I love fall. I love the colors, the smells, being able to still camp, and being colder but not too cold to have to pull out the heavy coat. Instead of shoveling snow, it is sweeping and raking leaves, rituals that mark time. I...
NEWS FROM THE CLASSROOM
GRADES
Latest news from the Preschool classes
Supporting social and emotional skills in the classroom for preschoolers
Oct 2, 2021 | Preschool
Preschoolers are learning to talk about their feelings and the feelings of others. Social-emotional development, however, involves more than just expressing emotions. It includes taking turns, becoming independent in following routines, interacting more with peers,...
Authentic Learning Experiences in Early Kindergarten
Sep 25, 2021 | Preschool
Counting and alphabet recitations are generally expected learning experiences in an early kindergarten classroom. However, here at Pacific Northern Academy, we take learning beyond the expected. We believe that it is through authentic learning experiences that...
Sensational Sensory Play
Sep 18, 2021 | Preschool
This week in our Beluga pod we have been continuing with our apple theme. We have been reading many apple-themed books, learning about the life cycle of an apple tree, and weighing and measuring apples. Next week we plan on tasting different kinds of apples and apple...
What are learning centers?
Sep 12, 2021 | Preschool
By Christina Stien, Preschool Teacher Learning centers are an integral part of our classroom for students. Learning centers are a purposeful way of dividing up your classroom into different subject/learning areas. The location of each learning center, placement of...
Putting Our Hands On Exceptional Learning
Sep 5, 2021 | Preschool
By Amethyst Harmston, Preschool Teacher The first couple weeks of school are always interesting. As we use our Responsive Classroom techniques to get to know one another and our classroom community a little better, we begin to come out of our shells and our creative...
Building Community with Morning Meeting
Aug 28, 2021 | 2021, Preschool
As a teacher, one thing that I love at PNA is the mission statement the school has: We educate students to be exceptional learners and independent thinkers of vision, courage, and integrity. This statement is frequently discussed among staff members, and it is at the...
It’s Just Trash….or Is It?
May 1, 2021 | Preschool
When our Beluga class celebrated Earth Day, I thought a week would be enough to satisfy the children’s interest, but it turns out that we were just getting started! After a general overview of basic things each of us could do to help the earth, we have begun exploring...
The Importance of Social and Emotional Learning
Apr 10, 2021 | Preschool
For the past month or two in the Beluga classroom we have been actively focusing on feelings and our relationships with others. Sometimes “friendship” may actually be the theme for the month, as it often is during the month of February, but it is also is an underlying...
Learning & Play
Apr 5, 2021 | Preschool
Every student learns at their own pace, and in their own way. However, one thing that's true about all Orca friends is that they love to play and learn! So how can we, as teachers, meet their academic and enjoyment needs? That's easy! Games! Academic games are a great...