Opal School closed in 2021. You can continue to access these resources for free. To learn more visit teachingpreschoolpartners.org.

Boys Only Ice Cream

“Boys only ice cream! Boys only ice cream!” a child called out. Ice cream shops are part of outside play for Opal Beginning School. One…

Reflecting on Election Day

The results of the election were more surprising in some settings than others.  In Multnomah County, where Opal School resides, Hillary Clinton earned four votes for…

Surprises

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought. ― Albert Szent-Gyorgyi  As the children shared images and reflections of…

Speaking in Tongues

Who are these children? How can we bring their voices to the world? At our staff gathering to begin the school year, we read and discussed…

Tough Guy

Every word and action can send a message. It tells children — or students or athletes — how to think about themselves. It can be…

Sharing Strawberries

In the spring, because our third graders had become so engaged with statistics of our global population, we decided to share some of the Material World…

In This Tree Lives Hope

In the Magnolia Classroom community, the children have been focused on developing and learning to appreciate their connection to the natural world. They are practicing strategies…