ERIC ED462193: Kindergarten Guide to Implementation: Sharing Visions, Sharing Voices.

378 Pages·2000·6.7 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 462 193 PS 030 153
AUTHOR
Pearce, Marni
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation: Sharing Visions,
TITLE
Sharing Voices.
Alberta Learning, Edmonton. Learning and Teaching Resources
INSTITUTION
Branch.
ISBN-0-7732-9914-9
ISBN
2000-00-00
PUB DATE
NOTE
380p.
AVAILABLE FROM
Learning Resources Distributing Centre, 12360-142 Street,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5L 4X9. Tel: [phone]; Fax:
780-422-9750; Web site: http://www.lrdc.edc.gov.ab.ca.
Guides - Classroom
PUB TYPE
Teacher (052)
MF01/PC16 Plus Postage.
EDRS PRICE
Administrator Role; Child Development; *Classroom
DESCRIPTORS
Environment; Foreign Countries; Immersion Programs;
Individual Differences; Interprofessional Relationship;
*Kindergarten; *Kindergarten Children; Parent School
Relationship; Partnerships in Education; Play; *Preschool
Curriculum; Preschool Teachers; Primary Education; Program
Evaluation; School Community Relationship; Self Evaluation
(Individuals); Special Needs Students; Student Evaluation;
*Student Needs; Teacher Role
Alberta; Canada
IDENTIFIERS
ABSTRACT
This guide provides kindergarten teachers and administrators
with practical advice on implementing the Alberta Learning "Kindergarten
Program Statement" in their classrooms and schools in the Canadian province
of Alberta. Chapter 1 of the guide includes information about kindergarten in
Alberta, the developmental characteristics of most kindergarten children, six
guiding principles providing a framework for kindergarten programming, and
learner expectations from the Kindergarten Program Statement. Chapter 2
describes the learning environment in the kindergarten classroom, including
helpful ideas on establishing the classroom community, and enriching play in
the kindergarten classroom. Chapter 3 provides assistance in planning and
implementing a kindergarten program and in assessing, evaluating, and
reporting on children's learning. Chapter 4 relates to meeting the differing
needs of kindergarten children, including children speaking English as a
second language, children in French immersion or Francophone kindergarten
programs, and children with special needs. Chapter 5 describes the partners
involved in planning and implementing an effective kindergarten program and
the home/school/community connections that are critical to children's
learning success. Four appendices describe common developmental patterns from
birth to early primary school level; present stories of practice connecting
the content of Chapters 2 through 5 with children, teachers, and classroom;
present ideas to help teachers reflect on their practice and identify areas
for growth; and include sample forms for classroom use. (Contains a 121-item
bibliography.)
(KB)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
Li
Guide to Implementatio
2000
r
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Educational Research and Improvement
EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION
CENTER (ERIC)
X This document has been reproduced
as
received from the person or organization
originating it.
0 Minor changes have been made to
improve reproduction quality.
Points of view or opinions stated in this
Snaring Tisions
document do not necessarily represent
official OERI position or policy.
PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND
Sharing 'Voices
DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS
BEEN GRANTED BY
C.Ahdpewz
TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)
1
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
LEARNING
Learning and Teaching Resources Branch
1
Kindergarten
Guide
Implementation
to
Sharing Visions
Sharing Voices
2000
ALBERTA LEARNING CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA
Alberta. Alberta Learning. Learning and Teaching Resources Branch.
Kindergarten guide to implementation : sharing visions, sharing voices.
ISBN 0-7732-9914-9
1. KindergartenAlbertaHandbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Education,
PreschoolAlberta. I. Title
LB1140.25.C2.A33 2000
372.218
Additional copies are available for purchase from:
Learning Resources Centre
12360
142 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5L 4X9
For more information, contact the Director, Learning and Teaching Resources Branch, Alberta Learning,
11160 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T5K 0L2.
780-427-2984;
Telephone:
780-422-0576; Email:
Inside Alberta call toll free at
Fax:
<[email protected]>.
310-0000.
Some Web sites are listed in this document. These sites are listed as a service only to identify potentially
useful ideas for teaching and learning. The responsibility to evaluate these sites rests with the user.
The primary intended audiences for this document are:
V
Administrators
V
Counsellors
General Audience
Parents
Students
V
Teachers
Copyright ©2000, the Crown in Right of Alberta, as represented by the Minister of Learning.
Alberta
Learning, Learning and Teaching Resources Branch, 11160 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
T5K OL2.
