I would like to extend conversations in my classroom dramatic play/kitchen area. I find it easy during table and floor activities, and can take long amounts of time with these conversations. I do find it harder in busier days, but we need to hustle to a specialist or recess if I do that! :) Dramatic play/kitchen area are harder for me because it doesn't interest me as much, but that isn't the point. I also feel in my classroom it is a space where the children just flow. For me, it doesn't seem they need too much adult interaction. I don't like to necessarily rock the boat, but I could take the approach of the student leading the way just listening if that's all that's needed. If they want the interaction, I can be there for that.

As I watch one of my colleagues gather items for learning centers for Pre-K students, I have focused more on bins with single items that students can play with for younger students aged 3. As I watched the video, it seemed more ideal to create those bins with more than one object for the activity. It doesn't have to be a learning center bin (even though that still is play with a purpose), but it could be more a free choice, play based activity (again still play with a purpose). I want to go through my bin area and incorporate items that can be used together as well as showing the students how to use those materials. From there I am confident they can imagine and play! For me, part of it is letting go of the norm of what the classroom should look like to how can this look better!

I am going to redesign the dramatic play area so that it limits children leaving the space and mixing the items in the sensory table nearby. I am going to use my kid's material storage shelves and kitchen furniture to make the area more identified as dramatic play and what you do in that area. I will make sure there are items on the storage shelves that students can use at a close table outside of the kitchen area because they are one sided and can only be accessible that way. I also like the idea of adding photos to my small bins so children can see what's in them all. I often have to open each to find things I'm looking for. It could help us all! I also thought about just opening certain ones at different playtimes throughout the day.

I keep going back to when it's time for recess...there are students going potty, putting coats on, getting a sip of water, and maybe not doing any of those things at all. I found it helpful for one teacher to manage the bathroom while the other teacher helped with coats and close to the line. It also helped if it was consistent with who was doing what job. If the teachers moved, the kids moved more out of the line. I had a song when most kids were ready: with our arms by our sides, our eyes are looking forward, mouths closed, we're ready for the door. Once the students figured our the movements and words, they were all in. Before that though was the challenge. We incorporated eye spy, recognizing letters in names, etc. That didn't seem to be enough sometimes. I do think going through the routine with constant singing would relieve some of that uncertainty. I already know I have a smaller class for this next school year, so I am going to use our space and have the students doing more of a head, shoulders, knees, and toes game. We can learn all the body parts! I also really like sports so I'm thinking of how to use a chant/song to talk about different things we use in each sport and what all the parts mean.

After watching the video, people would see children waiting instead of being engaged in my classroom at lineup times. I do have songs that I use, but I need to be more consistent with certain times of the day. I am going to choose when we are lining up to go outside or leave the building for a specialist to improve first. I have a very simple song about keep your hands on your body, quiet mouths and eyes forward. If the are waiting longer than normal, I will use a game. I think I didn't do that before because my students would almost immediately start to argue about who is next. It would be hard to hold their attention for everyone to go each time as well. I could use a drawing sticks idea so throughout the day each student gets a turn.