Cards For EVERYONE!

Preschool is filled with daily experiences for academic skills that are embedded within the play that happens in the room.  This is by design. It allows for each student to use the skills they currently have in place and move forward.  Nobody is slowed down if they have prior knowledge, nor is anyone forced to make leaps that they are not ready for yet. 

Our creation table was very busy this morning with an example of this in action. A few students found a box of envelopes on the supply shelf and quickly set out to making cards for other students.  There was a great deal of excitement as the energy spread through the room.  Some were joyful at receiving a card, while others migrated to the table to make cards for someone else.  They made the CHOICE to write and did so for much longer than if the teachers had said "let's make cards." This was their idea and the children carried it to fruition.  Some individuals worked for more than an hour creating written cards for other people. 

Each student working wrote in a manner that fit their developmental stage. At Back to School Night we will talk about personal script, initial sound matching, and developmental spelling.  These stages were all at work in this student started project. 

There will of course be more formalized writing opportunities as well.  Our preschool journals is an example of when each child sits and has a chance to work 1 on 1 with Ms. Carter or myself.

This gives us a chance to assess each student and create a plan on how we customize the room experience for that individual.