Every effort has been made to provide proper acknowledgement of original sources and to comply with
copyright law.
If cases are identified where this has not been done, please notify Alberta Learning so
appropriate corrective action can be taken.
Permission is given by the copyright owner to reproduce this document for educational purposes and on a nonprofit basis, with the
exception of materials cited for which Alberta Learning does not own copyright.
FOREWORD
Sharing Visions, Sharing Voices has been
The Kindergarten Guide to Implementation:
developed by Alberta Learning with help and support from teachers, administrators, parents and
Its purpose is to provide teachers and administrators
other professionals across the province.
with practical advice on implementing the Kindergarten Program Statement in their classrooms
and schools.
This guide is a testimony to the collaborative efforts and the generosity of committed
professionals and parents working together on behalf of Kindergarten children in our province.
The collective wisdom of its many contributors will assist teachers and administrators to deepen
their understanding of what it means to work and learn alongside young children.
The Kindergarten Guide to Implementation: Sharing Visions, Sharing Voices can help you:
discuss and reflect upon your understanding and beliefs about child development and learning
focus on young children and what each child is expected to know and be able to do as a result
of Kindergarten experiences
make instructional decisions based on the Kindergarten Program Statement and the needs,
interests and abilities of children
support connections across all the learning areas
plan for and manage the learning environment, and choose effective and appropriate learning
strategies and experiences
respond to and meet the differing needs of children in your Kindergarten classroom
assess and evaluate children' s learning and progress, and share this information with parents
and children
communicate with parents of children in your classroom and reflect upon the role of parents
as partners in their children' s education
develop effective working relationships with the partners involved in planning and
implementing the IGndergarten program
foster home/school/community connections that support children' s learning success
make links to professional literature and further reading.
Foreword / iii
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation
2000
©Alberta Learning, Alberta, Canada
Special features of the guide that represent the contributions of children, teachers, administrators,
parents and other partners include:
photographs and children's work that provide
representations of learning
visual
experiences and activities in Kindergarten.
vignettes that act as written illustrations of the learner expectations
Stories of Practice, Appendix B, that connect the content of the guide with Kindergarten
children, teachers and classrooms, and present different perspectives and possibilities.
Self-reflection, Appendix C, that provides questions to assist you in reflecting on your
understanding of children and your classroom practice and in identifying areas for growth.
Teacher Ideas, Appendix D, that provide practical and useful information and sample forms
for classroom use.
Most Alberta Learning documents and information related to Kindergarten are available on the
Alberta Learning web site at <http://www.learning.gov.ab.ca>.
iV /Foreword
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation
2000
©Alberta Learning, Alberta, Canada
6
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Alberta Learning expresses its appreciation to those individuals who assisted in the development
and production of this guide to implementation and acknowledges the contributions of the
following:
Writer:
Marni Pearce, with input from Alberta teachers and parents and
Alberta Learning staff
Alberta Learning
Gina Vivone-Vernon
Director, Learning and Teaching Resources Branch
Jennifer Bushrod
Program Manager, Curriculum Branch
Thank you to Audrey Burrows, Dan Clarke, Joan Engel, Mery
Kowalchuk, Suzanne Gareau-Kubicki, Doug Knight, Suzanne
Dionne-Coster, Bernie McKee, Alain Nogue, Sandi Roberts,
Cheryl Sheldon and Bruce Stone 11, who contributed to the
development of this guide.
