A Day In The Life Of…
Our School
Our teachers and staff think joy is an important part of the learning environment and as such, try at every opportunity to share that joy with our students. We have found staff videos one way to do just that! Check out our full collection of videos here!
Kindergarten
8:20-8:30 Morning Meeting & Calendar
We learn math and language skills in the context of our calendar and our sharing time.
8:30-8:45 Math Fluency
We will practice math fluency skills in a whole group.
8:45-9:30 Phonics
We will build our oral language, phonics, and phonemic awareness.
9:30-10:00 Morning Recess & Snack
We will have our morning snack and go outside, weather permitting.
10:00-10:45 Reading & Writing
We will have reading lessons that guide us as we make the meaning of books. We will also learn the mechanics and conventions of writing as we respond to text.
10:45-11:20 Guided Reading & Literacy Workshop
We will work in small groups and get instruction at our individual ability. We will be practicing literacy skills.
11:20-12:20 Recess & Lunch
We will eat lunch in the cafeteria and go outside, weather permitting.
12:20-1:10 Math Whole Group & Workshop
We will have a whole group math lesson and then practice these skills with partners and small groups.
1:10-1:45 Snack & Recess
We will go outside for an extended recess, weather permitting.
1:45-2:30 Specials
We will go to a specials class. We have Art, Music and Wellness on a weekly rotation.
2:30-3:00 Social Studies/Science
We will learn about social studies and science and work on STEM projects.
3:00-3:15 Clean Up & Dismissal
We will clean up our classroom and get ready to go home.
Our Kindergarten Philosophy
We believe the children are our future… We believe each and every child has the potential to bring something unique and special to the world. We will help children to develop their potential by believing in them as capable individuals. We will assist children in discovering who they are, so they can express their own opinions and nurture their own ideas.
Teach them well and let them lead the way… Every classroom presents a unique community of learners that varies not only in abilities but in learning styles. Our role as teachers is to give children the tools with which to cultivate their own gardens of knowledge. To accomplish this goal, we will teach to the needs of each child so that all learners can feel capable and successful.
Show them all the beauty they possess inside… Our classrooms are a caring, safe, and equitable environment where each child can blossom and grow. We will allow children to become responsible members of our classroom communities by using strategies such as class meetings, positive discipline, and democratic principles. In showing children how to become responsible for themselves as well as their own learning, we are giving them the tools to become successful in life, to believe in themselves, and to love themselves.
Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be… Teaching is a lifelong learning process. Learning about new philosophies, learning from the parents and community, learning from colleagues, and especially learning from the children. Children have taught us to open our minds and hearts to the joys, innocence, and the diversity of the ideas in the world. Children remind us to laugh!
1st Grade
8:20-8:30 Morning Meeting & Calendar
We learn math and language skills in the context of our calendar and our sharing time.
8:30-9:00 Whole Group Literacy
During this time, we focus on a weekly story, diving into comprehension skills. We will learn a new phonics skill each week. We will also work on our monthly grammar goals.
9:00-9:45 Literacy Workshop
While at workshop, students are in small, differentiated groups. Practicing the skills that we are learning about for the week. We rotate through 3 stations.
9:45-10:15 Morning Recess & Snack
We will have our morning snack and go outside, weather permitting.
10:15-10:45 Whole Group Math
We use Singapore Math to explore different math topics. In first grade, some of our main math goals are addition and subtraction within 100, geometric shapes, measurement, basic fractions, time, money and graphing.
10:45-11:20 BURST/Writer’s Workshop
During this time, our first graders are split into two groups. Some students will receive reading interventions to help boost literacy skills. The other group will be learning about the writing process while creating stories, opinion pieces, how to writing and much.
11:20-12:20 Recess & Lunch
We will eat lunch in the cafeteria and go outside, weather permitting.
12:20-1:00 Math Workshop
While at workshop, students are in small, differentiated groups. Practicing the skills that we are learning about for the week. We rotate through 3 stations. These stations include playing math games, personalized leveled work, and small group time with the teacher to focus on student needs.
1:00-1:45 Specials
We will go to a specials class. We have Art, Music, and Wellness on a weekly rotation. We visit each special twice a week.
