My Classroom
This was my kindergarten classroom!
(In this picture: The tables where the children sit
- each child has a name card at his/her spot (This helps encourage
them to write their name correctly.).
I wrote a letter to parents requesting environmental
print.
We made a wonderful bulletin board for our room! The
children read the words using pointers during center time.
Our Sign In Board
Each morning when the children come into the
classroom, they need to sign in by putting an X on our sign-in board. This is great for responsibility
and it helps me with attendance. At the end of the week I wash
the board off and it's ready for Monday.
Reading Center
My reading center has alphabet books, magazines, fliers
from kid-related stores (i.e. Noodle Kidoodle!), books about movies,
Berenstain Bear books, Magic School Bus books and early readers.
I also have some stuffed animal characters from books for the
children to read to/with. The teepee provides a quiet private
place to get away from it all and READ!
Poetry Center
(Many of you have written me
to ask about my poetry center, so I'm including lots of information
about it here!)
During our calendar/circle time I ask a few children
to go to the poetry center and choose a poem for me to read to
the class. After I read it, I ask the children to join in if they
would like. I am currently adding lots of silly poems! During
center time the children are welcome to read any poems they would
like. If they read the poem to me, they may also read it to the
class at the end of center time (I give them a little "award"
that says, "I read a poem to my class today!" It also
lists the poem, child's name and date.).Each poem is typed out
(I like using lots of different typestyles so the children become
familiar with seeing letters written different ways.) and has
a little picture to go with it. I glued or taped each poem to
a piece of oaktag and laminated it so it will last a long, long
time.
Where I Find My Poems
I got most of my poems from books. I scour my local
public libraries for poetry books and then choose the poems that
go with themes, holidays, and seasons. I haven't checked all of
these sites out yet, but my local public library had an information
sheet about poetry for kids and they suggested these websites:
www.gigglepoetry.com
www.poetry4kids.com
www.poetryzone.ndirect.co.uk/index2.htm
teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/poetry/jack_home.htm
www.poemfinder.com/login.asp
Science Center
We have a fish tank, books relating to science, magnifying
glasses, color paddles, a tornado tube, a fountain tube and
all sorts of other cool science stuff at our science center. Periodically
I will add new things and change some things around to renew interest.
Block Corner
The children love building various types of structures
in the block corner. In the wooden box there are some plastic
blocks and cars.
Our group time area
This is where we do our circle time and calendar. (In
this picture: dry erase board with my morning message, calendar,
poems, weather graph and red and white book baskets on the floor
containing theme-related fiction and nonfiction literature, math
straws and our number line (both count the days we've been in
kindergarten.)
Marshmallow painting!
The children painted using mini-marshmallows. It was
a great way to encourage fine motor control and a great
way to make beautiful art!!
Click here to see MORE
pictures of my kindergarten classroom!
If you have a question about something you've seen,
email me!
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updated 8/15/04