Diwali is India's most important celebration, often referred to as Dipawali. It is a Hindu festival of lights that symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. Families in my class celebrate Diwali so explaining this to other students was important. Diwali is celebrated annually and lasts for five days. It usually falls between October and November.
In class, students created Diya (lamps). These are an important symbol and are lit during Diwali
Thanksgiving is an annual Canadian holiday celebrated on the second Monday in October. Many families have their own unique ways to celebrate Thanksgiving. One thing that often highlights Thanksgiving is the food. For some families, it is the turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potato, and pie. For others, it is the opportunity to gather with family, share and have a wonderful time together.
Kindergarten is a world of fun, exploration and learning. Students are all at different stages of their learning so the approach to setting up the learning environment and learning activities varies depending on the learner. The joy is almost palpable when you can see the journey of a learner from the stage of not being able to recognize a letter or hold a pencil to being able to read confidently and share their learning.
It has been a while since I updated this blog. I intend to revive my efforts and share with you a window to my classroom journey of kindergarten in a year.
Students learn in different ways so there is no one size fits all. Planning for the first day of kindergarten is tricky because of the myriad of personalities that come in. Many times, what is planned on paper does not even get executed based on the challenges that arise on the day. It is a tough transition for many of these kids and so our duty as educators is to make the transition from home to school as smooth as we can.
In this blog post, I will share some of my best practices for a somewhat smooth first day/week of school. Although every year the experience differs, it is important to be prepared for the basics. Working with a teaching partner is a definite advantage. This allows for shared ideas and is especially useful when dealing with criers. Yes, every year there is one common thread on the first day, settling the ones who have a hard time leaving their parents.
Here are my tips for first-day preparation:
As students are dropped off, parents usually have important messages to share such as authorized family/friends for pick up, lunch, allergies, etc. I often prepare a handout with questions to capture most of this pertinent information, however, it is helpful to capture these as the children are dropped off. Also, ensure that a class list is attached to the clipboard. In addition, it is helpful to confirm the pronunciation of names with parents. Each child's name is part of their identity, you want to make sure that from day one you get it right.
As students get settled in their new environment for the day, it helps to have various activities to engage them. The focus on day one is not so much on learning concepts but on getting settled. Setting up building blocks, legos, magnetic blocks, playdough and colouring activities are just some examples of centres that students can navigate without direct teacher supervision.
Circle time in kindergarten is a safe space for students to share and learn. Beginning circle time with rhymes, songs or simple games gets students settled. My kids love to play Simon Says or Sticky Sticky Bubble Gum. The Tap and Clap Name Game is also a good one to get them comfortable with their friends. See link below
It is so crucial to emphasize that the most important trait that an educator needs to successfully navigate kindergarten is patience. Rules, routines and expectations take time to implement. Don't be surprised if it all does not come together until the end of September even extending into October. The encouraging thought is that once students are comfortable with the routines, the rest of the year only gets better.
There is always that odd year or for some teachers, there is always that one or even two students who present a more difficult challenge than others. However, with time, even those students will start to show some progress.
Have a blast and let us see what is in store for the coming year!
Holi is a Hindu festival known as the Festival of Colours or Festival of Spring. It signifies the triumph of good over evil. Holi also celebrates the end of Winter and the beginning of Spring. It is celebrated mainly in Nepal and India. Here in Toronto, we have a number of people who celebrate Holi. Holi is a 2-day festival celebrated this year on March 17 and 18. During Holi family and friends celebrate by throwing coloured powder on each other, sharing food and drinks, and dressing up.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Purim is a festive Jewish holiday that was celebrated on March 17, 2022. On Purim, Jews typically go to a synagogue and listen to a reading of the Book of Esther in the Bible. Friends would then gather for a festive meal and play games. There is also an exchange of gifts and extending kindness by giving to the poor.
The black community is very diverse and resilient. In kindergarten, we introduce students to many individuals and showcase their contributions not just to Canada but to other countries around the world.
It is important that we create a safe space for all students to feel welcomed and represented. Self Determination is a relevant theme in light of all the challenges faced by everyone in the last year. Our students have been faced with so many changes and adjustments in their learning. However, they have managed to pull through and with the support of administration, teachers, and parents, they continue to work hard.
The 2020 school year began with in person classes. There was a lot of hesitation and uncertainty surrounding how we would navigate a classroom experience especially at the kindergarten level. The school administration put everything in place to ensure teachers would be prepared to deliver quality supervision and instruction to students. Personal protective gears and items for effective sanitation were put in place. As much as possible, the classroom was arranged to keep students at a safe enough distance for effective learning.
The kindergarten program, being more play-based in nature, was set up to still get students to learn through exploration. One major adjustment that was made was to get rid of structured centres such as the drama and building centres. Students were provided with their individualized bins with materials they could use to explore as they learned. These bins would be changed every two weeks to keep students engaged.
 |
| Classroom set up to accommodate students when two classes merged |
At the start of the term, I had a small class of 15 students which was ideal. Somehow I was able to provide the kind of one to one teaching students needed to get them to achieve individualized goals. After the realignment of classes in October, with more parents opting for online learning, my class was merged with another kindergarten. I ended up with 26 students. It was somewhat of a challenge fitting students in the space while keeping them 6 feet apart. The 6 feet, though ideal, was just not possible. Students made the most of their space and we got through a difficult term.
 |
| Students attempting a writing task |
During the first term of the 2020 school year, there was every attempt to get students outdoors for learning. Outdoor learning was much appreciated and gave students a chance to take their masks off and engage in different activities.
 |
| Students creating chalk art on the ground |
 |
| Student happily shared her cake design |
 |
| Students putting a pile of leaves together for jumping |
 |
Student was asked to observe the Panda Cam for a few minutes and write about what was observed. |
