Practicum Reflection: Day 3

A typical start of the day in the Kindergarten class (Ms. Sull)

I know for sure now I am placed in kindergarten for practicum! Today, I finally have a chance to see what a typical Thursday would like as a whole compared to rotating into different classrooms in the last two visits. I was quite intrigued on what it looks like when they arrive to class in the morning, and how the start of the day would like. Ms. Sull told me right off the bat, there is a routine she had scaffolded early on in gradual entry and building on more ever since. The children have eventually grasped hold off the following:

1. Hand their backpack up.
2. Grab a chair and place it by their table.
3. Find their writing journal. (it’s scattered on the carpet: it allows the children an opportunity to practice recognizing and finding their name)
4. Practice writing their name in the journal and a word they would like to write. (it can be any words they have learned, they can look onto posters around the class for spelling. E.g. different shapes, days of the week, month,…etc..)
5. Once they have completed that task, they would their work up to the teacher’s rainbow (half-circle) table for a check-up. Ms. Sull would praise their effort, and improvement. She would sometimes also use a highlighter to write out letters she would like the kids to work on. Ms. Sull would also use the children’s hands to help them understand where the writing start at and which direction it does. The kids would return to their tables, and trace over her highlighted shape with a pencil before lining up to be evaluated again. Each child is practising writing at their own comfort level.
6. Their next activity is practising the letter “p” they have learned the previous day 5 times. And, also trying identify and circle the letter “p” in their previous journaling pages. Bring it up to the teacher.
7. Finally, if they have completed all the task above, they may put away their journal in the designated basket and go to carpet area for quiet readings until the others have finished their task. Ms. Sull have already placed a basket of books by the carpet area prior to the start of the class.

The above sequence was only the first 20 minutes of class. The kids did it with minimal instruction from the teacher. I understand, they must have numerous practice done since September. What I took from this first 20 minutes is how much preparation must have taken to build a routine such as the start of the day. What I would consider is how I should design my lesson for the two week practicum that ensures calmness during transition as what is presented to them might be new to them. I’m excited for the pumpkin patch field trip with the two kindergarten classes next week!