Action based learning with Kinders & 6th graders
about 1 month ago, Kelley Schultz
Two older students and two younger children sit in a circle on a gymnasium floor. They are working together on "Fast Word Writing" worksheets placed in plastic sleeves, using dry-erase markers and clipboards to practice writing names and words.
A teenage girl in a light blue sweatshirt leans over a cafeteria table, pointing to lettered blocks to help a young girl in a green dress. They are using yellow baseplates and blue/red blocks to build words. An adult man watches the activity from the side. IMG_2944.jpg A side view of the same literacy activity at the cafeteria table. A young girl with a long blonde braid reaches into a clear bin of letter blocks while a teenage mentor stands by to assist. Yellow building plates and word slips are spread across the table.
In a gym, an older student walks past a line of numbered papers taped to the floor. Each paper shows a number and a corresponding ten-frame diagram. A younger child in a red dress kneels to interact with one of the papers while another child stands nearby.
n a gym, an older student walks past a line of numbered papers taped to the floor. Each paper shows a number and a corresponding ten-frame diagram. A younger child in a red dress kneels to interact with one of the papers while another child stands nearby. IMG_2943.jpg A teenage girl in a light blue sweatshirt leans over a cafeteria table, pointing to lettered blocks to help a young girl in a green dress. They are using yellow baseplates and blue/red blocks to build words. An adult man watches the activity from the side.
A teenage girl in a light blue sweatshirt leans over a cafeteria table, pointing to lettered blocks to help a young girl in a green dress. They are using yellow baseplates and blue/red blocks to build words. An adult man watches the activity from the side.
A young girl in a pink hoodie kneels on a green gym floor mat. She is using a dry-erase marker to practice writing the number 6 on a worksheet that includes a ten-frame and a "number rhyme" poem.
A young girl with a long blonde braid, wearing a red polka-dot dress, kneels on the floor to practice writing the number 5 on a math worksheet. Other numbered stations are visible nearby.
In Crazy 8’s Club this week we looked at mirror image symmetry and rotational symmetry. Students used special cubes to design patterns of symmetry and even took their shot at recreating designs using the cubes with increasing levels of difficulty.
about 1 hour ago, Amy Roy
A top-down view shows a $3 \times 4$ grid of red and white blocks resting on a wooden tabletop. Each block is a square divided diagonally into a red half and a white half. The blocks are arranged to form a repeating, jagged pattern of red stripes and shapes. In the bottom right corner, a portion of a white paper is visible, showing a printed reference diagram for the pattern.
A composite image of four separate photographs shows four young girls in a classroom setting, each sitting at a wooden desk with a $2 \times 2$ arrangement of red and white patterned blocks in front of them.
A collage of classroom photos showing small groups of elementary students working together at round tables with red-and-white pattern blocks or cubes. Students are building designs, matching patterns on worksheets, and discussing their work. Some students smile toward the camera while others focus closely on constructing shapes. The classroom setting includes tables, chairs, storage shelves, and learning materials, highlighting hands-on, collaborative math or problem-solving activities.
First graders listening attentively as two classmates share their read-aloud—building confidence, community, and a love of reading 📚✨
about 1 hour ago, Amy Roy
A student sits in a small rocking chair at the front of an elementary classroom, holding a picture book open while reading aloud. Several classmates sit on a colorful rug, facing the reader and listening attentively. The walls are filled with math and writing charts, a calendar, coin posters, and number lines, creating a structured and engaging learning environment during group reading time.
An elementary classroom scene where a group of young students sit cross-legged on a colorful rug, listening as one student sits in a rocking chair and reads from a book. The walls display anchor charts about writing and math, a calendar, and number lines. The atmosphere is calm and focused during a classroom reading or sharing time.
Mrs. Miller's 4-5 Science TA made their own Vermont animal track stamps. A huge Thank you to one of our student's Grandfather for donating wood blocks for us to create with.
about 23 hours ago, Kelley Schultz
A close-up of a student holding a square wooden block. They have glued blue foam pieces onto the wood to mirror the "Red Fox" track printed on a paper guide next to it.
