Trimming the Tree

Our little tree sat at the front of the room for weeks. Unadorned, it waited patiently for me to drag out a bin of Christmas decorations. Green and red ornaments, and a long strand of silver garland awaited the children one afternoon. They quickly got to work, and cooperated with each while debating how to take takes, and how to 'balance' the tree. We stood back to take it in. Beautiful.

"We need a star."

The children found yellow construction paper and tackled that problem. We jogged our memories and recalled the morning when we practiced drawing stars on the white boards - way back when we were still learning to put the lids on the markers. The next task was to figure out HOW to attach a paper star to the tree. We had three stars, and three different ways were utilized. There were deliberations over how to display the stars. This too was solved - some are staggered, and some are visible from different angles.

But still more children wanted to decorate. Hmmm. Who could say no to more promising collaboration? A bin of lacing beads was lugged over. Several got to work sorting colours, while others sorted by shape, and others still created simple patterns. The tree is quite decorated now, and we have found the right balance so that it no longer falls over. This was a challange, and now nobody dares even sneeze near it!

Beautiful garland of AB patterns initiated

by the children 

And while some were sharing stories about their pet cats and Christmas trees (pure entertainment!), some children were keen to record the procedure we went through to create such a beautiful and festive sight. The steps were transcibed onto the large mobile white board.

We used "sequence" words: first, then, next, finally.

The children are hoping you will get a glimpse of the tree at the concert.

Thank you for dropping by the atelier.

Writing the Room!

How JK children pick up reading and writing skills never ceases to amaze me. At the beginning of the year, many were learning their pencil/marker grip and practicing their "form drawing". We often do our form drawing when finished our snack, but this practise has evolved over the year. Recently I have noticed that the children are eager to demonstrate that they know how to write letters, numbers and words that are in our morning message, poem or chart (shared writing). We have now incorporated a new routine - writing the room!

       

This child has read the word "Mom" on the big chalkboard and written in on his whiteboard.

     

This little one found the number three on a bulletin board and opted to copy it out on her whiteboard.

This JK student is copying down the captions written underneath our Mother's Day 

show & share bulletin board. 

This little guy copied a word from a chart paper (brainstorming page) back from when we were 

looking at pets.

This child is copying down a word from a chart created when brainstorming things that grow

from seeds.

This little writer is also copying from a recent chart that was co-created, pertaining to things that

grow from seeds.

I share these wonderful samples (....and there were many, many more!) to simply demonstrate that the children are learning through what is modeled for them. When you write a grocery list, a chore list, or the weekly menu, you are modeling what writers do. I am overjoyed to see that ALL of the children are eager to "write the room" and demonstrate what they know. 

They know the letters of the alphabet, and many of the sounds associated with them. 

Most know how to pick up a marker. 

They know the difference between a letter and a word.

They know that letters are joined together to make a word.

They know that words contain meaning.

I am so proud of all of our little writers!

Thank you for visiting our atelier!

Wonderful Beginnings...A Brief Glimpse

What a pleasure it is to start each moring, greeting eager and happy faces, as they clamber down the steps of their big yellow bus to greet me each moring. It has also been a joy to observe their independence and confidence grow these last few weeks as new routines are introduced and adopted.

The children are now pairing up and making the trek to the kindergarten yard. Independence is surely developing and their bags line up under our classroom window. In the yard, they play and explore. This is the work of kindergarden. In fact, one morning I heard one of our little friends declare (after they stood for O'Canada on the loud speaker), "O.K.  Let's get back to work!" Truly, play is the WORK of these 3 and 4 year olds!

The following bulletin board is a means of documenting their skills of independence and celebrating their progress. These are milestones that I feel are not to be underestimated. Your little people are taking ownership and accountability, and we applaud their efforts! These little steps are developmentally appropriate for this age.

 

Our "We Are Independent" bulletin board will be added to

in the coming days and weeks.

 

 

Note-totes are handed into the bin daily...

 

Jackets and bags are placed in cubbies...

 

 

Indoor shoes are donned, as muddy boots and shoes are arranged neatly...

 

 

Throughout this process, there is a buzz of excitement!

 

 

Snack has been a routine in progress. Rotational snacks were interrupting the natural rhythm of our morning. I have opted to have the children eat snack at the tables all together (as I have in years past), first thing in the morning. *May I put a plug in here again for a single snack that is not packaged or processed food? Also, water is a perfect cleansing and nourishing midmoring drink.*      I have found that this time provides opportunity for the children to socialize and settle into the classroom environment. And as poetry, rhymes and chants are an integral part of the programme, we start with a meal time rhyme.

 

In order for me to set-up their discovery centres and "provocations" for learning, the children are getting into the routine of cleaning their own snack area prior to circle in the morning. They have really taken to this responsibility. It is a pleasure to see them comfortable and confident, performing these simple domestic tasks. I feel that they see this "work" and themselves, as part of a cohesive unit that is contributing towards a shared outcome.

 

Following snack, the children are getting into a routine of coming down to the carpet and getting their own white-board and marker. I have found that not all JKs are yet developmentally ready for the rigors of printing and letter making, and so they practice the art of "Form Drawing".

 

This week, the children were trying their hand at making a straight line (starting from the top) and a curved line (starting from the top) in a left to right progression. This is a small task the children seemed to enjoy. The left to right progression is an imitation of writing, yet to come. As well, the formation of forms from top to bottom is good practice. Spatial sense is developing. Curved and straight lines are found in letters and number. I have also found that form drawing (pre-writing) on the boards makes risk taking a little easier for hesitant writers and exact writers, as their forms can be easily erased and is not permanent.

 

 

 

In other routines we have explored several rhymes, songs and chants in English, during the first 10 days of school. Aswell, the children have met with their collaborative French teachers (*20 minutes per day/on a 5 day rotational schedule): Mr. Smith, Mme. Govenlock, Mme. Merriam and Mme. Kouassi. Each of these gifted teachers bring their own expertise (and accent) to the classroom through French instruction. As their time with your children increases, you will hear more!

 

While numeracy and literacy and play are consistent components of our morning, the routines shared in this post are intended to give you a glimpse into the first weeks of school. As I write this post on a few of our morning routines, my fingers are already itching to record additional experiences that have had an impact on the childrens' learning. These await another post(s).

 

Thanks for dropping in. We welcome your visits to our atelier!