The report card will be divided into four frames: Belonging and Contributing, Self-Regulation and Well-Being, Demonstrating Math and Literacy Behaviours, and Problem Solving and Innovating. An outline of the Four Frames can be found in the Kindergarten Program by clicking here and going to page 46. This type of reporting will give educators an opportunity to show the learning in a more holistic way, which is specific to your child's development. It will also give us a starting point for deeper conversation about your child's strengths and needs.
Part of our job as educators is to plan a learning environment which allows the children to learn through play and investigation. Ms. Switzer and I observe the children carefully during play and we document their learning through written observation and pictures. We have taken a look at some documentation (some from past blog entries) and put them here to show you that the teaching/learning has not changed - it it just being reported in a different format.
Below, you will see some examples of learning in the four frames. Many of the expectations overlap.
Belonging and Contributing
Showing a growing sense of self and connection to others through movement, problem solving and the Arts.
Through Play, Does your child?:
- Explore different centres in the room
- Choose materials to express their creativity in art, drama, and dance
- Participate in group circle time, physical education, games, and songs
- Express themselves during problem solving
Demonstrating Literacy Behaviours
Through play, does your child explore materials in the room which promote Oral Language, Reading and Writing?
Beginning behaviours to look for:
- Exploring books and concepts of print (turning pages from left to right, holding book upright, following the print with a finger, pretending to read familiar books)
- Singing familiar songs and visiting the puppet centre and the drama centre
- Using literacy materials appropriately (abc centre, finding letters in the sand, making letters with dough, writing symbols in the writing centre, reading environmental print, using proper language for social skills)
Demonstrating Math (and Problem Solving) Behaviours
Mathematics exploration and problem solving through investigation of the "Big Ideas" of early Mathematics
Through Play, Does your child?
- Count by 1-1 correspondence for small numbers (one count for each number)
- Keep stable order (1,2,3,4.. not 1,2,4,5..)
- Show order irrelevance (you can begin at any object in a set and the order will be the same)
- Begin to understand conservation of number (the final number in a set is the quantity and you don't have to start counting over again if you add one more)
- Rote count to 30 by the end of Kindergarten
- Show simple operational sense such as adding and subtracting through finger plays (e.g. Five Little Ducks)
- Show understanding of quantity (how much is it?) - more, less, fewer, same or that a numeral represents how many
- Show understanding of relationships (sorting by attribute or understanding 5 and 10)
- Show representation of a number (knowing that the symbol for 5 means five things)
Self Regulation and Well Being
This area is often overlooked but is extremely important. If a child has difficulty with self-regulation, it is difficult to learn.
Does Your Child?
- Participate actively during learning and circle time
- Listen to others and wait for his/her turn during conversations
- Communicate his/her needs to the teacher (such as asking for help, to use the washroom, etc.)
- Use self-help skills such as toileting, getting dressed, putting materials away and showing respect for the classroom materials
- Use appropriate social skills to solve problems (e.g. asking, "can I use that toy when you are finished?")
- Follow the classroom rules
- Have the ability to keep personal space during listening time
- Take turns and share during play time
Problem Solving and Innovating
Showing curiosity and understanding for the natural world and Science investigations.
Through Play, Does your child:
- Participate
- Ask questions
- Show an interest in Science investigations
- Communicate their thoughts and ideas
- Use materials in the classroom and outside to construct things
- Explore various Science and sensory activities
- Use problem solving skills in Math, Language, play and social situations
We have tried to shed some light on examples of The Four Frames through play in our classroom. If you would like to see the complete list of examples from The Ministry of Education, please go to www.edu.gov.on.ca - Curriculum (link provided at the beginning of this blog).
We look forward to meeting with you about your child's development!
