What They Already Know About Items, Actions, Or Places

September 2016

Dear Preschool Families,

During these first weeks of school, classroom staff members are involving the children in a Guided Discovery process. Responsive Classroom guidelines remind us how important exploring new materials, new places, and new routines can be. This Guided Discovery includes children sharing in the following:

·  what they already know about items, actions, or places

·  exploring in a way to elicit their comments, observations and question, questions, questions

·  exploring in a way to foster a sense of wonder

·  opportunities to follow a model and then practice, practice, practice

·  understanding how and why to care for materials and classroom/school places

·  a chance to be independent and responsible with materials and routines

An example of Guided Discovery Learning Outcomes with Drawing/Writing Tools:
CRAYONS--can be skinny/"fat," roll easily and how to prevent rolling off the table, feel waxy, have a paper covering that might need to be peeled, break easily, smell--a unique scent, might be kept in a pack/box and need to slide in and out or might be kept in a sharing basket for a group
COLORED PENCILS: Similar to crayons--can be skinny/fat, roll easily and how to prevent rolling off the table, tips/points break easily, might be kept in a pack/box... They are different from crayons, as they are made of wood or are not waxy, need to be sharpened...
MARKERS: Similar to crayons and pencils--can be skinny/fat, roll easily, might be kept in a pack/box ...They are quite different in that they are plastic with a felt tip/wick inside, have caps/covers, marker ink flows easily onto papers--and hands/skin and clothing, and don't break easily. Also the caps/covers roll easily unless snapped on the back or stood on a flat side. Lastly, markers need extra special care to work, as caps/covers must be snapped on completely so they do not dry out.

Throughout this month, ask your child to tell you about items, actions, & places he/she has discovered:

crayons pencils markers scissors glue sticks

water color paints tempera paint liquid glue

white board/dry erase markers iPad

bathroom sink/hand-washing classroom library

folding paper working zippers opening juice box/straw

cleaning spills cleaning up crumbs playing outside