The kinders are becoming amaZZZZing artists! From drawing our 'Self-Portraits' to 'Still-Life' gourds, we are learning to develop fine motor skills and a steady hand at something meaningful we can share with others. The children are beginning to see more 'detail smeetails' by drawing carefully, tracing over their work and adding colours.
On Friday mornings after drawing we pretend to go to our in class 'West Langley Art Museum!' We arrange all our art out and line up for our tickets to come to the art museum. We play classical music as we walk and talk quietly observing one another's work. Afterwards, I encourage the kinders to 'pair up' and look closely and intentionally at their own and their partner's work. I want the kinders to ask and show one another: What was the trickiest or most challenging part of your work? What are you most proud of? What would you like to get better at? Through observing and listening to one another, I hope to encourage the kinders to become more reflective about themselves and others. I also want them to understand that learning from others is important and that sharing their ideas is too. Take a look at all our INTERCONNECTED patterns! Thank you to the many parents and caregivers who come out on Monday and Wednesday mornings to make this special for the Kinders! The 'Read Aloud' experiences with you in their classroom provides for a unique 'learning to love books' opportunity for the Kinders. I am noticing the children becoming more willing and comfortable to join with their friend's family member for a 'Read Aloud' if their parent/caregivers cannot make it! We are building a strong community together! Learning literacy and numeracy concepts through play is a 'BIG' part of our classroom learning environment. The children are working number and letter concepts such as number and letter recognition and one to one correspondence. They are also learning 'part to whole' relationships when they are actively engaged in their puzzles and/or matching games independently or collaboratively. After the Kinders have completed a puzzle or matching game it is time for a 'Learning Celebration! ' With a friend, I encourage them to choose from our many pointers and work with their creation They might play 'I Spy' a letter, sound, number, rhyme, word etc. In this way the children learn to value the time, concentration, and self discipline involved in completing a literacy or numeracy challenge! The 'Celebration' comes afterwards as they take the time to 'play' with their work, by reading the words in their puzzle, or counting the numbers or dots, etc.
After lunch at West Langley our whole school has D.E.A.R time. I encourage the Kinders to find a quiet place for their 'Book Looking' experiences. In Kindergarten 'early emergent role play' reading is often enjoyed collaboratively. I try to have multiple copies of texts so the children have opportunities to compare and contrast their observations. They may be counting objects or comparing colours or letters in illustrations or texts. I also want the children to enjoy looking at the books for extended periods that gradually increase. Some children are already reading simple patterns. All the children are reading and looking at books for pure enjoyment! Wonderfully exciting! Thank you parents for all the wonderful scaffolds (supports) you have provided for your child's successful integration into our full day Kinder classroom. The Kinders are already demonstrating respect for one another's creations and ideas through this collaborative process.
As children develop the ability to take their time with one another and with themselves, creating and adding the 'detail smeetails' to their work through play, in time, they begin to transfer these details to their drawings and written work! They also begin to see the details in language patterns as they begin to read. Albert Einstein once said, 'Play is the highest form of research.' Thank you everyone for your warm welcomes and support of me as your child's new Kinder teacher! Here is a reflection of our first experiences in our Kindergarten classroom. Enjoy with your child and family members! |