Cooperative Learning

Kindergarten is the place to learn how to learn in a group. Our kids practice this skill in workstations where they must solve problems, share materials and check their work with little teacher interaction.

Cooperative learning is the corner stone of modern classroom. When kids work together they DO their own learning. Hands-on manipulitives provided a common ground for children to engage one another.

Here, kindergartners work together to complete a single puzzle. Sharing pieces with as many as five peers. Once the puzzle displays its picture they work independently at their our pace to draw and write about the piece.

There's nothing like a job well done, especially one done with friends!

Workstations Roll Out

Reading, Writing, Math and Science Workstations have been introduced to our daily routine.
Everyday the kindergartners practice two new workstation activities in order to be (almost) fully independent within the next four weeks.


Emma and Max become scientists while observing an object from nature. They work on drawing what they seeing, adding detail and writing a description of the it on their paper.

Lucas M. and Isabella are working on a math literacy response. They read the counting book of their choice, draw their favorite part and give a kindergarten-style report.


With modeled instruction and daily practice we are fast becoming independent workers. When our class can complete their assignments with little adult direction, we will begin small literacy groups. We are hoping for one adult volunteer a day during this 12-1pm period to help us do our bet work possible while Mrs. K is leading small group reading instruction. Look for these and other volunteer opportunities on BigTent in the latter part of October.

Welcome to Room 31

Excited families wait for the bell...7:58AM September 11, 2009

"I can do it myself"
Aneel finds his hook.
Yes, as scary as it is, we have already broken into the paints!

We are learning to use our math manipulatives.

And painting some more!
We always clean our up in kindergarten.

Most of our time in these precious first days is spent learning routines, procedures and pushing boundaries. The five-year-olds are learning hundreds of these during each hour. Markers need caps. Pencils go in the basket when they are dull. Always push in your chair...unless its a fire drill and it takes you three minutes to push in chairs. Raise your hand to share. Only share what is relevant to the topic at hand. Mrs. Kurkinen does not repeat herself. Ask a friend. You must serve yourself at lunch. Here is your lunch card. You will go play outside when you are dismissed. The quietest table gets dismissed first. Put your lunchbox on the steps in front of Room 31. No going up the slide. Go down the slide one at a time. We learn Spanish after recess. Sra. Kurkinen will not speak English during Super Spanish. Sra. Kurkinen wants everyone to speak when she says, "repitame". Dream time is quite. Get a tissue when you need one. Put your finished work in the class file. Take your work out of the class file and put it in your home folder at the end of the day. THAT one is YOUR file. Bussers line up in the hallway. Pick ups line up in the classroom.

And that is only the half of it. We are already learning to read and write!