tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5577896582487327410..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Summer ExperimentsTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-73066956064336402122010-06-09T11:28:27.188-07:002010-06-09T11:28:27.188-07:00This is beyond amazing, Tom. It's a family st...This is beyond amazing, Tom. It's a family style cooperative classroom. I haved loved the shift that I had from fours to three to fives this year (I loved having three to fives in wallingford), and I am, once again, jealous of and inspired by you. <br /><br />I think that multi-age communities really do create just that: a community. The older ones help the younger ones, and they enjoy being experts. The younger ones sometimes do stand in awe of the older ones, really seeing them as role models. It sounds like you are really taking the things you know all of your students love and using those in this mixed class - you have a head start on this because of your experience teaching all of these ages on their own. But it sounds like the start is good - take the classics and see where it goes. Have fun! This is a wonderful project to hear about.alliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06213589791060503501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-23237242735324299182010-06-07T17:33:02.064-07:002010-06-07T17:33:02.064-07:00I think its exciting when you begin something new ...I think its exciting when you begin something new and it starts off good as your summer program did. Also I wanted to make a comment about experimenting with multi age children in your program. I have taught multi age children (3-5) years old and I have to say that it can fun and challenging all at the same time. It can be fun because the children learn so much from one another and the more advanced children are always so good about being a leader to the other children. it was challenging at times because it takes a lot of planning, observing and assessing children on a regular basis to ensure that strategies used are appropriate for all children and instruction is being differentiated to meet the diverse needs of students. It was definitely a learning experience for me!tashanareneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05957077355462018315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-7411224871794815542010-06-07T12:33:59.487-07:002010-06-07T12:33:59.487-07:00I can't leave educated comments like those abo...I can't leave educated comments like those above me as I have no experience with this : ) but I can say I love that you are trying and I love that you always come from such a positive place!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07874897254332872367noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-36257384237476531052010-06-07T02:06:18.779-07:002010-06-07T02:06:18.779-07:00Hi Tom - I enjoyed reading this post. Our prescho...Hi Tom - I enjoyed reading this post. Our preschool has an open indoor / outdoor program all day and we find the same thing Juliet wrote about and you are discovering. I find that the play outdoors is truly valuable when the day is organised in this way - we tend to have small groups of kids engaged in really long periods of play rather than running around willy nilly.<br /><br /><br />As for circle times - have you thought of letting the children have the option of whether or not they become involved on the day? Our kids have the choice to carry on with what they are doing or participate in circle time at the end of the morning and we find that this works really well for a number of reasons:<br /><br />1. Those that choose circle time are there because they want to be, and so are more likely to engage with the experience rather than fiddle about. There is far less time spent on group management and more uninterupted time for songs, stories and games.<br /><br />2. Those who choose not to attend are often right in the middle of something that they want to keep playing at - it gives them the opportunity to get the most out of their play, and we are less likely to have disgruntled circle-timers.<br /><br />3. It allows younger kids to feel their way before participating. Sometimes they drift in and out of the room to watch, or sit by the door with a teacher for some time before joining in.<br /><br />4. Those who really want to be there are less likely to have their experience disrupted by those who don't or perhaps aren't quite ready to be.<br /><br />Kids that choose not to attend one day may well choose to attend the next - if we notice that there are a few kids (especially those who will be heading off to school next year) who rarely attend we will plan for ways to make it more attractive and inviting to those individuals eg taking group time outside into the sandpit, or planning an experience that we know will capture their interest.<br /><br />And of course we incorporate songs and stories and games at other times throughout the day in small groups or less structured ways.<br /><br />Works for us!Let the Children Playhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05121823006891382199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-35549898073053676832010-06-07T00:06:35.281-07:002010-06-07T00:06:35.281-07:00Hi Tom
Thanks for you kind words and links to my ...Hi Tom<br /><br />Thanks for you kind words and links to my websites. <br /><br />I think you've cottoned on to the fact that it's the adult-child ratio that makes a difference as much as the sheer numbers. I also believe that the crucial part here is the ability of those adults to create an environment that enables child to develop the capacity to love and live life to the full.<br /><br />You might be interested to read my post "Animal behaviour in schools" - I looked at the legal requirements around space in educational establishments and compared that to our primate cousins in zoos...<br />http://creativestarlearning.blogspot.com/2009/04/animal-behaviour-in-schools.html <br /><br />Thanks again<br />JulietJuliet Robertsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07035975039896986525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-56359060181881952942010-06-06T17:23:55.124-07:002010-06-06T17:23:55.124-07:00Hi Tom, my school is co-mingled 2years to 6 year o...Hi Tom, my school is co-mingled 2years to 6 year olds. There are some challenges (many two year olds have their own way of using certain "tools" in the evironment, dumping, boundaries, etc) but the benefits are wonderful!! I look forward to reading your observations.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04574369837087531333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-9859382461488662792010-06-06T16:17:15.781-07:002010-06-06T16:17:15.781-07:00It does sound exciting, Tom. I'll be interesti...It does sound exciting, Tom. I'll be interesting in seeing how your experiments work out - I really interested in your multi-age observations so far.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397525011462974857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-87500947478016689382010-06-06T11:45:08.651-07:002010-06-06T11:45:08.651-07:00The term "zoochosis" makes me sad on man...The term "zoochosis" makes me sad on many levels.<br /><br />Glad to hear the experiment's working out well so far. We're looking forward to participating in the next session!Floor Piehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06533240227865369012noreply@blogger.com