Monday, September 24, 2007

Academic vocabulary

At the August 20 Early Learners Institute Day there many Ideas for introducing and practicing academic vocabulary were generated. Some ideas included using pictures, fotos, video clips, and real objects to introduce new vocabulary. Other ideas were to conduct language experience activities especially those using cooking and science experiments. Games such as I Spy and Memory were great center ideas that require the children to use the vocabulary in authentic and yet fun ways. Other activities such as word walls, venn diagrams, and riddles are also very engaging for children. I'd love to hear what you are doing to introduce the vocabulary or practice the vocabulary or how you are using the Big Book format using these ideas or any others.

Pat Chamberlain

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Extending the Themes

Our district kindergarten curriculum uses 4 basic themes as vehicles to teach the skills listed in the Illinois Early Learning Standards for Kindergarten and the U-46 Curriculum Roadmaps. But those basic themes are extended upon and added to by many teachers. I'm sure new teachers and veterans would love to hear how colleagues go beyond the basic themes to follow student interests. What are you doing out there??