My students are hard working, high energy learners that love to keep their hands busy. Many of them have limited access to technology at home and have an eagerness to learn that is absolutely refreshing.
Eager learners run amuck in kindergarten, and I need your help to keep their energy and spirit moving in the right direction!
Pushed down standards expect so much from our kindergarten babies, and I am seeing a stronger, more apparent need for more play based activities in the classroom. Five year olds need play and game like experiences because their natural curiosity gives the opportunity for discussion and learning.
My Project
These bright and colorful center games will continue to provide rich learning opportunities that I strive to create for my students. Kindergarten has changed drastically over the last 20 years, and not all of the change is developmentally appropriate. Every five and six year old student should engage in play based learning every day, not be bombarded with constant paper-pencil activities. A child's future holds plenty of opportunities for worksheets, workbooks, essays, and technology that will swamp their days and nights.
Let them be little.
By utilizing academic games that look and feel like toys, my students will get to do just that. These games offer an opportunity to share with peers, strengthen communication and fine motor skills, and further develop vital academic skills needed to be successful future first graders. Imagine being asked to circle the picture that begins with the letter B on a worksheet. Now compare that task to holding a toy key in your hand with the letter B and finding the lock with the matching beginning sound pictured. Which sounds more appealing to you? This is just one example where games will substitute paper-pencil tasks in my room with your help through this project.
I have seen how exchanging worksheets for planned opportunities with academic play positively influences my young students. I know that giving them more play like moments develop not only their academics but also their love of school. After all, isn't loving to learn what kindergarten should be all about?
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
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. Allen and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
