Responsive Classroom Closing Circle
1/31/2020
The end of the day can be a busy time in many classrooms. Teachers and students are often rushing to finish their work and getting ready for dismissal. However, in our Early Kindergarten class we set aside time at the end of each day to gather for closing circle. Closing circle allows us to peacefully wrap up the day and send students off with a sense of accomplishment and belonging. What do children do during Closing Circle? Celebrate: Many things are worth celebrating over the course of a school day. Mastering a new skill, practicing daily routines and showing acts of kindness are all things that are acknowledged and celebrated. Taking a moment to note these accomplishments promotes a positive classroom environment. Reflect: During closing circle, I will ask students open ended questions related to our study. These discussions allow children to develop a deeper understanding of concepts, draw conclusions and organize their thoughts. This week, we have been learning about bears. Many students created hibernation books and art work and presented their projects during closing circle. We also take a moment to reflect on special moments and highlights of the day. Gain a sense of belonging: Closing Circle is a time to build trust and cooperation in the classroom. We enjoy singing songs, reading books and playing games as a class. This week we read Mo Willems, “Should I Share my Ice Cream”. This story teaches the importance of sharing. The students worked together to get a ball 'ice cream' around the circle and encouraged each other along the way. This activity strengthened gross motor skills and promoted teamwork/collaboration. Closing circle typically lasts only five to ten minutes. In these few minutes, students leave school feeling excited about their accomplishments and looking forward to the next day’s possibilities!
"I Have a Dream"
1/25/2020
Spreading joy and kindness are always a main focus in our Early Kindergarten class. To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we spent time learning about his values and his message. He believed in freedom, justice, equality and love. He was a hero for all of us as he stood against racism and oppression. A great visual demonstration to help the children understand Dr Martin Luther King Jr. 's message was the egg activity. The students worked together to paint eggs using paint and brushes making each egg a different color. After the eggs were dry, the children took turns cracking them noticing that the inside of the eggs were the same. I explained how our differences are what makes us unique and special but just like the eggs we are the same inside. We all have emotions of laughter, joy, sadness and love and this is what should hold us together. Each day we work to create an environment where students support each other and spread kindness. You may have heard your child talk about an imaginary bucket and what it means to be a “bucket filler”. A bucket filler is someone who spreads joy and happiness. Sharing, complimenting, helping and using manners are all ways to fill someones bucket and make them happy. We read the story, “Have you Filled a Bucket Today” by Carol McCloud. Afterward, the students used pom poms to fill a bucket as they said kind words to each other. They also drew pictures and practiced writing ways to spread joy. It is especially important to teach children that they are part of a larger community and that everyone is responsible for those around them. This week, each preschooler donated a toy to a child in need. Giving charity encourages children to develop a sense of compassion and empathy towards those around them. Sharing the experience of donating to charity with children shows them from a young age that they can make positive changes in the world.
Thank you for your participation in our Toy Drive! Responsive Classroom Jobs
1/18/2020
Monday mornings are especially exciting in our Early Kindergarten class. Before morning meeting, the students eagerly gather around the job chart to see what their position will be for the week. Classroom jobs teach responsibility as well as build a sense of community. Most importantly, classroom jobs give children pride and purpose. Students understand that their peers rely on them to do their job whether it is watering the classroom plant or passing out cups so everyone can have milk during lunch time. Throughout the year, we talk about how each job is meaningful and practice the roles frequently. The Line Leader: The line leader leads the line and sets an example for the rest of the class. In EK we practice walking calmly in the hallway. Door Monitor: The door monitor stands second in line and holds the door for our class. Caboose: The caboose stands last in line and ensures that all students are in line. Lunch Helper: The lunch helper is responsible for assisting the teacher during lunch time. Each day the lunch helper will go to the kitchen with a teacher and grab cartons of milk for everyone. Board Eraser: The board eraser cleans the board at the end of the day. Pencil Patrol: The pencil patrol sharpens any pencils that may need sharpening. The pencils are then placed in a container so students don’t have to sharpen pencils during class time. Pet Feeder: The pet feeder feeds and takes care of our classroom fish named Treasure Gardener: The gardener waters our class plant three times a week. A measuring cup is used to measure the correct amount of water. Table Washer: The table washer uses soap and water to wipe down the tables before/after lunch and snack time. Electrician: The electrician is responsible for turning the lights on and off when necessary. Librarian: The librarian keeps books and shelves neat and orderly. He or she will also gather books after nap time and place them back on the shelf. Substitute: If a child is absent the substitute will do their job for the day. The benefits of having jobs in the classroom are endless. I see a growth in my students’ leadership skills as they work hard to complete each job responsibility. Having jobs gives students an opportunity to take care of each other as well as the classroom. Let It Snow!
1/10/2020
Winter offers many learning opportunities for preschoolers. This week, we began our winter unit by reading “The Story of Snow” by Mark Cassino. This book gave students an understanding of how snowflakes are formed along with close up images of snowflake crystals. Students were introduced to new vocabulary including symmetry, ice crystals, and hexagon. We also talked about the life cycle of a snowflake and practiced sequencing the stages in order. During Math Centers, students worked with colored gems and tangrams to create symmetrical patterns. This activity helped them understand patterns, relations and functions. It also allowed fine motor practice. A snowflake forms when water molecules line up and form a six-sided shape called a hexagon. Students practiced tracing hexagons and used tan-grams to create 6 sided snowflake patterns. For our science activity, we used clear containers to experiment with water in forms of solid, liquid and gas. We are working on developing our understanding of the scientific process. The first jar was filled with water and the second was filled with ice cubes. The children worked together to fill the last jar with snow. Afterward, I asked my students which jar they thought would end up with the most water. They hypothesized that the jar with the snow would have the most water since it was full and because there was too much air in the ice cube jar. The students recorded their predictions as scientist do. They noticed that the snow melted much faster than the ice cubes, but it also resulted in very little water! They were shocked to see the results. Even though the students thought they packed the snowflakes tightly, they couldn’t pack them as tightly as the molecules in the ice cubes. We talked about the structure of an ice cube and a snowflake. Knowledge gained through comparing and contrasting helps students understand how to organize information, think more clearly, and express ideas. Understanding relationships between objects and organisms is how scientist find answers in the real world. We practice this skill daily in EK. Our sensory table was filled with snow this week. Since it was too cold to play outside, we brought snow into the classroom. I set paint and brushes for students to paint beautiful designs in the snow. We also talked about the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) and mixed them together to make secondary colors (orange, green and purple). Painting fosters creative growth as well as fine motor practice. We painted beautiful winter trees using paint and q tips to make a winter wonderland. Last week, the students practiced team work and collaboration to create a wonderful snowman. It was amazing to see the preschoolers work together to reach a goal. We had a fun filled week playing with snow as well as learning about it!
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April 2021
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