I hate messy rooms. It took me all year last year to get my room how I liked it. Now I'm starting all over again. There are so many TOYS in the classroom. Do you have toys in your room? I am just not the type of person that likes toys in my classroom. So I'm going to hide a lot of them.
I agree with you, I hate the clutter!! What I like to do is store my toys in big tubs. I'll take out a couple and leave them for a month or so, whenever they seem to be getting bored with them. Then I'll put them away, and take out another tub or two of something else. This way they always stay interested, and you don't have so much stuff around at one time. By the end of the year, the stuff you had out first is new again!!
I only had out toys that went with the theme I was teaching - little cars during transportation; dinosaurs obviously during the dinosaur theme; safari animals during the Africa theme; etc.
When I got my new job 2 years ago there were two large cars in my classroom that the kids drive in - threw those away, a set of plastic golf clubs - threw those away too. Old baby dolls, Batman and other toys I didn't like. I threw everything out I didnt like and put my stuff there and I am slowly replacing things now. I know what you mean it does take awhile to get a room how you want it.
They had this stupid collapsible basketball hoop thing in my room. I hid that thing straightaway. If it distracted my 25 yr old fiancee, it would totally distract kindergarteners!
I got rid of all toys that I felt couldn't hold a significant educational value. I kept blocks, anything that could be used as a manipulative, small reading buddies and small toys I could use for phonic/phonemic awareness lessons. Other than that those are the only toys I allow in my room. The larger toys bikes, kitchen, sand toys, watertable, etc. are now permenantly outside in the kindergarten playground. Kindergarten just isn't the same as it was when these rooms were originally set up. Since we are expected to be academic for the get-go I can't afford to have the distraction in the classroom.
I don't have toys, per se, in my classroom. I'm actually quite surprised that many people are dealing with that! However, some things mentioned here I don't consider "toys." I did empty my sand table and fill it with beans. I use it for many different literacy and math centers. I would agree with putting actual toys away. Maybe keep a small tub of them for indoor recess if you have to deal with that, although my students loved puzzles, art, computer, manipulatives, etc. during inside recess time.
These are some of the things I don't really like but all the classroom have them and my mentor thinks they should have them. Who also is the lead teacher. Doll House (put that up high) kitchen set trucks farm animals dolls fisher price houses I can't remember what else. I'm going through everything. I can't get rid of anything. Technically I am only there for a year. So I am thinking about buying plastic tubs to get put them away in.
So do you all not do a block of just free play time at all? I could go on and on, so I won't! lol But, I think at this age they really need to develop certain skills they only can through play. They really are so little and I think it's a shame that the "push" is for kindergarten to be so academic. Kindergarten is the new first grade! Ahhh!
Keep the toys!!! Parents are buying high tech stuff and junk. We need to keep the educational play things in our rooms. Housekeeping/dramatic play items are very beneficial and educational. The block center is a must. Filling your sensory table with sand or water or beans or dirt or whatever matches the season or theme. Remember our students are only four. If you remove the fun stuff- that can be messy stuff- what will you replace it with? workbooks?dittos? Every teacher has a learning style. If I set up my room to only match my style than I am leaving out a large percentage of my kids who have a different style than me. Personally-I hate shaving cream. But each year I have students who love it. I put up with the mess because I know writing and drawing in shaving gunk is helpful and beneficial to them. Leave the lego and the peg and the geo boards. If you don't- watch for children will fine motor difficulties. They really do need that stuff. Oh No! I just read what I wrote and I apologize for sounding Preachy but the kindergartens (due to state mandates) in our school have gone "all academic" and removed the housekeeping/dramatic play centers and block area. Each time I walk passed the doors, I see my little former Pre-K's sitting and sitting. My heart goes out to them.
I don't have a sensory table. I dont' have a big enough classroom for a sensory table. I don't even know how to fit the kitchen stuff into the classroom and still have room to move around. I also, don't have legos. I have set it up so they have a nice area to use the blocks. I want to make some cool educational type games for them. I hope we have some nice recess breaks! I really think kids need to get outside and play.
That is so sad, but very true at many schools! We are very lucky at our school that we still have the kitchens, block center, etc. My daughter was in k at a different school last year but in the same district and they didn't have any of that in her room.
Since you are limited on space, what you might do is buy some inexpensive dish pan tubs (they have medium and large ones at Wal-Mart that are less than $2.00) to keep some different toys in and rotate them through your tables. You could easily keep a small tablecloth, some play dishes and food in one tub that would be a portable kitchen center. In another tub you could have some babies and clothes. In another you could keep dress up clothes and shoes, etc. I am going to keep some of these things in my first grade room this year for indoor recess. I might even let the class earn play time points or something on Fridays for just 15-20 minutes. Of course, I know all of those things require money, but I have gotten a lot of toys at garage sales. Hope this helps some!