0
Lynn Bryan
Editing
Esther Yong
Desktop Publishing
Lin Hallett
Desktop Publi shing
Dianne Moyer
Desktop Publishing
Contributors
Nola Aitken
Faye Desjarlais Coustin
Paul Kopf
Joan Alexander
Monica Donadt-Milne
Sandy Lancaster
Candice Amber
Cheryl Dragon
Maurice Landry
Lee Am lin
Anne Eshpeter
Teresa Landry
Niki Bastiaan
Barb Gerst
Ruth LeBlanc
Doreen Batchelor
Inie Graham
Lee Makovichuk
Jennifer Batycky
Janet Guindon
Debra Martin
Susan Bell
Karen Gwozd-Cornish
Jessica Martin
Margaret Brooks
Anne Hill
Jane McGarty
Kelti Caplan
Barb Hogan
Sue McKenzie-Robblee
Sylvia Chard
Pat Hogan
Dianne Mellott
Jean Clandinin
Mark Honert
Elizabeth Munroe
Steacy Collyer
Lynette Husum
Dianne Nettleton
Roger Delbaere
Gayl Inouye
Norma O'Connor
Cindy Delcioppo
Moira Juliebö
Andraea Patching
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation
Acknowledgements / V
@Alberta Learning, Alberta, Canada
2000
Karen Pedersen-Bayus
Debbie Riopel Denise Gagnd Williamson
Cynthia Prasow
Margaret Simmons Brenda Wolodko
Eunice Querengesser
Ji-Sook Yeom
Terry Starko
Josee Quesnel-Moffat
Carol Vaage
Stacey Rayment
Barb Wallace
Tami Reimer
Kate Ye lle Watt
Art Work by Children
Logan Anderson
Mitchell St. Jean
Skye Challifoux Malia Starko
Alex Turon
Crystal Coates
Emily Collyer
Ryan Turner
Mary Godbout
Vanessa Wells
Tasha Wolodko
Lauren Gouin
Steven Lederer
Brett Zon
David Paul
Brandon Proulx
Catherine MacDonald
Mac Marcinew
Derrick Matheson
Luisa Pellettieri
Con Poulin
Matthew Sawchuk
Photo Credits
Candace Amber
Lee Makovichuk
Diane Mellott
Lee Am lin
Doreen Batchelor
Karen Olechowski
Steacy Collyer Harold Parsons
Faye Desjarlais Coustin Marni Pearce
Sandra Dickson
Karen Pedersen-Bayus
Anne Eshpeter
Eunice Querengesser
Kim Farrell
Pat Sokolosky
A. Filiplic
Carol Vaage
Anne Hill
Barb Wallace
Lynette Husum
Linda Wilson
Janine Jacobs
Brenda Wolodko
C. Kroetsch
"Come to the edge ...
Come to the edge.
We can't. We're afraid.
Come to the edge.
We can't. We will fall!
Come to the edge.
And they came.
And he pushed them.
And they flew."
Guillaume Apollinaire
Vi / Acknowledgements
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation
2000
©Alberta Learning, Alberta, Canada
..
8
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Foreword
iii
Acknowledgements
v
CHAPTER ONE: The Context for Learning
Chapter One... at a Glance
1
Kindergarten in Alberta
1
How Young Children Learn and Develop
2
Principles of Kindergarten Programming
5
What Children Learn in Kindergarten
8
General and Specific Learner Expectations
9
General Learner Expectations for Kindergarten
9
Illustrative Examples
11
Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
12
English Language Arts
12
Mathematics
14
Community and Environmental Awareness
16
Personal and Social Responsibility
18
Physical Skills and Well-being
20
Creative and Cultural Expression
23
CHAPTER TWO: The Learning Environment
... at a
Chapter Two
Glance
25
The Classroom Community
25
The Classroom Area
26
Equipment and Materials
27
Learning Centres
28
Play in the Kindergarten Classroom
60
Enriching Play in the Learning Areas
62
CHAPTER THREE: Planning for Instruction and Assessment
... at a
Chapter Three
Glance
69
Organizing for Instruction
69
Scheduling and Use of Time
70
Program Planning
72
Long-Range Plans
73
Using the Kindergarten Program Statement
in Long-Range Planning
74
Short-Range Plans
74
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation
Table of Contents / 'Yu
©Alberta Learning, Alberta, Canada
2000
Planning Formats
76
Daily Plans
78
Instructional Strategies
79
Purpose of Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting
83
Effective Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting
84
Assessment Strategies
85
Evaluation Strategies
87
Reporting Children's Learning to Parents
88
Themes, Projects and In-depth Studies
90
Planning for the Transition from Home to School
92
Planning for the First Days in Kindergarten
93
Planning for Special Activities
94
CHAPTER FOUR: Children's Differing Needs
... at a
Chapter Four
Glance
99
Children with Differing Needs
99
Early Literacy
100
Children with English as a Second Language Needs
101
Aboriginal Children
106
Children in French Immersion Programs
109
Children in Francophone
(French as a First Language) Programs
114
Gender Equity
117
Multiage/Multigrade Groupings
118
Children with Special Needs
120
CHAPTER FIVE: Partners in Learning
... at a
Chapter Five
Glance
135
Partners in the Kindergarten Program
135
Teachers
136
Children
138
Teacher Assistants
139
Parents
140
Support Service Specialists
141
Administrators
142
Substitute/Supply Teachers
143
Volunteers
143
Support Networks
145
Involving Families and the Community
146
Effective Communication Strategies
147
Viii / Table of Contents
Kindergarten Guide to Implementation
©Alberta Learning, Alberta, Canada
2000