1:45-2:00 Snack
We will have an afternoon snack. We like to relax and eat with a good story.
2:30-3:00 Social Studies/Science
We will learn about social studies and science. In first grade, each week we alternate between the two subjects. Some of the topics we learn about are plants and animals, communities, light and energy, maps, space and many more!
3:00-3:15 Clean Up & Dismissal
We will clean up our classroom and get ready to go home.
Extra scheduling includes:
Library time where we check out books from the school library.
Enrichments on Tuesdays and Thursday from 2:30-3:00 where we venture to different classrooms to explore electives that are student chosen. These may focus on arts, language, science, health and many more!
Our First Grade Mantra
In first grade, we work extremely hard to build an understanding and acceptance for others around us. We give our students the tools needed to develop independence which will help them thrive in a working environment. We strive for a classroom filled with creative ideas, fun projects, and real-life examples to drive home a love for life-long learning.
2nd Grade
7:55-8:15 Arrival, Attendance, Journal
We are learning creative writing skills and spending time as a class to start the day.
8:15-8:30 Morning Meeting
We greet one another, share news and build community.
8:30-9:15 English Language Arts
We learn grammar, phonics, reading strategies and writing in whole group and small group settings.
9:15-9:45 ELA Workshop
In small groups, children engage in targteed activities for their levels.
9:45-10:00 Snack
10:00-10:45 Specials
We will go to a specials class. We have Art, Music, and Wellness on a weekly rotation. We visit each special twice a week.
10:50-11:50 Recess & Lunch
We will eat lunch in the cafeteria and go outside, weather permitting.
12:00-12:30 BURST/Small Group
Some students will receive reading interventions to help boost literacy skills. The other group will work on literacy and reading in Book Club.
12:30-1:00 Math
We have whole group math lesson and practice those skills in partners or small groups.
1:00-1:30 Snack and Recess
1:30-2:00 Math Workshop
We practice the skills we learned in whole group with independent and small group activities.
2:00-3:00 Science/Social Studies
Both second grade classrooms combine.
3:00-3:15 Clean Up and Dismissal
We will clean up our classroom and get ready to go home.
3rd Grade
8:00-8:30 Morning Meeting and Journal
Our day generally begins with a reflection journal entry or drawing to allow us to become mindful and settle in for the day ahead.
Our class begins with a morning meeting at which we greet our classmates by name and give each other a handshake or high five. We share our goals/hopes for the day, discuss a quote of the day, or answer a question to get to know our classmates better. This allows us to transition from home and be ready for the day!
8:30-9:15 English Language Arts
From there, we begin our English Language Arts study which emcompases a wide variety of genres and writing responses … We read short stories, chapter books, informational texts and enjoy sharing what we have read and learned with the class.
9:15-10:00 Specials
Our Specials include Wellness, Art, and Music which are fun as well as educational. We have many opportunities to grow and learn through various units within our Specials and Art contests. We also have the opportunity to choose three enrichment courses per school year which include Coding, Animal Adventures, Running Club, Scooters, Sewing, art …. These enrichments are so much fun and happen twice per week throughout the school year. It also give you a chance to meet other students across grade levels and make friends.
10:00-10:45 Reader’s Workshop
Children practice their reading and writing skills through Read to Self, Read to Partner, Writing, Word Work, Technology, and Teacher group. In this model children are able to make choices and material can be differentiated to each learning.
10:50-11:50 Recess & Lunch
Some of our favorite parts of our day are of course, recess and lunch when we get to play in the playground and talk with our friends over lunch. We go on quite a few field trips including a snowshoe trip and a trip to the Discovery Museum this year.
11:50-12:30 BURST Interventions
12:30-1:00 Math Lesson
Using lots of manipulatives, visuals, and social activities we work through the third grade math standards focusing on real world problems.
1:00-1:15 Recess
1:15-2:00 Math Workshop
Children work through the choices of Math to Self, Math with a Partner, Math Writing, Fluency, Technology and Teacher group to master new concepts and practice previous material in a hands-on approach. During this time you will see lots of games, use of manipulatives, and children working together.