That's what I do, just store the toys in plastic tubs, because they definetly get used in the wintertime when we have indoor recess.
I kept my "toy" toys on a shelving unit with wheels. I turned the shelf so the toys will face the wall -- out of sight, out of mind . I was then able to use the top of the shelf for storing baskets of materials that we used on a daily basis. It was easy to turn the shelf around during free play time. * Educational games/toys were kept separate.
Jaime, these are things you should keep!!!!!!!! They are so beneficial. My fondest memories from K were playing in the doll house and with dolls and things. I could never teach K ! I am too nostalgic about the way K used to be. It's so sad
I've often found a difference in opinions of what Kindergarten should or shouldn't look like. It is sometimes very difficult for more experienced K teachers or those with fond memories of K to accept the changes that are occurring in Kindergarten. I'm not the typical kindergarten teacher and though I know others will/do disagree with me I like the higher standards. I started teaching in 1st grade and now that our district has adopted the new rigorous standards, I am amazed at what our Kinderkids can do and how ready they are for the rigorous standards of 1st grade and every grade there after. Of course there is a balance that has to be met. I personally think that viewing Kindergarten as a transition year between primarily learning through play (pre-K) and the traditional academic program is healthy. My goal in kindergarten is to give them the academic meat they need to succeed in 1st grade while presenting it in a fun and loving environment. I'm very careful about what activities I chose to do in my 3 1/2 hours because I need to use every single moment to meet that goal. I chose to remove the toys such as dollhouses, kitchens, water tables from my classroom because they did not meet the standards my students are expected to learn before 1st grade . They are still used outside because they do have importance in child development, they just don't provide a rich enough lesson on a daily basis compared to the "toys"/games/activities that I chose to use in my classroom. It's a tough decision for each teacher to make as to what is necessary and what can be met in another way, that's what makes us creative. It's even more difficult when we get focused on how it used to be, what used to work and the way education was in the past. As one of my most respected principals once said, "the moment we stop learning, growing and changing as a teacher is the moment we stop teaching." We can't stay rutted in the past if we are going to prepare these kids for the future...Ok so now I'm off my soap box. I realize that not everyone agrees with my viewpoint and that's ok because we need all types of teachers because we have all types of students.
Why we play as children is not because it is our work or because it is how we learn, though both statements are true; we play because we are wired for joy, it is imperative as human beings. John Thorn I choose not to take this joy away from children too soon. Do you?
JeneJoy, I agree with you. It's not that I don't want them to play. I just want to have educational games in my classroom for them. I also feel that these children should be outside at least 45 minutes a day. But I guess that is my "dream" day.
I do not believe that by taking out certain play items I am limiting my students joy. In fact most of my students look forward to the activites that I have in my classroom. This depends on the student and the activity of course, therefore I vary my activities to meet all interests and abilities. In fact I believe that my choices are capable of being both educational and fun, developing a love for learning. Like I said before there are ways if you are open to them to bridge the gap between traditional K classrooms with current and future educational needs. You just have to be open to the possibilities and continue to be creative.
Don't I wish we could be outside for 45 mins a day, but with a 1/2 day Kinderday I'm lucky when I get to stretch it out for 30 mins. By the way, that is one of my best reward systems for group behavior in my classroom. I let them know we have certain things that they need to get done for us to have a 10:30 recess (30 mins. start time) and as the group is busy talking, or wasting time I walk over and starting erasing numbers, minutes or even turn the judy clock forward if we've gotten to talking about clocks yet. It is a great motivator to keep on task. (By the way I also let them know when we are out there when their extra recess minutes begin so that they are aware of their hard earned prize each time. (I've also been known to keep in a portion of the group who has not been on task and still has jobs to complete rather than keeping the whole group back when I'm able to.)
In my classroom I have a lot of educational games along with some dolls, a kitchen, dress up clothes, plastic toy cars, a fire truck, blocks, Legos etc.... The kids dont use them everyday but it is great seeing them using their imagination when they do.
Last year all of my students had two half hour recesses a day. I had hardly any behavior problems. The kids were really able to focus during the afternoon after being out in the fresh air. Anyway I don't think I'll have a choice of when my students have recess this year. It is full day K and the school has a set schedule on how to do things.
kindergarten day In my area, Kindergarten has become VERY academically oriented. State standards, accountablility testing-all in Kindergarten. This is my 31st year in Kindergarten and to be honest, I am glad to be rid of some of the "toys". We still have housekeeping, blocks, manips, art center, but can't fit them in everyday. When we do use these areas, they seem more 'special'. Our schedules are down to the minute for all areas, but Kindergarten teachers here do cheat and often go off schedule to do some of the fun things!