What is Big, Bright and Beautiful?

Big, Bright and Beautiful drawings in Kindergarten are an inmportant link to building literacy.  Drawing and representing ideas on paper is a form of expression for beginning writers.  It is a step to recording ideas and communicating thoughts.  With this in mind, we have modelled and are using this phrase to foster visual representations that promote clarity, details and effort.  Families will hear this phrase in the classroom, hear it repeated at home when their child is creating and adults are encouraged to restate this phrase when interacting with their child.

Big= An interesting picture details. It fills the space.
Bright= 5 or more colours
Beautiful= I tried my best. I took my time. I coloured back and forth.

We are using our Big, Bright and Beautiful skills in our drawing journals.  This week they were introduced and will appear on the tables in the morning.  Sometimes they will be out on the tables for the children to begin their day.  We have a display of some drawings done in groups, they are on the windows of our classrooms for you to enjoy.  Another drawing done for our own portfolio, where we had to do a self reflection, asking ourselves if we did include all the parts of Big, Bright and Beautiful.  These steps lead up to working in our own drawing journals.

KW Classroom Essential Agreement

The students in KW agree!

The major themes were provided by the teacher to guide the discussion.  We talked about each theme over the course of three sessions.  The children contributed their ideas of what each theme looked like, sounded like, and promised to uphold as a member of the Kindergarten class.  This language becomes key in discussions about expectations and how to live well together.

Be Kind

– help your friends, use kind words, share everything, wait your turn, everybody plays, take care of toys

Be Ready
-raise your hand, pack your backpack, brush teeth and hair, go to sleep when it is time for bed, come quickly when called
Be Safe
- walk or run carefully, hands and feet to yourself, eat slowly, keep your hands clean

Essential agreements as designed by the children

KM Classroom Essential Agreements- The major themes were provided by the teacher to guide the discussion. We talked about each theme over the course of three sessions. The children contributed their ideas of what each theme looked like, sounded like, and promised to uphold as a member of the Kindergarten class. This language becomes key in discussions about expectations and how to live well together.


Be Kind
 – help your friends, use kind words, share everything, wait your turn, everybody plays, lots of hugs
Be Ready
-raise your hand, hand up when ready or need help, listening ears, smiling and quiet mouths, ducktails, walk in sand
Be Safe
- walk or run carefully, hands and feet to yourself, chairs tucked in, use your words, pick up toys

Animal School

We shared this short video clip at our Curriculum Night as it does express the message that we are all different types of learners.  As seen with the animals, children vary in their learning styles, motivations and support systems.  Kindergarten offers opportunities to try, play, replay, experience, smell, talk, share, inquire, observe, touch and so much more.

Smile, today was photo day!

All our buttons were done up, ties straightened and smiles were on.
We had out photos taken for Kindergarten today.

We love to sing

Each morning, we gather together and begin our day with a song, or two!
Here is one of our favourites.  We will post some more for you soon.
Developing our oral language through song helps us use social language to interact co operatively with others. 

Good Morning Song


Oh, the duck says "Quack",

and the cow says "Moo",

the old red rooster says

"Cock-a-doodle-doo".

The sheep says "Baa",

and the cat says "Meow",

but I say "Good Morning

when I see you!

Playing outside while learning to play with our friends