Reading and Play in kindergarten

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Reading and Play in kindergarten
By L.P.

Like most of the above teachers, I do both in our very busy all day kindergarten. I have a play center, outfitted largely out of my own pocket since I teach in a small, poorer district. The students are also welcome to go
to the "math tubs" on my shelves when they are done with their work. These consist of plastic jars of small manipulatives such as plastic dinos, jewels, etc. and larger tubs of cubes and more traditional math items. Since I have my art endorsement, we do a lot of art, too. However, I am required by my school district to teach a district wide scripted phonics reading program and would

probably not be hired back if I didn't. I supplement it with shared and guided reading, as well as lots of oral reading to my students which they enjoy. Most of my students are learning to read and take home little readers every night to share with parents. They are very excited about it. I am sharing their excitement and am extremely proud of them. There are also times when I feel I'm pushing too hard but the state keeps wanting more and more from our students (and us) and the continued trend will be towards a more academic kindergarten. I did my student teaching in a developmental kindergarten but that isn't a choice in my district, or in any of the other districts nearby, for that matter. I just modify as much as I can!