A student in a black holiday-themed t-shirt holds up a long wooden block with a white foam animal paw print glued to the surface, showing the progress of their handmade stamp.
A close-up view of two students at a workstation using hot glue guns to attach blue foam animal track shapes onto rectangular wooden blocks.
A student stands in a classroom holding up two finished wooden stamps. One stamp features a "Red Fox" track label and the other a "Coyote" track label, both with 3D elements attached for stamping.
A student in a red plaid dress uses a hot glue gun to secure a white foam paw print onto a wooden block. In the background, another student works on a similar project at the same craft station.
A student in a red hoodie sits at a desk and uses yellow scissors to cut out animal illustrations (fox, raccoon, coyote, opossum) from a printed worksheet. A "Geology" book and various wooden blocks are visible on the table.
A close-up view of two students at a workstation using hot glue guns to attach blue foam animal track shapes onto rectangular wooden blocks.
Sticker equations in Kindergarten!
about 24 hours ago, Kelley Schultz
A young girl with blonde hair in a ponytail and a light blue long-sleeve shirt works on her math. She is mid-action, placing stickers into the boxes on her paper. A colorful name tag is visible on the table. Classroom Environment Background Details: Several photos show a vibrant classroom s
A young boy in a blue t-shirt with a tornado graphic focuses on his math worksheet. He is placing small, colorful stickers into square boxes on the paper to solve addition problems.
A young girl with brown hair and a cream-colored ruffled shirt smiles at the camera. She sits at a yellow table with a math worksheet and a sheet of stickers in front of her.
A young girl with dark wavy hair wearing a floral and striped rust-colored dress looks down at her math paper. She is carefully placing stickers into the designated boxes to complete her addition lesson. Overhead and Action Shots
A young boy with short brown hair wearing a blue, yellow, and white striped long-sleeve shirt sits at a yellow table. He is using a yellow pencil to point at a math worksheet featuring boxes filled with colorful stickers and addition signs.
An overhead view of a child with blonde hair working at a blue table. The child is holding a sticker sheet over a worksheet that shows two addition problems: one totaling seven and one totaling five, represented by sticker groups.
A high-angle shot of a young girl with blonde hair in a grey and purple unicorn-patterned shirt. She is focused on peeling a sticker from a sheet to place onto her math worksheet. A black hair scrunchie sits on the table beside her paper. IMG_5297.png: An overhead view of a child with blonde hair working at a blue table. The child is holding a sticker sheet over a worksheet that shows two addition problems: one totaling seven and one totaling five, represented by sticker groups.
A young girl with long blonde hair looks toward the camera while holding a sheet of colorful smiley-face stickers. In front of her is a math worksheet with hand-drawn squares and addition symbols.
A young girl with a pink butterfly clip in her hair leans over a blue table. She is using her fingers to precisely place a small ladybug sticker into a box on her math assignment.
Our older students are learning about the human skeletal system. They constructed their own skeletons and labeled all of the boxes.
2 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Classroom Hallway Bulletin Board A wide-angle shot of a school hallway featuring a long bulletin board divided into blue and purple sections. Multiple life-sized paper skeletons, created by students, are displayed in a row. Each skeleton is decorated with colorful labels and yarn strings identifying various bones. Above the skeletons are math posters showing decimal grids and fractions. The hallway has shiny floors, a grey tiled lower wall, and fluorescent ceiling lights.
Close-up of Skeleton Diagrams (Blue Background) A close-up view of two paper skeletons on a blue bulletin board. The skeleton on the left uses pink labels with red yarn, while the one on the right uses orange labels with green yarn. The labels point to major bones such as the skull, mandible, scapula, and ribs. The handwriting on the labels is in black marker, and the diagrams show clear anatomical details of the rib cage and pelvis.
