Thoughts...

I was asked by my friend, Lynn, "How was my journey going?"  How was this journey going for my aide, Lora, as well as for the children?  I then realized..this is a journey and I am never going to be at the final destination as far as learning goes! I get bogged down with the details and county policies and report cards,etc. 

I first read about Reggio Emilia a few years ago. I stumbled across a calendar made by students in a classroom and I had to know more about it. I went to Fairy Dust Teaching blog which is a blog authored by a teacher inspired by Reggio. I was fascinated with the simplicity and the beauty of the materials. I have never been a teacher that decorates with commercial items anyway.  So, the spaces of Reggio classrooms appealed to me. Last year, I started my transformation of my room.  No bright colors and instead neutrals were used. Only student work went up on the wall. 

This summer, I read two Reggio books, "The Hundred Languages of Children" and I think "Bringing the Reggio approach Home". I finally started to grasp the concept that students need many ways to show their thinking besides the traditional sense. But, as concepts were getting more clear I also became more confused and depressed even. The true Reggio schools have an outstanding network of support from the entire town it seems and these children start attending the preschools early!   I am trying to bring in this approach to my kindergarten in a year. 

Here I am, three weeks deep. My students love having "choice time" where they can choose from a myriad of places and provocations.  Blocks, the art area and housekeeping are favorites. Sound familiar! Not much has changed in the minds of 5 and 6 year olds! 

I hope I can keep the faith as I try to follow their lead and also teach the reading and language arts skills that seems to always be breathing down my back.  We wonder why kids stop loving reading?  When reading turns from a pleasurable activity to work, that's when.  

Look at this teamwork on one of the very first few days of school!

The Dot

We read, "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds. What a cute story the kids can relate to....even I can relate! The story is about a little girl named Vashti who believed she cannot be an artist until her teacher frames the dot she begrudgingly put on a piece of paper. Vashti becomes inspired and has an entire art show devoted to dots.  My favorite line in the story is , " Make a mark and see where it takes you!"

So, here are some of the provocations I set up for the week(s) of dots!

Family Tree

I was so ecstatic  to see the family tree finally displayed. Mrs. Bane took pictures of all our beautiful families that came for orientation. We laminated the pictures and then threaded thin gauge wire through the top where we punched a hole. Students could choose to go to a table and find their family and decorate the wire with beads. We then hung the families on the branches. The branches were hung from the ceiling using the same wire. I must admit....it looks pretty cool!

One student said to me, "This makes me happy inside!"   Exactly!

What is a Scientist?

Students learned all about our senses this week and how scientists use their senses to observe!
We had some exciting choices at work time this week.

  

Playdough  with herbs!

HERO Binder

SO, my theme this year is riding on the tails of all the Super Hero movies out there this summer. Plus, my daughter, Lilly, is OBSESSED with The Avengers. So, why not?
I just made my HERO binder cover and some labels and they are yours for free!I am new to blogging so please leave me a comment and follow my blog! Click on the Cover to get the Binder Cover Page!

Click here for LABELS:  I print these label out on regular cardstock, not "labels". I cut them out and use clear plastic packing tape to act as labels. I save a lot of money this way!

Class Handbook Label

Keet at Home

Calendar

Bring back to School

Lunch Money

School Fever has hit BIG time

I would consider this my first real post that actually talks about me prepping for school. I love going to my classroom when the school is literally in vacation. I feel like I have the school to myself. I had to move ALL my furniture out in the hall so the custodians could wax and then, the next day...I had to move it all back in. But the good part is that I was able to reearrange my room.
One of my favorite things to do to get prepped for school is to make my organizational notebook that the kids will use and create the labels, etc. So, here is my cover and my labels via google docs! This is my first attempt at a freebie!
MONSTER cover

MONSTER labels

Kindergarten is where it's at. Two turntables and a microphone.

I am super stoked to have finally started a kindergarten blog. I dabbled in the blog pond a few years ago but ran out of inspiration. The main reason being I was trying to write about something I am not good "at":home improvement- A.K.A. trying to be Martha. Yeah, I failed. But, I am good at kindergarten. You are supposed to write about what you know about, correct? So, here I be.
I am working on a Mo Willems unit and I hope to have it posted soon. I am also teaching a workshop this summer and have found so much inspiration on the web! I want to share my cool things as a way of giving back to the pioneer teacher bloggers.