Tuesday 31.8.2010

Adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up simply because they need ideas for themselves. never too late to start growing up I say. Today I asked one of the boys what he wanted to be when he grows up, he told me very matter of factly " I don't want to be anyone different, I just want to be me now when I'm older."

And I was stunned in less then 20 words.

Today was a little messy, everything was a little everywhere.

School photos, I don’t think anyone really takes into consideration the nightmare of changing kindergartens between uniforms and how long that process is, keeping all belongings in one spot is indeed an almost impossible task. So I didn’t actually realize how long these photos were taking this morning. I assumed they would be out of the classroom for half an hour, then back for the main part of the literacy block, however they wernt back until about 10.15 with a few minutes before morning tea. So logistically catching 2/3 of the class up was not an option. I had slowly dawdled through the morning as I expected the children back sooner and so decided to wait for the main activities.

I read the kids Grandpas shoes, which the kids loved, we picked out all the rhyming words and hung them up around the room and then we dramatized the book. The kids loved thinking up actions to the story, the actions were repeated all through out the book so we did them fast and slow and backwards and forwards. I haven’t done much drama with the kids so they really enjoyed this ( all 6 of the kids I had left)

We then moved onto some maths, learning months of the year, I decided to sing it to the Macarena song, it was hilarious, I didn’t even know the correct movements to the Macarena, so lucky I got a small cute little helper early on. But the song was so fast ( probably should have practiced it before, rather then on the spot) the kids were just doing the movements and I was the only one singing. Awesome, love hearing the sound of my own voice echoing above everyone else. So we slowed it right down I didn’t much care if we were out of time as long as they were getting the months of the year.

We then completed a winter concept booklet, in which the kids drew pictures related to each of the five senses on the sorts of things we smell, taste, hear, touch and see in winter. The kids actually really enjoyed this, they loved telling me all the sorts of yummy things their mums make them in winter, made me want to go home to my mum and a warm hot cocoa. Of course you always get that one kid who loves to be a mister smarty pants and draw pictures of people swimming at the beach in winter. Bless his little heart. Somehow im drawn to those kids, those kids who mess up all the time, call out all the time. It motivates me to get creative and learn how to motivate them. Not every kid is going to fit the standard mould, actually there is not standard mould in your class there are 26 different moulds and somehow you have to use all 26 in different ways to appeal to the kids. Im slowly learning the way the kids think, the types of things they are drawn to and repel against. KNOWING your kids is really the most crucial part of winning with your kids. They are smart little humans and when they know you know them and your willing to design tasks specifically for them they start to respect you. They pick up on all the things you do in the classroom. Every little thing you think they wont notice, someone always does, right down from the lack of organisation to forgetting a sticker on the sticker chart to saying whose aloud to use the pencil sharpener, and so the list goes on and on and on.

Then as if things couldn’t get any worse, they did. We had Maths groups, Volume, absolute disaster. The activities were great in theory however in practice, attempting to monitor and control 3 groups using sand, seeds, rice pasta, wow how did I not pick up on that one earlier. I started to explain to the students each individual activity, (meanwhile students were coming in and out of school photographs.) the kids were so amped up about using the pasta and rice to explore that I think all the instructions went in one ear and out the other.

I set them off on their activities, as they started I realized that I needed to be in 3 places at once and that was virtually impossible, I had about 4 different people following me around at any given time bombarding me with questions and complaints, dobbing and tears. It was all a little too much for me too handle.

I realistically couldn’t expect that the sand, rice and pasta wouldn’t be all over the floor totally squished into the carpet. But at the end we did whole class demonstrations and modelled volume and capacity, we played guessing competitions guessing which container would hold more, they really enjoyed all guessing the opposite one to me and beating me. I love seeing the satisfaction on their faces when they think they are smarter then the teacher.

Then my senses lesson was cancelled due to a late notice grandparent’s day practice will all of K-6. The kids were really energetic, need I say anymore..

So the day just seemed to take a downward progressive spiral but all in all the kids actually got stuff out of it. I love being able to question them and let them explain to me their understanding of something in their own words. It honestly is the best part of my day.

Kids have a special way of encouraging and uplifting you when your having one of those days. I spent lunch and recess in the classroom just sort of getting my head together, prepping for the next lesson, racing around photocopying, collecting sand from the sandpit.. and one of the kids came in after lunch and gave me a flower he had picked out of the new garden and said “ Miss Stevenson, I picked this for you, because its just as pretty as you..”

Oh my day turned right back around.

Monday 30.8.2010

Monday

Describe:

Today was the first day it had started to feel like summer was actually returning. The birds were out the breeze was warm. SO I decided to plan for the kids to have an art trip to the wetlands. The kids were beyond excited; it’s a magnificent thing indeed to see all these beautiful small little kindergarten eyes light up at the idea of going on an adventure and being investigators. We talked about caring for our beautiful wetlands and how we need to look after it as it’s a special place, and that if we looked after it today we might be able to come back more often.