A life-sized paper cutout of a human skeleton mounted on a purple bulletin board. The skeleton is labeled with yellow sticky notes connected to specific bones by red yarn. Labels include "Skull," "Mandible," "Scapula," "Humerus," "Ribs," "Spine," "Pelvis," "Radius/Ulna," "Carpals," "Phalanges," "Femur," "Patella," "Tibia/Fibula," "Tarsals," and "Phalanges" (feet). A small blue tag at the bottom reads "Hannah."
1st Graders filled their Honeycomb on Friday and earned a hot cocoa party! They made pom-pom octopus for their craft. A classmate showed some students how to make paper dragons!
2 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A top-down close-up of a craft project resting in a red plastic tray. The craft consists of a blue pom-pom creature with googly eyes attached to a black construction paper cutout shaped like a bat or a stylized bird.
Three children—a boy in a blue Pokémon shirt, a girl in a pink sweatshirt, and a girl in a purple Bass Pro Shops hoodie—stand in a line, smiling. Each child has a small pom-pom creature balanced on their head like a tiny hat.
A boy with glasses and a light blue "Newport" t-shirt holds a colorful paper craft. He has a blue and green pom-pom creature balanced on top of his head. Other children are visible in the background of the classroom.
A young boy in a blue camouflage-patterned shirt smiles as he holds up a craft made of tan paper and several multicolored pom-poms. He is standing in a classroom with a colorful alphabet rug in the background.
A close-up of two pom-pom creatures sitting on a red table. One is blue and sparkly, and the other is green. They are surrounded by scraps of blue, orange, and white construction paper, showing a work-in-progress art project.
1st Grade filled their Honeycomb on Friday, and they earned a hot cocoa party. They made pom-pom octopus for their craft. A classmate showed some students how to make paper dragons!
2 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A group portrait of twelve elementary-aged students posing together in a school hallway. They are kneeling and standing in front of a wall decorated with student photos and a paper "Creative Day" display. Many of them are holding or wearing their pom-pom crafts.
A young boy in a bright blue t-shirt featuring a reindeer "Santa's Helper" graphic smiles broadly for the camera. A small, colorful pom-pom creature with googly eyes is perched playfully on his left shoulder.
A young boy with strawberry-blonde hair wearing an orange henley shirt stands in a classroom. He holds a small, colorful craft made of red and white pom-poms with googly eyes. On the red table in front of him are scraps of black construction paper and another yellow pom-pom creature.
A young boy in a light blue Pokémon t-shirt stands in a classroom with a neutral expression, balancing a large, multicolored yarn pom-pom with googly eyes on top of his head. In the background, another child in an orange shirt sits at a red table, smiling. The classroom is filled with educational toys, including a globe, a colorful stacking tower, and storage bins.
A close-up portrait of the boy in the orange henley shirt, smiling happily. He has tucked his red and white pom-pom creature into his shirt’s chest pocket so only its eyes and the top of its "head" are visible.
Snapshots from Reading Buddies with 1st and 5th Graders!
6 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Two boys are seated cross-legged on a light-colored tile floor, looking down at an open picture book. The book shows a bright red page with a white skeleton of a dog. Behind them are classroom cubbies filled with colorful rolled-up yoga mats in blue, purple, green, and orange. i
A high-angle shot of a classroom reading circle. A girl with long red hair sits on a colorful handprint rug, holding up a picture book featuring a red car to a group of five other children. The children are seated on the floor and a rug, listening intently. The background shows classroom decorations, including a number line and a yellow clock.
Three children are huddled together on a tile floor during a reading session. A boy in a white "Old Navy" t-shirt holds a yellow book featuring a simple illustration of a rocket ship and a planet, pointing to the page. A girl with blonde braids and a boy in a blue shirt watch closely from opposite sides. i
An overhead view of two girls sitting on a classroom floor. One girl, wearing a black hoodie, holds open a picture book titled "Bunny, My Honey," which shows an illustration of a white rabbit. Another girl with long, wavy blonde hair sits with her back to the camera, looking at the pages.
