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| Small group on predicting if objects will sink or float |
As I look back over my past month, (only 15 school days in November!), I’m blown away at how much I’ve noticed and how much I’ve seen my students grow or change. In some ways, there appears to be so much positive growth with my students and I’m already starting to envision them in kindergarten next year and it makes my heart ache! In other ways, I feel like some of my students aren’t advancing fast enough and it makes me nervous to think about them in kindergarten next year. I know we have so much time left together and that they can grow A LOT in the next few months, but time flies by so quick sometimes, I wonder what we actually will accomplish that can be measured by the experts.
As I look back at my highs, I’ve noticed a trend that I’ve seen all year long with my students, which is when I offer them engaging small groups they are interested in and respond so well to them! If it is a learning opportunity that they actually want to do, there is no problem getting them involved in the activity and their own learning, thus illustrating Frank Smith’s point in, The Book of Learning and Forgetting that, “Learning is not hard work.” (2002, p. 5). The more I think about my students, and the fact that they are 4 and 5 years old--I completely agree with this notion. Children are learning ALL THE TIME and if they are learning that learning is fun because it appeals to them and it’s what they want to do--well then I think that’s exactly what we should be doing as educators. This is no easy feat though in our field. We are in classrooms with anywhere from 20-30 students all at various developmental stages and interest levels, not to mention varying cultural and experiential backgrounds. To reach all students at any given time is almost impossible, at least for me. And I’m encouraged when the majority of my students are interested in what we are doing at the time. If I find that only a few are uninterested, it just clues me in that I need to keep searching to find what impassions them.
“The morning routine sets the tone for the entire day” --Becky Bailey (Conscious Discipline, 2000, p. 52)
Which leads me to my lows for this month. Although it was a short month, I noticed that so many days my low was our morning meeting time. Our morning meeting used to be such a joy--a time of sharing our feelings, getting our wiggles our, talking about the weather, enjoying a nice book, and engaging in some large group literacy. However, it seems my students have outgrown our simple routines and are in need of some different structures for our morning meeting. It’s been difficult because I thought we had a good thing going, ya know!? But my kiddos have started to clue me in that something needs to change. They need more time to connect with one another on a deeper and physical level besides just sitting on the carpet and talking about how they’re feeling in this morning. They need a way to release all the pent up energy and wiggles that are dying to get out. They need to connect meaning and purpose behind talking about what month, day and year it is. They need to understand why we even need to talk about the weather each day. I think I’ve lost this notion a little bit and want to find a way to connect my students to rituals and experiences that mean something to themselves. Becky Bailey has a lot to say about morning meeting, “Circle time and morning meetings allow teachers and students to start the day the brain smart way. The goal is to unite as one group, connect with each other through various greeting activities, disengage the stress response as children and teachers transition from home to school, and commit to a wonderful day of learning and caring for each other” (2000, p. 52).
Although I want to extend my highs and continue offering these high interest learning opportunities for my students, I also want to decrease the lows and make our morning meeting meaningful and fun again! If you have any ideas of how you do your morning meeting please share!!!
