visits with families
On Friday families and children visited our classroom. We talked about the morning routine and children chose cubbies. There was a colorful rainbow theme as each child printed their name and designed a sign for their new cubby.
We often use rocks and stones in our classroom as building and counting tools. This year, we are using rocks to write names on and paint Hopes and Dreams on. We are also using rocks and stones as symbols for building community.
Using salt dough and a collection of small stones, each child added a stone or rock. The children pressed the stones gently in the dough and celebrated how every child in our classroom added to our community piece- just like every child is a part of our community.
Responsive Classroom is a teaching philosophy highlighting and supporting the relationship between academic, social, and emotional learning and growth. As part of this, many students and families begin the year by thinking about and sharing Hopes and Dreams.
This becomes a rich conversation with children as they think deeply about the year ahead and recognize their important place within their new community. It is an inspiring way to begin and encourages ongoing reflection.
There is critical curriculum embedded in this process; children are using reading, writing, and social skills as well as learning new vocabulary. The Hopes and Dreams project is an ongoing conversation.
We invited families to share their Hopes and Dreams for their child on rocks. The children will have the opportunity to think about their own Hopes and Dreams in the early weeks of school. Our words will be available to read, reflect on, and hold in our hands throughout the year.
As I read some of the painted rocks, I noticed many families hope that their child will make friends and be a kind friend. Shouldn't that be the foundation for all of our work together? Learning how to be a kind friend in Kindergarten supports all children in developing necessary skills for engaging in conversation with peers, being a problem solver in social situations, negotiating with peers, making connections, and being an active and engaged member of a learning community.
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