Three children are sitting on a vibrant rug decorated with large, colorful handprints. A girl in a tan sweatshirt holds a large picture book featuring a night sky and a bear. Two other children—a girl in a pink and black hoodie and a boy in a red shirt—lean in to look at the illustrations.
A girl in a pink long-sleeved shirt and a boy in a black "Ninja" t-shirt sit side-by-side on a handprint rug. The girl holds a thin picture book with blue-toned illustrations of a shark. In the background, there is a small wooden stool with cat-shaped cutouts on top.
Three children sit against a white wall on a colorful rug. The girl in the center, wearing a grey "PINK" hoodie and blue cowboy boots, reads a book aloud. To her left, a boy in a bright blue shirt smiles at the camera, and to her right, a girl in a black sweatshirt watches the book.
Slate Valley District Newsletter: January 16, 2026
https://mailchi.mp/409168fc586b/slate-valley-district-newsletter-january-16-13835966
6 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic header for the Slate Valley Unified Union School District newsletter dated January 16, 2026. The image features a winter illustration with snow-covered trees, mountains, falling snow, and a skier on a snowy hillside, along with the district logo and the text “Our Schools, Your Future.”
NEEDED: Community members interested in serving as Slate Valley School Board Representatives!

Slate Valley Unified Union School District is seeking residents who want to make a meaningful impact on our schools and students. Open seats are available in West Haven (3 seats), Hubbardton (1 seat), and Orwell (1 seat). There are also seats in Benson, Fair Haven, and Castleton, where current members are running unopposed.

Serving on the school board is a great way to represent your community, support student success, and help shape the future of Slate Valley schools. Board members receive an annual stipend, and no prior experience is required—just a commitment to serve.
If you’re interested in running, please visit your town office to obtain a petition and learn more about the process and requirements.
6 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic announcing “School Board Members Needed” for Slate Valley Unified Union School District, with open seats in West Haven, Hubbardton, and Orwell. Text encourages serving the community, supporting students, and participating in school decisions; notes no experience required and to visit the town office for details. Includes the Slate Valley Vermont logo and a photo of adults seated around a table in discussion.
No School – Monday, January 19, 2026

Slate Valley Unified Union School District schools will be closed on Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

This day honors Dr. King’s legacy of service, equity, and justice, and invites us all to reflect on the values of compassion, courage, and community.

We wish our students, families, and staff a meaningful day of remembrance. ❤️🤍💙
6 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic shows the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial statue against a blue sky. Text reads, “No School Monday, January 19, 2026, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” with a Vermont school district logo at the bottom.
1st Grade is learning about sound in silence. They made their own "Bee Hummer" to experiment with how vibrations create sound.
6 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A young boy with a wide smile, wearing a black t-shirt with a "Frightfully Festive" graphic and blue jeans, holds up a small, rectangular handmade paper craft. He is standing in a gymnasium with wooden bleachers and a stack of colorful gym mats behind him.
A young boy with a blonde bowl cut and an orange henley shirt stands in a gymnasium, holding a small, rectangular handmade paper craft with horizontal yellow and black stripes, resembling a bee, attached to a black string. He has a neutral expression. In the background, there are blue padded mats on a green wall, and a second child is partially visible on the left, holding a similar craft.
1st Grade is learning about sound in silence. They made their own "Bee Hummer" to experiment with how vibrations create sound.
6 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A young boy with a blonde bowl cut and an orange henley shirt stands in a gymnasium. He has a neutral expression while holding a paper craft decorated with yellow and black stripes.
A girl in a bright pink sweatshirt stands in a school cafeteria, making a silly, tight-lipped face at the camera. She holds a yellow and black striped paper craft in both hands.
A young boy with messy brown hair and a bright smile wears a light blue t-shirt with a checkered graphic. He proudly holds up a handmade paper craft with yellow and black stripes.
