Last year I discovered story stones on Pinterst so during my summer travels I picked up round smooth stones so that I could make my own using modge podge, markers, stickers. I looked high and low for fairy tale stickers unsuccessfully, but did find themed sticker sets; dogs and cats, forest animals and farm animals. It is so simple, just match up a sticker with a stone the correct size and paint with modge podge (very sticky white glue). Here is the first set of forest animals. They can be used for creating stories as well as matching 1-1, making patterns, sorting and counting. Each sticker set includes four pages so I can have four of each. After modelling a few times, I am putting them into a classroom basket  for math or literacy stations. Then I will watch to see how children use them. This is an activity that children can make. My students are making a set as a thank you to a young family who donated a glider chair and stool to our clas...

This year's group of block builders have been building up combining the unit blocks and our few hollow blocks. They carried objects from all over the room and then decorated the block towers. We have had ramps with cars racing down and then lots of different objects rolling. The Kinders compared how far the objects rolled, built a three sided wall to stop the object and negotiated on design concepts. Lots of math work but also lots of self regulation was growing alongside their play as the Kinders listened to each other, took turns, compromised or let go of their designed. As the group begins to demonstrate improved self regulation across the curriculum, I know that the block centre has made a significant contribution to this growth. It has been a lot of fun to watch them at work, but I've been waiting for enclosures all year. Finally last week William, one of our regular builders, took a few double longs and build a room and sat inside it, delighted with his design....

Connecting with our Kindergarten inquiry about the environment, the Kinders have begun to learn about spiders and their important roles. This topic is an excellent way to use thinking maps, student graphing sheets and lots of partner talk. For example, we will be using circle maps, tree maps and brace maps. I have also integrated our study into art lessons, directed drawing. literacy and math. Today the Kinders worked with their big buddies to make a class book modelled on an emergent reader they have been practicing from Deanna Jump's spider unit. They turned out so great that I decided to display them in the hall for a little while and then assemble the book. When they are all complete then I will make a little slideshow for you. The idea for the book came from Kim Jordano's blog, http://www.kinderbykim.com/   The Kinders are really enjoying non-fiction books. Spiders are such a great way to introduce the non-fiction genre because there are many non-fic...

I have had some requests about how I organize and teach my math stations. Here is a link to an earlier post about math work stations. http://crazyforkindergarten68.blogspot.ca/search/label/Math%20Work%20Stations I love having enough stations so that each student is with one partner. I also use a pocket chart but you could just as easily use magnets on a white board or poster with velcro buttons. We do math stations every day. The routine is as follows: partner A chooses anywhere in the room to work while partner B collects the math tub then joins him/her. After they complete the math station A chooses a book from the math tub while B cleans up and returns the tub. Together they read the math book. All of the books have been read together with me as a group a few times before going into the tub. For management I like to partner boy/girl and timetabled it as a transition activity after they come in from music. Almost all of the activities are daily pr...

Well we made it through our first full day. I am amazed. At 9am they were wiggling and jiggling while we talked for oh about one minute about our morning. During our first story there was a lot of poking, stroking and some tickles but I'm sure at least a few were listening. By mid day they joined in a read aloud, sang some songs but there was still some poking, stroking and fewer tickles. By end of day they had built trains, participated in peer reading, writing workshop and math stations. During our final few minutes they were sitting in a beautiful circle, singing, chanting and smiling and oh.....no poking, stroking or tickling. It was amazing. I am in love.     ...

Like most teachers I have been in the classroom organizing, cleaning and thinking about my new group of Kinders. As I design the space I imagine how the children will use it, inspiring me to create a learning environment that is flexible, encourages community and nurtures child initiated learning. Although I know that changes will be made once school begins I need to take the time now before the chaos of September to be thoughtfull about the bones of the environment. We know that the benefits of child initiated learning activities contribute to their academic, social and emotional development well beyond Kindergarten. Opportunities for growth must be provided through the Kindergarten environment.       In this photo a group of Kinders used trial and error to solve the problem of the fabric roof sliding off. After many different methods which required them to listen to each other, they decided to move the furniture closer together and tuck the fabric under the sofa c...

A big thank you to Michelle for nominating me for the Liebster Award. Liebster is a German word meaning favourite. It is so much fun to write about my practice, ask questions and share tips. I learn so much from my fellow bloggers and am continuously inspired to strengthen my understanding about my Kinders and add new ideas to programs. Part of my responsibility is to nominate five of my favourite blogs with under 200 followers. This is always the most difficult part because I have so many favourite blogs but most of them have more than 200 followers. Here are my top three.       ...

Hello, I am linking up today with Sandi of Rubber Boots and Elf Shoes, one of my fav bloggers. I discovered through Sandi that this idea is actually a linky party started by Lindsey over at The Teacher Wife. Link up with her to share your top five children's books.      Don't all Kindergarten teachers love pictures books! I have so many old favourites and lots of new ones too! So I decided to pick a few favourites that my Kinders LOVED this past year. Over In The Meadow Illustrator: Jill McDonald  Sung by Susan Reed This traditional rhyming song has been done by Raffi, Michael Evans and many more. There are many versions of this song including ones that have changed the lyrics to represent different environments such as Over In The Arctic. This past year we literaly sang it every day and that's not counting the times it was chosen for peer reading, independent reading or family reading. This book is a must have for Kindergarten classrooms! ...