On this site, I will be documenting our year together, and explaining our activities and projects.
I've been very busy these past few weeks setting up the different learning areas of our classroom, and I can't wait for your child to experience them!
The Look Nook
Here we will learn to observe details in things and represent them in our drawings and writings. This will be a place of wonder as the students may bring in items from outside or home that fit the current study.
The Art Studio
Here we will be able to create art to represent our learning in all of the subjects. We do lots of painting and modeling with clay here!
Finger Gym / Writing Station
This station starts off the year as Finger Gym, a place where students will work on their "fine motor skills". Students of this age often have not yet fully developed the muscles in their hands and fingers, muscles needed for doing small things, such as holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, pinching with their forefinger and thumb, etc. The activities here will help to develop and strengthen those muscles. Later in the year, this station will transform into our Writing Station, where students will come to write notes and letters to each other and to family, to write stories, lists, or anything else they desire!
The Sensory Table
The Sensory Table offers that hands-on input that children of this age require. At Open House, I simply had trays of sand for the students to write and draw in. When the station is opened, I will remove the lid of the table to reveal a tub of materials. I like to change out the contents of the tub frequently. At any given time, it may hold sand, salt, water, beans, aquarium rocks, shredded paper, cotton balls, pompoms, bottle caps, or a plethora of other materials for the students to enjoy. The activities that will be practiced here are just as varied - reading, writing, measuring, weighing, scooping, pouring, counting, sorting, etc. I can't wait to see what your child does with the materials!
The Dramatic Play Area
Here we will practice and hone our social skills of "Be responsible, Be respectful, Be kind." This area is currently set up as a home living area, but will change throughout the year into whatever the children decide to make it! Last year we created a Gingerbread bakery, the Arctic, and an aquarium!
Our Chromebooks
Students have individual "Chromebook" computers in our class. These are used to practice reading and math skills, and to enhance our lessons in other ways. In the past, my students have researched a science project online, written a song on the computer, and even taken "selfies" to learn about noticing details. We love our Chromebooks!
The Smartboard & the Carpet
The Smartboard & carpet is where we will do most of our formal lessons. The smartboard is a fully interactive computer, allowing the students to touch to click, drag to move things, watch videos, and play games - basically anything you can do on a computer! We will also sit here to listen to stories and have our math lessons. Rumor has it we might have some surprise guest readers - be on the lookout!
The Rainbow Table
This is the table where I will hold "guided reading" lessons. During this time, your child will meet with me in a small group to work on reading skills specific to that group's current needs. Groups will also be working with our Instructional Aide, Mrs. Vincent, and our Title I Aide, Mrs. Hammergren.
The Light Table
At the Light Table, students will explore science, construction, and even some math and literacy. (Apparently I need to replace a light bulb!)
The Imagination Station
At the Imagination Station, students will stretch their ... you guessed it, imaginations! Sometimes I will place characters from stories we have read here so students can recall and dramatize the story. Other times, we might create a scene such as in the picture, and let the students create their own stories. Last year, I even brought in my old Fisher-Price Castle that I played with as a kindergartner. They loved it! The students will eventually be encouraged to write and draw the stories they create here.
The Quiet Reading Area / Safe Place
Of course, reading is the biggest focus in Kindergarten. Here, students will be able to self-select books that have been read previously to "re-read" on their own. There is a variety of seating options for their comfort - reading should be enjoyable! This area will also serve as a place where students can come to "calm down" when they become angry or upset.
The Construction Station
In the construction station, students will use large blocks and other "loose parts" to create buildings, bridges, and other structures. They will practice working together and will develop leadership skills as well. Sometimes the structures they build become very tall, as they explore the concepts of height and balance; sometimes they become very intricate as they explore the concept of detail. In this station, structures are almost always left "up" if the students desire so that they can continue working on them throughout the week. I feel this shows my respect of their hard work. After all, don't we all have our own projects at various stages of completion?! In this photo, the "loose parts" shelf is covered so that everything did not get dumped and mixed during Open House. It will be uncovered when the station is opened. You'll notice clipboards on the windowsill - students will be required to draw what they have built, and later in the year we will move to drawing "blueprints"before we build something, stretching their thinking to planning.
The Overhead Projector
Here students will explore many different concepts of literacy, math, science, and social skills. We will start the year by practicing spelling our names with magnetic letters, and sorting the letters by color - math and literacy with the same materials!
You might notice that our room is lit mainly with lamps and natural light, whenever possible. I am always striving to create a calm and comforting environment for my students, and this is just one way that I have found to achieve this ambience.
When you came to Open House, you and your child found "their" seat; however, I believe in giving students many opportunities to make appropriate choices throughout their day, and one of these is choosing where to sit. For the first few days, they will have assigned seats, until the first-week-jitters are gone. :-) Then we will move their name cards to their lockers, and they will be allowed to sit in any seat, provided they make good choices (i.e. don't talk too much, keep hands and feet to themselves, etc.) while they are there. Of course, if the need arises. an assigned seat can and will be reinstated!
Here are several whole-room views.
From the door:
From my desk:
From the Dramatic Play Corner:
From the Construction Corner:
I hope you have enjoyed this "tour" of our room. Stay tuned as I strive to document your child's daily life in Kindergarten!
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