The TKs and Kindergarteners are learning by leaps and bounds. Every day we count the days of they have been in school and they end their count with, "We are (number of days) days smarter!". As of today, we are sixteen days smarter then when they arrived in the classroom 4 weeks ago. I can say they all have come out of their shell. Instead of consoling and wiping their tears from missing their moms and dads we are working hard to keep their giggles and voices down to a roar. It has taken me a couple of weeks to be comfortable with the chatter and conversations. I have come from the classrooms of older children and they have been groomed to always work quietly. A big part of TK and kindergarten is socialization so their giggles and chatter are an important part of their curriculum.
The past week we have been teaching the children how to read by associating the words with the pictures in the books. Miss Stewart and I read aloud ABC books. We ask and prompt the students to figure out the words of the book by the pictures. It's amazing how much they can correctly say what the book reads by using the pictures. The students are also given letter books depending on what letter is taught that day. For instance, today we learned about the letter "P". Students were given "P" books to color and draw the pictures. All words in the book started with the letter "P". Today, students had to color a pig, pencil, and pie. When the students finished, we assessed them by having them read the words to us. They would point to the word "pig" and read it. They are getting used to seeing pictures and words and being able to read from it. It's very exciting!
Another very interesting thing we are doing this year is presenting the letters of the alphabet by frequency rather than alphabetical order. Miss Stewart did a lot of reading and research over the summer and studies show presenting the letters in this way allows for faster blending and reading times. Since we have already studied the letters, "g" and "t", students were able to read the words "pig" and "pet".
I speak so highly of my placement and the enjoyment that I get out of teaching these little people everyday that some people have asked me if there is anything I don't like. I reply that I love everything because I truly do. If there is one area I struggle with is the amount of tattle telling that happens. Many of the issues are legit and need to be addressed because the fact is these little people have never been in school and don't know how to act in every situation. The boys especially love to play fight or play "Ninja Turtles" which it's been difficult to get them to stop since (1) they are energetic boys and (2) they see it as playing and not potentially dangerous. Other tattle telling is about that one person pointed at the other person or a table mate isn't coloring in between the lines. Again, they have never been in a classroom so they don't know when a teacher should be involved. I downplay many of these conversations to asking them to concentrate on their own work.
So there are my thoughts. They are learning by leaps and bounds and it's only been sixteen days. What they have accomplished in sixteen days, no adult could absorb and remember. Their brains and bodies are working so hard and I am so proud of every single one of them.
-Kristy
The past week we have been teaching the children how to read by associating the words with the pictures in the books. Miss Stewart and I read aloud ABC books. We ask and prompt the students to figure out the words of the book by the pictures. It's amazing how much they can correctly say what the book reads by using the pictures. The students are also given letter books depending on what letter is taught that day. For instance, today we learned about the letter "P". Students were given "P" books to color and draw the pictures. All words in the book started with the letter "P". Today, students had to color a pig, pencil, and pie. When the students finished, we assessed them by having them read the words to us. They would point to the word "pig" and read it. They are getting used to seeing pictures and words and being able to read from it. It's very exciting!
Another very interesting thing we are doing this year is presenting the letters of the alphabet by frequency rather than alphabetical order. Miss Stewart did a lot of reading and research over the summer and studies show presenting the letters in this way allows for faster blending and reading times. Since we have already studied the letters, "g" and "t", students were able to read the words "pig" and "pet".
I speak so highly of my placement and the enjoyment that I get out of teaching these little people everyday that some people have asked me if there is anything I don't like. I reply that I love everything because I truly do. If there is one area I struggle with is the amount of tattle telling that happens. Many of the issues are legit and need to be addressed because the fact is these little people have never been in school and don't know how to act in every situation. The boys especially love to play fight or play "Ninja Turtles" which it's been difficult to get them to stop since (1) they are energetic boys and (2) they see it as playing and not potentially dangerous. Other tattle telling is about that one person pointed at the other person or a table mate isn't coloring in between the lines. Again, they have never been in a classroom so they don't know when a teacher should be involved. I downplay many of these conversations to asking them to concentrate on their own work.
So there are my thoughts. They are learning by leaps and bounds and it's only been sixteen days. What they have accomplished in sixteen days, no adult could absorb and remember. Their brains and bodies are working so hard and I am so proud of every single one of them.
-Kristy