Ipads in the Classroom

Our board issued each Kindergarten teacher and ECE an Ipad.  These are used daily in our classroom either for educational apps, pictures, videos or as an assessment tool.  Has anyone else used the Clic program?  It can be found here https://clic.pearsoncanada.ca/.  I was recently trained on this app and although there are some things I would change it is a very helpful tool for documenting the learning expectations in the curriculum.  You are able to attach photos and videos to learning stories and it really gives you a clear idea on which students you have observed in each curriculum area and where they are currently at in meeting learning objectives.   Here is a list of my favourite apps for the students.  Toontastic, Montessori Approach, Tumbler Books, Bob Books,

 

Alright here we go again...

I haven't used this blog space in over three years.  My excuses are plenty: life, child, work.  But my excuse for using it again is that I'm pursuing my Masters in Education.  The requirements of one of my assignments is to document and track my progress for a goal.  I will use this space to write about and eventually post my resource for using yoga in the classrooms as a self regulation tool. 

My timeline to achieve my goal...
Research the links between self regulation and yoga- 2 weeks
Create a powtoon as platform for delivery- 2 weeks
Game ideas and breathing techniques that can be used in the classroom - 1 week

Funnies

It shocks me the things kids say sometimes.  Here are some most recent funnies, I hope they make you smile as much as they did me...

Student- "Teacher if your husbands name is _____  what is your boyfriends name?"
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Teacher- "Tomorrow we are going on a field trip"
Student- "Shut the front door"
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Student 1- "Our teacher is crazy but I love her"
Student 2- "Yes, I know today I saw her eat and eyeball"  (it was a hard boiled egg)
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Student- "Hey, you didnt offer me any milk!"
Teacher- "Sorry, I didnt see your hand up.  Here's your milk"
Student- "Oh, I didnt want any, I just wanted you to offer me some"

Too busy Playing

Sorry for not posting in so long.  I have changed jobs and have been very busy.  I am no longer in the Montessori classroom and I miss my independent, gifted students very much but am enjoying my new position  in a full day kindergarten classroom with 30 cuties.  The new curriculum for Kindergarten is completely play based and about exploration, self discovery.  It is taking time to adjust to this new way of faciliting learning but with this statement says it all
"Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.^"

Dynamite Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs is such a popular theme with the students and the possiblities are endless.  Using themes in my classroom works great for me.  I have a labelled bin in my teacher cluttered filled basement with everything Dinosaur.  All items have been collected over years and work in each curriculum area. 

Sensorial Table with Moon Sand

Mr. Bone Head

 Measure how large the dinosaurs in feet. Great visual for them

Easy to put in your pocket and do during lineup.

The students are facinated about Dinosaurs and how they once roamed the land.  It is a great theme to integrate the food chain, climate change, adaptations, and other key topics. 

Crazy For Carle

Our Author of the Month is Eric Carle.  I love having fun themes that we can incorporate all curriculum areas.  His books are perfect for teaching the following ideas:

1. Grouchy LadyBug- Time, Feelings, Grouchy, Sharing, Size
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar- Life Cycles, Food Groups, Counting, Days of the Week
3. Home for Hermit Crab- Ocean Life, Vertebrates/Invertebrates, Different Homes
4. The Very Busy Spider- Farm Life, Beggining/ Middle/ End, Mammals and Insects

Here are some examples of how I integrated his book into Language, Math and Art. 

What makes you grouchy?

Counting up the sum of all he ate.

Using Balloons to recreate the Hungry Caterpillar

Favourite Book Bar Graph

Winter Wonderland

In Canada you have to make the most of the winter months.  Below are some classroom ideas I would like to share...

Insta Snow makes for lots of fun.  Add some water to it and some polar animals. 

Snow painting.  I love filling up water bottles or recycled shampoo bottles with some water downed paint and let the kids go wild. 

Ice Gems- The students love stacking these, or hiding them around the play yard.   Fill a water balloon with water and food colouring and freeze.

I sent out a newsletter at the beginning of winter for parents to send in milk or juice cartons. We fill them with water and food colouring mixes, then open up when frozen solid.  We made an entire ice castle so far.