I just participated in a two day training on the new Illinois KIDS assessment (and by just, I mean that I literally just left the training, got home, took my shoes off, and sat down at the computer).
Here is the link…if you are a kindergarten teacher in Illinois, it’s coming for you!!! 🙂 https://www.illinoiskids.org/
I’m honestly a little surprised that I still want to discuss observations of any kind after SO much focused information on recording observations! I could write a whole post on this assessment, but I need to set it aside and think about fun, exciting educational topics for a bit!
The type of observation that I want to discuss is much more simple (well…sort of). I’m not talking about observing to assess (which teachers do all day, every day).
Instead, I’m talking about being aware of what is around you and how we might possibly be able to utilize the things we observe in a fun, educational way.
Inside, outside…doesn’t matter. Chances are, if you look around closely, wherever you are, you will see something that may be interesting to your young students.
I like to provide my kinders with as much environmental education as possible, so I often look for interesting things outdoors. However, we have found lessons in a missing ceiling tile, an insect in the kitchen sink in the pretend area, and the pipes underneath the bathroom sink. It doesn’t matter where you are- If your students find something interesting and they are curious learners, they will ask questions.
It is our job to help encourage them in their curiosity. Does that mean we should answer their questions.
No way (ok…maybe sometimes)!
However, it is much more beneficial for those growing little minds if we provide students an opportunity to think and form ideas before assisting in finding answers.
Observations in Nature
I recently realized that even though my school grounds aren’t home to a wide variety of plants, trees, and wildlife, there are still so many things left for me to learn about the area surrounding our small school.
I also came upon the realization that specifically, I know very little about the trees growing all around me. My husband is somehow a tree expert…probably because he commits every single thing he ever learns to his long- term memory! I am much more visual and tend to remember how things look or where things are located.
For Christmas, my sister bought me 2 helpful visual aids/books that will hopefully allow me to remember different attributes of natural wildlife and plants/ trees. I can’t wait to use these resources with my class! I am planning on becoming an expert on all things outdoors…slowly, but surely.
Let’s get to the “root” of the problem here: (hey, everyone needs a good pun every so often…please don’t “leaf” just because it’s a little (a)corny!) 🙂
All of my kinders know what a tree is…what they (and I) both lack is knowledge in the many species and their vast differences. With the help of my 5 and 6 year old learning aides, I am becoming much more aware of the critters and plants outside our school doors.
On one of our nature walks, we chose a tree to observe throughout our midwest seasons. Honestly, when I started I wasn’t even fully sure what type of tree it was, so I learned right alongside my kinders!
So far, we have visited our Pin Oak tree once in the summer and twice in the fall. I am excited to get back to school so we can check our fall tree predictions! Most of our class predicted that all of the leaves would fall off of the tree by the end of December…I’m hoping those stubborn Pin Oak leaves let loose! 🙂
We really took time to feel, explore, observe, and take notes on our Pin Oak trees.
As the season changed, we continued to take notes on new observations and changes. Once we are back into our routine after winter break, I will ask my students to make predictions about how they think our trees currently look now that winter is well underway.
The excitement when their predictions are correct is my favorite, though I also love the thoughtful looks given when they realize that their predictions were off. 🙂 I love creating a poster documenting our learning- This isn’t necessary…but the added bonus of showcasing our learning and having it hanging in the hallways is that students can refer back to our learning.
They look at the posters and talk about which pictures they drew, who predicted what, who is holding the leaves, and most importantly, they form new questions through their conversations! It is simply wonderful!
Very simply put, the purpose of my post is this- Don’t let the daily hassles of school keep you from engaging your students in real experiences. Our worksheets will still be there tomorrow…the leaves on the tree may not…:)
Be the first to comment