Have you ever felt that the first 15 minutes of your day was full of stops and starts. This was how I was feeling. Now the first rountine we do when the kindergarten children arrive is “smart jobs”.
The “smart jobs” are a collection of literacy and numeracy focused tasks that the students selfselect and practice for the first 15 minutes of our day. I made the change to our morning routine a few years ago. I had always started the day with a traditional circle time. However, I found that the children grew restless as we waited for those friends who were a little slower at putting their outside clothing away. Now, our room is in learning mode from the minute we enter the classroom.
Numeracy Tasks
At the start of the year, the morning routine numeracy tasks are designed to help the children become familiar with different manipulatives. It is a chance to play with quantities and for the class to start conversations about numbers, patterns and quantities. A hands-on way to support the development of number sense.
Literacy Tasks
The morning routine literacy tasks are designed in a similar way. Activities that focus on discovering the characteristics of the letters through sorting, building and matching. As the year progresses, I introduce word-building games and activities.
The smart jobs are available throughout the day for the children to revisit. We also end our day with these tasks.
I’m always thrilled when the children utilize these skills during their open-choice playtime. See below for pictures of children extending and playing with numbers and words.
Happy Teaching and Learning.
Lynda
2 Responses
Good morning Lynda!
I love this idea and I have been slowly tweaking my morning routine with my kids as they enter the classroom and after morning announcements, we do what I call busy bins. My bins are more socially driven rather than numeracy and literacy. I am wanting to change this and love your simple tasks yet they are learning at their own pace.
My question for you is, do you chose the tasks each morning for your kids or do you allow the free choice of a task bin and only allow so many at each task?
HI Kim
I place activities that reinforce the skills we are working on and the students self-select. They do the task individually at their table, unless it is a larger task (for example, won’t fit on their table and they need the floor – if they have one of these larger jobs, they can have one other person or try it by themselves). There are times when I will ask a student to try a game “with me” if it is a task I want to do a little assessment with. Good luck on your transition. – lynda