The kids wandered around found a quite spot and drew a landscape picture of what the wetlands looked like, I told them to perhaps move to a different spot to see things better as you cant see everything in one position. They were absolutely magnificent, just little angels. I just tried to be ass inconspicuous as possible and just listen to all the cute conversations they were having with each other. Their perceptions of things are so so unique it just invokes my own curiosity. They drew their picture and then got to explore the wetlands, looking through the magnifying glasses, mulching, watering with the watering cans, scooping things from the pond, trying to catch tadpoles, feeding the ducks. It was an absolute frenzy, the kids put on their little detective badges and felt like the most important people on the planet.

Analyse:

For me this lesson really taught me that in practical terms, letting kids explain their own findings in a more diverse and creative way really allows you as a teacher to get a clearer understanding of what they are learning, what they are processing, it lets you into a small window into their minds showing you glimpses and reminding you of how simple and complex the mind is. I enjoyed seeing practically how the students were using their senses to explore their environment.

Plan:

I think that in the future we will need to make it a weekly thing visiting the wetlands as a special treat, the students learn how to take care of their environment and also consolidate what we having been learning in class about the five senses. Perhaps we could go and do some flower pressing up there, talk about the different textures and smells. It’s a world of knowledge just waiting to have an invitation for exploration.

Friday 27.8.2010

Friday friday friday...

It takes time to master things, or so I'm learning, you cant catch everything all in the one breath, just like you cant hold 26 hands all at once, things take time, take practice, perseverance. Today I sat and observed my CT all day, just to really get a grasp on the morning literacy block. I saw how much the kids could do and how much I had held them back. In the morning session is probably where I felt the least confident in the program, I guess I feel the heaviest burden in regards to literacy as, if you mess up now, you mess up that child's reading and writing forever, habits are undeniably profound and lasting.

These are all the things my teacher managed to squeeze in the morning session and I'm still not quite sure how. But I'm learning and slowly picking it all up.

1. NEWS, hilarious and light entertainment.

2. Sight words: Game
- Say words then put it in a sentence

3. Spelling words: Game
- Spelling bee, say the letter, sit down if wrong.
- Dance back to desk using a spelling word

4. Spelling test
- (Mark diaries)
- Heads down when finished word
- Sentence, remind them of what you expect in a sentence.

5. Assessment on middle sound (I)
- Mark roll
- Mark work as they finish
- Slither to the floor (transition from floor to desk)
- Send them back if they don’t do it right, model how we do it.

5. Read narrative to the students
Engage them in the story, what do words in text mean, orientate them to the text.
Talk about the words in the story
Look at the pictures
Story: Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge.
Talk about what a memory is
Write about your favorite memory with your grandparents
Start them off on their writing MY FAVOURITE MEMORY WITH MY GRANDMA IS…….. (write on their own.)

(Turn on music while they are working) grandparents day song.

6. Handwriting books (i) trace over the letters, color in the picture.
Mark sentences from grandparents while they do handwriting.
7. Fast finishers, as more students start to finish their work get them all on the floor
That was just the morning literacy block, it was crazy but it was bonus to see the kids working so hard which actually minimized the behavioral issues when they were too busy to think about anything else.

Book Parade..

Book parade. Ive never been so excited about anything so much, I woke up at 4.30am and couldnt get back to sleep. Im not sure weather it was the ideal of me being MAX for a day that was so eagerly anticipated or just the running low on sleep and running high on early starts that got me up and moving.

Set the classroom up with all the decorations, you could feel it, the kids were so excited.

Describe:

The fact that they enforce school uniform policy on a day like today is beyond me, because getting 25 kindergarten children dressed into their costumes is a mission, with all the loose parts, mized up parts, stick on parts, paint on parts. Logistical nightmare.

I read the kids 'Where the Wild things are..' Talked to them all about it being my most absolute favourite book of all time since I was a kid. I was so enthused that halfway through reading the book I noticed that I was standing up and acting out all the actions.. just getting a little dramatic.

Analyse:

There were so many creative Ideas from kindergarten, and so many elaborate costumes I was so impressed. It was nice connecting with the parents today, so friendly and encouraging. It was pure joy just to stand there and watch all the creative characters parade on down, from harry potter to wheres wally to the cookie monstor to pippy longstockings to ben ten and angelina ballerina...

Plan:

Id love to have a little more preperation leading up to bookweek to really read more books, delve into a wide range of literature and encourage students to read and read and read..

Tuesday 24.8.2010

People say that all of a sudden, without warning or signal, things can just change as quickly as you can snap your fingers. There they go again, changing it up.

Today the classroom took a turn, for the first time, I felt like all the little kids in my class were my own kids, I had this strong urge to just mother them, I changed my tactics in response to misbehavior. I just started responding in a way a mother would, and the little cherubs started to become mine. I felt ownership of the classroom, not in a controlling manipulative way but I felt such a desperate urge of responsibility to teach these kids not only curriculum but life skills. I think I headed into this experience with the idea that I needed to be firm, but they are 5, they need someone to be excited about the things they are excited bout, give them the benefit of the doubt, give them a little boost when their energy tank is low..mostly just reassure them everything is going to be ok..

