Kindergarten at Play

This year in School District U-46 we are fortunate to have the unique opportunity to be implementing a full-day, play-based kindergarten program.  This program focuses on educating the whole child by providing the play-based learning model founded on developmentally appropriate pracice for 5- and 6 -year olds.  The purpose of this high-quality, full-day experience is two-fold: to ensure that all children have access to a robust kindergarten program and to help close the achievement gap.  

Children work in literacy centers daily practicing writing names, words, environmental print,  and even sentences for those that are ready.  They are developing the skills of phonemic awareness, oral language, building vocabulary, and using language structures that are needed for reading and writing. The children also play games in groups too which helps them learn to cooperate and take turns.  During the first 20 days of school the teacher helps them practice these social skills so that they can become independent workers.  

Children also work on problem solving activities such as puzzles. Working as a team partner helps them to support one another when tasks get difficult. They are also working on oral language skills which are vital to their success. 

Around the room children are working on independent or partner reading and writing activities.  They are already so proud of their progress. 

As the children practice and learn, the teachers work with them in small group or individually to support them at their unique ability levels.  This gives the teacher an opportunity to focus instruction on the needs of those particular students and monitor their progress as well. 

Children also work on math centers as well as small group math activities during the day. Mathematics is an important part of the full-day kindergarten experience. Much of the math workshop involves manipulative-based activities which allows students to practice and apply the math skills and concepts. 

Each day the children have an opportunity for play based centers.  These centers focus on developing active exploration and interaction for children.  Play is an important vehicle for developing self-regulation as well as for promoting language, cognition and social competence.  During this time, the teachers are encouraging conversation and working on increasing cognition.  

 While this may look like just a doll house, at times it becomes a space ship with rocket launchers!  The children have wonderful imaginations which are encouraged daily!

Ms. Scarpino's class is developing a community during their play time. The class is painting a high rise, building train station, and mapping out the town.  Can you see the compass rose in the corner of the map?  Down below, the boys paint the dirt for their flower garden which will be ready soon. They tell me that the trains will pass right by it. 

The kitchen is always a fun place to play.  It can become a grocery store, restaurant or a home for a family.

Science and social studies are built in to the kindergarten program as well. The students are exploring communities and below they learn about rocks, soil, and the effects of the weather on these items.  We all remember how much fun we had digging in dirt, right?  Here the children use microscopes to look at the things they found as well as some interesting rocks. 

The children answer daily questions as a way to think about concepts and apply them to their own lives. This helps them also as they recognize their names and their friends names and learn more about one another. 

In the Dual Language Classroom the children learn to "Bridge" the languages of English and Spanish. Here the teacher and children have created a wall, supported by pictures so the children understand important words in both languages. 

To learn more about the Play-Based Kindergarten, visit our district website at http://www.edline.net/pages/SDU46/Hot_Topic

An Exciting Week at Glenbrook!

This was quite a week at Glenbrook! Our students continued to work hard to practice being Respectful, Responsible and Real Safe, and our 5th and 6th Graders worked on their leadership skills by training students throughout the entire week.  Then on Wednesday, we held our Jan Heim Library Dedication. Mrs. Heim, a former Glenbrook Teacher, recently passed away from ALS, and is missed by many of us.  See pictures below of the wonderful new library that was remodeled in her honor.

Each year we practice a bus evacuation drill. Our 6th graders help students learn how to enter and exit the buses while the drivers review all of the safety rules on the bus. The drivers also help the students to understand what to do in the event of an emergency bus evacuation.

All grade levels have now practiced several new SPA (Supervised Physical Activities) games. These are games that they play at recess time. In order to play safely, the children need to understand the rules of the games. Thanks again to the 5th and 6th graders for being the "experts" and teaching the games to all students. 

Jan Heim Memorial Library

Thanks to the effort of many, we were able to raise enough money to remodel a space in our library and make it a cozy garden for the children to enjoy for many years to come.  Our friend and colleague, Mrs. Jan Heim would be so proud of the space that was designed in her memory. Mrs. Heim taught at Glenbrook for many, many years and although she is deeply missed her legacy lives on in all of those whose lives she touched.  

