I had my students make a homemade present for their parents. I printed out a monthly calendar for 2012 on cardstock and binded them into a book. Each student drew pictures for each month. For example, for the month of September, they drew apples, fall trees, a school, school bus, school supplies, etc.. Many of the students really took their time and showed alot of effort on wanting to do a great job on drawing and coloring for their parents.
This project went along with my AR and gave the students lots of practice with drawing different objects. I got a few positive comments from parents after they recieved their gift. The parents said that their child was really proud to show the gift to them because they made it all by themselves.
Clustrmap
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Breakthrough!
Yea! I had my students do a dot-to-dot when they arrived at school. It made a gingerbread boy. The picture already had the details on the gingerbread boy so all they had to do was color them. But I heard a few students say, "Remember to color all of the details." I was so happy that they are remembering!
We are working on the parent gift right now. I am having them illustrate a calendar. I ran the calendar on cardstock and then put a binding on it. On the front, I am going to take a picture of each student and create a frame to go around it. This project gives the students a chance to practice drawing different pictures that go with each month. For example, May-I talk about what usually happens in this month and the student gets to decide what he or she wants to draw. They can draw flowers, sun, grass, write Happy Mother's Day or I Love You Mom!, etc. Some students are taking their time and filling the whole page but some are still struggling with drawing!
Hopefully parents will enjoy the calendar that is illustrated personally for them!
We are working on the parent gift right now. I am having them illustrate a calendar. I ran the calendar on cardstock and then put a binding on it. On the front, I am going to take a picture of each student and create a frame to go around it. This project gives the students a chance to practice drawing different pictures that go with each month. For example, May-I talk about what usually happens in this month and the student gets to decide what he or she wants to draw. They can draw flowers, sun, grass, write Happy Mother's Day or I Love You Mom!, etc. Some students are taking their time and filling the whole page but some are still struggling with drawing!
Hopefully parents will enjoy the calendar that is illustrated personally for them!
Friday, December 9, 2011
AR Reflection
For my action research this week, I did a few things to help my students with story telling, drawing and writing. I made sure I talked with the students about adding details to a story when sharing out loud. I asked, "Would the story makes sense if details were missing?" Many replied no. I should have asked, "Could you follow along with the story if an author forgot to write a part of the story?" I need to remember that one!
I also made sure to talk about the pictures in the stories I read this week. In one of the articles from Time for Kids, they had a photo of a girl getting to school by a zip line because she lives in the rain forest. In the background, it was all trees but blurry. I asked if they could tell if the girl was going fast or slow. They replied, "fast", why? because the picture is blurry. Then I said could you draw a picture of a person or animal moving fast like the girl, they said yes. Then we talked about how they could draw blurry pictures.
Today, I had my students make another class book about our Unit 3 theme Transportation. The sentence was I like to ride a ____________. They needed to draw a picture of a vehicle that can get them from one place to another. I had a sub in my AM class, so I left a note to remind students of drawing picture first, add details and to use realistic colors. The sub did talk to them about these three things and 10 out of 18 students did what was asked. By looking at their page, I am able to see what their vehicle of choice is and then they were able to sound out most of the word on their own. My PM class, 14 out of 18 did the same thing. I might have had a few more in the PM class because I was there and not a sub or parent giving directions and watching them!
I just figured out how to do some data collection and I don't know why I didn't think of it before! I am going to go back and look at all of the class books that we created together and make a chart and graph to see if there is progress-I can see it but want data to back it up!
I feel that I am not using the Drawing & Writing Books justice! I think I might just have them out during free time for the students to draw on their own and if they want ideas to help with their drawing then I will be able to help specific students. Just an idea? I will try it next week to see if it will work!
During the month of December, I am having my students create a homemade calendar for the parents for Christmas gift. This is giving them a chance to draw things that go with the specific month. This is another reason why I will not have time to use the books!
I have grad school tomorrow, and I am bringing the latest class book to show my colleauges if they can tell what they drew and wrote! It should be fun!
Check back to see the results of the adults view of the pages!
