RL Stevens Super Class

While I, without a doubt or a blink, love each and every student in RL Stevens Cool School, I have as of late been greatly impressed by the tenacious and spirited 4^th grade class. Under the nurturing and yet diligent care of Ms. Jimenez and Ms. Latta, 4^th grade has taken on several projects including: the Photovoice project with Network for a Healthy California, pen pal program with CSU Chico teaching students and a service learning project where they will be working with Heifer International to provide animals for others in need. Each student has invested time and care in taking a field trip to take photos of healthy foods and practices for Photovoice, writing letters about what they read and why, and discussing which animals they think would best help another family or community.

            A personal highlight has been working with 4^th grade on their letters. Working with them on how the genre of a letter is designed and then sending them to actual pen pals has been highly rewarding in that students see how writing can be applicable in the real world. In the letters, students focus on what they like to read and why, and their reflections on what makes a book interesting to them has been helpful in thinking through how to help students engage in learning. All in all, I am very proud of all of the extra work our 4^th grade students (through the hard and often extra work of their mentors) have done to think through ways they can enjoy their own education and how to make healthier choices.