Mangere Bridge Kindergarten Community Blog: outdoors for children.

Monday, May 23, 2011

KIndergarten at the Farm - The Lost Gardens

We had a vote on Friday and it was decided that today would be the Lost Gardens. What will be there we wondered? Crickets? Strawberries? A parrot? Carrots? A parachute? A bean? A rabbit? Birdies? A playground? were suggested.
So this morning off we went after signing in at the farm and a mat-time to go over the rules - No climbing on fences and gates, No chasing animals and No running away. Everyone remembered really well.

First we had to go to feed the new calf and Bella Donna. By then some were hungry so we had to have a quick stop to have a snack for energy. The sandpit caught the attention of some of the children and so we diverted to playing in the sand. We thought it amazing that even tho we have a huge sandpit at kindergarten this sandpile still attracted lots of children - in different groups to those who play together at kindergarten.

Next we thought we had better move on to find the Lost gardens. Where are they some wondered and then we came to the gate and what did it say but LOST GARDENS.

So we were on the right track. But just there there was a huge huge puddle so there was just time for a bit of a paddle. What are gumboots for after all. It was great fun and everyone enjoyed the stop.

Finally we made it.
But "where are the gardens" said one "they are not here that must be why they are lost".
The Lost Gardens are a fabulous place to explore rocks and little hollows, and spend time getting up high "I can see the whole farm" they cried out from the top.

And where else could our children roam so far unconfined having a wonderful time enjoying the great outdoors.
This whole experience at the farm is so valuable for city kids - wide open spaces, views of green fields ( and our mountain in the distance) and adults who join in if the children want but also let children explore without having to be right alongside.

Its a fun place to use binoculars too - theres a lot to see

Monday, February 21, 2011

Kindergarten at the farm Animal Day

The weather was uncertain for our third Kindergarten at the farm day so we decided to have an animal day. Unexpectedly we watched Gary the farm manager load the sheep onto a truck and also shear some sheep.

We were just so lucky to be there when this was happening. It was great to watch these every day events at the farm.

What are we learning being at the farm every week? Farm etiquette like NO chasing the animals, No climbing on gates or fences, Shut the gate when you go through, stay away from the water troughs - its where the animals get their drink, and to be quiet and calm around the farm animals so we dont scare them. This is their home.

Then there was just time for some food nd drink and then it was time to walk home across the paddocks. Just like Mr Gumpy.

Another fabulous day.

Crossing the Border

We are so excited - our Book "Crossing the Border" is in print and is available from NZCER Press. We celebrated with a launch on August 2nd with our kindergarten families and community as well as the wider educational community who have been so supportive through this long research process.

We would like to acknowledge the following people for their support for our book:

The Centre of Innovation project outlined in this book took place over three years and the resultant research ethos and testing of innovative ideas has become part of the culture of Mangere Bridge Kindergarten. Initially the inspiration was to create an environment for successful transitions for our children and families and the more we learnt the more possibilities we could see. We built our research on earlier learning from work with the Strengthening Education In Mangere and Otara Project (SEMO) and with Educational Leadership Project (Ltd) and are indebted to Wendy Lee for her dedication to research in early childhood education. We are also grateful to Sue Dockett and Bob Perry for their inspiring work around transition to school in Australia.

The teaching team Carol, Pat and Jemma would like to say a huge thank you to the Centre of Innovation (COI) programme which gave us the opportunity to research in depth our innovations around transition to school and to work so closely with Margaret and Sally, co-authors of this book. We have grown enormously as researchers and academics nurtured by their outstanding support. We also appreciate the friendship and collegial support of the centres of Round Three COI; Botany Downs kindergarten (especially Bronwyn, conference buddy and critical friend), Greerton Early Childhood centres, Wadestown Kindergarten and Bush Street Kindergarten, Rangiora who became our Hui buddies; and in particular Anne Meade for her dedication to children’s learning. Roskill South Kindergarten (Round one, COI) led the way for us and we are extremely grateful to Karen for supporting us in our application and on our journey.

Transition in all its forms continues to have a life of its own at Mangere Bridge kindergarten. The research has continued well beyond the initial COI project and the teaching team has recently initiated a relationship with another school, across the bridge, extending our transition relationships outside of our own community.

The school buddies have a special place in our acknowledgements as without their friendships with the kindergarten children one whole chapter would not have been possible.

Our long journey has sometimes taken our attention away from home and we would like to thank all of our families for being so supportive over this time.

Also the teaching team would like to thank the Auckland Kindergarten Association for their support; past teaching team members Kathy, Frances and Sarah; Alexandra and then Avis who so ably replaced us whenever we needed a reliever; Ann Hatherly from CORE Education; Nola Harvey from the University of Auckland for support in dissemination and the Faculty of Education Research Committee at the University of Waikato for overseeing ethical approvals. Our original administrator, Stephanie, was so enthusiastic about the idea of this journey, and our current administrator, Ingrid, continues this tradition; thank you both.

All the authors believe the strategies, philosophies, and pedagogies contained within this book are not only limited or relevant to a single transition from early childhood to primary but rather can be applied to transitions throughout education. Within the research we identified the importance and interconnectedness of relationships: relationships with the children and families, with the schools, with the local community and into the wider education community.

This book is the result of those relationships. We are all indebted to the children and families of the Mangere Bridge community who trusted us and have unstintingly contributed their enthusiasm and commitment to the project. We wish to acknowledge all those who have contributed time, energy, enthusiasm and feedback to the research, especially the teachers and community of the local schools, Mangere Bridge School and Waterlea Primary School. Warm thanks go, too, to Aline-Wendy for her contribution in writing the foreword.

The transition research continues

Several of our projects are still in action and form an integral part of our transition partnership with teachers, children and families. We have continued the buddy project and it is now three years old. We have had fabulously positive feedback from parents and the new entrant teachers.

We are still active reporting on transition experiences and research at workshops and dissemination opportunities Our book is now in print. It is the culmination of a very long transition journey and a huge workload.

Our four research articles have been published in:

Early Childhood Folio number 13: 2009.

The second article Google "International Journal of Transitions in Childhood Vol 3 2009" and you will find it there.

The third article has been published in "Dispersing Waves: Innovation in early childhood education" 2010. A. Meade Editor. This is the final COI publication.

Another article recently published in Early Childhood Folio:

Transition portfolios: Another tool in the transition kete. Vol18 (2).

To contact us for further information you can email us at mangerebridge@aka.org.nz

The importance of reading

A. Some interesting facts from a recent conference
Boys will speak 7000 words a day, girls will speak 20,000
If a child knows 8 Nursery rhymes by the time they are 4 - they are the best readers
It takes 1000 stories read aloud before a child learns to read a book alone
Series books are the "trainer wheels" of reading - supported practice that is not too hard but are fun to read.
Students who have the biggest vocab are the best readers
Fantastically fun book list
Don't open this book
Down the back of the chair
Harry and the Dinosaurs
Kiss Kiss Yuck Yuck
George and the dragon
My Friend Bear
The Pirate's Feast
The Tale of the little Mole who knew it was none of his business
Watch out Big Bros' coming
Where's my Teddy

Monday, May 23, 2011

KIndergarten at the Farm - The Lost Gardens

Monday, February 21, 2011

Kindergarten at the farm Animal Day

Our new Kindergarten team 2017

Crossing the Border

Buy our book online

The transition research continues

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The importance of reading