Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Information about district facilities recommendations...
...has been posted on the district web site, www.slpschools.org. Please refer families to this web site, especially calling their attention to the upcoming meetings in January and February where district residents are given the opportunity to provide feedback on the options. As staff members, you are also encouraged to provide feedback on the proposals and I strongly encourage you to make your opinion known now during this process as opposed to waiting and see what turns out, then potentially not liking what happened. Remember, "decisions belong to those who show up." Thanks for your involvement in this issue.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
The Wind Project at Mid-Pacific Institute
I think you will enjoy this...
http://www.midpac.edu/2009/12/collaboration_between_preschoo.php
and this as well...
http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/pg/gallery2/main.php
http://www.midpac.edu/2009/12/collaboration_between_preschoo.php
and this as well...
http://www.midpac.edu/elementary/pg/gallery2/main.php
Friday, December 11, 2009
A provocation about circle time
Adapted from the Reggio listserv:
I just returned from the NAEYC's annual conference in D.C. It was great. Very informative.
At one workshop, there was talk about eliminating circle time from the schedule.
Group instruction is not the best way to teach children. A teacher can never be assured that every child is picking up on what the teacher is presenting. Some might be nodding, especially dual-language learners, copying the other children to get by. Attention span is short for young children. Even when circle time is engaging, physical, entertaining, etc., children's attention will be drawn to their own interests. Only the most comfortable of children participate, especially if you have a class of 17 or more. Playtime and individual instruction is cut short. What can be done in circle time, can be done during play, and it's better because children learn better when they're active. But what struck me most is that children don't choose to go to circle, in many classrooms, it has to be done, not buts about it.
I understand why circle time would not be such a good approach, but I have seen some teachers do some incredible circle times. The activity welcomes children, they talk about what has happened at home, what they will work on during the day, it helps with transitions and routines, etc. I also like that circle time brings children together as a community.
... I struggle with circle time, not in the sense that I can't keep the children engaged, but that it does not fit the values I hold for young children. I want children to come of their own accord to group activities. If I start playing the guitar, or present interesting material and activities, or begin to tell a story, the children gravitate naturally, and when they no longer have interest, they leave when they're ready to, not when I tell them. But these activities happen throughout the day, not at a specific time, and can last a little or long time. But when you're mandated to do circle time at a specific time and then move on, I find it jarring for the children.
I'm wondering what you think about this...
I just returned from the NAEYC's annual conference in D.C. It was great. Very informative.
At one workshop, there was talk about eliminating circle time from the schedule.
Group instruction is not the best way to teach children. A teacher can never be assured that every child is picking up on what the teacher is presenting. Some might be nodding, especially dual-language learners, copying the other children to get by. Attention span is short for young children. Even when circle time is engaging, physical, entertaining, etc., children's attention will be drawn to their own interests. Only the most comfortable of children participate, especially if you have a class of 17 or more. Playtime and individual instruction is cut short. What can be done in circle time, can be done during play, and it's better because children learn better when they're active. But what struck me most is that children don't choose to go to circle, in many classrooms, it has to be done, not buts about it.
I understand why circle time would not be such a good approach, but I have seen some teachers do some incredible circle times. The activity welcomes children, they talk about what has happened at home, what they will work on during the day, it helps with transitions and routines, etc. I also like that circle time brings children together as a community.
... I struggle with circle time, not in the sense that I can't keep the children engaged, but that it does not fit the values I hold for young children. I want children to come of their own accord to group activities. If I start playing the guitar, or present interesting material and activities, or begin to tell a story, the children gravitate naturally, and when they no longer have interest, they leave when they're ready to, not when I tell them. But these activities happen throughout the day, not at a specific time, and can last a little or long time. But when you're mandated to do circle time at a specific time and then move on, I find it jarring for the children.
I'm wondering what you think about this...
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