I also made sure to talk about the pictures in the stories I read this week. In one of the articles from Time for Kids, they had a photo of a girl getting to school by a zip line because she lives in the rain forest. In the background, it was all trees but blurry. I asked if they could tell if the girl was going fast or slow. They replied, "fast", why? because the picture is blurry. Then I said could you draw a picture of a person or animal moving fast like the girl, they said yes. Then we talked about how they could draw blurry pictures.
Today, I had my students make another class book about our Unit 3 theme Transportation. The sentence was I like to ride a ____________. They needed to draw a picture of a vehicle that can get them from one place to another. I had a sub in my AM class, so I left a note to remind students of drawing picture first, add details and to use realistic colors. The sub did talk to them about these three things and 10 out of 18 students did what was asked. By looking at their page, I am able to see what their vehicle of choice is and then they were able to sound out most of the word on their own. My PM class, 14 out of 18 did the same thing. I might have had a few more in the PM class because I was there and not a sub or parent giving directions and watching them!
I just figured out how to do some data collection and I don't know why I didn't think of it before! I am going to go back and look at all of the class books that we created together and make a chart and graph to see if there is progress-I can see it but want data to back it up!
I feel that I am not using the Drawing & Writing Books justice! I think I might just have them out during free time for the students to draw on their own and if they want ideas to help with their drawing then I will be able to help specific students. Just an idea? I will try it next week to see if it will work!
During the month of December, I am having my students create a homemade calendar for the parents for Christmas gift. This is giving them a chance to draw things that go with the specific month. This is another reason why I will not have time to use the books!
I have grad school tomorrow, and I am bringing the latest class book to show my colleauges if they can tell what they drew and wrote! It should be fun!
Check back to see the results of the adults view of the pages!
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Thanksgiving Station Day
Second time typing this! Wonderful technology!
On the day before Thanksgiving, I had station day. This is when I am able to have parent volunteers in to help with four activities that have to do with a certain theme. One station was create a page for our classbook, "I am thankful for...". I was able to be at this station for the AM class but not for the PM class. I really took the time to talk with each of the four groups about thinking of an idea, what were they going to draw, what colors were they going to use, to add details to make sure others would be able to look at the picture and know exactly what it is of, and take time to sound out the word that they were going to write to describe the picture. After each student was done, I had them hold their picture up to the others in the group. The students had a chance to tell what was the picture of. Many were able to tell what the student drew and to read the word out loud.
When the students wrote out the word for what they were thankful for, I felt that the students really concentrated and sounded out each letter and were able to write the word on their own. I was really happy and proud of them and I could see that the students were too!
I wish I had the same opportunity to do this with my PM class. I did talk with the parent who ran the station. The parent said that they really rushed through drawing the picture and coloring. I went back and looked at the two classbooks and I can see a big difference in the two classes. I feel it had to do with who was at the station. But the parent really tried to talk to them about what I was trying to have the students do.
On the day before Thanksgiving, I had station day. This is when I am able to have parent volunteers in to help with four activities that have to do with a certain theme. One station was create a page for our classbook, "I am thankful for...". I was able to be at this station for the AM class but not for the PM class. I really took the time to talk with each of the four groups about thinking of an idea, what were they going to draw, what colors were they going to use, to add details to make sure others would be able to look at the picture and know exactly what it is of, and take time to sound out the word that they were going to write to describe the picture. After each student was done, I had them hold their picture up to the others in the group. The students had a chance to tell what was the picture of. Many were able to tell what the student drew and to read the word out loud.
When the students wrote out the word for what they were thankful for, I felt that the students really concentrated and sounded out each letter and were able to write the word on their own. I was really happy and proud of them and I could see that the students were too!
I wish I had the same opportunity to do this with my PM class. I did talk with the parent who ran the station. The parent said that they really rushed through drawing the picture and coloring. I went back and looked at the two classbooks and I can see a big difference in the two classes. I feel it had to do with who was at the station. But the parent really tried to talk to them about what I was trying to have the students do.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Another art lesson!
The second art lesson was about the color wheel. The artist talked about primary and complementary colors. Then she had the students draw a turtle using shapes. I have been trying to teach the students this when they draw a person! Hopefully hearing it from a true artist then may be it will stick! When they drew the turtle, they started out with an oval then added a circle for the head and a triangle for the tail. They made a half circle for each of the legs. To make the shell, she had them split the oval into six sections by drawing three lines. In each section, she had them color with water color crayons. Red went on top then green below, yellow on top then purple below, orange on top then blue below. Next they took water with a paint brush and painted on top of the crayons. They turned into watercolor paint! The students thought that this was magic! They got really excited and I did too! I need to purchase those crayons for my classroom!
