If The Grinch and Scrooge Ate Dinner Together.....

One of our big objectives in Kindergarten is studying characters and the reasons for their actions. The Grinch and Scrooge are great examples of characters with depth to study. We read the story of The Grinch and a children's version of A Christmas Carol. There are different ways we compare the characters-how are they the same and different. Can a person change? Some deep conversations. :)

Then I ask them to imagine a dinner between the two characters. What would they discuss? Would they get along with each other?

If Cindy Lou Who....

I LOVE using the Grinch with the students because there are just so many connections you can make to Depth and Complexity.

This one goes along with Details. If Cindy Lou Who didn't just let the Grinch take all their stuff-what other details of the story would change.

Dear Santa-Multiple Perspectives

I don't believe in harping too much on holidays in the classroom. However, I as a way to tap into their excitement and to apply comprehension strategies there is a writing prompt I employ every December. 

The students write from another perspective and write a Dear Santa letter from a character. We read a chapter a day of chapter books throughout the year so that's one place I start. Dear Santa from Charlotte (or Charlie/Willy Wonka or Matilda). You could also use characters like the Grinch or Santa himself-what would Santa ask for.

I asked them to write Dear Santa letters from me. What would a teacher ask Santa for?

This one broke my heart a little bit-I have a very challenging class this year so most of the day I am fussing at them to redirect behavior.

Well, teachers smell good, don't they?

I'd take that. :)

Putting yourself in someone else's shoes and applying details about the characters in a different way. In my instructions, I make it clear that they aren't asking for what they want-Charlotte does not want a PS5. :)

Stopping By the Woods

My all-time favorite poet is Robert Frost. His poems are simple but complex. They are beautiful and meaningful. I read Stopping By the Woods to my students every day for a week-this helps with fluency as well as vocabulary. And then on Friday I ask them to illustrate the poem. I know with the push for Science of Reading that most poems in reading programs are decodable text. But I think there is value in reading actual poetry as well.

Perspective of an Ornament

Multiple perspectives is one of my favorite concepts of Depth and Complexity to use with young students. They learn the world does not revolve around them. ::)

I asked the students to pretend they were an ornament. What would they see, feel and wish?

Thankful Digital Stories

We have a very rigorously structured schedule. The last day before break we had a lot of assessments that did not take the whole block to complete. So I had my students write their first digital stories. I used Pear Deck and then I put the pics in Powerpoint where the students could narrate. There is probably a a better more efficient way to do it.

I asked them to dig deep-beyond just my family and my friends. What are you thankful for?

Paintings 

The Four Seasons

Gratitude

I believe we should think about gratitude every day not just in November, but because it is that time of year I wanted to write about what I am grateful for.

1. I am grateful to have a job teaching. As many of you know, my district was taken over by the state. We have a much more stringent evaluation system. They come in at least once per week for about 15 minutes and have a list of about 15 things they want to see in that lesson. My scores this year are not very good-in fact I am not even considered to be "Proficient". Teachers with scores under a certain number will be fired next month-so fingers crossed I am not on that list.

2. I am grateful for my boogerbears. I have the most challenging class I have ever taught this year. I know a lot of early childhood teachers are facing the same behaviors. They cannot regulate emotions. They have tantrums. I think many of them are just so used to getting what they want. It has been a challenge-but we have made major growth in that department.

3. I am grateful for my team. My teammates are so kind and so collaborative. I learn from them every day.

4. I am grateful for my students' parents. They will like my ClassDojo posts before I even finish posting. :) They are involved and supportive.

5. I am grateful for you. The fact that you are even reading this means the world to me.

What are you grateful for this season?