Kindergarten Family Word Groups

1. Kindergarten Family Word Groups EAST / EMPACTS PROJECT Introduction to Education Fall 2007 Imelda Rogel, Estefania Rojas, Pamela Wilson,

2. INTRODUCTION The goal of our project is to introduce two Family Word Groups, the “AT” and “AN” Family groups to Mrs. Lott’s Kindergarten class at Westwood Elementary in Springdale, Arkansas. We will introduce the family word groups by using two separate booklets that contain the words, a picture, and a line for them to trace the word and also write it independently. We also created a Power Point for Mrs. Lott to use with her students as a group or individually.

3. PROJECT OVERVIEW • This project will meet the needs of Kindergarten students by broadening their learning experience in many ways. • Through the use of sight , they will achieve this by recognizing the letters and associating them with the picture and given word. • The use of sound, they will achieve this when we read the word, both in English and Spanish and they repeat the word, saying it with us. • Through using their listening skills, by following directions. • They will use their fine motor skills to color and write the word that corresponds to the picture on the page.

4. COMMUNITY ASPECT This project provides service to the community by utilizing the skills that the students already posses and expand on them. It will also provide educational material for the students and faculty at a local Elementary school.

5. COURSE CONTENT OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT • Self as a Learner, this is going to be accomplished by observing the differences in the students in Mrs. Lott’s classroom. Westwood has a diversity of cultural backgrounds along with the different levels that the students are at. • Future teacher; by presenting this lesson, we as future teachers will be able to determine if there are any changes that need to be made in our future careers. • Implementing the lesson plans that we created • Development of a particular Activities that are within the curriculum

6. TEAM MEMBERS • Imelda Rogel • Estefania Rojas • Pamela Wilson • We worked with was Mrs. Lott, this is her first year teaching. She teaches Kindergarten at Westwood Elementary School in Springdale, Arkansas. We really enjoyed working with her, she gave us full control of the class and only helped when needed. We learned a lot about maintaining control within a classroom.

7. PROJECT GOAL • We worked on our project as a group and also independently. • Our goal was to introduce two family word groups that Mrs. Lott will be using later in the semester. Another goal was to have the students associate pictures with words and learn to trace the word and then write it independently. Our goal was achieved and because of this the students learned, as did we.

8. Glue and scissors Construction paper Yarn Booklets Pencils Crayons Arkansas State Standards for Kindergarten MATERIALS THAT WERE USED

9. Microsoft Power Point Multiple Internet Search Engines Microsoft word Clip Art Computer and printers Microsoft Publisher Compact Disc for slideshow TECHNOLOGY USED

10. TEAM and INDIVIDUAL SKILLS ACHIEVED

11. RESULTS OF OUR PROJECT • The project itself revealed that there is more to teaching than just developing a lesson plan and implementing it. You have to be flexible when you are dealing with Kindergarten students and also with technology. Sometimes you have to change your game plan in midstream and switch your teaching strategies to compensate for students who need to be challenged or just need a little extra help. • The reward of watching the students use their imagination and knowledge to progress in their reading and writing skills was an awesome experience that will stay with us throughout our lives.

12. PERSONAL GROWTH – A REFLECTION • First impressions to the teacher and students are very important because this decides how well we will have control in the classroom. • Working as a team, you can get more accomplished. • We learned new ideas, values, and trust from each other. • Time management was a large portion of this project, which we did very well. • Most importantly we observed that when students are given a project / lesson that they enjoy and are excited about, they seem to put forth more effort. • This interest then leads to productive learning. • Interaction between student and teacher during an assignment is very important. • Constructivism is an important aspect in the classroom, the students that were ahead academically were able to build on their knowledge, while the student that were either below or on level were able to increase the knowledge.

13. PERSONAL GROWTH – A REFLECTION (Cont.) • If there is not any interaction, then how do we as teachers know that our students understand the lesson and are actually learning from it. • When working with Kindergarten it is a must to get on their level, not only emotionally, but physically as well. • This age becomes very excited and distracted easily, so we had to keep things moving. • We did this by alternating teacher / facilitator roles between us. • Teaching is not just getting up in the front of the class and speaking, but presenting the lesson in a fun and exciting manner. • That diversity in a classroom can be very challenging to a teacher to make sure that every student has an equal learning opportunity. • That it is very helpful to have someone that is bilingual to communicate with the ESL students.

14. HOW IS THIS RELEVANT TO THE REAL WORLD? The concepts that we taught with the booklets will enhance their Reading and Writing skills. Mrs. Lott will be able to use the booklets and Power Point we left for her in future lessons. The students will be able to build and expand their knowledge, which in turn will enable them to become better students and eventually successful adults.

15. HOW COULD THIS PROJECT BE EXPANDED FURTHER? • This project could be taken to the next level by having the students pick the correct word from a list, that corresponds to a given picture. • Additional Family Word Groups could be added to the “At” and “An” family. • A interactive Power Point with questions could be developed, so that the teacher or teachers could use it to test their students. • Booklets made in multiple languages, this would challenge all students. • Booklets that the students themselves cut out and put together.

16. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANK YOU • A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO: • Mrs. Lott, Kindergarten teacher, Westwood Elementary School • Dr. Jerry Rogers, Principal • Mrs. Nandra Campbell, Assistant Principal • Dr. Regina Ryel, Faculty Member, NWACC • Ms. Dianne Phillips, EAST/EMPACTS Facilitator, NWACC