kobal on Vimeo.

Friday marked the beginning of Room 108's Art Start experience with local musical professional, John Milan. He is teaching all Mann first graders to play the harmonica. "John," as he prefers the children to call him, will teach six sessions on consecutive Fridays with each session lasting approximately 50 minutes. Our first session covered the basics of playing the instrument and had the class play simple tunes like "London Bridge" and "Twinkle, Twinkle." John really motivated the kids with his opening rendition of the Star Wars theme song! Check back next week for more info and pictures from Harmonica 101. Many thanks to the Oak Park Education Foundation for funding the Art Start program and making these unique opportunities available to our students.

Homework packets went home on Friday as well. Homework packets will be sent home every Friday from now until spring break. Each packet is due by the following Friday, at the latest. Packets can be turned in as soon as they are completed. The idea of the packet is to provide some extra work for your child at home to strengthen skills taught at school, extend thinking, and provide some enrichment in a variety of content areas. If you have any questions about the packet or your child has misplaced it, e-mail me.

Room 108 has a full five day week ahead with another list of spelling words and all our specials. We will honor Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on Friday with some activities and schools will be closed on Monday, January 18. That's all for now. With warmer weather this week, students should be lining up outside in the mornings. Hope to see you on the blacktop!