The East Boston Early Education Center (EEC) is a relatively new building next to the McKay K-8 School. It served 188 K0-Grade 1 students last year, half of whom were in K0/K1 classes. When I visit at the end of the school year, I notice a large bulletin board displaying a poster for each classroom with photos and names of all the teachers and students — a great way to build a school-wide community!

Hallway displays outside K0/K1 classes showcase a unit on “Growing and Changing” with photos of each student at different ages, while inside Candice Freeman-Palmer and her colleagues are introducing their children to caterpillars.

The large, airy “Maker Space” on the second floor is full of books and activity centers inviting exploration and inquiry. Alicia Carroll has recently introduced K2 students to root vegetables, and today brings several for students to touch and smell as they pass them around a circle.

There is a lot of science in classrooms as well. K2 children are examining recently sprouted seedlings with guidance from Surround Care Paraprofessional Cara McGonagle. There are a variety of animals for observation in Diana Chow’s grade 1 inclusion class: a lizard, gerbil, and two fish tanks! And every room seems to have a hands-on display of natural treasures: rocks, shells, plants, and more.

I am inspired by the focus on interdisciplinary studies — especially literacy and science — as well as by the stimulating surroundings within and outside classrooms at the EEC. I hope you’ve had a good beginning to the new school year and have found ways to make your class and school walls spark your students’ curiosity!

Please invite me to visit this year!

Amika Kemmler-Ernst, Ed.D.

amika45@gmail.com

We are looking at a book about caterpillars with Ms. Dennis. We’ve learned that they make make a chrysalis and turn into butterflies. Caterpillars eat apples and butterflies eat nectar from flowers. We are also learning to read new words on. our iPads and in books.

~ Giovanni Pineiro & Santiago Sandoval, K0/K1

We were reading a book about animals. We’re learning the sounds of letters. We learned that many animals come from eggs that are different colors and sizes.

~ Julia Costa, Evelyn Palmiter & Amberly Alfaro, K0/K1

Ms. Candice was showing us caterpillars. We learned that they will make a chrysalis and transform into a butterfly. We also learned they eat leaves, they have small circles on their bodies, they move very slowly, and their legs are very tiny.

~ Candice Freeman-Palmer’s K0/K1 Class

I am reading a book called More Trouble. I am learning a lot of words that I didn’t know! My favorite books are comics and chapter books.

~ Dakota Windett, Grade 1

In this picture we were reading words on cards with Ms. Rosemary. We learned lots of new words and how to do equations like 5 + 5 = 10 in math. We also looked at snails through a magnifying glass this year!

~ Kylie Disla, Emilaino Jiminez & Emiliano Mesa, Grade 1

We were writing about shadows with Ms. Lucia. We learned that lighthouses help ships stay safe. We are also learning how to tell time and using Lexia to learn new letters and words.

~ Antonella Hernandez & Emmanuel McFadden, Grade 1

We were dancing in music class with Ms. Turreza. We are learning to listen and to speak quietly. We are also learning lots of songs and dances!

~ Colleen Mason’s K0/K1 Class

We were passing carrots around the circle in Maker Space with Ms. Alicia. We were smelling them and the leaves felt soft like pillows. We learned they are root vegetables and they grow underground.

~ Daira Torres Nolasco & Emily Alves, K2

I was playing in the “Flower & Garden Shop” with Henry. I was paying for some vegetables with play money. We are learning numbers and how to count.

~ Jayden Villalobos, K0/K1

e were writing with Ms. Claudia about the reflection in the glass ball pictures. This year we’re learning about light and shadows. We learned that the shadow of a person is always on the opposite side of the sunshine. We’ve also learned that sentences start with a capital letter and end with a period.

~ Joshua Chavarrio, Heitor De Souza, & Milagros Ramirez, Grade 1