A young girl with long brown hair wearing a teal shirt and floral leggings holds a red paper craft with black dots, designed to look like a ladybug.
A young girl with long brown hair, wearing pink heart-patterned leggings and a white t-shirt, leans toward the camera with a big smile. She holds a handmade paper craft with yellow and black horizontal stripes.
A young boy with light brown hair smiling at the camera, wearing a yellow and white striped shirt, holds up a small, rectangular red craft object with black string. He is standing on a black mat in a gymnasium or multi-purpose room with a grey floor and green and wood-paneled walls in the background.
A young boy with a wide smile, wearing a black t-shirt with a "Frightfully Festive" graphic and blue jeans, holds up a small, rectangular handmade paper craft. He is standing in a gymnasium with wooden bleachers and a stack of colorful gym mats behind him.
A young girl with long brown hair, wearing a white graphic t-shirt and pink heart-patterned leggings, leans forward and smiles at the camera. She is holding a small, handmade paper craft with yellow and black stripes, designed to look like a bee, which is attached to a black string. She stands in front of wooden bleachers and a stack of blue gym mats in a gymnasium.
A young girl in a leopard-print shirt, with her head tilted back and smiling, holds a small white envelope-like paper craft with a string attached in front of her. She is standing on a speckled floor in a gymnasium, with blue padded mats and a basketball court line visible behind her.
A young girl with long light brown hair, wearing a purple fuzzy zip-up jacket over a black glittery top and black pants, smiles at the camera. She is holding a small, rectangular handmade craft with yellow and black horizontal stripes. She stands in a school gymnasium on a light grey tiled floor with black and teal lines, with a doorway and a floor fan visible in the background.
Crazy 8's club created different types of graphs today with our own data. We used a graph to compare the seasons of our Birthdates, a matrix to look at dominant and recessive tracts like right handedness and a Venn diagram to look at many other characteristics!
7 days ago, Kelley Schultz
The same group of nine students from a different angle, sitting around the floor graph in a classroom. In this version, the students are more spread out and many are making silly faces or poses for the camera. The floor graph with its tape axes and orange sticky note data points remains the central focus of the room.
The same group of nine students from a different angle, sitting around the floor graph in a classroom. In this version, the students are more spread out and many are making silly faces or poses for the camera. The floor graph with its tape axes and orange sticky note data points remains the central focus of the room.
A "Trait Chart" table showing handwritten data for nine children across three categories. Hair Line: 4 kids have a dominant Widow's peak; 5 kids have a recessive straight hairline. Dimples: 1 kid has dominant dimples; 8 kids have no dimples. Eye Color: 1 kid has dominant brown eyes; 8 kids have any other color. IMG_0855.png Nine elementary-age students pose in a classroom around a large, hand-made graph on the floor. The graph uses red tape for axes and orange sticky notes to represent data points. The vertical Y-axis is labeled with numbers 0 through 4, and the horizontal X-axis is labeled "birthday month." The students are sitting and reclining around the graph, looking toward the camera.
Kinders learning how to jump rope!
10 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A young girl in a blue and white checkered dress jumps over a green circular floor marker in a gym.
In a wide shot of the gymnasium, a teacher in a grey t-shirt holds a long orange jump rope for a young student in a pink shirt.
A young girl in a tan ruffled sweatshirt and black leggings walks across the gym floor while holding a green jump rope.
A smiling young girl in a light blue shirt featuring a kitten graphic holds a green jump rope behind her shoulders.
A young girl in a teal long-sleeve shirt and grey leggings is captured mid-air while jumping with a red jump rope in a gymnasium
A young boy wearing a horizontal-striped shirt and maroon pants stands in a gym, holding the handles of a green jump rope that rests behind him.
A young girl with long brown hair, wearing a teal floral shirt and black leggings, stands ready with a green jump rope on a blue section of the gym floor.
A young boy in a tan t-shirt and olive cargo pants jumps high into the air with his arms raised while using a red jump rope.
