Recording Our Bird Projects Using Voicethread

What a great job our class has done completing their study of birds! The children have worked in teams of two or three, sharing information and ideas. After choosing the birds that they wanted to learn more about, the children have read bird information books and posters. They have each visited the kindergarten web site that Mrs. Minke developed to learn more about their birds. After the research was completed, the children each completed a seven page information book which covered lots of related facts about their birds that are listed in the book's Table of Content. The students included a labeled diagram of their birds. One page talked about how each bird looked, including the bird's colors, size, and distinguishing characteristics. Other pages included where they live, what they eat, and a fun fact about their birds.
Using the IPads, Mrs. Kiernan has photographed each child in our class with their bird projects. Each child created a huge stuffed model of their bird made out of paper, along with either a clay sculpture  or a puppet of their bird. Each child created computer story with facts about their birds along with  drawings. Then students then recorded their information on the IPads using Voicethread. This is being made into a slide show for our parents to view on Wednesday afternoon.

Learning about birds has not only been informative, but also enjoyable. Many student listed this project as their favorite part of kindergarten.

Buddy Reading

Practicing the books we have selected to read.

Our JK buddies gather on the rug.

Mrs. Minke's students read to a partner and move to a new JK student.

Once every week or two our kindergarten class has read books with Ms Deegan's second grade class. This experience has been a most enjoyable and eagerly anticipated event all year. The second graders have read many stories to their kindergarten friends. They have encouraged our students to actively listen to their books and at times have prepared comprehension questions for the young listeners. The second graders have been wonderful role models for our class. They have also been wonderful teachers as they listened to our kindergarteners read stories to them. They have been patient, helpful, and encouraging. We have also shared projects and reports together, and even made two alphabet books together. Many of the kindergartners have developed friendships with the students in Ms Deegan's class. Buddy reading has been a very successful activity for both grades.

Now it is our turn to be the "Big Kids' as we read books to the junior kindergarten children. The JK students have enjoyed coming up to the "Big School"to listen to our stories. This gives them a preview of the kindergartens to help ease their transition for next August. It's also a great way for our kindergarten children to practice their reading skills.

Portfolio

Earlier today our class had the opportunity to join our second grade reading buddies in the computer lab.  Students paired up to view their  2nd grade partners digital portfolio.  Presenting their collections through Voice Thread, the children listened to and viewed accomplishments and personally favored work selected from the 2011-2012 school year.  This offered kindergarten the chance to see a wide range of assignments chosen, hear the reflections of their partners, and comment of the final production. 

As we near the end of the school year, we too are selecting from photos and favorite works to reflect upon.  These reflections showcase each child's shining moments and capitalize on saving the work for an audience.  They illustrate the cooperative teaming we practice at school, the connections between school and home, and the wonderful memories created in kindergarten.

Our morning moved from the computer lab to the art studio where what do you know...we illustrated our art portfolio covers.  The children are very excited about using these to bring home this year's art work.

Cooperative Teamwork

What great role models we have in our parent volunteers.  Last week several of our kindergarten fathers volunteered their time to work on a project for Mother's Day.  The first phase was completed in record time and their teamwork was second to none.

In the classroom we foster cooperative teamwork skills throughout the curriculum.  Children are encouraged to participate by sharing their strategies, ideas and opinions.  We follow by paraphrasing their contributions.  This helps clarify ideas, express support,  and energizes the direction of the task.

When the children are given opportunities to share their reasoning, they are differentiating their own ideas and showcasing their strengths. When working as a team, they often independently delegate who will be recording, drawing, and presenting their team's ideas.

 Pride in their group work is priceless.  We celebrate each child's contribution and cooperative effort. The completed project is a reflection of this effort. The students are not only helping each other learn academic material, but learning how to work as a team. They are learning the give and take, the compromises, that make teams operate effectively. Whether the children are constructing block designs together, researching topics on the internet and recording the new information that they have learned, or building a complicated tower, they are learning how and why to work cooperatively together. The team can share the work load, and the finished product is often better than what any one of the individuals would have produced on their own. Plus, it's more fun!