Maths: Halves

Paint + potatoes + oranges + apples = chaotic MESS
I remembered the kids we rent wearing their paint shirts just as Cameron dunked his entire white shirt in the orange paint.... nothing like remembering a little too late.

Describe:

As part of the unit on the senses we are learning about sense of smell. I chose to let the kids make paper mache noses.. honestly you forget how much of their personality comes through in art lessons. I had to explicitly explain about 7 times today that we would not get stressed if we didn't finish it today because it was a very big time consuming job and because all our noses were different, some were bigger then others, some might take a little longer, ( AND THAT IS OK)... it was hilarious because no matter how many times you repeat something theres always one, who starts with the tears
" Miss Stevenson but I cant do it, mine wont be finished."
what a cherub, I gave him a big fat cuddle, a new buddy to help him and some more glue and he was back on top of the world... the next words out of his mouth were " Miss Stevenson I'm going to stick Julie Gillard on mine."

Go figure, kindergarten children immersed in politics. hilarious.

Analyse:

Loved the lesson, all I wanted to do was sit there and soak it all up, all the goodness from each child.

I said to the class I wanted to see their best best work, see them trying really hard...

" But Miss Stevenson we all do best work, but no one is the best in the class because we are all individuals and we are not the same, just like our noses arnt the same we arnt. So this is my best work.." CUTTTTIIIIIIEEEE.

I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM I LOVE THEM..

I was so surprised at how much the kids were really responsible for each other, creative little geniuses. It goes to show that when a child is engaged and enthused about the activity you have them around your little finger, they are so more then willing to behave listen because you let them be creative, they learn because they love whatever it is your doing.


Plan:

Kids hate worksheets, they arnt creative, more of a cop out I feel. I need to think of different ways to present the same information to them but engaging them in hands on..

Monday 23.8.2010

This week is crazy busy. Commendation assembly today, parent teacher interviews tonight and tomorrow night, book week, book parade on Wednesday and open morning tomorrow morning. ALL IN A WEEK, ill need help. the 5.30am starts are starting to wreck me.

Yesterday I read the kids a book about a panda bear and all the things he could see..
and one little child who barely says a word in class said " Miss Stevenson, but what do you see.."

So I had a mini daydream, right there in front of 25 kindergarten kids, I just paused. and thought about all the things we see, yet we do not really see. In the book it was plain and simple all the things the panda bear saw, but every time he was missing something, something small, but something right there in front of him, that everyone else could see. How often do we see whats around us, yet miss whats staring us blank in the face. The obvious, the unmissable, and yet we miss it.

Sometimes I think that the more we take for granted our eyes, the less we start to notice. Its like that strange feeling of driving past old places, places very familiar and yet seeing something new for the first time, makes you wonder if its been there all along and never took notice of it.

Sometimes we just need a little adjustment, refocus our eyes on the things that are there, instead of the things we always just see..

So In response " I see 25 beautiful kindergarten children smiling at me, and I see you.."

You see as a teacher you have to get good at seeing the class, but also seeing the individuals who make up that class..

Describe:

Maths, this morning we were looking at our number 25 again, focusing on all the things that make up number 25. I then broke them up into groups who had to complete activities all based around the number 25.

Analyse:

The activities were all based around our book week characters which made the task a little more exciting for the children. They had to work in small group, I had to speak to them a few times for being too noisy. I think this was their first maths lesson in their new groups, so a little adjusting to that was expected. Had only really 25 minutes as we had a special assembly on today.

Plan:

For next time need to think more about the strategic layout of the room, more group tables as some kids found it hard working in the u shape rows for the desk. Make sure everyone has written their name as I got the kids to collect work I noticed so many without names on, more explicit expectations at start of the lesson. When they are doing group work I need to think of some " getting their attention" strategies. It can get loud and I don't want to be hand clapping all the time.

Friday 20.8.2010

Some days ill admit you feel like just jamming your head in a suit case with frustration, our afternooon was all over the place, I tried doing a fun acitivity with them but they were wild, I tried letting them having a rest time but they just really couldnt settle and were so fussy and fidgety. In the end having a little spring clean of the classroom was the best option to music and then some fun games.

Sports and extra curricular activities photographs today so it was a little bit of a nightmare with kindergarten, they take so long to get ready.
I had the class the whole day without the teacher, was interesting. I got to practice juggling all the other things beyond just the teacher load. The marking of the diaries, assessing their reading using running records individually, individual Maths assessments, sight words testing.. Whilst crowd controlling the rest of the class keeping them on task and always having extra activities planned for them to do when they finish.

Describe:

Literacy Block this morning, we did spelling test, finished our artworks for book week. The students finished the last 2 pages in their English assessment booklets; Did some work on narrative text type writing? I got the kids to write up some sentences, beginning middle and end for the story. While they were doing that I individually pulled some student out to do Maths assessment. I then had some fast finishers work set up for them, finish their gingerbread men and draw a picture of themselves at the computer to put underneath their computer work samples.