Help from an artist!
My Kindergartner's have had the opportunity to have two lessons from an artist! Yea! Her name is Super Artisit and the students loved her! The first time she explained what her job is and that with art there is no wrong answer. I never thought about art this way. I feel that after she said this to the class, the pressure was lifted from the students. I feel that they took there time and really wanted to do a great job for the artist. I know it took some of the pressure off of me when I need to give drawing lessons! She also talked about giving compliments to others on their art work. I have heard a few compliments from students about other students work. This is a teacher's dream! I hope it lasts!
The artist read the book ish by Peter A. Reynolds. She had the students draw a squiggly line and the person next to them needed to turn it into something else. Then they said what it was with the "ish" added to the end of the word. It let the students use their imagination and create what they think it looks like. After they drew details to make the line into an object or picture, then they could color it.
This is the book description from Amazon.com:
The artist read the book ish by Peter A. Reynolds. She had the students draw a squiggly line and the person next to them needed to turn it into something else. Then they said what it was with the "ish" added to the end of the word. It let the students use their imagination and create what they think it looks like. After they drew details to make the line into an object or picture, then they could color it.
This is the book description from Amazon.com:
A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book THE DOT.
Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.
Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right." Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care.
Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.
Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right." Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Mid-AR Summary
Data Collection:
-Class books: I have my students create a page to add to a class book on a specific topic. The sentence is started for them and then they need to write one or more words to finish it. Also, they need to draw a picture too. Last year, I had my class write the word first, then draw/color picture. Some students really had a hard time with coming up with an idea. This year I have them draw the picture first then add words to their sentence. I feel like the students are wanting to draw and are coming up with ideas right away to start to draw. I will be using these books to follow the students growth with their drawing skills and writing skills.
-Drawing & Writing Books: I have only had my students draw in these books once so far. The students love having their own drawing book! They went where they wanted to work in the classroom and drew for about 15-20 minutes which is a long time for Kindergartner's to stay on one topic! They were able to draw what they wanted but needed to add details and if they were drawing people, they could not use a stick figure. I did have quite a few still draw with stick figures so I learned that we need more lessons on drawing people. I had a student describe their drawing to me and he was able to tell me about his story using pictures and I was able to tell what he had drawn to go along with his story.
-Teacher Observations: Drawing-I have seen improvement on the students coloring ability with using realistic colors to color real objects and taking time to add details to their pictures. I have also seen their excitement when I talk about drawing as well. Storytelling-many students want to have the chance to share a story during storytelling time or during our read aloud time too. They are telling stories with a beginning, middle and end too! Some still need reminders or for others to ask questions to clarify but we are working on it!
I do need to make more time for the students to draw in their Drawing & Writing books. Hopefully I will be able to incoporate holiday projects into their books.
-Class books: I have my students create a page to add to a class book on a specific topic. The sentence is started for them and then they need to write one or more words to finish it. Also, they need to draw a picture too. Last year, I had my class write the word first, then draw/color picture. Some students really had a hard time with coming up with an idea. This year I have them draw the picture first then add words to their sentence. I feel like the students are wanting to draw and are coming up with ideas right away to start to draw. I will be using these books to follow the students growth with their drawing skills and writing skills.
-Drawing & Writing Books: I have only had my students draw in these books once so far. The students love having their own drawing book! They went where they wanted to work in the classroom and drew for about 15-20 minutes which is a long time for Kindergartner's to stay on one topic! They were able to draw what they wanted but needed to add details and if they were drawing people, they could not use a stick figure. I did have quite a few still draw with stick figures so I learned that we need more lessons on drawing people. I had a student describe their drawing to me and he was able to tell me about his story using pictures and I was able to tell what he had drawn to go along with his story.
-Teacher Observations: Drawing-I have seen improvement on the students coloring ability with using realistic colors to color real objects and taking time to add details to their pictures. I have also seen their excitement when I talk about drawing as well. Storytelling-many students want to have the chance to share a story during storytelling time or during our read aloud time too. They are telling stories with a beginning, middle and end too! Some still need reminders or for others to ask questions to clarify but we are working on it!
