TPD My Portfolio: PRACTICUM 1 Kindergarten Level

Finally, I have started the observations in Kinder 5. It has been such an experience. I´m not used to dealing with so many kids so I had confusing feelings. Here,

The informal report :) is that: I was introduced to the 30 students, they stared at me and later on they "displayed" all their energies singing several songs the teacher has taught them. They really sing and perform with so much energy!!! It was great, so enthusiastic! Later on they worked on the Spanish painter Joan Miró, that is something they are working in their mother tongue as well. Finally another song, the goodbye one, and a friendly and spontaneous: Chau Miss Paula!!! They already got my heart

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KINDER Timetable

Dates	Schedule	Contents to teach
13/05/15	8:50 to 9:30	School Objects
18/05/15	11:10 to 11:50	Shapes
20/05/15	8:50 to 9:30	Family members

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Here the work on the artist they did in Spanish

2ND OBSERVATION IN KINDER

This time it was not as surprising as the first experience. I knew what it was about!! The students already knew me so they greeted me Hello as soon as they saw me. During the class even some of them asked me to tie their shoe laces and blow their nose. They worked really hard listening to a short story the teacher read aloud and then colouring the main character which was a truly wonderful mouse, Wolf. The interesting aspect was that the teacher handed in the worksheet with the incomplete figure of the mouse so while the students were colouring that part she went on learner completing the drawing learner by learner. So the students were eager to see the final figure. I also sang with the kids as well. All in all, I felt more relaxed and eager to start my teaching experience with them.

Source: http://clubs-kids.scholastic.co.uk/clubs_search/search?commit=Search&log=t&page=2&results_type=products&search%5Bquery%5D=mouse&utf8=%E2%9C%93

THE USE OF PUPPETS IN KINDERGARTEN

Why do use a puppet? “…Using a classroom puppet is like team teaching. Children like the change of pace and variety that comes from using a puppet to introduce a lesson or help solve a classroom conflict. A puppet can add that special spark to motivate and capture the children’s attention that the ‘regular’ teacher can’t do.”(Dempsie)

Besides, when used in the classroom, these puppets can help boost creativity and stimulate kids’ imaginations, from the preschool age up to early teen years. The innate interactivity draws children in and encourages them to be actively involved in the learning process and share their thoughts and observations.

This is the puppet I used with my group.

Pre-school children can be overly active and easily irritable or cranky. Puppets are perfect for grabbing their attention because they are safe, fun, and a natural progression from educational cartoons they likely watch at home. It is also said by a kindergarten teacher that Finger puppets, particularly, are the most effective for children because they have such tiny hands. By putting puppets on their fingers, they are able to transform their fingers into anything they want. Puppets are also effective for teaching storytelling and the arts. Puppets are amazing as a visual aid for singing and dancing, they help children to be inventive and artistic, and they allow for children’s visions and inspirations to come to life.

For kindergarten children, puppets are simple and effective tools for delivering information because the toys “quote” things the teacher has said in lessons, or things their parents have said at home. The puppets allow them to project things that they observe and relate to in their lives. When puppets are incorporated with play-based learning, children retain knowledge more effectively. The puppets then become tools for sharing or retelling what they have learned and observed.

Puppet I used with the kids, it was coming in a hot-air balloon!

Finally, bringing a puppet into the classroom is not only important for teachers development but for classroom/student growth in attending, engagement and learning.