Analyse:

Juggling is the trickiest thing I think, to know what each of the 23 children are doing all at the one time is easier said then done. I have to constantly remind myself that I am responsible for 23 students learning and not just as a group but as little individuals I have to monitor that they are all getting a positive experience of kindergarten. Keeping kids motivated I think I could get better at, need to brainstorm creative ways to keep them on task without always talking over the top of them or using hand clapping, I think they find that monotonous and now they don’t just respond. Also making explicit your expectations of the students is another thing that ill admit sometimes I get a bit slack on. Sometimes we are so focused on explaining the activity to the kids that we forget to make our expectations clear and somehow present that in a fun and exciting way.
I need to learn the tricks of using students to help in the classroom, I just made up a classroom jobs list which the kids adore, they love taking responsibility for things in the classroom, but somehow taking that to the next level so that the kids arnt solely reliant on me to always be checking things, weather they have a peer buddy who they swap their work with, ill have to do some more brainstorming.

Plan:

Today gave me a real insight into the real teaching load that teachers have, beyond just what is taught you are responsible for what is caught and a lot of the things that are caught are not explicitly taught. I want to get more creative with transitions between activities so students aren’t just going from what can sometimes seem like one worksheet to another. Including more interactive and hands on activities for them

Thursday 19.8.2010

Today was really nice It was the first day were I wasent teaching the full load, so I caught up on some marking and some individual assessing. We are all getting ready for Parent teacher interviews next week so getting all the assessing out of the way. WE had 2 specialist lessons too So I only had maths groups and computers.

Describe: For computers I had planned to consolidate all the students learning on basics of computers, keys, logging on and off, opening a word document and then getting them to type up a sentence based around their art activity on the sense of smell.

However this afternoon My CT realised that we had not completed our artwork for the library staff for Book week. So my teacher asked if I wanted to think of an activity based around our book " The Terrible Plop!" So I got the kids to stick circle green celophane cut outs of a tree and scrunch tissue paper for the trunk and then stick cotton wool balls on for the apples. The students painted their cotton balls red and then blue water underneath their tree. I got the kids to then write PLOP! and draw a picture of the bear and the rabbit. They loved this art activity. It felt good thinking on my feet and then seeing the kids enthusiasm.

Analyse:

Managing all the different learning stations for the art activity wasent as bad as I thought it would be, most kids worked independantly on their leaves and the brown bark, students helped each other scrunching up their bark which I found adorable, some being a little too bossy boots at times. I then said the kids could come over to me I was at the paint station, they had to paint on their water first, then glue and paint their apples. In practice probably needed a bigger area for paint as I just set up a table to allow 4 students at a time, but as students began to finsih quickly there was a mad rush and very impatient students towards the end. Who knows every class has those kids that as soon as they see everyone else finishing they have to rush to finish as well.If I had a dollar for everytime I sent a student back for rushing too quickly and going outside the lines not being careful id be a millionare. Hilarious. Its amazing how you can set the same art design for the kdis and they can be so versatile, I saw so many of the kids creative flare coming out and the students individual expression in their drawings so clever. I honestly was so impressed with everyones I wanted to give them all big bear hugs and tell them they are the cutest little people alive and I think they would need to teach me how to do art.

Plan:

That was a great activity for me on what it would be like on a normal teaching day when plans change and you have to think quickly on your feet. Perhaps next time we do painting I would suggest having better stations set up, where students wouldnt have to rely on the teacher so much and more kids are able to use each station. For art activities there really needs to be clear explicit pack up instructions something I need to get better at often its a mad dash to clean up the room and in the frenzy of it all its easy to panic and get your manic head on, which the kids pick up on.

wednesday 19.8.2010

Reflective Diary

Wednesday 18.8.2010

Tearful Wednesday, everyone must have had late nights last night because right from the first bell students were crying at the drop of a hat. Adrian was hysterically sobbing because he lost his 20 cents, Adelaide couldn’t make words in between her tears as Jacinta wrapped her receipt book (apparently her most prized possession.) Maddison cried when someone used her rubber, Janae was really upset because half way through maths she wanted her mum. Sometimes I just think giving them a cuddle makes everything OK... but if I think back to kindergarten and remember how big a deal everything was when your five..that's what I would have wanted.

So much crying in just one day. Sometimes it’s easy to forget how little these kids are and sometimes the smallest things are in fact the biggest.

Describe:

I pushed the kids in the literacy block this morning, students had heaps of grammar assessment to complete so I told them that if they got their assessments done we would play some fun sight words games. They managed to finish all their assessments.The little monsters worked so so hard. I was so impressed it was alot of writing. So we played sight words games, sang some nursery rhymes( which they love, they blow the roof off the building with their beautiful singing.) and finished coloring in our gingerbread men.

Analyse:

Had to prompt them to keep them on task quite a lot, we had stretch breaks and I tried to give as much positive feedback as I could focusing on the people doing the right thing constantly. But really I cant expect too much more from them, it was a big stretch. ( I hate assessment week) I had to give them a reward for their hard work at the end, which they appreciated.

Plan:

Its hard with revision and assessment weeks to plan for next time as there isn’t a lot of new content just refreshing memory. But it just goes to show how important consolidation with kindergarten is as they forget things so easily. The things that you often think they will remember they often don’t and then the things that you think they will forget they usually remember just to surprise you.

