#Kinderchat Archive
#Kinderchat, glue, glitter, gogurt, bringing daily joy to twitter. Find us Mondays, 9 pm EST and 8:30PM London time when we talk all things Early Years!
Monday May 2, 2016
3:30 PM EDT
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Hi there friends! Please say hi if you are here tonight!
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hi Heidi how are you today how was your weekend?
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Great! How are you Lyndsey? Sorry I didn't get the word out earlier about the chat tonight! It snuck up on me! :)
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I'm good thanks it's ok Monday's can be like that sometimes!
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Hi, I'm in tonight. How are you?
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That's exactly it!! sneaks up on you! :)
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hi Kim how are you today? Are you on bank holiday?
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Ah is that what it is there today? Bank holiday?
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I'm on bank holiday, most welcome extra day off
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Nice! We don't have those here in America! I can always sort of tell when there is one over there though! :)
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They are usually quiet chat nights as everyone is resting and enjoying! :)
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So maybe we will keep tonight brief?
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Ok great! Tonight is a Toys, Tools and Tech topic-
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Hi ! I'd love to join you briefly! I'm Bethany Gochnour, Kindergarten teacher in Idaho
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NAmerica chat tonight is focusing in on toys and tools for working and playing outside
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Hello Bethany! How are you? It is a bank holiday in UK so we are a bit slow tonight! :) How are you?
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Paperwork is never done!! Haha!
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I have absolutely no idea what a bank holiday is! I'm doing well, thanks! I'm fine w/ slow, btw. More personal!
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True! :) I can't quite figure out the idea behind Bank holiday's either! Other than the banks are closed! :)
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So I have slowly been establishing a "mud kitchen" outside of my classroom- all due to the UK folks talking about it so much!
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and most people in public sector get a day off boooo for private!
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So jealous! I love a holiday!
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They need them! UK goes to school until the END OF JULY
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oooo great how's it going! What do the children think?
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I didn't realize that. They definitely deserve it...
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So what other toys, spaces or materials do you find essential to working outdoors with children?
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Ive learned so much from them! Glad to have another American here tonight w me to see how different/same it is!
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we have been developing a sensory space with herbs and flowers it's lovely & has really changed children's outlook
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RT we have been developing a sensory space with herbs and flowers it's lovely & has really changed children's outlook
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that sounds really lovely Lyndsey!! Really beautiful! Love that idea!
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Depends on the outdoors! Some will not require toys just children and leading own learning
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I'd like to get out of the classroom more. Our climate is really unpredictable. Snowing one hour, 50 degrees the next.
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it's gorgeous we have a pergola too and are planning on growing climber plants.
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Agree! We encourage use of sticks- use sandpaper to smooth them out- adds a whole lot of focus and attention
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Yes! That can be very tough! I've taken my class on daily walks this year- has been transformative!
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I agree depends on the space sometimes we put out extra tools and resources
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What would one of your walks look like? What kind of dialogue is used? What are the Ss expected to contribute?
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I think Americans would be shocked to see how much the UK teachers utilize outdoors vs American teachers!
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Have been growing grass in tyres for children to cut with scissors!
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We just walk and enjoy and talk about what we notice. We can now identify 20+ trees by sight!
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RT Have been growing grass in tyres for children to cut with scissors!
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I didn't even realize that it was a thing until I started networking on Twitter
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love love love being outside with the children much prefer it to being inside!
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setting up boundaries when outside is important! They love hula hoops &poly spots
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Yes! It's so interesting! So much to learn from our colleagues in Europe!
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learning outside is very rare if unheard of at all. I can't think of a school where it is normal
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Yes! They even have fires outside and cook on them regularly!
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Sometimes we might put out paint brushes and water it's amazing the chat that comes from these simple but effective tools
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Are you able to bring that information back into any sort of curriculum? Just curious... I LOVE new ideas!
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yes and build dens use ropes loads of cool stuff!
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Hello! Yes! Agree boundaries always important! But have to balance that w allowing enough risk vs over safety!
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I've mostly done it in terms of starting to develop the mud kitchen area and the walks!
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Another very unique thing is their focus on storytelling! Rich lives! Like building the dens Lynsey just said!
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Sounds like you are going on a
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I agree! Using any shaded areas from the us for boundaries as well if you don't have equipment!
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Yes! It's changed the whole focus of the program! Not sure how we lived without them before!!
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we're lucky we have the freedom to do these lovely things I love it! It's like reliving my childhood!
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What type of setting are you in? I have benefit of woods but know most folks don't!
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Has to be reasonable risk
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I know this is one of the biggest differences between US/UK education! It's amazing! I so admire UK focus on this!
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Oh yes! But I do think we've gone overboard on one hand where NO risk is allowed!
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ie I have a friend who is looking for daycare in US and can barely find one with access to outdoor space!
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totally agree children crave risk! And learn so much from problem solving and assessing own risk
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Can you tell us what the difference is between Uk/US education in this area? I am intrigued
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haaa! I KNOW! :) And some schools purchase outdoor gear for all the children! They are SERIOUS!
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but with all the distracting elements and excitement from outside, they need some sort of structure :)
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And they go out cooking on an open fire IN THE RAIN
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whaaaaat! That's crazy and so sad! Outdoor play is so necessary! Send her to Scotland!
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When I read that I could just see the headline in the newpaper. SO MANY REGULATIONS!
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Children can be so creative outside, and free!
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hmmmm... not sure about that? Can you say more what you mean?
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I know! But they have regulations on the other side- craaaazy paperwork- crazy!
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I felt like telling her that!!! :)
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Those elements are opportunities in themselves
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the language skills and role play cooperation skills it's amazing truly amazing! Such simple tools.
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So just to clarify, they paint on the ground (i.e. sidewalk) with water.
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water painting is the best!!
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has a great book on preparing children for lessons outside
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well now I'm excited to try it. LOVE learning all these new things!
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haha you are def selling a move to uk for her!
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Simple tools covering all 7 areas of learning
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yes or the fence or sheds anywhere they want it's so therapeutic
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There's so many opportunities outside to cover all aspects of any curriculum it's just about thinking about it in creative way
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Also once you just get out there you start seeing more and more connections! Have to get out!
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Pre writing skills there!
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Gotta head. Thanks for feeding my brain! I'm going to try everything w/ my Ss this week w/ the exception of the open fire pit :)
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And children will do just that! thinking
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haaaa! So glad you could join us tonight Bethany! Have a great week!
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exactly! That's why I love my new house I have my own garden yippeeeee! Now I just need a chiminea for my fire!
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They do! I always look around at the beach- all children seem to always be "on task" at the beach!
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Sounds wonderful!!! Are you in yet?!?
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Ok, so let's end a few minutes early tonight for that bank holiday! :) How does that sound?
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yes been in for around a week I love it so much!!!! Feel like a proper adult now haha!
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haha thanks for joining in! Always good to have fresh ideas and input!
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Oh that's wonderful!!! Congratulations to you!!! Unpacking is so much more fun! New adventures, space! Exciting!!
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ah you go the beach! I would love that!
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Been a lively chat for a bank holiday.
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sounds good great chat tonight! Have a good week everyone 😊
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Yes!! I thought so too! :) Thanks so much for coming tonight Kim!
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KG kids in have fallen in love with Dash the robot!
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Ok great! Thanks everyone! Nice lively chat tonight! Next week we party! :) See you soon and have a fantastic week!
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And Thank you to you for coming tonight Simona! :)
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