tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post7245742700473629796..comments2023-10-22T06:38:08.839-04:00Comments on Inquiring Minds: Mrs. Myers' Kindergarten: Our Room: An Environment Created for InvestigatingMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-48558852793791356302020-03-26T13:21:06.807-04:002020-03-26T13:21:06.807-04:00I love all your inquiry-based co-created projects....I love all your inquiry-based co-created projects. You mentioned that you have the ability to create your own curriculum. Besides your Letter of the Day work, do you do any other formal literacy / word / word family, etc. type learning? If so, when? <br /><br />Thank you!<br />DebbieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-34320509569100449532019-12-01T09:10:12.574-05:002019-12-01T09:10:12.574-05:00This is amazing! It remember me my first years of ...This is amazing! It remember me my first years of teaching. I realized that I have lost a big part of being a child along the years. I feel so sorry for my students. <br /><br />I definitely refocus starting tomorrow! I will borrow you many ideas. And I will read on Reggio Emilia!<br /><br />Thank you so much!��Le bonheur est à l'école !https://www.blogger.com/profile/14697949748356458185noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-27361791463758459512017-06-05T12:47:37.408-04:002017-06-05T12:47:37.408-04:00Thank you Amy! Good luck on your learning adventu...Thank you Amy! Good luck on your learning adventure!<br />Sincerely,<br />Darla MyersMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-70225818793304663372017-05-09T15:32:29.062-04:002017-05-09T15:32:29.062-04:00I'm just now finding your blog and I must say ...I'm just now finding your blog and I must say - you are so inspiring! I am jumping into PBL in my first grade classroom. Your blog is a great resource for me! Thank you for sharing your expertise :) Amy Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16989260820605643059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-19953522591405336852016-09-05T22:36:02.441-04:002016-09-05T22:36:02.441-04:00I do tend to rotate different materials. They get ...I do tend to rotate different materials. They get so excited for something new or something they haven't used in a while. If a child asks me if they can use a certain material that is not specifically set out, they can tell me their plan and what they need it for and I will usually let them use it. They are all visible so if they see a material they feel they need that is not set out, they can let me know.Mrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-13639756345762427092016-09-03T19:39:59.937-04:002016-09-03T19:39:59.937-04:00Love this blog, both your philosophy and how well ...Love this blog, both your philosophy and how well you show and explain how you put it into practice. I am the only k teacher in my school so I tend to look for colleagues where I can find them- often on the internet....One question I struggle with is - as kids learn how to use a variety of art materials, our art shelves get more and more full - and in a way, the kids stop noticing all the choices they have. I've considered limited their choices, but I hate to limit the possibilities. What are your thoughts?Morah Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07785488588376483837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-42235169591943384522016-08-17T11:54:51.351-04:002016-08-17T11:54:51.351-04:00Hi!, I found my way here through Instagram and I l...Hi!, I found my way here through Instagram and I love your classroom. I am going back to teaching this year after a 8 year hiatus. Over the years I too have changed my views on education and standard curriculum based classrooms. The school I am teaching in is brand new and while not specifically Reggio Emilia, they are open minded and support a child led learning approach. I have a question that I would be so grateful if you addressed. I noticed in your Instagram posts you comment about child readiness in the classroom setup, such as only certain blocks will be available until children have learned to play with respect. If you are teaching children (in my case 5 year olds), who have been in school for a few years but definitely not in a Child led learning environment, how do you teach/create that? I notice that even though the blocks in the lower shelves will be the only ones available, the rest of the blocks are still accessible. There will be so many new interesting things to touch, look at ,explore. How do you set out to create that calm peaceful environment that I have seen in Reggio classrooms? I am imagining a scenario where good intentions could quickly turn to chaos. I would love to hear more about this. . Thank you so much for sharing your classroom.<br />It is such a source of inspiration to me. <br />SarahAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00107325469071825952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-59708087260307958042016-07-25T17:42:20.873-04:002016-07-25T17:42:20.873-04:00Hi Tracy! It depends. I do have some that I have...Hi Tracy! It depends. I do have some that I have all of the kids visit and do such as the self portraits, but sometimes I'm okay with only having the students who are interested do the activities. So really I do both! Usually just the students who are interested, but not always.Mrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-35655349189290985782016-07-02T08:13:04.164-04:002016-07-02T08:13:04.164-04:00I am wondering about "must do" activitie...I am wondering about "must do" activities? Do you have them? For instance your Celebrating Differences center, did everyone have to do one over the course of the day, or just those students interested?