At recess time, I opened one of the boys lunch box to find a whole banana stuffed in two pieces of bread absolutely smothered in nutella.. I found it hilarious..

Tuesday 17.8.2010

Maddison: Miss Stevenson I think I left my brain at home today..

Miss Stevenson: Me too Maddison, me too..


Somedays we feel like we start on the wrong foot which sets our whole day up for disaster.. I had rhyming this morning simple activities, but I got all flustered and started confusing myself and then was wondering why the kids were looking at me blankly. You ever get that moment that you know your right about something, then someone questions you and then you pause breifly and start questioning yourself.. oh I had that today.. disaster.

Describe:

We started the sense of smell today, so I introduced the lesson with detective George, investigating smell. Students had to put on their detective badges and discover and guess what the smells were. Students had to decide if they liked the smells or not.

Analyse:

Great activity kids were really engaged I started off blindfolding the kids and then they had to guess then we passed it around the square and all the students got to smell and decide weather they liked it or not. Their responses were hilarious and I found I was surprised when almost the whole class put their hand up saying they liked vinegar.

Plan:

Have more smelly bags perhaps one for each student, some started getting fidgety when they had to wait to smell. Mark a learning square on the floor the kids just hug the desks and sit under desks and I waste 5 minutes every lesson telling them where to sit. Use Smartboard more in senses unit to engage at the start of the lesson.

Monday 16.8.2010

If your not an organised person and you wish to be a teacher..
you better get about getting organised because you will not survive.

Describe:
I rearranged their desks today, its so much more complicated then I thought, I sat them boy, girl boy girl, however there were so many things to consider, the kids with glasses at the front, kids with short attention span, kids who cannot sit next to certain people. I almost gave myself a headache and found myself changing my mind halfway through.. Anyway trial and error we will see how it goes.

First day of Phase 2 today, the day flew by so quickly.It was independant writing this morning then moving into the literacy block, we revised CVC sounds, completed some activity worksheets on middle e and a sounds.(This week is revision week) I had some hads on stations for fast finishers, making their words out of playdoh, letter tiles, newspaper cut outs, which motivated the kids.

Analyse:

Today was the first day I had taken the whole literacy block on my own, So it was learning to adjust to them being a little unsettled and settling them into each activity. It was a huge learning curve, have to get better at non verbal cues, hand claps etc. Using things around the room, like the timer, music, lights, maraca to get their attention.

Plan: use physical activity breaks to keep them on task, don't let the kids know when your getting really agitated, be CALM. sometimes that's tricky.

Friday 13.8.2010

The days roll in and the weeks flew by... why oh why??

I love it how the kids are the most questionable creatures on the planet. It inspires me to question more often rather then just accepting things for the way they are. Asking questions is evidence of thinking, analysing and interpreting the world we live in..

Last day of week 4, busy day we had. I felt as though I was gliding throughout the classroom, I'm really starting to just enjoy just being around the kids, they are hilarious and say so many cute things. I took mental note today.

In lunch lines today one of the boys said to me

" Miss Stevenson, I did something at lunchtime today and I'm going to tell you because I think someone else might tell you. I pulled my pants down at lunch today.."

PAUSE

" OK thank you for telling me, why did you do that?"

" Oh I just sometimes do it if I feel like it, please don't tell Miss White, she will get really really cranky..."

" Well I think you should tell her be a responsible boy by showing maturity and that your ready for year 1, we know that we don't pull our pants down at school, other people do not want to see your underpants and I'm sure you don't want them seeing them either.."

" OK Miss Stevenson..."

Then again in Art today,

" Miss Stevenson do you want me to tell you why I wrote I love you on my note to you, because I'm going to marry you. My mum said you have a husband but I'm going to marry you anyway.."

Describe: We went to an art workshop on Wednesday afternoon and got really inspired to integrate art more into everyday lessons.. So this morning after all the spelling test and assessments out of the way. We decided to paint/ oil pastel a rainbow and then write how the colours made them feel and a sentence about the rainbow. It was such a great activity the kids really enjoyed it and I started to see the creativity flowing from each of the kids and even in the same activity there was such variety and individuality.

Analyse: Great way to encourage and consolidate writing and sentence building through creativity. Kids listened to music during this activity which promoted the kids to sing along, encouraged verbal communication..

Plan:

For next time will need to think of different mediums to experiment with, perhaps thinking printing as we are looking at halves next week in maths. Each week we will try to consolidate with something they are learning that week.

Thursday 12.8.2010

Thursday.. what a day.

Eventful to say the least, one of the little cuties got whacked in the face with a baseball bat, accident of course, however the bruise was a really battle wound. I told him he was so brave and he was going to have a big story to tell everyone. His reply was " Miss Stevenson I wasn't very brave I balled my eyes out, it hurt alot.. I'm sorry I wasn't very brave.."