Hi Lindsey!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your blog :) I really liked reading about both the connections you made reflecting on your high points as well as your low points---I felt like I could relate to situations in both of them! I too have found that many of my "low points" have occurred when I have noticed that my students do not seem particularly engaged during times such as morning meeting (and also recess or walking in line). I think that one of the reasons that this may happen is because this time of day is a transitional time for students. When they come in the morning to school, they are going through the transition from home to school environment. Keeping this in mind, perhaps it could be helpful for you to incorporate some kind of activity in the morning to make them feel more relaxed? Such as music or movement, or an art activity to share with one another? I know that I definitely need suggestions as to how to make my students engage more and transition better in the mornings, so I definitely understand how you feel :) I also really liked reading about the successes you have seen while working with students in small groups--I too have noticed that taking Smith's suggestions from "The Book of Learning and Forgetting" have been so helpful in trying to remind myself about the importance of making sure the students learn what they enjoy learning and are happy :) Thank you so much again for sharing! It sounds like you are a wonderful teacher, and your little ones are so lucky to have you! Emily
As always, your blog leaves me with so much food for thought. I can connect to a lot of your experiences this month. I can tell that you are a truly "with it" teacher because you actually read your student's moods and are looking for ways to engage them, where some teachers might just plow through and continue doing things the way they are used to because it is easy and expect the kids to adapt. I love how you ask what YOU can do to get back some of that morning-meeting magic, and I think you may be right that some of it has to do with them growing up-- TEAR! :,-) I'm wondering if maybe they could do with a little more variety, but still in a predictable way? For instance with my guys, every day has a theme. Magazine Monday (we take time to explore magazines and maybe look for something specific while we read), Tune up Tuesday (tuning up some of our writing skills), Word Work Wednesday (word games), Think outside the box thursday (turn a picture of a shape into something else and write about it), and Fidget Friday (some kinesthetic engagements like play dough or shaving cream). I wonder if you could tweek these and come up with activities appropriate for your 4s and 5s? You know much better than I do what they are capable of or would be int to! What about musical monday and you guys sing a favorite song or you let a chosen student share one to the class? Or teach-me Tuesday where you act like you forgot how to tell the weather or something and they have to teach you how to do something they have been working on? I don't know, I am sure with your creative brain and energy you could come up with something great that will work for your guys. I am struck over and over again at how lucky your kids are to have such a thoughtful, compassionate teacher; your love for them is so apparent and I would be thrilled to be a parent knowing my child was in you warm care every day. Keep up the excellent work!
ReplyDeleteLindsey, awesome blog! I am totally on your page when it comes to thinking about all of your kids being ready for kindergarten. I too worry that some kids might not be as ready as others - and then of course you think, "Oh man, they're going to think it's because of me and the way I taught them!" Just remember that everyone has that concern as their students move on to the next grade and have faith that you are doing your best. I love the quote you pulled from "The Book of Learning and Forgetting," “Learning is not hard work." What an important thing to remember! With all of the assesments, walk throughs, check-ins, and checklists that teachers have these days, it's easy to feel like the responsiblity of the students gaining knowledge is 100% on your shoulders and dependent on how you present the curriculum. It's great that you've realized that no matter what, kids are learning all the time. Lesson plans and small groups will not always go as planned, but the kids still will learn SOMETHING. I agree in that it does make it alot easier when the activity is something that the kids are excited about. I feel like other teachers are your best resource in finding lessons that satisfy that. I also see my kids' interest in the morning meeting start to wander and wonder what I could add or change to keep it interesting to them. I'm excited to hear what you come up with and hopefully I can use some of your ideas!
ReplyDeleteLindsey,
ReplyDeleteIt was really refreshing to read your blog! I love learning more about what other Pre-K teachers are doing because it helps me find ideas to use in my own practice. Your highs seem very similar to mine because I, too, saw a lot of success in the small groups with students and engaging in those meaningful conversations with them. I saw learning naturally take place just as you've pointed out. However, establishing routines have also been challenging for me as well especially during morning meeting. I am looking forward to hearing about what worked for you and hopefully collaborating in the future! All in all, keep up the great work and I wish you the best with your adorable Pre-Kindergartners!
Lindsey,
ReplyDeleteAs always reading your blog make me reminisce about my Pre-K days. I like Katie's idea about maybe giving each day a different theme. I think that would be a great idea and something that I may even try out in my morning meeting. I tried Zuqorah's idea which is what I mentioned in my blog. I chose a helper for the day and by this time of the school year, that child could lead the entire morning meeting by themselves or on some days I chose two students. If you let them be responsible for morning meeting, they are also taking responsibility in their learning. Also, I love songs and I saw that my students love song and dance so we do things like the Macarana Months of the Year and Adams Family Days of the Week as well to get them up and moving so maybe trying some of those may be helpful as well.
Macarana Months of the Year
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITTrlGx-Ctk
Adams Family Days of the Week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPzIbbvoiMA