From child directed activities like building with manipulative pattern blocks or by exploring a collection of rocks children naturally develop their numeracy skills through concepts like classifying, comparing, determining quantity, identifying patterns, sequencing and measuring.
In our classroom we support early numeracy everyday by doing things like counting out loud as a group at every opportunity, pointing out numerical concepts in the stories we read, and stocking the shelves with open-ended manipulative objects that are always accessible to the children during activity time.
The boys take a break from running and start counting the number of X's on our Terry Fox chart.
Geoboards are not only a great tool for exploring the mathematical concept of geometry but they also help with developing fine motor skills needed to do up those tricky buttons on their jackets and write with a pencil.
A fun math activity relating back to a book we read that day called Ten Apples Up On Top by Theo LeSieg.
Language and Literacy
We have a bunch of eager writers on our hands. Each day at book and blanket time, many of the children choose to write their own stories.
Scribbling and creating symbols that represent words or stories is an important stage in children's expressive writing. Children transition from scribbling to forming letter like symbols and then eventually letters and words when they have exposure to a print rich environment and they strengthen their fine-motor abilities.
To allow the children to refine their fine-motor abilities they are always encouraged to dress themselves for outdoor play to the best of their ability (no matter how long it takes), and writing materials like paper, markers and scissors are accessible to the children at all times during play.
The girls further improving their fine-motor pincer grasp through stencil art.
Dramatically retelling the story she wrote.
Capturing an author hard at work; check out that pincer grasp!
Listening to a story at the listening center and following along in the book.
Creative Arts
The wonderful thing about art is that everyone can do it, regardless of physical, emotional or learning challenges. Art experiences for young children help them to foster a sense pride and confidence in their work, allow them to strengthen their fine-motor abilities, and are often an open-ended activity where they are in control of the end product.
Artistic freedom allows children to express themselves through what they create, to interpret and describe what they know about the world and can inspire social connections with others.
Creating Plasticine tree's inspired by the story Picture a Tree by Barbara Reid
Using cookie cutters to create shapes. Sometimes the leftover Plasticine is more interesting than the shape.
Self portrait drawing.
Watercolour painting using paint made from dried up markers.
Painting the first letters of their names was a fun way to encourage letter recognition.
Stamping with bingo dabbers onto the easel strengthens large muscles in the arms and shoulders.
The girls worked together getting messy with pastels.
Creating rings for Dot Day was simple and quite popular activity that required the children to use their fine-motor abilities to push the pipe cleaners through the buttons.
Social Development
Kindergarten children are at the developmental stage socially where they are beginning to make friends. They are beginning to invite other children to play with them, exchanging materials, ideas and points of view, offering play materials and roles to others and cooperatively sustaining play with other children.
All of this comes with their developed abilities to better regulate their emotions and solve conflicts, express ideas, emotions and opinions, create and follow rules during play with others and show empathy towards other people.
Cooperatively working together building with Duplo blocks.
Creating play schemes together using different materials.
Science Exploration
Children are naturally drawn to science and discovery. They are constantly asking questions, observing, collecting information and developing conclusions about everything around them.
As educators, we constantly encourage them to inquire about what interests them, to ask questions that can lead to greater learning and to make connections between what they know, what they've learnt and what they want to know.
Exploring what the apples look like inside and learning the names of all the different parts.
Participating in the scientific process of making our own apple sauce.
Enjoying the end result.
Exploring what happens when you mix the colours blue and yellow. Inspired by the book Little Yellow, Little Blue by Leo Lionni.
Outdoor Play
Outdoor play is crucial for young children. Spending time outside allows them to part take in gross motor exercise that will help them to focus once they head back inside.
Exploring nature also helps children foster a sense of respect and understanding of the natural world and gives them an opportunity to ask questions and make connections about the weather, the seasons and living things.
Outdoor play is a time when children can cooperatively play with others with endless possibilities for play and creativity. The playground is a place where children can observe and learn to take risks in a safe and developmentally appropriate setting.
Big smiles on a beautiful sunny September day!
Counting and collecting beautiful fallen leaves.
Hanging in, on and around the tube during outdoor play.
Bravely climbing the rope wall one sunny September morning.
A great shot of some great friends.
All smiles.
Eager to document the special leaf the he had found.
Working very hard building castles.
Music and Movement
The children in room 104.2 are very responsive to music and movement. I'm sure that you've heard them singing many of the funny songs that they've learnt or practiced while at school.
Singing to children is one of the most enriching forms of teaching. Children learn concepts like rhyme and rhythm, how to recognize patterns and repetition, how to predict what will come next and how to control pitch and regulate volume.
Singing can be used as a tool to teach all sorts of different concepts as well as a tool to help children that struggle with transitions and routines to ease into those important aspects of the day.
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Parents: Please don't fret if there were not many photo's of your child in this first post. The class camera is always ready for action so there will be many photo opportunities throughout the year. We hope that you enjoyed looking back on this past month; stay tuned as we plan to post regularly!
(We also can not post photos of children if the consent form for the blog has not been signed and returned. If you have not received the consent form in your child's note tote please let us know so we can send home another one!)