4th Grade natural disaster research papers
10 days ago, Kelley Schultz
A printed report titled "The Great Chicago Fire 1871" . The text summarizes a fictional story about a boy named Oscar from the I Survived book series and includes historical facts about the fire starting in O'Leary's barn.
A printed report titled "Mt. Saint Helens" This report also focuses on the 1980 eruption, noting the 57 casualties and the danger of volcanic gases and magma.
A wide shot of a classroom bulletin board with a black background and a colorful confetti border. The header "Natural Disasters" is written in orange letters. Below it, several printed student reports are stapled in a row, each paired with hand-drawn orange labels for events like "Hurricane," "Tsunami," "Volcano Erupts," "Chicago Fire," "Wild Fire," and "Blizzard."
A printed report titled "The Japanese Tsunami" . The text describes the 2011 disaster, mentioning a book called I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 and facts about evacuation drills and wave heights.
A printed report titled "Mt. St. Helens" The student writes about the 1980 eruption in Washington state, describing the smoke and ash, and mentions reading the book I Survived the Eruption of Mt. St. Helens.
A printed report titled "The 1900 Storm." It includes a digital graphic of the title and text discussing the 1900 Galveston, Texas hurricane, its death toll, and general facts about hurricane categories and seasons.
A printed report titled "CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES 2018" by Matty Bob. The text explains how the fires started due to faulty electrical equipment, the damage caused in acres and homes, and safety tips for evacuations.
Kinders working on double strategies!
10 days ago, Kelley Schultz
Red Ladybug Math Craft A close-up of a student's math project. Five red-colored ladybug cutouts are glued to a large green paper leaf. Each ladybug has a triangle on its back containing an even number: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.
Classroom Bulletin Board A classroom bulletin board with a white wood-grain background and a colorful border of vertical pencils. The board features several green leaf cutouts, each adorned with five red ladybug drawings labeled with the numbers 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Decorative elements include large wavy yellow and blue pencils, stars, and text snippets that read "Double double," "This this," and "That that." In the bottom right corner, a large orange eraser cutout says, "Whoops! It’s okay to make mistakes."
A close-up of another student’s project on the bulletin board. This green paper leaf holds five ladybugs colored with pink and red crayons. Like the others, they are labeled with even numbers from 2 to 10. A blue and orange checkered star decoration is pinned to the wall nearby.
Board Meeting - January 12, 2026
You’re invited to the Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Castleton Elementary School Cafeteria.
This meeting will be in person. Virtually connect by going to:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/epv-sidz-zry
Or dial: (US) +1 406-905-1177 PIN: 663 913 503#

Please note: To participate in conversation virtually and/or ask a question virtually, please use the “raise hand” icon in Google Meet. Typing responses or questions in chat is not an option.
10 days ago, Slate Valley
Graphic announcing a Slate Valley Unified Union School District Board Meeting on January 12, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Castleton Elementary School cafeteria. Agenda items include the consent agenda, Act 73 discussion, open board seats discussion, and committee finance reports. Includes district logo and “Please Join Us Tonight” text.
WANTED: Community members interested in serving as Slate Valley School Board Representatives!

Slate Valley Unified Union School District is seeking residents who want to make a meaningful impact on our schools and students. Open seats are available in West Haven (3 seats), Hubbardton (1 seat), and Orwell (1 seat). There are also seats in Benson, Fair Haven, and Castleton, where current members are running unopposed.

Serving on the school board is a great way to represent your community, support student success, and help shape the future of Slate Valley schools. Board members receive an annual stipend, and no prior experience is required—just a commitment to serve.

If you’re interested in running, please visit your town office to obtain a petition and learn more about the process and requirements.
13 days ago, Slate Valley
Alt text: A green graphic reading “Wanted: Slate Valley School Board Representatives,” showing three person icons with the Slate Valley logo and text noting open seats in West Haven, Hubbardton, and Orwell, and a $1,200 reward.