by Kylie Walker - 5th grade educator/assistant administrator At Sycamore, one of the ways we invite students to engage with literature and practice reading skills is through book groups - similar to book clubs that many adults participate in. While learning to read and building fluency are important skills in elementary school, book groups can offer students much more than that. Our focus at Sycamore is more vast and holistic, and invites students to experience reading and le

by Hanna Walker - 5th grade educator Why wait until you are an adult to figure out how to work with others? At Sycamore, our culture is built on the expectation that we explore, nurture, and rely on effective collaboration. We are not born natural collaborators; we develop these skills throughout our lives. It’s essential that we do. In order for our elementary students to practice effective collaboration, they need to care about their learning and recognize the value of part

By Colbey Waggoner, 2nd grade educator Each spring, the second graders of Sycamore host Poetry Night, a tradition when families gather together in celebration of young poets and their artistic creations. In the months leading up to Poetry Night, we explore the various poetic elements, write many poems, and find our own poetic voice to bring emotion and rhythm to our presentations. On the special night, the class proudly presents their collection of poems to our community. To