Show and Tell......Here's Your Sign!

I have struggled recently with Show and Tell, or "Show and Hotel" as one of my little friends calls it. I have always advocated allowing children to bring whatever they wanted to share, as long as they talked about whatever the item was. My goal was language development.  

   

Until now.    

I seem to have a tough group this year who seemed to bring the same toys every week, and no one was willing to actually talk about what they were sharing. The audience was bored, the students were bored and I was frustrated.

I made an executive decision after one frustrating Friday that Show and Tell items should be related to our theme in some way. No toys, unless directly related. Period.

I know.....it goes against what I really believed in, but sometimes a teacher's just gotta do what she has to do. Our shares the following week were AMAZING! The kids were excited to tell about their items and the rest of the class couldn't pay close enough attention. For the last 2 weeks, our Show and Tell time has been quite enjoyable. And it seems, the kids really did like the change. For our Valentine/Post Office week session, there were even a few surprises for the teacher---what a treat!

One sweet friend brought these flowers and told the class about the meanings behind the different colors of roses.

Check out that neat retro mailbox brought by another friend. It was filled with photocopies of Disney stamps for each friend to take home.

Two friends brought candy for the teachers in heart shaped boxes.

Sometimes, when reflecting on the logistics of how we teach, we wonder if we are following the appropriate philosophy. Educational theorists have conflicting opinions, just like politicians.The trick is figuring out what works best for me, in my classroom, today. Tomorrow, I may need to adjust my teaching or classroom policies in other ways, but I think I'll be okay with this change. I think Bill Engvall would tell me.......

Just thought I'd share this cartoon about Show and Tell. You never know what kids will bring to share!

Ratfink!

I love the dynamics of preschool friendship. In order to foster friendship and a sense of community, I refer to my students as "friends". They all are friends, for the most part. Many of my twenty have been together since infancy. Several friends joined our school this year upon entering into the lottery Pre-K program. Those friends have been graciously welcomed into the fold. It's hard to tell who has been here forever and who is a relative "newcomer". All of my twenty play and interact well together. They stand up for each other, care and empathize with one another and save each other's spot.We don't have a lot of "he's not my friend" whining like I have seen on occasion in years past. Generally, a great group!

Okay, that being said, there is another dynamic to preschool friendship, "The Rat Fink". It always amazes me that the two friends who will defend each other to the death, will rat each other out in a heartbeat! Often, in a very helpful way: "Mrs. Ayn, I saw CULPRIT doing so-and-so, and I reminded him to make a good choice, but look!". And almost always, CULPRIT will turn around and say something like, "Well, RAT FINK was doing it and I was going to make a good choice, but he wasn't, so...." .

The most amazing thing is that after all this, the two friends, aka RATFINK and CULPRIT will go off hand in hand, neither mad or upset that the other has reported his actions! I always tell my assistant that we had better do a great job teaching, because our friends are certainly not cut out for a tough life of crime and deceit! (Thank GOD!!!)