I don’t own boxes of themed units. I barely have any files. I don’t like to repeat things. New students. New year. New place in my learning. New world. All of this new always leads to different things every year. But some things are worth repeating because they will benefit a new group of students as much, albeit differently, as a previous group.
What ten things will I be doing again/continuing this year?
Buddy Reading with the kindergarten class
This is time that is pure joy. My students get to be literacy leaders. I smile through the entire experience each week.
Games Hour
Every week we have Games Hour (really about 40 minutes) and bring out games that we don’t play with at any other time of the week. We work on perseverance, turn taking, leadership skills, cooperation and patience.
Hosting another class from a different school
What great learning happened when we invited a K class from another school to spend almost an entire day with us. We did yoga, art, outside play and buddy reading. Thank you Ms. Hales! I hope she will visit with her new class this year!
Daily play and exploration
Keva blocks frequently come out during this time. As do various other building materials, art supplies and multiple games. We do a lot of building and exploring, tower making and imaginative play.
Mock Caldecott
This was such an amazing unit and I can’t wait to do it again this year. We read. We wrote. We raved. We talked. A LOT!
Camp Read
This was a school wide event and I would love to be a part of the organizing committee again. A highlight of our day was having our school secretary come in and read to us.
Time in the forest
Lucky us that St George’s Outdoor Education students invited us to come and spend the morning with them in the forest near UBC a few times this year. Outside experiences are so important. I am planning for many more next year.
Yoga: Inside the room
Our lovely Miriam leads us through regular yoga experiences.
and yoga outside of the room
Our favourite thing is to get outside to do yoga!
Let’s Talk Science activities
We have the best Let’s Talk Science volunteers. We are sure hoping that Lisa and Nelly will return and do hands on science with us again next year!
Inviting in guests to share their passions
BLG readers who share stories. Ms. Sheppet who shared a geocaching experience. Eric Balke who talked to us about his time in with orangutans in Indonesia. Poet and artist Calef Brown who shared his writing process with us. I so want my students to be passionate about what they do and meeting adults who are passionate about their interests, hobbies and careers is amazing!
What will remain part of the learning experiences in your room for 2015/2016?
There's a Book for That 
We will definitely come and visit you! We are only one (long) bus ride away! Another visit is on my list of things to repeat next school year.
Sharon (aka Ms Hales)
Yippee!
sounds like a great year ahead! but don’t rush summer …;)
Oh so true. Summer is just the time I get to think and reflect 🙂
Carrie,
In our work to always change and improve, we sometimes forget the things we want to keep the same. Thanks for sharing this list of ten things you think are important enough to continue.
Cathy
Thanks Cathy, that’s how I feel too. Some things are working so well or have promise to be wonderful again and they are worth celebrating! Thanks for the comment.
Your students are so lucky to have you! Sounds like a fantastic year ahead! Mock Caldecott is a new idea to me, I’ll have to go back and read your posts about it.
Let me know if you have any questions. This was such a treat to do. Lots of exciting understanding about picture books and art and visual literacy. Many kids said it was a highlight of their year!