Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Finding ways for movement in time intensive kindergarten

I got to to thinking after reading some of your thoughts on the lack of Play in kindergarten that there must be ways to get kids moving and having fun that still fit within the constraints of "curriculum centered, time intensive" kindergarten. Our day is jam packed with curriculum (read: reading, reading, math, science and more reading that is all scripted) that I think I had forgot about what it means to have fun.

You see, even specials have been cut for us 1/2 day kinders. No recess, playtime, pe, music or computer time. Art lit once a month, library once a week (during eld!). That is our fun. The rest is time stamped and pretty closely monitored. where does that leave time for a fun lesson? silly time? anything???

Well, this week I decided that any moment that I found, no matter how short it was, I was going to do something fun! So far it has been through short Mark D. Pencil songs that get the kids doing silly things while following directions and incorporating movement and exercise. The kids have LOVED this time so far and I am actually finding that it is an awesome positive behavior support for my lessons! I told the kids about my goal and that whenever we finished our lessons and had extra time we would do something fun!

I am shocked that I just figured this out...but I am loving it!! I think I had become so focused on trying to get everything in that I forgot what it felt like to be a kindergartner. They need this time!

 I'd love to have you join me in the challenge of "doing something fun!" and hear your feedback of what you try!

(This post was written in response to the Five Star Blogger Challenge posted on the Organized Classroom Blog. I <3 Charity Preston!)

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10 comments:

Pocketful of Littles said...

I just wrote a post about this on my blog of how I incorporate movement into our spelling time

It will be release on Wed I think

Ms. Patterson

Mrs. C said...

Are you on Pinterest?

Caroline Brantley said...

I like Mark D.Pencil!

Miss Nelson said...

I like to incorporate movement with Dr. Jean songs usually on youtube. My kids love the banana song. I also use heidisongs and have fun teaching dvds. Did you enter my giveaway for Heidisongs and the Musical Morning Routine. They are both great for movement.

http://www.missnelsonsgotthecamera.blogspot.com/2012/04/giveaway-item-6.html

Rebecca said...

Our school has adopted the Take 10 program, and the kiddos love it! It gets them out of their seats in meaningful ways! I love it too! I'm proud to have earned my 5 star blogger badge too! Thanks for sharing!!!

Blogging Blessings from The Teacher's Chatterbox,

Rebecca

Charity Preston said...

Great post - definitely a 5-Star Blogger! Thanks for linking up!

Charity
The Organized Classroom Blog

Theprincessandthetot said...

Stopping by to visit my fellow 5-Star Bloggers! First of all, your blog is ADORABLE!! Second of all, this is a wonderful post. I love that you have found movement time in such a jam-packed day!

www.theprincessandthetot.blogspot.com
www.bentosonthebayou.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Glad to be your newest follower - fabulous blog!

Sue
www.sos-supply.blogspot.com

Miss Trayers said...

Amen! So important to get those juices flowing. I even get dazed and confused if I have to just sit and listen for awhile. Movement is so important! :)

NotJustChild'sPlay

Donna said...

My kind of teacher!