Today I felt a real shift in the school, I went to the library and the library ladies helped me get access to the network, pointed me in the right direction for grandparents day and book week resources.. The staffroom is always so friendly and I'm feeling more and more comfortable as I get to know the teachers, they are all so so helpful.

Describe:
I had my School Intern Supervise visit my lesson today, seemed to go well, last period of the day so its always rushed.. Focused on the impairment of one sense, looked at ear muffs and what it would feel like not to be able to hear properly all the time. I think the kids really enjoyed it, they also looked at the special language deaf people use to communicate. ( they had fun exploring signing to each other)

Analyse:
As its the last period of the day, everything seems to go much quicker, I had to cut most of my activities short and I felt my orientation was rushed, however the guided discovery was explicit and I had to leave the exploration for the next lesson. the lesson ended up being really whole class focused which worked well considering time restrictions.

Plan:
For Next time need to continue to be more specific with instructions, get creative with non verbal cues and focus on a way to better handle distractions in the class. I found I was constantly pointing to people doing the wrong thing, to address it, however sometimes that draws too much attention to it. I treed to follow it up with positive praise however in such a short amount of time when there are already so many things to think about it gets tricky.

Wednesday 11.8.2010

Well to say I know the date off by heart would be an understatement, I marked that much work today, I tried to be individual and specific with the comments but it can be tricky...

Spoke to My CT today about how everything is going, as we had a few periods off today which was a nice breather.. We spoke about things Im doing well in and things I need to work on. I think the biggest weakness is behaviour management. I need to...

- Get creative with my non verbal cues
- Work on transitioning between activities
- Consistently be promoting positive behaviour, especially in the kids that rarely do the right thing, make a big deal when they do do the right thing.
- Simple instructions with acitivites.

I think the positives with my lessons are my creative ideas, but implimenting them in realistic time frames and with realistic expectations is a whole different thing all together.

Describe:

We had computers last period, considering the windy weather and the kids having lunch backed up with PE, the kids wernt as crazy as I expected. I sat the kids down at the computers first and we went through modelling logging on and off and then opening a word document. The students wrote their name nd then followed with the sentence " This is me working at the computer."

I went around and printed off students work, then we logged off. That took the whole lesson.

Analyse:

Its always hard to plan for the last period of the day, because by the time you pack the students bags away, diaries, hats, blazers and all the awards etc your packing up the class 15 minutes early which only leave really 15 minutes of productive working time. Whilst the attention span of kindergarten is about that, 15 minutes on the computers sure zips by pretty quick! Students all logged on fine, I went through explicitly however could have turned on the smartboard quicker to model it. I just modelled bunny ears and tail. I also could have let some students go on ahead with logging on as they becasme disengaged waiting for others.

Also need to be more consistant in non verbal communication, there were several times I started off on non verbal communication and then just gave up and went back to using the voice. Needs work!

Plan:

For next time I think I will have a Keyboard enlarged on the smartboard to go through the keys that we use (backspace, space, enter, caps lock) to model for students as it is hard for them to see where your pointing.
Need to make sure for next time I set clear expectations about how I expect them to behave in the computer lab, need to reinforce as its a new environment.

tuesday 10.8.2010

Its common knowledge that kids say the most hilarious things... But honestly today was just one of those days where I could never seem to find a pen, all I wanted to do was write down everything the kids were saying. They were so chatty, perhaps they are just getting really comfortable with me around they dont mind if I hear...
todays hot topic of discussion was the girls playing those handgames with each other, where you pick the flowers and say how many you picked. They then tell each other that you have that many boyfriends. They burst out laughing EVERY time, they honestly think its the most hilarious thing..

Describe:
ART today, who knows that you need almost 3 teacher in the classroom to successfully do an art lesson, but all you have is you so you have to make do.
We were making musical maracas today in art, I had two types and allowed the students to choose which one they wanted to make (paper plate or cups). We sat on the floor and brainstormed all sorts of things that make a noise. We talked about the different kinds of noises that instruments make depending on how we play them. I then introduced the maraca I had made and asked the students if they knew what it was, what it was for. I modelled how to make one for them and then broke them off into the two groups to begin. The students made their maracas and decorated them. We sang our days of the week song and I drew images of the maracas on the board. When I pointed to their type of maraca they played whilst singing, sometimes I would point to both sometimes they had to be silent. We then completed a colouring in activity in the spare time left over on all the things we could hear and then they got to cut and paste pictures from magazines of images they can hear, things that make a noise.

Analyse:

Lesson wasa a little chaotic, which art always is, However when I was planning the activities I didnt realise how teacher directed it was. I probably should have made the activites slightly more independant as I spent most of my time stickytaping and writing names on maracas which left the first students doing not much and running riot shaking their maracas so hard around the classroom that rice was going everywhere.

Plan:

For next time make activities more student directed less reliance on teacher to stick etc, provide simpler activites. Probably only one activity rather then a choice, that way we can all make it together as a class, everyone is doing the same thing. Have extra colouring activities for students to do when they finish early so they arnt running around crazy around the room. I think it would be god to have some sharing time at the end of art, get students to explain their artwork to the class, developing verbal talking and listening skills.

monday 9.08.2010

Cheery old monday today.

