Easter fun

 It's that time of the year again when the Easter Bunny comes to visit. Here is a table activity for children to decorate an easter egg using loose parts such as colourful sticks, bottle caps and pebbles. Patterning galore!

Another Easter activity I implemented was to re-create colourful patterns using pom poms and triangular tongs in an egg carton.

My Group Time Area

A small peek into my group time area in my Kindergarten classroom. I do most of my intentional teaching on this carpet. On my wall I have:

- a visual schedule. This facilitates the children's understandings of how their day unfolds at Kinder and gives them a routine to follow and predictability each day.

- a picture of 'Suzie'. Suzie is a cartoon character on the wall who models whole body listening for the children. Eyes on the teacher, legs crossed, hands in your lap, lips together. 

- a daily calendar. This develops early concepts of time such as the days of the week, months and seasons.

- a list of teacher's helpers. This is a rotating list so that everyone gets a turn at taking responsibility.

Pedagogy behind group time - group time is a space for children to collaborate, share ideas and learn as a group. Therefore, ideally I have always wanted to convert group times into 'circle time' as I feel that the children should not be looking towards the teacher as the only source of information. I believe we are all equal as we learn together and so a circle format facilities equality and sharing of information with each other. This was really hard to do in my Kindergarten classroom simply due to logistics. I had 33 children and no clear space for such a big circle!

 

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

 During group time one morning, I read the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears to the children. They loved it! As an extension of this interest, I set up a table activity where they could create the bears' faces using loose parts. 

Combining creativity with classic literature - love it!

Indigenous symbols

 For National Reconciliation Week 2021, my colleagues and I setup a table activity where children could explore, interpret and re-create Aboriginal symbols using loose parts. We used a combination of simplified symbols that we had hand-drawn on paper as well as round colourful discs which had Aboriginal paintings on them. This activity allowed them to see the symbols separately and then how they are used in art. It encouraged them to make meaning of these symbols.

Indigenous themed play space

 For National Reconciliation Week 2021, my colleagues and I set up an indigenous themed play space.We used old cardboard boxes as pretend caves. We painted the boxes with Aboriginal symbols such as Bunjil and Wa and included Aboriginal dolls around the campfire. This space was an invitation to role-play, communicate and develop social skills by playing in small groups. 

During group times, we read Indigenous stories such as Dunbi The Owl, How the Birds Got Their Colours, When the Snake Bites the Sun and Rainbow Serpent. 

I love to support play spaces with literature as that provides a different dimension to the children's understanding and appreciation of Indigenous culture.

Writing in sand

 As a way of incorporating writing into my Kindergarten program, I set up a sand writing tray. This provided children with a sensory pathway towards letter recognition and writing formation.

Back to Blogging!

 I am very excited to be back on my blog after 7 years of being away! I have been busy moving countries, getting my masters degree and raising two children and dealing with covid-19 at the same time. Over the last three years, I have had the experience of being a Kindergarten teacher for 3-5 year olds, implementing a play-based program that incorporates art, role-play, fine motor skills, literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional skills with a view towards school readiness.