RUTH LEBLANC spoke of The Real Story 2 to DAN TRIPLETT on 09-12-96
RL>Will you change grades next year if the opportunity comes up? What
RL>grade would you like to go into?
It remains to be seen if I will change grade levels.  I have some goals 
for myself this year and I am trying a few new approaches (which require 
more work on my part).  If it feels good I may stick around and grow 
here a bit longer  :).
L>DT> She then has a period of time that they can have a
RL>  >RL>free choice of what they do and where they go at the centres -
RL>  >RL>is this more what you are after?
No...I have that already.  I just want to fill in the gaps in my 
program.  Transitions are always a problem for me.  They take too long.  
I'm trying to eliminate some of them.  They eat up too much of the day.  
I would like to kids to learn to transition from one activity to another 
completely on their own.  Like self-directed learning.  My day is broken 
up with assigned stations in the morning where the children go to a 
particular station with an assigned group.  Each day they shift to 
another station until they have completed the cycle.  
We also have afternoon stations where the children rotate from between 4 
work stations.  I usually have an art station, a game station (puzzles, 
games, abc bingo, 123 bingo, playdough, lotto, etc) writing station, and 
a math station.  Last I have choice time where the children can go to 
any of the centers I have "opened" for the day.  Stations:  computer, 
writing, reading, listening, science, dome, house (dramatic play), white 
board writing, math, easel painting, water table, art table, games, big 
blocks, puppet center, large movement area, plus a few more from time-to-
time).
With circle time, recess, lunch, reading buddies, and the many other 
things we do in our classroom, there are many little "time gaps."  I am 
trying to fill these with meaningful activities and make transitions 
more natural and fluid.  
RL>I'm very lucky to work for a board that does a lot of inservicing and
RL>leads the way in curriculum development etc. They have specific
RL>inservicing just for kindergarten in early literacy, math, reporting
RL>outcomes, portfolios, etc. etc. Early literacy is very important
RL>here.
As it should be....take care,
Dan
RL>---
RL> þ QMPro 1.53 þ ...So easy, a child can do it! Child sold
RL>separately...
CMPQwk 1.42 445p
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