2:00-3:00 Social Studies/Science
We also learn Science, and Social Studies in a productive, hands-on environment tying in what we’ve been studying in ELA and math in order to interconnect the subjects. We are actively engaged in our learning and like to share our progress with our classmates through projects, plays, and activities. We let the children express themselves as much as possible with art, music, and drama.
3:00-3:20 Closing Meeting
This is a time to reflect on our day and celebrate our accomplishments. Often students share acknowledgements in which they recognize their classmates for something they saw them doing during the day. Students acknowledge each other for being kind, respectful, honest, and loyal. We also use this time to talk about any conflicts that have come up in our classroom or on the playground. We encourage students’ social-emotional growth by giving them the specific tools for dealing with the issues they are facing.
Third Grade is fun at AAK and being part of the whole AAK family along with our monthly Respect Assemblies makes coming to school at AAK one of the best times of our lives…. A time we grow and learn and discover our world around us!
4th Grade
8:15 Attendance/Morning Meeting
Students check-in, sign up for lunch and discuss what we will do for the day. We have morning Bell-work that covers math and language arts skills.
8:30-9:15 Specials
We rotate between Art, Music and Wellness, each class twice a week.
9:15-11:20 English Language Arts/Writing
Fourth grade utilizes a workshop model. We teach certain targeted skills and then break up into differentiated groups to work on these skills.
Grammar: Each week we have a concept we work upon. Students are taught the concept and then we practice it.
Word Studies/Spelling: We have differentiated words groups that are focused around a certain spelling/phonetical skill. Students sort the words, alphabetize them, write them for fluency, and then write meaningful sentences using them.
Writing: We write narratives, poetry, expository, persuasive texts. We have a big project we work on with Colorado heroes, writing a biography and turning it into a first-person narrative.
Reading: We also work on novel studies bringing in comprehension skills and strategies. These are differentiated groups and have projects that are included
near the completion of the unit.
11:20-11:55 Interventions
This is a time where students who need extra support get that help. We have one of our fourth-grade teachers as well as our Arts specialists working on BURST interventions with small groups of students. While that is happening, the other teacher is working with the students, sometimes this is a study hall, but often there is a read-aloud or a review of skills.
11:55-12:25 Recess and Lunch 12:25-12:45
12:45-1:45 Math
We follow the Singapore Math Curriculum. We introduce the skill and then students practice it independently or in small groups. We supplement with Math
games and technology. (Extra Math, Prodigy)
1:45-2:00 Recess
2:00-3:00 Social Studies/ Science
We utilize the TCI curriculum for Science and Social Studies. In fourth grade we also learn about Colorado history, economics, and civics. We have a big cumulative project where students choose a Colorado hero, write about that person and then become that person, sharing it on our Student Showcase night. In Science we study plant and animal life, types of energy, and Earth’s changing surface. Mrs. Hahn teaches Social Studies and Mrs.Grogan teaches Science. We switch classes every few weeks so our students get both curriculums.
2:30-3:00(Tues/Thurs 2:30-3:00 Enrichments)
Each trimester students choose an enrichment. These are a wide variety of classes, from snowshoeing to videography to Spanish and many more.
3:00-3:10 End of day wrap up
Fill out planners, clean the room, last minute instructions.
3:20 Dismissal
5th Grade
8:15-8:30 Morning Meeting/Peace Circles
Students check-in, sign up for lunch and discuss what we will do for the day. Then we have our thoughtful meditation and journaling time. Some days we have discussions and class meetings.
8:30-9:15 History/Science
Each 5th grade classroom focuses on one and will switch later in the day. We explore History and Science which include hands-on activities and discussions.
9:15-10:00 Specials
This is our time to do Art, Music, and Wellness. We have each special twice a week.
10:15-11:00 ELA/Math
For these subjects, we mix our classes together and put students with similar abilities in each class. We provide differentiated lessons and workshop time in these subjects.
11:00-11:20 Study Hall
This is often combined with ELA/Math to allow for more guided practice and teacher support.
11:20-11:55 Interventions
During interventions, students who need reading support using the BURST program work with one teacher. This teacher works in small groups on reading strategies. The other teacher works on math extensions and support.