I do need to make more time for the students to draw in their Drawing & Writing books. Hopefully I will be able to incoporate holiday projects into their books.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Frustrated!
Where do I start? Well, I have been doing a lot more modeling during our class book time. After I explained the directions, I show the students an idea about the topic. It is there turn to draw and write if possible on their page. Five or six students draw the same picture as I do and want to use the same words that I did! I have been working on getting them to think about their own idea! I know it is still early but I thought we had a good discussion on many different ideas to use!
In small groups during station day, each group worked together on a Thank you card to the local fire fighters for letting us come to their fire station. They liked doing this!
I opened the Writing Center one day last week. I showed them all of the different pens, pencils, markers and crayons that they can use during center time and writing time. I explained how we are going to use our Drawing & Writing Books and where they will be in the classroom. Also explained the color code system too. I hope this is not too much for them to handle in a short period of time.
I have added more missing letters in my daily message too and the students love trying to figure out what letters should go there. They are even trying to sound out the words and realizing that it doesn't sound right.....nice job!
I hopefully will try to use the Drawing & Writing books this week before our Fall conference on Sunday. I am thinking about videotapping a storytelling session too to use as assessment.
Wish me luck this week!
In small groups during station day, each group worked together on a Thank you card to the local fire fighters for letting us come to their fire station. They liked doing this!
I opened the Writing Center one day last week. I showed them all of the different pens, pencils, markers and crayons that they can use during center time and writing time. I explained how we are going to use our Drawing & Writing Books and where they will be in the classroom. Also explained the color code system too. I hope this is not too much for them to handle in a short period of time.
I have added more missing letters in my daily message too and the students love trying to figure out what letters should go there. They are even trying to sound out the words and realizing that it doesn't sound right.....nice job!
I hopefully will try to use the Drawing & Writing books this week before our Fall conference on Sunday. I am thinking about videotapping a storytelling session too to use as assessment.
Wish me luck this week!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Still moving along but slowly!
This week I am planning on giving my students a survey about writing and it will be interesting to see the results. I feel that my afternoon group will be able to move at a faster pase. I am trying to do alot more interactive writing than what I did last year. I feel I am able to add things this year since I have more experience with this age group but I am still learning a lot from my Kindergartners! I put up a morning message everyday for them to read when they come in and this week I will be taking letters out to have the students help write the message with me.
We are still working on using the right colors when coloring a picture. I have their Drawing & Writing books already to go! I would like to try to explain them this week and then use them next week.
The class created a class book titled We _______ at Kindergarten and this week I will have them create one about what they did as a baby and what they do now....from one of Jamie Lee Curtis' books.....
We are still working on using the right colors when coloring a picture. I have their Drawing & Writing books already to go! I would like to try to explain them this week and then use them next week.
The class created a class book titled We _______ at Kindergarten and this week I will have them create one about what they did as a baby and what they do now....from one of Jamie Lee Curtis' books.....
Saturday, September 10, 2011
First Week
Well, we started our first week of school! I have given the students an opportunity to share stories about themselves. This gives us a chance to get to know them on a personal level. This is the first step in teaching Kindergartners to write. I also talked about when we color we need to use the right colors. For example: they did a dot to dot of an apple so we talked about what color should we use to color the apple, red, green or yellow. I am planning on introducing the Drawing and Writing book to my students next week. Then let the fun begin with teaching them how to draw realistic objects!
Friday, August 26, 2011
Drawing & Writing Books!
I have figured out what I am going to use for my drawing and writing books! Yea! I am so excited to try this new idea of talking, drawing and writing skills in my classroom this year! Hopefully I will be able to manage it well in both of my classes. I hope to show my students that if you don't know how to write words at first, you can still tell a story with talking and drawing pictures!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Oh Boy!
This is my first time using a blog! I created one a few years ago but never used it! I am going to try to share my thoughts about teaching Kindergartners how to write! I am going to be doing a lot of talking, drawing and writing in the months ahead! I have a AM class and a PM class, so I will try to blog my thoughts for both classes and see if there will be a difference in the two!
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