As a first year teacher, meeting my first group of students was a dream! This month, the students and I have been getting to know each other —not only the things we like and dislike, but also what helps us learn, what brings us joy, and what makes each of us unique. From the very beginning, my goal has been to create a classroom where students feel comfortable expressing who they are; a space where they feel safe enough to share, confident enough to be themselves, and eager enough to learn. 

As August comes to an end, I can only hope that I have begun to create that space for the students.  This first month has been about figuring out where to start, learning alongside one another, and reminding ourselves that it is okay not to have all the answers. In many ways, August has been about embracing the unknown and taking the first steps into something new—a feeling that connects naturally to the first unit of our MyPerspectives curriculum. 

The students have started Unit 1 in our MyPerspectives curriculum. Unit 1 explores the experiences, milestones, and challenges that shape us as we grow. While growing up can bring excitement and joy, it can also come with uncertainty, hardship, and moments when we question who we are and where we belong. Beginning September 1st, we will read a short story that follows a young boy exploring his cultural identity and growing to accept who he is with pride and respect. Our first month together has been about building a foundation. Now, as we move into Unit 1, we will begin exploring what it means to grow—not only as students, but as individuals discovering who we are and who we hope to become. 

This month has absolutely flown by! It is hard to believe how much we have already accomplished and how quickly the school year is moving. I have been so proud of the effort, growth, and enthusiasm our students have shown throughout the month!

In ELA, we are continuing with Unit 1 in MyPerspectives, where students have been exploring the different milestones, challenges, and experiences that come with growing up. Each story we have read has given us a different perspective on what it means to discover who we are and become more confident in ourselves. In “The Medicine Bag,” students learned the importance of accepting and appreciating who we are, both culturally and individually. “The Banana Tree” showed us that we are capable of accomplishing difficult things when we believe in ourselves, persevere, and refuse to give up. Most recently, “L’Amour, Maybe Not” reminded us that we should never feel pressured to change who we are or how we look simply to fit in with others. Together, these stories have encouraged students to think about their own experiences, identities, and the people and moments that have helped shape who they are becoming.

Coming up, we will be putting all of these skills and ideas to work with our first essay of the year! Students will be writing a narrative essay connected to our unit’s essential question. They will have the opportunity to tell a meaningful story while practicing important writing skills such as organization, descriptive language, dialogue, and reflection. I am excited to see the stories and experiences they choose to share!

In Science, our students have been absolute rockstars as we have explored the Sun, Moon, and Earth systems! Students have worked hard to understand the relationships between these systems, and their effort has definitely paid off. Their checkpoint scores impressed me, and their projects were truly out of this world! It has been wonderful to see their curiosity and excitement grow as they continue asking questions and making connections about the world around them.

We have officially have begun our next section: Formation and Motion of Galaxies! Students will be learning more about how galaxies form, how they move through space, and the incredible systems that make up our universe. Once we have the foundational material down, we will have another exciting project coming up!