We had a bit of a relax with the kids having 2 periods in specialist lessons and assembly So I only took Maths groups today, felt strange not teaching as much. I dedicated the day to sharpening pencils and haning up all the photos and artwork from our senses unit. I actually had the chance to ponder and think about things today while sharpening pencils, almost theraputic.

Describe:

We worked well in Maths groups, I used the little singing and hand clapping games that I had been reading up on over the weekend, to try and save my voice. Ive been getting about being creative in using other things to get their attention, trying not to bore them with just hand claps.

We looked at ordering today and focussed specifically on the number 24. I got the students to each pick an object from around the classroom (24 kids: 24 objects) I then got them to count out aloud their objects ( they had such ownership over it as they got to choose their objects). We then looked at the number 24, did a number bust on 24. They had to tell me all the things they could about the number 24, was it an odd/ even, was it higher or lower then 20 etc. They love this. We then played a game of guess my number and then I broke them up into groups and they worked on the five learning centre activities.

Analyse:

I started off by questioning the students about what number we looked at last week, Ive been trying to get better at encouraging student talk and not so much teacher talk. So they can tell me what they are learning etc. The number bust worked well, the kids liked brainstorming all the things about the number 24. I got the students to run the guess my number game which the studnets loved rather then being teacher directed, give them some responsibility.

Plan:

For Next time I should write down who I put in each group and where they were last week, you cant expect kindergartens to remember something from a whole week ago. That cause a little bit of confusion and lost time.

Analyse:

Friday 23.07.2010

Hey hey hey its Friday..
Oh its a good feeling the weekend..

Describe:

Today was my first normal Friday, the last two weeks were athletics carnival and back to uni day. So I got to see how the morning spelling test and maths assessment block work. I took the maths assessment this morning, went through explicitly the worksheets. Then had some activities to play for those who finished quickly and groups games to play while everyone had finished.

While everyone was still finishing I had some individual and small bored game activities for students to play using simple addition baseboards. When all the students had finished we played a game of 'circle of champions' I rolled a dice and then 2 students had to add the numbers together whoever said it the quickest was the winner. We also played ' Number Bust' students had to dance around the room to music and then stop when the music stopped near to a number. If i called out their number they had to say something about their number.

Analyse:

It was interesting for me to see how to run an assessment with kindergarten. Keeping them quiet for a goo 15 minutes, constantly keeping them on task. Then keeping the students quietly playing a game while others finished I found difficult but managed to make it work.

Plan:

For next time, thinking a little more creatively about independent games or activities that don't involve much noise and distractions for other students.

Thursday 5.8.2010

Felt rested today, knowing that I only had one lesson to teach let me have a little room to breath, focus on the things I needed to do in the classroom, think about assessment. I made the King and Queen of the day book last night, got a bit creative and brought it in for the kids to look at to get all inspiired to complete their little ' me being the King/ Queen of the day' sheet... Cant wait to finish the b

I just love playground duty... seriously I know im strange but I'd much rather spend time on the playground listening to the hilarious things the kids say then in the staffroom. Its just one of the weird things about me, I just want to be around the kids... theres only some things you learn in the classroom and you just miss out on all the things you can learn about a child in the playground. Its a completely different environment you listen to them speak when they think no ones listening or watching, its hilarious..


Describe: So it was computers; Last period of the day which always ends up only being 20 minutes of working time, and not very productive working time as the kids are so exhausted and ready to go home. Anything you ask them in last period is just too big for them and they look at you with those droppy eyes. So I had these fun games and activities planned for them but they didnt return from library till late and then we had to take them back to the classroom to pack their diaries and bags then walk up to the computer room, So we didnt have much time at all. I got them to log on using bunny ears and tail, modelled on the floor first, then we revised shift, space, caps lock and enter keys from last week. I modelled on the smart board how to log on and got the kids to put their fingers on each of the important keys. We then did the activity from last lesson but due to the weather last time we could only do it on the smartboard so It was good for the kids to do it individually and independantly on computers. We didnt have much time so the kids only got half way through the acitivty then we had to log off.

Analyse: The whole session was rushed so I was rushed. I think as a teacher its so important that when you are teaching under pressure not to let the kids know your under pressure because then they start to get panicky. My voice was loud and rushed and I think the kids picked up on it. I forgot to model simple instructions like how to turn the computer on. I need to remember that these kids only have computers once a week so pretty much they have forgotten everything by the time the next one comes around.

Plan: For next time I think Ill need to keep in mind that if we dont get to do everything thats ok, as long as what we are doing is meaningful and I take the time to model appropriatly and manage time better. I could have modelled from the msart board and got the kids to do it at their computers straight away rather then sitting on floor and modelling wastes in between time.

Wednesday 4.8.2010

So I got to school and my teacher asked me to take the literacy block so she could do some running records. So I launched in, no preparation..