Mrs. Stacey Berenson and Mrs. Laurie Summers, longtime friends and co-teachers of Mrs. Heim's, organized the fundraising and the redesigning of the library.  Through staff, former students and their families as well as Mrs. Heim's family, we were able to raise well over $1000.00 to create a beautiful garden space for our library. 

Librarian, Mrs. Lisa McDonald was instrumental in the fundraising effort and supporting the remodeling. Thank you Mrs. McDonald!  She allowed us to invade her space so many times as the decorators piled in to paint, hammer and glue.  Here Mrs. McDonald is with a smile and a buffet of desserts for the dedication ceremony. 

Mrs. Heim's family joined us at the dedication. They too donated many funds to support the project which included a silk tree, koi pond rug, picket fence and some furniture.  Here you see her husband, mother, siblings, children and grandchildren all happily enjoying the space. 

Mrs. Heim had a saying when she often found a child out of his or her seat. She would say to them, "___, your seat is lonely."  They would look at her puzzled and return to their "lonely chair." She also was a great lover of Dr. Seuss.  Here you see her 3 grandchildren sitting in a "lonely chair" painted in Dr. Seuss colors."  

Former Glenbrook Student and amazing artist Krysty Rayski created this wonderful mural. Krysty donated her time to honor Mrs. Heim. The beautiful tree, sky and prairie behind it brings the space together. 

So, why the cow?  Well, Mrs. Heim grew up on a dairy farm. This cow symbolizes Jan's life on the farm. It's just another piece of Jan's life to incorporate into the design of the library. It brings such a smile to our face to see her face peeking out from behind the tree. 

These very special panels, 4 of them, were painted by 5th and 6th graders, many of them who were Mrs. Heim's former students.  They designed and painted the murals as small teams.  They are absolutely beautiful and really brighten up the garden space.  A special thanks to Mr. Luis Uribe for helping to hang them and Mr. Roger Summers who helped to figure out how to secure the picket fencing. 

  Mrs. Berenson hangs the dedication plaque on the tree. The tree will serve as a permanent dedication tree for Mrs. Heim and any others who we wish to honor in the future.

The beautiful garden space is complete.  The children love it and from time to time we may even catch a staff member sneaking in to cuddle up with a book.  For years to come the space will be enjoyed by many and Mrs. Heim's memory will live on in the elements hidden within. 

A Positive Message 

We work hard to help our students learn both academically and socially. This week, even the adults were reminded of a few very important life messages that are easy to put to the back of our minds. Matt Wilhelm, BMX Flatland rider and motivational speaker, spent about 45 minutes with each student group to share his very inspirational message and perform some amazing and  crazy tricks.

Matt's message has 3 major theme's, the first, "Never give up!" Matt begins his story by showing the students some of the tricks that led him to win his first X-Game Championship. Matt is actually a World Championship Silver Medalist and two-time United States National Champion. He talks to the students about how the first time he competed in the X-Games he came in last place. He could have given up, but instead he worked harder and the next year he came in first place. Matt also appeared on America's Got Talent. 

Matt also gave some students a chance to "try their best" with some tricks.  

A second important theme to Matt's message was kindness to others. Matt talked about being bullied as a child because he was different. Some kids teased him because they thought his ears looked funny and thus nicked named him "ears." Matt looked for someone to be his "superhero" and stand up for him. Well he found that hero in another student who ultimately became his friend. Matt taught students how the power of words can effect people. Some words can really hurt and make people feel worthless, while others can turn poor behavior around. We all have the power to use our words to help others.

Matt's final message was that practice makes success and that all people have talents, they just need to keep working at it.  He reminded students that working hard in school and at their talents will help them to become great at whatever they want to do.  Matt told them that he went to college and graduated with honors, even getting a college scholorship. The students listened intently.

Matt finally showed the students his greatest trick of all, which he hoped to be able to perform successfully. That trick involved jumping over 3 teachers.  3 brave teachers, at each assembly, took on the challenge and with several near misses of practice, Matt completed his successful jump!!!

If you'd like to learn more about Matt and his message, check out his website at:

http://www.mattwilhelm.com/