11:55-12:45 Recess/Lunch
12:45-1:45 ELA/Math
1:45-2:00 Recess
2:00-3:00 History/Science
We explore History and Science which include hands-on activities and discussions.
3:00-3:15 Closing Activities
We fill out our planners, straighten up the room which includes cleaning up the floor and get our backpacks ready to go home.
3:20 Dismissal
Wellness
Wellness is health of body and mind. Our goal is to maximize physical activity while developing social-emotional skills. We begin the year with physical activities focused on team building as well as personal and social responsibility. With a strong group cohesion Kindergartners through second graders work on movement patterns, hand and foot skills, dance, parachute, tag games and yoga. Third through Fifth graders continue the year with fitness skills, tag games, soccer, dance, jump rope, pickleminton, yoga, basketball and baseball. All students attend wellness class for 45 minutes twice weekly.
Art
My teaching philosophy in the art room is as the facilitator for your child’s creativity to flourish. My approach to
unleashing their visual art creativity is based on “The Seven Steps to Genius” by Michael J. Gelb in his book
“How to Think Like Leonardo Da Vinci.”
- Curiosity
- Independent Thinking
- Refine Your Senses
- Embrace Uncertainty
- Art & Science, whole-brain thinking
- Mind-Body Care
- Interconnectedness.
Students begin the year with an introduction or review of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. These
art basic concepts are used in each of their projects working with peer class critiques for mastery. All student
artwork is returned at the end of the year after the Art Gala.
Art Classes are 45 minutes long twice a week.
The art room is considered a working art studio so there could be three different projects happening in the
room at once, student choice and learning to prioritize for a deadline. Students are encouraged to try different
mediums that will work best for what they have chosen for their project.
Kindergarten: Introduction to the elements individually beginning with line and shape for writing the alphabet. Projects include Doodle 4 Google, Pedestrian Paver, warm and Cool colors using crayon and watercolor resist, Patterns, Clay Emotion masks.
First Grade: Introduction to the Elements of Art, Projects include Western Stock Show, Doodle 4 Google, Music K-8, Pedestrian Paver, Scratchboard Animal, Clay animal theme play or sculpture
Second Grade: Review of the Elements of Art and introduction to the Principles of Design. Projects include Western Stock Show, Doodle 4 Google, Music K-8, Pedestrian Paver, Origami, Japanese gardens, Rainforest painting using the primary colors and white.
Third Grade: Review of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Projects include Western Stock Show, Doodle 4 Google, Music K-8, Pedestrian Paver, Paper Sculpture, Clay sculpture (animal shelf sitter), plaster caste.
Fourth Grade: Review of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Projects include Western Stock Show, Doodle 4 Google, Music K-8, Pedestrian Paver, Weaving, Clay Bas Relief of their Hero, Rube Goldberg simples machines.
Fifth Grade: Review of the Elements of Art and Principles of Design. Projects include Western Stock Show, Doodle 4 Google, Music K-8, Pedestrian Paver, Clay Pottery or Sculpture (choice of technique), Two Point Perspective Scratchboard.
Music
Every day is an adventure, and that’s what Mrs. Floyd loves about music at AAK! All students are working beyond the Colorado Music Standards.
Kindergarten: moving to music, learning instrument families by sight and sound, using real music terminology.
First Grade: Mastering beat competency, learning about song form, exploring unpitched percussion and improvising with voices, sounds, and instruments.
Second Grade: Reading and writing basic rhythm notation and using pitched percussion to accompany our voices. We know all about tonality too!
Third Grade: We learn to play the recorder! We can read basic notation and write professional songs for our songbook that we will produce ourselves.
Fourth Grade: Reading treble and bass clef because we are playing pianos! We know all about articulation and piano notation.
Fifth Grade: We start Percussion Ensemble and become awesome rhythm readers. We learn about chord progressions in Guitar Class, and write our own songs using instruments of our choice to end the year.
Band and Orchestra: For all traditional instrumentalists, private lessons are available and recommended.
Dragon Scales: For all AAK’s multi-age singers. Come sing with us!
