Posts Tagged ‘kindergarten’
Math Talk
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I presented my kindergartners with an interesting math challenge this week. After dividing the young mathematicians into small groups, each team was presented with several problems to solve. Here was their first scenario: You are now party planners with an important task. Each team of planners…
Read MoreAre You a Logophile?
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . I am a logophile – a lover of words. I marvel at those who possess the quick verbal gifts of wit and wisdom. Alas, as much as I love words, I am not one with that lyrical gift. That’s why I love to soak in the literary…
Read MoreReflect, Retell, & Retain
“To read without reflecting is like eating without digesting.” – Edmund Burke From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . There is a joy in watching young learners develop as readers – to see them move from merely calling words to truly understanding the meaning of a text is inspiring. Comprehension skills can be…
Read MoreBored into Wisdom?
From the desk of Leigh Ann . . . “Those books that I have learned most from have been those which have entertained me. No one as yet …has been bored into wisdom.” -Erik Haugaard – author and illustrator As an early childhood teacher one of my utmost goals is to get children excited about…
Read MorePigeonholing Children
From the desk of Carol… I’m a reader all the time and a mathematician when necessitated. So it was clear to me when my great-niece, Madyson, reached the toddler stage she was going to be a reader. After all, she loved to look at and listen to books. She couldn’t seem to get enough of…
Read MorePromoting Independence
From the desk of Leigh Ann… “To find yourself, think for yourself.” ~ Socrates This week I have thought a great deal about how to make our kindergartners more self-reliant learners. As a teacher I want to facilitate learning, model appropriate behaviors, and guide students in developing strategies that help them become competent readers,…
Read MoreA Parent's Guide to Asking Questions
From the desk of Leigh Ann… Life is an unanswered question, but let’s still believe in the dignity and importance of the question.~ Tennessee Williams Questions, questions, questions! Skillful readers ask themselves questions as they read to build understanding. Often children read and save the questions for the end. To better understand a text readers…
Read MoreThe Character of Characters – Developing Greater Understanding
From the desk of Leigh Ann… In our kindergarten class our emergent readers are working with simple predictable texts to develop appropriate reading behaviors, extend word recognition, and increase decoding skills. These texts are perfect for our young ones as they develop fluency and the strategies they need to decode new words. The limiting factors…
Read MoreA Boy and the Library
From the desk of Alice… Let me introduce you to Miller: He is 6. He is a boy. His favorite time of day at school is on the playground because he is “fast”. He likes to be right. All the time. He has a sharp sense of humor and understands sarcasm. He enjoys math because…
Read More8 Things You Should See in Today's Kindergarten Classrooms
From the desk of Leigh Ann… Robert Fulghum wrote, “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” As a kindergarten teacher I find that statement incredibly inspiring and do believe kindergarten is the place where a firm foundation and a love for learning are formed. Kindergarten has truly evolved over the years and…
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