Welcome. My intention with this blog is to provide a window into my classroom and also to share the way I use pedagogical documentation in my Kindergarten program. I also want to explore and present different perspectives including the children’s, parents’ and other members of our community, not just my own. This is not a “how to” blog but a “here is where we are right now” blog. I don’t have all the answers for classroom practice but I am constantly striving to find answers, adapt my practice and expand the children’s and my own thinking and learning.
This first post is actually an assignment for the Kindergarten Additional Qualifications course that I am taking. We are to choose an area of our classroom that we have transformed or demonstrate how our classroom has been or could be transformed.
I know all the things I have done and the time that I have spent changing the room in ways that I hope help to meet the physical, emotional and learning needs of the children. For my own growth and to see the impact on others, if any, I decided to ask different people involved with the classroom to share how they feel the classroom has transformed over this past term or year.
Five year old child perspective
“The snack table last year was over here and it was smaller the snack table. And this year, it’s bigger. It is good because it’s closer to my backpack. And last year it was farther to my backpack.”
First Teacher Candidate perspective
“Over the past 3 months, I have noticed many changes in the classroom. Early on in September, we changed the physical environment multiple times to better suit the needs of the children and to encourage more flow in the classroom. In these changes, we moved the snack table from the front of the class, to the back of the class, then to the side of the class. We removed a few larger tables from the class to provide more space for the children to play on the carpets. To facilitate a better view of the children’s play at the blocks center, we moved this center to face the teaching table.
The sand center was changed to become the peace center, which significantly calmed the class’ energy during free exploration. At the art center, the theme is constantly changing from sunflowers, to roses, and now to pine cones and pine trees. The children switch from creating their own masterpieces to sketching the nature that they see in front of them.
At the interest table, we initially had magnetic dolls for children to play with. Over time, this changed to become the bug center that was initiated by the children. Currently, from the interest of Lana, this table features a weaving station for children to explore different ribbon materials and work on fine-motor skills.”
The perspective of a former student who is now in Grade 6
“This classroom transformed into another beautiful classroom with all of the kids’ artwork which makes it special. The artwork here is amazing. You’re bringing the classroom together and how you use nature’s tools from outside and put it inside. Like how all the counting numbers or butterflies, and pinecones and how we have beautiful pieces of flowers so kids can draw. The trees in this room makes it bring out nature. Nature is important. And kids get to know it more than just staying inside in a normal classroom. In here, there’s more plants and like an eco-system, but it’s for the kids. It’s the kid’s place and how … it’s special.”
The perspective of a parent
Four year old child perspective
“I really liked the blocks because they changed them to the cans and arches and planks. It looked nicer. It helps me build like I’ve never had before.”
Second Teacher Candidate perspective
“As a student teacher I have observed Lana continuously transforming the classroom environment as well as transforming her practice in order to support the needs of all students. Some transformations are smaller in size, and done on a daily basis. This includes reflecting on classroom routines, physical layout of the classroom, and learning centres and changing them to better suit students needs. Other transformations are far greater in size, and show her own personal and professional reflection of her teaching styles and practice. However small or large in size, these transformations are put into place to provide a supportive learning environment for all of the children in her classroom. In observing Lana and the classroom I have learned a great deal about teachers, teaching, and student learning. A teacher with many years on her belt, who is constantly reflecting, and transforming her practice, is a breath of fresh air as in previous experiences I have observed teachers who stick to the same routines, and learning experiences. This in and of itself is what I consider the most transformational, and insprational.”
Principal’s perspective
“The kids are all independently doing what they need to do, they’re following the routines. I also see the further into the year we get, the more literacy and numeracy is happening that are added into all of the things that they’re doing. And when I come in here I see how they can learn while they’re playing. Because you don’t always see that in play based learning.
I’m sure it was always there in the beginning, but because the kids are so calm and engaged and independent now, you notice more of that.”
I am glad that I was brave enough to ask different people about their perspectives because I learned a great deal about how my classroom is viewed by the people who live there every day. I have some food for reflection as I move forward with the year!
Leaning on the Air 