For the majority of my students, coming to kindergarten was their first experience away from home and especially with school. My school is an A+ Arts Magnet Public School, meaning that students will learn math, reading, science and social studies with a technology, art, dance, and music integration. This program helps make learning much more interesting, even when it's difficult, aids in bringing in other students to our low-income community, and assists with promoting more versatile children.
We are trying to give our kids every opportunity that they need like the Arts programs, free breakfast and lunch, and hands-on differentiated learning options.
I want my students actively trying new and difficult learning activities, rather than shying away from them. My top priority is to make learning a positive experience for every student so that they believe they can be successful. But, this presents a problem when resources are limited.
My Project
Kindergarten is a crucial year for many reasons. Students learn social skills like taking turns, raising their hand, sharing, and staying on a task. They also learn academic skills like counting and the alphabet. Once students have learned their alphabet, they have to also grasp the sounds each letter makes and how blend them. Using hands-on manipulatives in game-like activities help to make these difficult lessons easier.
Vince Gowmon said, “Play is not a break from learning, but an endless, delightful, deep, engaging, practical learning - that's the doorway into the child’s heart!” I believe that with my whole heart and run my classroom with this philosophy.
Children need to play, explore, and have choices in their education so that they can be an active, responsible overseer in their own learning.
As students are blending letter sounds to form words, the easiest words for them to create are CVC words, also known as short vowel words. The Phonological Awareness Learning Puzzles will strengthen not only rhyming word skills, but also beginning, middle, and ending sound skills. This skill will be fortified through tasks like the Fill-In-The-Blank Phonics Stamps and Simple Words Learning Locks. Additionally, students will also have a chance to build words using the Alphabet Activity Dice and the Snap Together Letter Blocks. It's like a natural progression of learning!
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Hiskey and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