Describe:

So grammar and Rhyme comprehension it is.. I really pushed the kids this morning to get 2 grammar and comprehension sheets based around our nursery rhyme for the week Jack and Jill. The kids were so chatty this morning, I went through the Jack and Jill sequencing sheet with them on the floor then told we sang through the nursery rhyme again to remind them the order of the rhyme. I then showed them the sentences and modelled how to stick the sentences to match the words. I sent them back to their desks and students completed this sheet. I then moved them onto the comprehension sheet. I packed the kids desks up and got them to sit back at the floor, we modelled some rhyming words and brainstormed ideas on the smart board and then sent them back to their desks to fill it in. We only had 5 minutes left so I decided it wasn't enough time to start the nouns activity so I played a quick game of 'Who stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar'The kids LOVED this. They were talking the whole day about who stole the cookie from the cookie jar, and got so excited when they found cookies in their lunchboxes.

Analyse:

I ha vent really taught much of the literacy block as of yet, So it was really thrown in the deep end and I literally had about 10 minutes notice. But it was great practice, being able to be flexible I guess for casual teaching. You have to make the worksheets left for you somehow meaningful for the kids and make it go beyond just a worksheet, so integrating the smart board and making it visual for them rather then just writing. It really emphasised how important those little games/ songs/ activities/ stretches (anything) to get the kids moving, thinking, just giving them a break. For kindergarten 15 minutes on one activity is a LONG time. So you have to mix it up, make it fun for them, they wont even realise its a worksheet they are doing if you integrate songs, drama etc. I think I wasted alot of time sort of in between waffling on in my instructions to the kids. I really need practice on getting more concise and simple with instructions, I know that's a bit of an oxymoron but there you have it.

Plan:

for next time I think perhaps in the literacy session when they often tend to have a lot of worksheets to do, having games up my sleeve or songs that tie into other lessons to sing in the middle just to keep them switched on. Also needed to go through things with them at their desks rather then letting them independently do all the activities its too much so, get them to complete one activity, think of suggestions and do all together, then move on to next one, repeat so that every ones not getting lost. Saves time and confusion.

Tuesday 3.8.2010

This week has been ridiculously busy. Havent had a chance to catch up on reflections..

Describe:

Did a Lesson on the days of the week, after my teacher spoke to me about the kids not having much consolidation on the days of the week, months of the year etc..
So I decided to finally get my singing skills out of a much hidden away closet and we sang a cute little catchy song about the days of the week. I sung the first line and the kids repeated it. We played cross the river and got the students to put all the days of the week in the correct order. I then noticed the kids had heaps of energy to run out after being locked in the classroom all day due to the weather.. So we played four corners ( 7 days), I turned the music on and the kids had to dance around the room then whe the music stops the students had to freeze and run to a corner with a day of the week. If I called out the day that corner had to say something they did on that day of the week.
Then I got the students to sit back at their desks and write and draw a picture of what they did on each day of the week in the boxes.

Analyse:

This was a really fun lesson, students enjoyed the kinesthetic, verbal and hands on activities throughout the lesson. It was good for me to model in front of the class and brainstorm ideas fo things we do at school on each day of the week. For each day of the week I gave them only one option and then they could choose something they did on the weekend on their own. Im glad I didnt allow more choice becasue it would have been too time consuming for the kids. It was probably slightly rushed towards the end so not all the students had the chance to finish their days of the week. I went around and marked each of the students work and got their verbal explanation of what each student had drawn.

Plan:

Classroom Management still needs work,making sure that all students, fast finishers are all working on something not just waiting around because the kids start to get bored and and wild and thats when the problems start.

Manic monday. 2/8/2010

monday monday monday...
Superviser visit..
feeling rather nervous.. but approaching it with confidence..

Describe:


The lesson was really well planned, I was so enthusiastic about my lesson.. excited to teach the kids about How sound is made... So the kids almost blew in with the wind.. ( not an awesome way to start the day)...
we started off my reading a story about sound, then I played a game of chinese whispers, we then played sound pictionary. Instead of explaining to the kids about how sound works, I decided to do a virtual exploration of how sound works. The kids created a sort of production line with
1. Sound created
2. Air bubbles bump into each other to create soundwaves (balloons)
3. The soundwaves being caught by the outer ear ( students catch the ballooons)
4. The outer ear sending it down the tunnel (Ear Canal)
5. The sound bounces off the ear drum ( glad wrap)
6. The inner ear (Ear Drum) sends the message (envelope with cute message inside) to the brain..

We then finished the lesson off my making mobiles with each step, drawn on each of each of the squares...

Analyse:

I came out of the lesson feeling so unsatisfied, Ive never felt like quitting halfway through, but I pushed through and found some encouragement at the end with my kids actually using words like 'vibrations and soundwaves'. It gave me hope that something went in. I think the biggest thing was as I was in the middle of teaching the lesson im thinking to myself (freaking out at this point) that this lesson would be great for year 2/3 but for kindergarten It may have been too much information when their attention span is so limited (especially after lunch). So I had to really guide them through the modelling, we rehearsed the activity a few times and I think the kids enjoyed the hands on aspect.

Plan:

For next time, try not to loose my voice yelling over the top of kids. Need to get more creative with class management, find things that will work with the kids without be always having to get louder over the top of them..