Today, I was with the older group of kids, mainly four and five year olds. I arrived early this morning, so I got to see all the children being dropped off. Most all of them were so excited to be there, and quickly found an activity to start on right away.
I was somewhat surprised how quickly the kids found something to do. Whether it was painting, completing a puzzle, building with blocks, or playing with the counting beads, everyone settled in so nicely. The main teacher also took a few students aside to show them an activity that was designed for them. When they arrived, she greeted them and said, “I have an activity for you!” This hands-on style of learning really seems to keep the kids engaged and sincerely interested in what they’re doing.
Throughout the classroom, there are a variety of different activities neatly organized on shelves. During the week, the teachers change some of these, taking out things that have been there for a while and adding new ones to spark the students’ interests. The teacher then encourages the kids to look around for the new activities, kind of like a scavenger hunt. I was going around the classroom with one of the younger boys, asking him which activity he wanted to do next and which was his favorite. As he was pointing out all the activities that were new in the past week, I started to realize how much work it takes to prepare all the activities and constantly involve new ones in the curriculum.
As my internship continues, I will likely remain with the older group of students. Having only been there for a few hours at a time due to the classes I have at school, I will be interested in seeing how their whole day comes together, from morning activities to circle time to lunch, recess, and their other daily activities. As I start to piece together their typical school-day, I will keep you updated!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment