Connecting with Next Year's Kindergarten Students

This week, I have been lucky enough to visit the Early Learners and see my future Kindergarten students in action. I have visited their learning space three different times to have a glimpse into their world and make initial connections. 

The aim has been to see the children at play and connect with them so that I am not an unknown face in September, and they are not unknown to me. 

In conversation, and through observation, I have seen and heard about their interests, siblings and weekends; the patterns they have been creating; the diaries being made; the magic bubbles of the soapy water and the friends they have. 

In their learning space, I have had chance to speak to the current teachers and assistants to learn a little more about each child's personality, language profile, approach to learning and family. 

One child is fascinated by numbers. At first, he was reluctant to engage with me. Then I took my iPhone and showed him the calculator. He declined to take it. I started to play with some of the numbers and operations then clearing the answers. No physical response. I then offered the boy the calculator to play with numbers, too. He happily accepted and each time the calculator showed large numbers (Eg. 256 943) the boy responded with, "Wow!", eyes wide open and full of excitement! 

This week's gem is about exploring ways to connect to the students we will teach even before they are in our classes (if this is possible). 

How do you connect to students you will be teaching?

Comments

  1. Maria28 May 2021 at 00:24

    Lucky kids for having such an amazing teacher!!

    ReplyDelete

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