KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM PEDAGOGY
Winter 2023
Throughout this EDEE - 253 course, I have had the opportunity to explore and familiarize with kindergarten pedagogy.I have come to find my own vision of the kindergarten teacher I wish to become by defining my image of the child as well as creating my own unit plan and learning centre.
To demonstrate my second professional competency, this section of my portfolio will be bilingual. The presentation of the assignments will be in English; whereas the documents and planifications to which I will give you access will be in French.
MY IMAGE OF THE CHILD
The child is capable of constructing their own learning - Professional competency 13
I genuinely believe that all children can construct their own learning. As a teacher, this is an important aspect to keep in mind when thinking about a child. The way we, as a society, picture children affects the way we tend to treat them as fellow human beings. Students can and will learn whatever they want. Therefore, I believe it is my job, as an educator, to create learning opportunities that will pique their interest and stimulate their desire to learn.
Children’s construction of learning is an integral part of their identity, which is something important to consider when planning centres. The goal of the centers, to me, is to give children the opportunity to find their interests and explore ideas they resonate with. It also allows students to understand themselves, or each other, and begin to learn what they like and dislike. Giving children freedom of choice when it comes to learning, a chance to explore a variety of topics and methods.
My image of the child connects to the Reggio Emilia approach because everything is designed so that the child enjoys and develops their learning. Teachers act as facilitators allowing children to follow what interests them which also has a direct link with my image of the child.
My image of the child connects to the Montessori approach because children develop their own learning through different activities they get to explore Again, this connects to the environment I would like to have in my future classrooms, allowing all students to build their learning as I facilitate them.
MAKERSPACE - LEARNING CENTRE
Theme: Our dinosaur friends - Professional competencies 3-6-7
I chose to include my Makerspace activity because I feel like this project is the result of everything I have learned in this class and, therefore, demonstrates my journey throughout this course.
Also, this project was full of challenges and I am very proud of the result. Indeed, creating learning centres is a lot harder than people think; Kindergarten is about planning play time and activities to ensure that the students learn and develop the competencies. Finding natural and open-ended materials was another challenge. Creating activities that are appropriate for the children's age was yet another. I am proud of the work I have put in and head lots of fun making the sensory activity.
Link for Makerspace planning document and photos of the centre.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pGF-sHaNAvMPiZBE7pSfDyW5bNs1gExG?usp=sharing
The following video demonstrates how I made my sensory bin.
RESOURCES
TEXTBOOK
Resource 1 - Professional competencies 6-11-13
« L’éducation préscolaire au Québec : Fondements théoriques et pédagogiques. » Annie Charron, Joanne Lehrer, Monica Boudreau et Elisabeth Jacob (éditeurs). Presses de L’Université du Quebec, (2021).
This resource is a precious tool to have at all times in my classroom. It is a great reference to answer certain questions we may have when we are in the classroom. It is also a great way to link theory to practice by using principles and knowledge for management and preparation.
To me, it is important to be an informed teacher which means having with me and being prepared with information or knowledge. By carrying and having this book with me, I am an informed teacher.
STEAM IN KINDERGARTEN
Resource 2 - Professional competencies 3-6-11-13
https://www.learnquebec.ca/home
STEAM is a great resource to have as a teacher when it comes to learning through play. It is particularly useful when preparing learning centres as it offers a variety of ideas and justifications for choice of materials and games. I appreciate how professionals from STEAM can come into the classroom and lead play time, so that teachers may also learn by watching, asking questions, and borrowing ideas.
To me, it is important to be an open teacher which means that I accept the fact that I may need help or that I wish to see how play may be organized in a different way than mine. Learning occurs when we open ourselves to different possibilities and that is what I wish to value in my practice.
WORKSHOPS
Resource 3 - Professional competencies 11-13
During the semester, we had the opportunity to have a workshop with pedagogical consultant for French immersion coming in from the Lester B.
Pearson School board in Montreal as well as a music workshop with Gaby Smith, a professional in teaching preschool with the use of music. These two workshops were full of learning from my part.
To me, it is important, as teachers, to be critical of our practice by continuously renewing our knowledge and methodologies. Workshops like these have so many tools for us to bring into the classroom and take into account research and changes in our students' learning. In order to be an efficient teacher, I believe it is essential for me to participate in workshops like these to make my students' experience as meaningful and memorable as possible.
BOITE À OUTILS POUR LES MATERNELLES
Resource 4 - Professional competencies 3-6-7
My unit plan, lesson plan, activity plan, as well as my annotated bibliography can be accessed with the link below:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jAtwZsmptxXd_2CYt5lUXVdBQxGurSSY?usp=sharing
My toolbox for kindergarten teaching is my most important resource because I will definitely use these plans, activities, and books in my future classroom. Also, these are great references for when I will prepare other plans and I will always have these as my models to ensure I am on the right track while preparing my units, lessons, and activities.
To me, it is important to be a smart and flexible teacher when it comes to planning. By smart, I mean that using this semester's Toolbox as a guideline will allow me to save time and energy in my future planning. By flexible, I mean that I will adapt the work I already have to fit my students needs, interests, age, and level to make the activities and learning accessible to each and everyone of my students.