Creating a classroom community: A look at our first few months together!
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
Relationships, Communication, Routines, and Independence When thirty children are placed together in a classroom it can be quite overwhelming, even for returing students. It is very easy to want to quickly dive into academics, but as the saying goes, one must learn to crawl before they walk, and walk before they run. The kindergarten years are not only special, but are very important in setting a foundation as children are very impressionable at this stage in their life. As an educator, I strive to create an environment where children love learning. Teaching with an inquiry focus, entices chi ..read more
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Managing the use of a portfolio documentation template
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
A few years ago while taking my Kindergarten Additional Qualification courses, I was introduced to a template created by Joanne Babalis (TransformEd Consulting Services), the course instructor. The template was used to document children's learning by highlighting what and how they chose to explore, investigate, and create during the day. I found the template very informative for showcasing children's knowledge, and also a good guide for me as an educator in identifying the type of support or challenge the child needed next. It was a wonderful way of capturing everyday moments and interactions ..read more
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The Importance of the Learning Environment in Education
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
(The Kindergarten Program, 2016)    This will mark my fourth year being in the same classroom. It's a small space but over time it has evolved with the support and input of the children. It is inviting and enticing, provides flow, allows for large group, small group, and independent learning, and the materials are stored and placed in ways that promote independence and self-regulation. But with all that said, I also like to add a bit of change at the start of every school year. I browse books, resources, and photographs for inspiration on various layouts and set-ups of lear ..read more
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Raising our caterpillars into butterflies: An example of how I progress through an inquiry
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
It was one of our gracious parents that asked me if I was interested in getting some caterpillars for the class. I agreed as this was a great opportunity for the children to have first hand interactions and observations with the little creatures. In my experience from previous inquiries, it doesn't so much matter where the spark comes from but rather the interactions that the children are able to have that really extend the longevity and engagement of an inquiry. Also, the component of empathy is very powerful in an inquiry especially when children are given the opportunity to care for so ..read more
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Scruffy's Adventures: How the gift of a stuffed dog encouraged literacy, math, and home connections!
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
If you follow this blog, you may remember reading about the Aboriginal Card Fundraiser the children decided to do with the intention of supporting the Toronto Humane Society and the Toronto Wildlife Centre with the proceeds raised. As a thank you, both organizations gave us certificates of appreciation which the children proudly placed on the classroom door for all to see. The Toronto Humane Society also included a few pamphlets about good pet care, a calendar and a dog stuffy. My teaching partner, Mrs. Kinsey shared her experience with the children of delivering the funds raised fro ..read more
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Sketching Time
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
"We don't expect all children to become poets or novelists or essayists, but we teach all children to read and write because we want them to be confident, expressive communicators. Similarly, we don't expect all children to become professional artists, making their living through painting or sculpture. We do, however, teach children how to use a range of art media so that they may communicate their ideas, experiences, emotions, questions, and insights in many languages. And, we want children to know beauty, creativity, and expressive emotion."  (Pelo, Ann. The Language of Art, pg. 3) Ov ..read more
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Infusing Aboriginal stories into our learning and the manifestation of our Aboriginal cards fundraiser!
Wonders in Kindergarten
by
3y ago
From the first book I read (Nanabosho How The Turtle Got It's Shell), the children were mesmerized by the characters, story line, surprise, and adventure found in the Aboriginal stories. Each week I read a new story and it didn't take long before some children started creating books with their own story versions or re-telling the stories using materials. The stories became very popular and an area was set-up to support the children in exploring the Aboriginal stories further.  Open ended and natural materials were set out along with small plastic forest animals and plasticine ..read more
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A Curiosity and Fascination with Leaves
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
We must abandon our idea of a static, knowable educator and move on to a view of an educator in a state of constant change and becoming. The role of the educator shifts from a communicator of knowledge to a listener, provocateur, documenter, and negotiator of meaning. Pacini-Ketchabaw et al., 2009, p. 103 (The Kindergarten Program, 2016) I start with the quote above because I think it's so important to understand the inquiry process not only for educators, but also for families who engage with their children on a daily basis. When children ask questions and are curious, it's important to ask ..read more
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A great start to new beginnings!
Wonders in Kindergarten
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3y ago
I cannot believe how quickly the month of September has come and gone. In just one month there has been some incredible growth and learning demonstrated by the children in our class. I want to take this time to showcase and celebrate some of this advancement and place it in the perspective of the newly updated Kindergarten Program. I hope that this may guide and support you in familiarizing yourself with the new document. The Ontario Ministry of Education has released the newly updated Kindergarten Program for use in all Ontario public schools. The program now focuses on Four Frames of learni ..read more
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Welcome Days!
Wonders in Kindergarten
by
3y ago
Having received some inquiries about what our Welcome Days entail, I thought it might be nice to dedicate a blog post to this topic. Last year my teaching partner (Kathryn) and I decided to incorporate what we call "Welcome Days" into our classroom environment. We were looking for a way to give families a glimpse into an aspect of their child's learning through play while also trying to encourage families to engage and learn alongside their child with an active hands-on approach.  We wanted to give as much time as possible for the children to get to know each other, feel comfortable wit ..read more
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