I love my field teacher. I feel as though I can not really explain why though. She is able to joke around with the kids, I feel as though she treats them as if they were all her own children, and that is a good thing.
Today she passed out conversation candy hearts and turned it into a lesson on "Heartprints". Heartprints are pretty much compliments. If a student ever says and insult or puts down another students they are required to give them 10 heartprints (compliments) because that is how many it takes to make them feel better. So back to the candy hearts. Mrs. K gave each student three candy hearts, and they talked about what the hearts said, and how to turn the two word phrases into a sentence that could be used to give someone a heartprint. After doing this for a while, the students wrote their sentences on hearts, and the activity was then turned into a math lesson on symmetry.
I was so impressed. She took a fun activity on being nice to others, and practicing complimenting their peers, and easily transitioned it into a math lesson.
I think that it was so cool the way she uses class time to teach them good manners and values, and they think they are just having fun.
This activity fits into our reading because it worked on their social and emotional development by helping to boost others self concept and self esteem. As each student told their peers a compliment, you could tell that they were so excited and proud that they were being told that they were a good friend, had beautiful handwriting, or that they were a great reader.
This heartprint lesson also helps the students to form a sense of community, for it forces the students to interact positively with their peers.
From the reading I learned that when toddlers want to play in a rough and tumble sort of way, it is actually considered a form of exercise. This sort of play does not serve to practice any sort of skills, but the text does mention that it helps them to read others body language and facial expressions. It is important, however, to monitor this sort of play so that the toddler does not get hurt.
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Wow! What an amazing activity! I LOVE it! That sounds like a perfect example of GREAT integration of subject areas. Not only that but it was great how it played on V-day!
ReplyDeleteThe lesson I taught today was about Valentine's day as well...I had the kids make Valentine's. One of them gave their Valentine to Alex Foley, and a couple of them exchanged theirs! (Too cute)
I think its interesting how simple and interesting it is to have the students work on social and emotional development. I think that was a perfect way to do it.
I hope that gets you even more excited to start teaching lessons of your own!