All the world's a stage ...

While collaborating with a few fellow kinder teachers over some 'neat ideas' that we could implement in our classrooms, one of them showed me this:

 

 

And my wheels turned. And turned. And turned. Then I got Mitch's wheels turning. Finally, he said, "Amie, I'm NOT installing pot lights in a platform just for you to bring to school. You're crazy." So ... I settled on a shower rod and a couple of red curtains.

 

Drum roll, please ....

 

 

TADAAAAA!

 

 

These kinders have been putting on 'talent shows' since Monday. They've brought the chairs nice and close, they've hired a director (who, by the way begins the show by saying, "A one, a two, a one, two, three, four") ... They've brought their babies (from the dramatic play centre) to the show, they've made signs and invitations, they've asked for music ... And, trust me ... If they catch you walking down the hall they will surely ask, "Do you want to come to our talent show?" Today, they had two shows. The first one was called, "Butterfly Dance" and the second was "Halloween Spook Dance." So, so creative. At one point, there were some coats lying on the ground and although I was sincerely concerned that someone might trip, I exclaimed, "I'm NOT paying money to a show if the stage is a mess! A paying customer deserves a clean stage to look at!" ... and I pretended to get up. Haha. So, so sneaky!

 

I took about 50 pictures and none of them were clear because these kiddos just couldn't stop dancing!

 

We'll probably run with the 'talent show' idea for a few more days (extending and stretching them to their limits - finding books in the library about performances, making microphones, working on time-telling with clocks and timers, coordinating a dance or rehearsing some jokes, etc ...). Then, when they've exhausted all avenues of a 'talent show,' we might turn it into a puppet show or a stage for a play.

 

Is it just me, or do all of the super fun things always happen in the cubby area?! Honestly, it's where they gravitate to. We have this great big, beautiful open classroom and here they are cramped into a tiny corner.

 

Anyways, if you're out and about at the school ... good luck sneaking by the yellow kindergarten classroom door without being ushered in ... OH, that reminds me - ushers! Every good performance has ushers showing people where to sit!!

 

To finish our Shakespearian quote, "... and all the boys and girls merely players."

 

;)

 

 







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Elves in Kindergarten!

Let me start by saying that I am so lucky to work at a school that has amazing parental and community support. Our school is so blessed to have such wonderful community involvement. On any given day, parents are helping with the breakfast program, reading with students, organizing the library shelves, washing the lost and found clothes and collecting treasures at home to donate to classes in need. **Insert big virtual hug to all of our parents/guardians who make the school so successful ... we can't do what we do without you**

For example ... My principal posted a message on the school facebook page asking for any extra Christmas supplies, decorations, etc for our Kindergarten class and within just one day ... we had a full-blown Santa's Workshop. In fact, if we wanted to ... we could probably transform our entire Kindergarten class into five separate dramatic play centres: a workshop, a living room with a tree and a fireplace, a sleigh with 8 reindeer, a post-office, a forest to cut down the perfect tree ... etc. You get the idea ;)

I'll keep this post short and I'll show you (instead of telling you) exactly what we've been up to. Keep in mind, it's only been 2 days.

Wrapping presents!

Deciding on what tools he will need ...

This little elf is hard at work making toys!

 This little elf designed her own wrapping paper (drew on white tissue paper), wrote a card, built her toy and wrapped up her gift!

 Busy elves!

Love the dialogue that comes out of the 'dramatic play centre' ...

 

 

Even though it looks like it's all fun and games ... remember that this IS the work of our little ones. From the Kindergarten curriculum document, here are some of the expectations that students achieve while "playing dress up"...

 



Social Development Overall Expectations:                                     

1.    Identify and use social skills in play and other contexts

2.   Demonstrate an ability to use problem-solving skills in a variety of social contexts

3.   Demonstrate a beginning understanding of the diversity in individuals, families, schools and the wider community

 

Specific Expectations:

• 1.1 act and talk with peers and adults by expressing and accepting positive messages ("Oh, thanks for making me this toy, it's great!" "You're welcome, I worked really hard on it.")
• 1.2 demonstrate the ability to take turns in activities and discussions ("When you're done with the hammer, may I please have a turn?")
• 1.3 demonstrate an awareness of ways of making and keeping friends ("So-and-so is my friend. I'm going to make her a card.") 
• 2.1 use a variety of simple strategies to solve social problems ("TEACHER! He grabbed the toy out of her hands!!" "Okay, thanks for telling me ... let's go talk to him.")
• 3.1 develop empathy for others, and acknowledge and respond to each other’s feelings (After someone bumped their head on the workbench ... "Are you okay? That must have really hurt!")
• 3.2 demonstrate respect and consideration for individual differences and alternative points of view ("He said that Santa HAS to come down the chimney but we don't have a chimney. Santa can come through the door too, right?")
• 3.3 talk about events or retell stories that reflect their own heritage and cultural background and the heritage and cultural backgrounds of others ("At my house, we cut down our Christmas tree from a forest then we come home, put it up and have hot chocolate.")

 

The Ipads in the classroom make all of this documentation possible, while capturing pictures and providing proof and evidence for reflection and assessment for learning. But, let's be real ... we really just need a videocamera in the room, angled in every direction to capture ALLLLLL that goes on. It really is amazing.

 

TTFN,

 

                               

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Santa's Coming!

I can't even contain my excitement...

We cleared our 'grocery store' shelves today because we had to make room for SANTA'S WORKSHOP!

To set the stage for the transformation of our dramatic play centre ... and of course, to incorporate students' ideas and interests, we started one of our circles with a discussion of 'Christmas'. We closed our eyes and visualized what 'Christmas looks like' then we brainstormed ideas, writing and drawing it out on chart paper. I prompted students by asking, "How can we recognize that it is Christmas in our Kindergarten class?" and low and behold, students responded with, "Let's create a workshop." Of course, there were some other ideas that will be recognized as well - such as having a Christmas tree, singing Christmas carols, drinking hot chocolate ... you get the idea: These kids KNOW where it's at!!

We had another discussion about HOW to create a Santa's Workshop ... they came up with all kinds of ideas. They decided that they will need tools, toys, wrapping paper, cards, elves, cookies ...

We cleared our grocery store shelves to make room for some of Santa's belongings and students got right to work with the very important job of creating the naughty and nice list.

Two students took charge to make sure that everybody's name made the list!

This little guy decided that there wasn't room on the easel, so he asked for his own paper to write down his 'nice list'. LOVE this initiative!

Next, our empty dramatic play centre needed a new sign to tell people what it was going to be!

These two girls asked me to write out a sign so that they could colour it.



 

Our dramatic play centre needs a few more supplies before it's ready for it's grand reveal ... but after just ONE day, it's already off to a great start! These kinders never cease to amaze me. If you have any supplies at home, please don't hesitate to send them in. Your junk really is our treasure. Little boxes, extra wrapping paper, Santa hats, elf costumes ... heehee.

TTFN,


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