<br />Thanks so much.<br />TracyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04355441157935137339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-3187549750089848662016-06-17T20:48:41.473-04:002016-06-17T20:48:41.473-04:00Wow. I'm so happy that I found your blog. I lo...Wow. I'm so happy that I found your blog. I love your classroom and everything that you do for your children and their families. I wish I could do half of what you're doing in your classroom. We're so regulated it's just wrong. As the lead STEM teacher I get to do more than the rest but it's never enough. I'm going to use so many of your examples this year and take a chance. Thank you again for sharing and caring. KinderLearningBunnieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17524865495482337189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-56839784257977801572015-10-17T09:34:20.516-04:002015-10-17T09:34:20.516-04:00I'm so glad! You will love how much they take ...I'm so glad! You will love how much they take ownership of what they create for the room and how much more they will use them as resources and tools! Enjoy and have fun!<br />Sincerely,<br />DarlaMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-48172082204899892042015-10-16T23:23:32.743-04:002015-10-16T23:23:32.743-04:00I'm in love, Mrs. Meyers! You've inspired ...I'm in love, Mrs. Meyers! You've inspired me to look at my commercially-made products and replace them with things my students can very well make or imitate. Diane C. https://www.blogger.com/profile/13842666618415733696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-33300869393926536852015-05-14T22:37:57.154-04:002015-05-14T22:37:57.154-04:00Finally have my own classroom and we've just s...Finally have my own classroom and we've just started making our own alphabet wall chart to display around the room. Thanks for the inspiration! I love reading each update from your classroom when they land in my inbox :)Nichole {youclevermonkey}https://www.blogger.com/profile/17804069708400909617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-27833406671396416262014-11-01T18:07:38.702-04:002014-11-01T18:07:38.702-04:00Hi Eileen!
I posted some of my planning forms on...Hi Eileen! <br />I posted some of my planning forms on my last blog post. Did that help? Only having the kids for half day is very hard! We used to have half day kindergarten, but went to full day 6 years ago! It is much easier! I would have a lot of the math and literacy stations available during play for them to explore also! I am always amazed at how many choose math and literacy station tools to explore during our play time. If you don't have a special every day like music, art, etc. I used to use that extra time on those days for inquiry and projects. I know it is much harder to do this in a half day program. Some half day programs make their projects literacy based such as putting on a play or writing a big book or creating a story mural to retell a story since they have such limited time. Murals about an inquiry use a lot of interactive writing to explain what they learned. Big Books about an inquiry or individual books about an inquiry are good projects also that use a lot of literacy skills that you have to get in. Good luck!!! Let me know how you are doing!<br />Sincerely,<br />DarlaMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-61892062984747024582014-10-11T12:51:48.569-04:002014-10-11T12:51:48.569-04:00Hi Darla,
Thanks so much for your very inspiring b...Hi Darla,<br />Thanks so much for your very inspiring blog and for documenting your change process. I'm where I think you were a few years ago, just starting to transform my classroom space and experimenting with project based learning. I would love to get your advice about how to best use the 3 and 1/2 hours of my half day program. I'm nervous about teaching all the necessary skills and also allowing enough time for inquiry based learning. Could you post your schedule or any other planning tools you use? I've scoured the web for PBL in 1/2 day kinder programs, but have not had much luck. Any advice would be most welcome!<br />Thanks so much!<br />EileenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09358565380595136319noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-7637011852589488072014-10-04T12:47:34.624-04:002014-10-04T12:47:34.624-04:00Thanks so much! You are going to LOVE FDK! I jus...Thanks so much! You are going to LOVE FDK! I just collect nature stuff everywhere I go! It drives my family crazy because we can't go anywhere without me grabbing things to take back to school like sticks, nuts, pine cones, shells, rocks, etc. I'm always on the lookout! Plus it's free!!!<br />The books are set out for the kids to look at as they wonder and look closer at the stations. Some have been read to the class but not all!<br />Sincerely,<br />DarlaMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-7318420033594804892014-09-21T20:49:51.313-04:002014-09-21T20:49:51.313-04:00Pictures lol...I'm commenting from a phone so ...Pictures lol...I'm commenting from a phone so it should say the pictures are inspiring.Neat and Modified Alternativeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03616120276632718696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-25013823625149228762014-09-21T20:48:04.721-04:002014-09-21T20:48:04.721-04:00Wow Darla. ..your classroom is terrific. I'm ...Wow Darla. ..your classroom is terrific. I'm new to FDK and your octaves are super inspiring. Thanks so much for sharing. Did you spend hours looking for nature like classroom pieces or did you gather them over a period of time?. I noticed that you had books at your areas. Are these books that you have read aloud of just books for the kids to look at while at the different stations?Neat and Modified Alternativeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03616120276632718696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-18375529369650125792014-06-23T08:17:57.430-04:002014-06-23T08:17:57.430-04:00All I did was set out the sketch book with pastels...All I did was set out the sketch book with pastels at the science station and encouraged them to document what they noticed! They loved it! I would share good examples from it to the class to point out interesting things they noticed. We keep the sketch pads in the library here in our room when the station is changed. The kids loved looking through them!