Nov 243 min read

Making Connections with the Owls

Updated: Nov 26

by Sarah Post

Owls this fall have been busy making connections, feeling transitions and growing into our routines. The transition into a new school year is BIG and there are many routines to learn and practice each day. Some of the routines Owls focus on in the fall and throughout the year are: morning routine (putting belongings in cubbies and heading to the field), hand washing, listening to each other and expressing our feelings in healthy ways. Owls also work on listening to their bodies and building the stamina to make it through a full day. We give space for all the emotions in the Owls classroom. It’s okay to miss home and be ready for the end of the day. It’s also okay to need some space at times and to sit quietly by oneself.

Making connections in the Owls classroom comes in many forms. We make connections with each other through sharing activities like Weekend News, where we write about something we did over the weekend. Owls also connect through our Sharing Time during Morning Meeting. Owls bring in something from home to share that follows our sharing rules: something you made, something you or someone else can read, something you found in nature. Math time is all about connections this fall as we studied attributes and how to classify and sort objects.

Owls also worked on building with many different blocks for the floor or the table areas.

Connections abound through all our shared reading experiences whether it’s a song, poem or picture book. Owls love read aloud time and have enjoyed the The Lighthouse Family series by Cynthia Rylant. The characters are all animals, which is our theme this year. The beautifully written and illustrated books highlight themes of bravery, perseverance and creativity in each of the animal characters. Owls enjoyed listing their favorite animals and then visiting Manchester Community Library to learn about how to find non-fiction books on the shelf by using call numbers.

Owls have loved making new friends and connections this year. Whether connecting about Lego creations, drawing imaginary scenes, playing superheroes or learning the game of chess, Owls find joy in sharing things they love with each other. Along with sharing about ourselves, we always strive to treat each other with respect and kindness. We drafted and wrote our Classroom Agreement together. We refer to this document throughout the year whenever we need reminders of how to be in and out of the classroom.

Late fall in the Owls classroom is a fun and exciting time when Owls are feeling more confident in their transition to the school year and more comfortable in our routines. We look forward to celebrating our progress during our Solstice Poetry Recital before our break until the new year.