Snapshots of Learning (November)

Here are some snapshots of learning in the classroom from the month of November. Often students demonstrate their understanding of concepts taught during lessons while engage in play with their peers at different learning areas. Sometimes students engage in play with friends, other times they may find they need some quiet time and play by themselves. There's room for children to work in pairs, groups or independently in our classroom space.

"I'm sorting the buttons."

"Yeah, but you still have some mixed up."

"I know, I'm not finished."

This student began to sort by two colour types. Then she decided to find all the heart buttons she could in the button box.

Students are encouraged to create their own math games with friends at the Math area in the classroom. There is paper and pencil crayons available for them to record their games and math thinking.

Students wear smocks when engaged in play at the water table. This is to keep them as dry as possible. Different materials are put out each week. In this photograph, there is a colour theme with everything being blue. The students engage in imaginative play with the open-ended materials. They create stories and talk with each other about what they are doing as they play. It's a great place to support oral language among students.

Sometimes we all need a break. The book area of the classroom has 4 big bean bags. Here a student is quietly reading a book and taking a break from the busy classroom.

Art is messy. There's sometimes no way out of that. 

Thankfully, most of our art supplies are washable!

We have two types of paint in the classroom. 

Liquid bottle paint and water colour puck paint.

Here two students are taking the time to draw and write about the game they invented with the large blocks and wooden balls on the carpet.

When designing with blocks, children have to negotiate with one another and engage in problem solving skills. They may want to place a block somewhere and their friend has another idea. This is a part of learning to talk to each other in a collaborative manner and respect the ideas and input of others. 

Hard work for four and five year olds! But they can do it!

Snapshots of Learning (September)

Here are some photographs that show the children of Room 208 working together through play at the learning areas of the classroom. Where possible, I've added a few quotes from the students.

In September a lot of the learning in Kindergarten is about getting used to the routines, rules and expectations of the classroom.
We spend a lot of time learning about each other and learning how to play with new friends. We do this through a lot of games and by reading books about friendship.
Classroom Rules
-we say sorry
-we use gentle hands
-we don't hit
-we say, "Can I have a turn?"
-we are patient and we wait our turn
-we raise our hand to ask a question or share an idea

Here are what some children shared during our Sharing Circle on how they remember the rules and show that they care about their friends in the classroom.

"If you don't get a turn today, that's okay, don't be sad, maybe tomorrow." -M.B.


"I was sharing the blocks with my friends today." M.F.


"I asked to share and they said wait and I waited and then I get a turn." B.A.


Please take the time to talk at home with your child about how they are a good friend to others in the classroom.

"I'm helping find the letters." S.A.

"We are making a machine together." D.N.

"Who's that?" C.M.

"That's the SK's from last year and that's Ms. Hammond." A.H.

Snapshots of Learning (October)

Here are some more photographs of the amazing community of learners that are growing together in Room 208. So proud of the hard work and friendships that are developing among the students!





"We are drawing in our Inquiry books." S.A.
"We made this all together. It's a home." Y.H.
"We're making dinner." S. N.

"It's a machine that makes the animal toys." R.P.
"We made a game together." H. S.

"I'm typing on the computer." S. A.

"I'm going to draw the yellow leaf. "M. M.
"I can see the red leaves on the tree outside." E. C.

Sorting our leaves after a community walk with Ms. Sevda at the Math area.

The Pumpkin and Pumpkin Seeds

On Friday October 30th, we carved our two big pumpkins in the classroom. The girls and boys really liked cleaning out the insides of the pumpkin.

 

 

 

 

"It's so yucky!" S.A.

"It's like slime!" C.M.

We predicted which pumpkin would have the most seeds inside. Turned out that the bigger pumpkin had more seeds. Then we washed the pumpkin seeds and set them aside.


The girls and boys had come up with a plan for a  happy Jack-o-Lantern and an angry Jack-o-Lantern. Then we turned off the lights, carved the faces and placed the battery candles inside.


It was a fun day full of costumes and Halloween delights.


Happy Halloween everyone!!!


Ms. Hammond

A Look Inside Our Room

Here are photographs that show what our learning spaces look like at the start of November.

Ms. Hammond

Patterns at Math

Shapes at Light Table

Materials at Art Studio

Snack Table

Inquiry into our pumpkin seeds.

Book area.

Discovery area.

Leaves from outside.

Exploring patterns on the Ten Frame.

The drama area.

The drama area.

The writing area.

 

The writing area materials.



Co-constructed word wall at the writing area.

 

Our daily schedule and special helper list.

Our classroom poems.