Week 2 Full Time Reflection

With each passing week, I am learning and understanding the responsibilities and duties teacher have, it is imperative that lesson plans are thoughtful, purposeful, and meaningful, as it can make the world of difference.

This week, I found that integrating "two themes" was very difficult. We had to hit on fire safety as we are going on a fire safety field trip next week, but yet, I had planned to begin my action research and the exploration phase of our ball study. I realize now, I should have postponed the action research and ball study and focuses solely on the fire safety, as it would have been more meaningful for the students.

The main lesson learned this week:
Less is more.

So far, it appears the students are very interested in the ball study. I am so excited to continue on with more exploration next week and then getting into more focused discoveries around balls. I found students writing on their play plans that they wanted to visit the ball collection. I also found the ball collection helping students behavior. As some of the boys who struggle with staying on task, not being rowdy, etc. are so interested in the ball study that they will stay in that area during choice. It even leads to more focused learning for them, as they were eager to classify the balls, asked to write and act out a play around balls, and use them outside.

Overall, integrating the balls into the classroom has helped teach sharing and turn-taking, as students are engaged in throwing games (action research) in which they must take turns. This benefit is huge - as a main goal of preschool is socialization and social skills!

The addition of picture word cards to the mail center has been wonderful. Everyday the mailbox continues to be full of letters written by the students to their parents, teachers and other students. 

I also found that the students enjoy class projects, such as building the 3-D house for the fire poster competition. They were all so eager and wanting to help add to the house. I hope to incorporate more group projects like this in the future.  The students also LOVED the book "Stop that Ball". It was a book that my mentor teacher picked up the night before I began the unit. I did not have time to look it over before hand and I wished I would have, as I realized after reading it there were so many extension activities that could have been done - such as having them act it out in the dramatic play area, or extending the story by creating a picture with a little red  pom pom ball. I also realized through reading this book the available and new vocabulary words that were picked up by the students.

As a result, next week, I will be encouraging students to take the book with them to the dramatic play area to act it out with a red ball. I also will be beginning a word wall that is located in the writing center that will display new words learned with the picture and word so students can include them in their letters.

Overall, I feel good about this week. As mentioned above there are a few areas in which I could have improved, but I am looking forward to moving into next week. 

Questions to look into from this week:
How can you help facilitate instead of leading play writing?
What can be done for students who struggle with self-regulation and listening?