After observing the children on their first play dates, the teachers noticed an interest in real tools. We made an intention to include them in our school day. Recently, we received new stools that needed assembling. We invited the children to go over the blueprints and read the instructions. Next, we sorted out the…
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[Show slideshow] 1 2 3 ►
It was a fun night on Venice Blvd. this week. Roleen, Kris, Amy, Cindy and Jessica set up the front yard to welcome the public into New School-West for the Mar Vista Art Walk. This season, we decided to display our work on self-portraits. We create self-portraits with children each year in an effort to…
The West Wing children are starting to have appointments in the Front Yard this week. The children are eager to work in this wonderful outdoor classroom. The teachers have been working with small groups and introducing the different areas available within this space. Also, it is a communal space where we meet children from the East Wing.…
To encourage community building among the children, we usually begin our appointments by asking a question and getting them to express their ideas so they can listen to one another. Theo G.: It’s a machine Dashiell: When the bugs go all the way up here, it turns into Pac Man Bea: Can you do it?…
Since last year, this group of children has shown a huge interest in testing the different ways an object travels. They have formed relationships that make collaboration inviting. Here, they are trying to figure out how a ball can travel through a loop. Sol: Let’s make it go in a loop! Cooper: Ok, I…
In the West Wing, strips of paper were laid out without adhesives (tape or glue) as an invitation to explore together, allowing players to change the story as it evolved at the Communication Center. As strips were squeezed, rolled, twisted, torn, and bent, aspects of the story took shape. Remy: This is the forest. Archer:…
Today, Miro’s grandma, Elma, came to ‘cook with children’ in the middle courtyard. She and Miro, Willow and Dashiell prepared a fruit salad and cracker snack that was served at WW lunch. Children used shaped cutters on melons, chopped apples with knives and assembled raspberries and grapes in a sweet experience at school. Thank you,…
Last year, the current East Wing children investigated how motion, force, and incline interacted in their racetracks and boobytraps. As they tested race cars, they noticed how easily they moved down the ramps yet struggled to move up varying slopes. During reflection meeting, they described the obstacle they encountered. The discussion with peers elicited feedback which…