<br />Sincerely,<br />DarlaMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-89710491224253427242014-05-17T07:55:47.633-04:002014-05-17T07:55:47.633-04:00Hi Darla,
I just discovered your blog and am inspi...Hi Darla,<br />I just discovered your blog and am inspired beyond words! Thank you for taking the time to document your journey, it is fabulous! I have been looking through the blog and am curious about how you introduce and incorporate the sketch book at your discovery/science center. Would you mind sharing?Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10443979655819984309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-45410672524063911012014-03-13T07:08:34.308-04:002014-03-13T07:08:34.308-04:00I am actually doing a music/sound inquiry right no...I am actually doing a music/sound inquiry right now! For now, we are exploring things that I have set out to see how they create sound. We have also been watching videos of STOMP, wine glass musicians, bottle blowing musicians, etc to see how they use objects to create sound in different ways. So far they have noticed that sound can be made by striking, blowing, strumming/plucking, shaking, rubbing, and blowing. We will be creating a web map showing instruments that create sounds in these different ways. We are exploring sound to figure out how we can create an area in our school playground for kids to explore sound. As our initial exploration, each child will sign up to be on an expert group that will study a particular way to make sound (blowing, striking, etc.) They will create instruments and a project to share with the class about their type of sound. They will also work together to create a "How To" book showing the rest of the class how to create an instrument that makes a sound in the way they explored. Ultimately, they will use what we have learned to come up with a plan to create a sound exploration area (or at least a portion of it) outside. They will map our playground to figure out the best place for it, and use our knowledge to create a plan. I am hoping to get parents to help create the actual sound area. It is a fun inquiry! I have no idea how long it will take! We have just started it this week! I hope this helps! Your kids may take it in a totally different direction! Mine may even end up changing the direction of my plans, but for now, this is the framework of what I plan to do with them. Good luck!<br />DarlaMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-48137957662614891352014-03-07T20:36:18.020-05:002014-03-07T20:36:18.020-05:00I teach an FDK class in Ontario. My students have...I teach an FDK class in Ontario. My students have recently become interested in musical instruments after a visit from a drummer. They have begun to write and perform their own music (by banging away on blocks). I saw the picture of your music inquiry. Do you have any suggestions for next steps. We visited the music room at our school, listened to different instruments, practised conducting, gave them an oppotunity to explore drums, shakers, etc. I'd love some ideas of how to keep this learning going.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04728760853166500126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-51570752886198388442014-02-09T23:00:49.605-05:002014-02-09T23:00:49.605-05:00Darla,
This is my 9th year teaching - but only my...Darla,<br /><br />This is my 9th year teaching - but only my third year teaching kindergarten-and I am learning new things every day. I somehow stumbled upon your blog while looking for new and interesting teaching ideas. I am amazed at what your students are accomplishing through their play-based learning! I would love to learn more about this teaching approach. Any ideas on how/where to get started? Books to read? I am eager to jump in head first, but I also realize that without a plan in mind it will most likely go downhill quickly! Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated!<br />Thanks,<br />LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-63677183893986004002013-10-01T21:39:39.040-04:002013-10-01T21:39:39.040-04:00Love the look of your classroom, it's beautifu...Love the look of your classroom, it's beautiful. Back teaching in a Pre-K classroom after a 20 year pause. I started this year with bare walls and love the way it is coming together with the children's work displayed. What a great number line you have made. I look forward to following your blog.Betsynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492136136099278542.post-43287481221089526862013-08-18T15:07:59.640-04:002013-08-18T15:07:59.640-04:00Thank you so much for your kind words Chris!! I j...Thank you so much for your kind words Chris!! I just posted about what I am hoping my day will look like this year! I hope it works!!<br />Sincerely,<br />DarlaMrs Myers Inquiring Mindshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08280387662860144101noreply@blogger.com