SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL: V.I.P., Sense of Self

Young children love to share their treasures and are very eager to do just that. Show and Tell is not just about giving them the opportunity to bring their special item(s) from home but a chance for children to hone their communication skills. Each child’s social, emotional and language skills will grow and develop from this activity as they increase their confidence, learn to use descriptive language, practice listening skills, and learn how to ask inquiry based questions. Sharing the things that are important in a child’s life with their friends at school connects their worlds of ‘home and school’ in such a meaningful way. Learning more about each other helps build a classroom “family” community as well as makes for a fun and comfortable learning environment for everyone involved.

We value the individuality of each child in our Cardinal class and have created an activity in which each child can celebrate his/her uniqueness. But, instead of calling it the Show-n-Tell week, we have named it the VIP Week as we feel every child should feel like a “Very Important Person”! Kaya's V.I.P. week was on February 24^th through the 28^th of 2014 and here are the items she shared with us.

A photograph from "Aunt Maggie and Uncle Kevin's wedding"

Her favorite "feelings book" that "was Mommy's"

A photograph of Kaya and her sister "taken at my couch, I was 2 years old and Sadie 3 years old."

Her beautiful jewelry box "with a ballerina"

Her special book that "Mommy and Daddy got for me." 

LITERACY/LANGUAGE: Journaling, Winter Break experience

What did you do during the Winter Break?

“Making a snowman with daddy.”

1/6/2014

LITERACY/LANGUAGE: Journaling, Career choice

What would you like to be when you grow up? What kind of job would you like to do and why?

“A Teacher because I help people.”

11/19/2013

LITERACY/LANGUAGE: Bird Study Homework, The Students as Teachers

The Cardinals took great joy at sharing their Research Study. The children had chosen a particular species of bird that they wanted to learn more about and returned to class with their findings. Along with their results, several of the children created a nest for their bird of study. Quite a few Cardinals and their families worked together to create the most outstanding habitat for their bird of choice, an amazing collaborative experience.

Each Cardinal was eager to share their found facts as well as the story of all the work that went into the creation of the nests they crafted. Without any hesitation, each took a turn and stood in front of their classmates and teachers and communicated their discoveries. Once done, they invited their audience to ask questions.  This active involvement of the speaker and the listeners fostered a great deal of developments within each child, from learning how to ask a question or stating a comment to providing a leadership role where their choice and voice was honored.

Here’s what Kaya taught us...

The Cardinal

by Kaya Lewis

1) A Cardinal lays 3 or 4 eggs at one time 

2) A Cardinal is red and its beak is orange

3) Cardinals sing songs that sound like a whistle

4) It lives in "North and South America."

5) It eats "Seeds, fruit, bugs."

When asked why she studied this beautiful bird Kaya responded, “I like Cardinal, and because I'm in the Cardinal's class.”

The experience of presenting her homework provided Kaya many great developmental benefits, Literacy, Cognitive, and Social/Emotional. It offered Kaya the opportunity to understand the difference between a statement and a question as well as use descriptive language, concept thinking, storytelling, and so much more. Overall, it helped Kaya develop effective communication skills. Also, this opportunity allowed for Kaya to share her interest which fostered her emotional self.