My students are typical 5 and 6 year old Kindergarten kiddos, but are learning in a less than typical way. My group of 28 boys and girls are all native English speakers, but learning all academic content in the Spanish language.
Throughout their education my students are learning to be global citizens by becoming bilingual.
Each day we work toward growing our love for the Spanish language as well as how to interact with others with kindness and empathy.
Our school is a public school in Michigan, where many students come from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. My Spanish Immersion kindergartners are creative, intelligent, and are innovators for the future.
My Project
My sweet Kinders spend a lot of time in the carpet area of our classroom. Every morning we start our day with a morning meeting where my students have time to share the good things that are going on in their life, talk about expected and unexpected behaviors, and discuss what will happen throughout our day. During the day we use the carpet area for math, reading, literacy stations, and to listen to books be read aloud, but there is one problem:
My students currently do not have a rug to sit on while they are in the carpet area!
In my classroom right now we use small velcro circles to mark each kid's "spot." Although these circles give them a specific area to sit, there is still the lack of a defined space for each student. These circles can be removed and picked at throughout the day, and do not give the kids a clear boundary of where their space stops and the next student's space starts. Having a rug with defined squares a colored circles is also a great learning tool for them to start learning their colors and shapes at the beginning of the year.
As 5 and 6 year olds, my students are learning communication skills and how to work together for the first time. In my classroom they are also doing all of that in an unfamiliar language. The need for a space that is comfortable is essential for allowing my students to be vulnerable and open to trying new things. This is especially important in the Spanish Immersion classroom! We use the carpet area so much during the day, and having a rug with designated spots will make classroom management easier, but also help the kids to feel comfortable in their own space.
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