Benton Specialist Monthly Recap

In the art room we have been exploring color! Many classes have begun painting landscapes and others will start this process soon. We’ve learned about Mondrian and his use of the primary colors and started to explore other color schemes too. December will be dedicated to paint exploration as we learn more about colors and value.

Motor lab is used for kindergartners and sometimes first graders. The motor lab helps reinforce motor and gross motor skills. The students come to motor lab 2 to 3 times a week. The students learn skills needed in the classroom and through out the day. 

Kindergarten and First Grade practiced steady beat with fun Thanksgiving songs like “Pass the Turkey”.

Second Grade started exploring the half note with “Five Fat Turkeys”.

Third Grade had the Instruments of the Orchestra Unit in preparation for their field trip to the Missouri Symphony.

Fourth Grade started our recorder unit!  In November, they learned recorder basics as well as the notes B, A and G.  All students are working towards their White Belt song, “Hot Cross Buns”.

Fifth Grade began their Keyboard Unit in November.  We had many activities to help with hand and finger dexterity, like the Angry Birds Cup challenge.  We are excited to dive more into piano basics after Thanksgiving Break.

Winter is here and so is the holiday season! In Counseling we are practicing an attitude of gratitude, focusing on what we have rather than what we don’t. When we focus on the good, it can make managing the hard stuff a little easier. Practicing gratitude rewires our brains, strengthens our prefrontal cortex, and produces chemicals in our brains that make us feel good (oxytocin) and relaxed (dopamine).

Saying “Thank You” actually makes you healthier!

Thank you to everyone who helped with our Book Fair!  So many students and teachers received new books because of you.

This month in the makerspace, we've been building marble roller coasters out of carboard and plastic tubes.  I love seeing their excitement and energy as they make their ideas come to life.

As always, please fill out this form if you'd like to share something unique about your student on our hallway projector screen!  https://forms.gle/GQUK1fWLjYwJAE749

This month in Media students have been learning the importance of media literacy!

In kinder & 1st grade students learned the difference between facts and opinions.

In 2nd & 3rd grade students were shown how media affects our day lives. Media is everywhere and knowing how to navigate the endless onslaught of information is an important skill in this day in age.

In 4th grade students had the opportunity to learn about creator rights and how to properly source information without accidentally or purposely plagiarizing someone else’s work.

In 5th grade students were introduced to the term clickbait and learned how to spot these devious articles before ever clicking on one.

In addition, students in grades 3rd-5th were able to try the online game called Interland. Interland teaches students how to navigate their online environment while making it fun. Try it out yourself.