What are some of the methods/techniques/classroom styles that your child's teachers have done that have just really been impressive?
There are so many wonderful teachers in Marion County -- and I remember always being impressed as a reporter at some of the fantastic projects they did!

I thought I would bump this since the kids have been in school for a bit now.

When I joined 1st grade to teach years ago, I was impressed with the "special" days they planned. I don't know if they get to do that much anymore because the days are planned to a T by the district. But here's a list of some of the "special days" we had:

Rodeo Roundup after reading stories about the West: kids dressed up, classes rotated through all the 1st grades to learn various things like roping, campfire songs, putting horseshoes on horses, etc.

Ice Castle Day: all the kids brought in tubs with items frozen inside (milk jugs with hot wheels cars frozen in the water). Teachers purchased blocks of ice from the ice store. We built a castle in a plastic blue swimming pool in the classroom. Then we observed the melting process during the morning work time. After lunch we moved it outside and observed the melting process speed up. We had journals to document it all.

Pumpkin Day: Carved pumpkins, weighed pumpkins, counted seeds, journaled the experience.

The little Red Hen: I brought breadmaker in to make bread. THe kids made the butter to spread on the bread.

Johnny Appleseed day: tasted various apples and graphed our likes/dislikes, made homemade applesauce, painted with apples, etc.

Kite Day

That's all I can think of right now. Those were so much fun. I wish kids could experience that stuff more these days. Hands on activities are what they always remembered at the end of the year for their reflection journals.