Curb Appeal

A hot property has just become available in Room 216!  This charming gingerbread cottage features newly installed chocolate chip cookie shingles, peppermint stick trim, and lollipop landscaping. Run, run as fast as you can, it is a house fit for an aspiring gingerbread man.

This is the house as it neared the completion of its most recent renovation.
That giant green beanstalk to the right of the house is one of three we made
after reading Jack and the Beanstalk.  

For the past week the students in my room have been merrily working on decorating this giant cardboard house which was generously donated to us from Notables (Edmonton's fanciest card and gift shop located in the posh 124 Street area).  


Don't let the beauty of it fool you... there has been some hard work and many curricular objectives met through the assembly of this "gingerbread" house.  Multiple skills were used for the chocolate chip shingles alone:  students had to trace around a circular stencil, cut the curved lines they drew, draw 7 chocolate chips on each cookie, and learned about light brown, medium brown, and dark brown.  Notice the gumdrop trim on the rooftop.  Each candy has been carefully cut out by nimble little fingers and then added to the structure in a pattern.  Peppermint sticks were a particular challenge to many children demanding that they pay careful attention to stay in the lines and repeat red on every second segment of the candy cane.  Who knew math and fine-motor development could be so sweet? 


I am currently using the gingerbread house as a quiet place for two students to play with the Lite-Brite (another great fine-motor activity allowing fingers to push light pegs into corresponding holes). And the best part is that the decor can be removed and changed out to a new theme once the holidays are over. 

A New Spin

After reading a number of traditional versions of Goldilocks and the Three Bears I came across this delightful version which takes the classic fairytale and gives it a new spin.  Cindy Meyers' account of Goldilocks misadventures follows the basic traditional storyline but changes things up by having Baby Bear use a wheelchair to get around.  As well, Baby Bear has a very comfy bed that has a remote control to make it go up and down.  Of course, Goldilocks' innate curiousity gets the best of her as she discovers these unique items.  The story also ends in a very different way sending a lovely message of inclusivity and cooperation.

As I introduced the book to the children in my class I asked them what they noticed about the picture on the front cover.  Here are their responses:
"There is Goldilocks."
"I see flowers."
"There is a butterfly."
"They are outside."
"They look happy."
"Where is the Mama Bear and Papa Bear."
"They are outside in the woods."
I was surprised (and delighted) that no one seemed to notice anything unusual in the fact that Baby Bear was in a wheelchair.  


Sometimes I think children should run the world.

Full of Beans!

Jack got more than he bargained for when he exchanged his beloved cow for a handful of magic beans.  Imagine the excitement in my classroom when I tell my students that I have a whole bunch of magic beans that can be used to create a variety of colourful and interesting patterns as we build our names.

This organizer is an excellent way to keep the beans sorted.
I print each child's name on heavy cardstock paper.

As the children create patterns on the letters in their names I encourage them to make each pattern different and challenge them to try their hands at "trickier" patterns (like double attributes or three different colours of beans).  Upon completion of their name we count the letters, identify the letter their name begins with, and write a simple "story" about their name to be displayed with their project.

I'm a strong believer in proudly displaying the hard work of my students.
The giant (sporting dark liver spots and feathery orange eyebrows) peeking
over the top of the bulletin board is fourteen years old.  I made him my
first year of teaching.  I guess you could say I'm also a strong believer in doing
something really well once and keeping it for a lifetime.

Kindergarten Kingdom

November can be a dreary month.  The festive orange pumpkins and bright fall foliage of autumn have been put away.  The tinsel and gingerbread are not yet ready to make their Christmas appearance.  And so we arrive at a month that can be rather bleak.  To combat this dilemma I have designated November as Fairy Tale month each year.  What could be more magical than sprouting beanstalks, industrious pigs, and magic carpets?


Most Kindergarten classroom have a dress-up center in the form of a large playhouse.  Often featuring plastic food, small dishes, an assortment of clothes to change into, and baby dolls to care for.  It is a great place to practice the business of being an adult and running a household.  But suppose you were destined for a greater calling... perhaps a position in a royal family.  What is a little king, queen, or knight to do?  Each November my house center magically transforms into a posh fairytale castle with a wardrobe bursting with crowns, capes, and scepters for those that choose to play there.  And we are never too alarmed if a grouchy stomping giant shows up or a menacing witch planning to brew up a powerful potion swoops in!

People notice the details!  The coat of arms is my cat Fernando's.  
I liked the visual of the dragon and the little castle icons around it.

Of course the design of the castle in my classroom was greatly influenced by Sleeping Beauty Castle at my favourite place on earth... Disneyland!  

My favourite place with my favourite person... life is good!  
The coat of arms on this castle belongs to the Disney family.