Kindergarten 2020/21: the importance of choice

We recently introduced Academic Choice using essential standards to guide our choices. For example, learning about letter names and sounds can be done in many different ways; building letters using different kinds of lines, working with letter lacing cards, making alphabet books and posters using letter stamps, and exploring alphabet puzzles.

A meaningful way to practice writing sight words can be done when writing a kind note; children are expected to use the words to, love, or the name of a friend. Kind notes is often the favorite choice in Kindergarten.

With children coming in at different times during the morning transition, we have been practicing a soft start to our day. Children are provided with a choice each morning. They can read from the books in their basket, practice their sight word rings, work on a letter book or build a new sentence for our class pattern book of what we see on the trail.

This past week all of the children eagerly chose to read, cut, build, reread and illustrate a sentence for our class pattern book. I've laminated a picture of each sentence and attached them to a ring in the children's baskets, providing a meaningful way for children to practice essential reading skills.

The children have enjoyed a choice in the morning and this transition is a time for me to check in with students. We are slowly building a class book connected to our hikes without using additional time in our day. For children working on the sight word see, many of them have explained that they can find the word in their nature sentence. This is a smart strategy and demonstrates the importance of meaningful work and choice in student learning.

Our morning transition has been one of the richest moments in our day. It's been a time to practice, reinforce, and make connections. It is a peaceful time.