thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: April 2015
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2015_04_01_archive.html
Monday, 20 April 2015. A visual metaphor for my impulse upon entering the beautiful play space set up at a ThinkinEd thinkshop. In March I was asked to participate in an incredible exhibit experience held by ThinkinEd. June 2014: My daughter surveys a landscape she created with Aviva's daughter. The surprising reflection changed their play and their focus. At the joint Hawkins Exhibit and EdEx pop-up event. At Black Creek Pioneer Village. For an interactive version of the photo, including audio. To see w...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: February 2015
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2015_02_01_archive.html
Sunday, 22 February 2015. Ordinary magic: ice inquiry, part 2. The beach disappears as the deep cold (-39 windchill) freezes waves into undulating shapes on the shore. This crack was the only sight of the wide creek rushing below the ice and snow. We noticed that we can recognize the shapes but not colours with our eyes closed http:/ t.co/nWwJ70WzDD. 8212; pooneh haghjoo (@Hpooneh) October 10, 2014. This book inspired us to create our own book of our"best part" pictures and stories. Note: some collages i...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: March 2015
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2015_03_01_archive.html
Sunday, 22 March 2015. Ordinary magic: ice inquiry, part 3. Undulating frozen waves extend out well past the shore. The sound of water moving underneath this is eerily beautiful. Ducks working to keep a patch of water open over the frigid nights: life-and-death ice inquiry. Thousands of glittering shards of ice. A photo I took to share with the class. Soft downy feathers frozen to the ground. Great for inferring. ouch! Here is that story. It begins with a tweet from a teacher I admire, Aviva Dunsinger.
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: balance, pattern, rhythm and awe
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2013/05/balance-pattern-rhythm-and-awe.html
Sunday, 26 May 2013. Balance, pattern, rhythm and awe. Two boys collaborated to make "Disneyland: a perfect day to go to the park". The problem-solving that took place in the creation of this park was remarkable. Those who follow me on twitter, vine or Pinterest have seen this as my icon. I brought some smooth, flat stones from my nearby beach and added materials from around the room as more and more students took an interest. We made a Voicethread. Complete, awed silence when I showed clips of Andy Gold...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: May 2014
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2014_05_01_archive.html
Saturday, 31 May 2014. How big is the sun? Our "outside welcome circle" is a time spent singing song, reciting our poems, listening to bird songs and other sounds around us, and noticing life all around us. This week our focus also extended out to the sky. Who jumped right in. To help out. Our side of the pod had dry, clean washrooms and a water fountain easily accessed from the K-yard, so we knew we'd manage. Sunlight filtered through the trees at the park. I'm thankful that I thought to press "record" ...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: looking for the big picture
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2015/07/looking-for-big-picture.html
Tuesday, 21 July 2015. Looking for the big picture. I had a lightbulb moment recently, regarding my understanding and practice of documentation. I had for some time been struggling with using the term "pedagogical documentation" in reference to my own work. I'd been exploring articles, blogs, reading books and joining in #ReggioPLC. Lastly, I attended. So many changes in my practice: one class all day instead of two, a fantastic new partner, Pooneh with whom to share the journey ( see here for. A progres...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: saving traces of a most incredible week
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2013/08/saving-traces-of-most-incredible-week.html
Friday, 2 August 2013. Saving traces of a most incredible week. Gifts from the ReggioPLC community at the end of our week. These will have a treasured spot in my classroom when I return. Summer Intensive on their blog. Workshop that I co-presented at the Peel Kindergarten Conference back in May. As a testament to the way that the learning unfolding, I felt as though I had known all the participants for ages when the week came to a close. Adding to the story:. 3 August 2013 at 18:18. I have found Reggio E...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: November 2014
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2014_11_01_archive.html
Saturday, 15 November 2014. 8212; Beyond 4walls (@109ThornKs) November 7, 2014. We noticed that we can recognize the shapes but not colours with our eyes closed http:/ t.co/nWwJ70WzDD. 8212; pooneh haghjoo (@Hpooneh) October 10, 2014. We make our monster's soup in a special way http:/ t.co/D1Zq1iuyWA. 8212; pooneh haghjoo (@Hpooneh) November 12, 2014. Have been thinking for a while about a way to introduce my wonderful teaching partner, ECE Pooneh Haghjoo. It's not that different for our students, coming...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: April 2014
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2014_04_01_archive.html
Monday, 28 April 2014. How do you say hello? This is the story of a project born out of a spark, as are so many in our class. The spark was not something entirely new in our routine, but instead something we took the time to notice. I always greet my students upon entry to school, and let them know whether or not we'll be starting our day outside ("Please hang your backpacks, we're heading out! I said I was happy to learn a new way to say hello! Began, just over a year ago. As we often do when someth...
thiskindylife.blogspot.com
this kindergarten life: musings on what really matters, from a valued friend
http://thiskindylife.blogspot.com/2014/08/musings-on-what-really-matters-from.html
Saturday, 16 August 2014. Musings on what really matters, from a valued friend. I don't wish to take much space here because the beauty of Tessa. S post is perfect in its entirety. I do, however, want to share how it came to be I was able to bring this unique voice here. And many others. Teaching through the lens of joy, discovery, curiosity and possibility does make life and friendship seem so rich. What follows is Tessa's story, with all photos by Tessa or Holly. A Teaching Partner Forever Changes You.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT