Wait, That Wasn’t Supposed to Happen!
“Experience, the name men give to their mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde We took some chances with science fair projects this year, your children and I, and the lessons emerging aren’t…
Playing Together
With every new day, children are growing and becoming more knowledgeable about themselves and the world around them. New interests and talents are sparking, children are building stronger friendships with…
It’s What You Bring To The Pot!
Stone Soup is a great book to read during this cold and snowy winter season. We introduced the kindergartners to the centuries-old folk tale Stone Soup by Marcia Brown. The…
What’s In An Owl Pellet?
Well we have been back in the swing of things for a month now after a happy new year. As we settle back into our rhythms, the rhythm of the…
Why Do We Speed?
Strange question for a school discussion, isn’t it? That’s what I thought during my second day of Responsive Classroom training last summer, but that’s what our instructor put up on…
Play is a Child’s Work
The importance of play in Early Childhood Education is slowly, but surely, finding its way into news feeds across the globe. Play has a fundamental role in shaping a child's…
Paper, Where Would We Be Without It?
We spend most of our time in art doing something with paper; cutting, folding, taping, gluing, and occasionally crumpling it up and starting over. While the first graders were making…
Why Is Wednesday The Best Day At Bixby Preschool?
Ask the kids and they will respond with a hardy "Gym!" response. While developing body and spacial awareness and refining their emerging skills, they are having FUN! I hope this…
Handwriting Without Tears
Handwriting Without Tears is a literacy curriculum that children are using throughout the world, as well as right here in Bixby’s preschool. It is described as an “easy-to-teach, easy-to-learn curriculum…
The Mayans and the First Graders Spanish class
Did you know that… …the Maya Civilization lived from c.a. 2000 B.C. to A.D. 1500 while the Ancient Egyptians ruled from c.a. 5500 B.C. to 500 B.C? … the Mayan…
Animals in Winter
During our walks to Bridgewalk Pond the class started a conversation about animals in the winter. How do animals find food in the winter? How do they stay warm? What…
YAY BIXBY TILES!
Our founders, Pat and Bart, loved teaching math and focused on finding ways to help kids make sense of numbers. Bart especially loved using tools like graph paper, Cuisenaire rods,…
A Kindergarten Winter
Winter has brought a lot of fun and joy to the 2016 Kindergarten class of Bixby. Getting decked-out in winter garb is a necessary daily precursor to exploring the chilly…
Reading In Preschool
This month is all about reading and literacy at Bixby. We really enjoy reading to the children. In our preschool room, there are always books for the children to look…
Bixby 1st Graders Explore Ancient Egypt
Bixby first graders have been extremely busy! Over the past few months, they have been immersed in a cross curricular unit about Ancient Egypt. All first grade teachers have been…
Decorating The Preschool
One job that all the preschool teachers share is decorating and organizing the different rooms of the classroom to correspond with the seasons and student interests. In the past, we…
Bixby Read-A-Thon
“Read. Read anything. Read the things they say are good for you, and the things they claim are junk. You’ll find what you need to find. Just read.” –Neil Gaiman…
Learning to Work Together – The Science of Collaboration
January, February, and the beginning of March make up Bixby’s science fair season, when 2nd through 5th graders are asked to call upon a variety of skills. They brainstorm, budget…
Ready… Set… Read….
The annual, school-wide Read-a-Thon begins today! The intent of this long held Bixby tradition is to encourage the love and practice of reading. During this month long fundraiser, students are…
Sorting and Resolving Conflicts
In my blog last month about the wonders of free time at Bixby, I alluded to the learning that takes place not only in the successful collaborations (e.g., building the…