You can view this intention and updates to the strategies as we move through the year together in the West Wing (the East Wing has their own in their classroom) above the cubbies.
West Wing Intention/Possible Strategies
1. Create a sense of classroom community that fosters relationships among children, teachers and parents as we learn to utilize spaces and familiarize ourselves with materials.
Possible strategies:
- Children’s initial experiences will be in small groups to create opportunities for connections and observe the work of their peers.
- Create games with context that encourage connections and promote scaffolding.
- Music and rhythmic movement will be used to help the children learn each other’s names.
- Parents will be involved in the curriculum in relation to their interests and expertise.
2. Establish a sense of ownership of the environment in order to develop autonomy. This will support children in their quest to construct knowledge and create responsibility and accountability for their work.
Possible Strategies:
- Classroom tours introduce children to the care and use of each space, encouraging the development of prolonged interest by creating inviting areas that reflect their ideas.
- Children will create guidelines, as occasions arise in their play, and bring those back to the group for discussion and agreement. This will serve to create a daily routine book that is shared with the entire class at meeting times.
- Build a common language of materials, techniques and emotional facilitation that supports communication through consistency.
3. Explore a variety of materials to add to the children’s repertoire of languages for use in expressing their thoughts, theories and creativity.
Possible Strategies:
- Document experiences to share with children, parents and teachers to determine appropriate progression of work.
- Set-up provocations in all areas in relation to children’s interest to stimulate the use of varied materials.
- Materials will be explored in group experiences, on a communal piece or in a joint effort.
- Create small interest groups based on teacher’s observations, the children’s interests, ideas, expertise, dynamics, and previous experiences.
5. Identity as sense of self: Who am I? Who am I in my family? Who am I in a group?
Possible Strategies:
- Relate materials to facial features as a first step in recognizing the uniqueness of self.
- Share knowledge of their role within their family by studying the portfolios and family pages as a group.
- Interview children about themselves and their peers with reflective questions to stimulate self perception.
- Identify and verbally recognize emotions in a variety of situations to offer insight into group dynamics and successful social engagement.