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...