If you've never had the opportunity to visit a Kindergarten classroom, you should find time to do so.
To be frank, they are really amazing places.
Typically, there are 20-25 students and one teacher. That in itself isn't that big of a deal, but add in the fact that some of these students have never been away from their parents. Some of the students have never been in an environment where there is structure and organization. Some of the students have never had to walk in a line and some have never been in a public restroom without the assistance of their parents and/or guardians.
In spite of the before-mentioned dynamics, Kindergarten classrooms are really magical places where kids are able to collaboratively and independently create and design. Kids move like a well-oiled machine from one center to the next with very little if any teacher direction. These students, most of whom have never been a part of such madness, are able to find structure and are able to be trusted to do the right thing.
Students are able to 'playfully work together and learn about the creative process: how to imagine new ideas, try them out, test the boundaries, experiment with alternatives, get feedback from others, and generate new ideas based on their experiences.'
Kindergarten classrooms are a hotbed for makers and the maker movement. Kindergarten classrooms are spilling over with exploration and discovery. Kindergarten classrooms beam with pride as kids put their best efforts forward to please their teachers and expand their knowledge of the world.
Kindergarten classrooms are indeed a magical place.
So, what can other classrooms at other grade levels learn from Kindergarten classrooms?
What if 'instead of making kindergarten more like the rest of school, we make the rest of school – indeed, the rest of life – more like kindergarten?'
To be frank, they are really amazing places.
Typically, there are 20-25 students and one teacher. That in itself isn't that big of a deal, but add in the fact that some of these students have never been away from their parents. Some of the students have never been in an environment where there is structure and organization. Some of the students have never had to walk in a line and some have never been in a public restroom without the assistance of their parents and/or guardians.
Students are able to 'playfully work together and learn about the creative process: how to imagine new ideas, try them out, test the boundaries, experiment with alternatives, get feedback from others, and generate new ideas based on their experiences.'
Kindergarten classrooms are a hotbed for makers and the maker movement. Kindergarten classrooms are spilling over with exploration and discovery. Kindergarten classrooms beam with pride as kids put their best efforts forward to please their teachers and expand their knowledge of the world.
Kindergarten classrooms are indeed a magical place.
So, what can other classrooms at other grade levels learn from Kindergarten classrooms?
What if 'instead of making kindergarten more like the rest of school, we make the rest of school – indeed, the rest of life – more like kindergarten?'
'We live in a world that is changing more rapidly than ever
before. Today’s children will face a continual stream of new
issues and challenges in the future. Things that they learn
today will be obsolete tomorrow. To thrive, they must learn
to design innovative solutions to unexpected problems. Their
success and satisfaction will be based on their ability to think
and act creatively. Knowledge alone is not enough: they must
learn how to use their knowledge creatively.'
So, what if all classrooms were like Kindergarten classrooms?
Ideas and several lines in this blog post came from this article titled, 'Lifelong Kindergarten:' http://goo.gl/NB03RN
So, what if all classrooms were like Kindergarten classrooms?
Ideas and several lines in this blog post came from this article titled, 'Lifelong Kindergarten:' http://goo.gl/NB03RN