Friday, May 20, 2011

An Eaves-dropped Conversation

I was circulating the classroom this morning during our Sensory play to watch students play, listen to their conversations and see where I needed (or had an idea for them to try) to step in.  As I was walking past the painting easels, I was floored by the conversation between two budding artists (one JK and one SK).

JK - I like your colours.

SK - Why, thank you.  You're using nice colours too.  I'm using rainbow colours.

JK - You even put them in the right order like our Rainbow board.  Are you going to put your Reading Rainbow words on them?

SK - No, I'm just using the colours to make a window frame for my picture.  Do you like my rectangle?

JK - Yes, it looks really neat with all the colours in a box.  Is someone going to look out it?

SK - Yes, me.  I'm looking at it now.  Maybe I should paint something in the window to show I'm looking out?

JK - That sounds good.  Can you give me an idea to paint in my window?  You have good ideas!

Wow.  Such an innocent and simple conversation, but with such complexities and richness!  To be able to discuss their own creations, their ideas and their plans and respond to other’s work is such a giant leap in thinking.  I am giddy to see what their final art creation will look like!!!

~Mrs. T. Clarke

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Successful Workshop

I went to an ELK PD workshop today to meet with fellow ELK colleagues. 

We watched an interesting video on the importance of Block Play and how all subjects and areas of the ELK curriculum can tie into it.  I picked up an interesting thought of one of the teachers/educators featured in the film.  She mentioned that as an educator, our most important goal in kindergarten should be to help children learn how to think. 

It is such a valid point.  Sometimes we're so focused on expectations and covering curriculum that we forget that students won't grasp the concepts unless they know HOW to think.  The whole thinking process involves so many aspects of learning new things, exploring, pondering, applying knowledge, bouncing ideas off of peers, the giving of and accepting of feedback, building upon feedback and learning how to problem solve.  This is so true even in social situations.  Students learn to talk with each other, accept each other's ideas and feelings, negotiate and make compromises (problem-solving to resolve conflicts).

I'm so blessed and excited to be able to witness students blossoming as they learn HOW to think, HOW to problem solve and HOW to explore in such a wonderful, non-threatening and FUN environment.

It's great being an ELK Teacher!!!

~Mrs. Tereena Clarke

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Bear With Me

Bear with me as I fumble through adding links, pictures and information.  I'm SLOWLY learning how to embed images, links to interesting sites and the like.

~Mrs. Tereena Clarke

Look, we're blogging!!!!

Well, we've done it.  We've FINALLY set up a Kindergarten Blog Site.  Here we'll post updates, information, news items, pictures and samples of student work.  Please check often for updates and comment where you feel you'd like too.