I Finally Made My Steps!

Learning Story for Cydney

The Setting: Choice Time: Block Area Date: February 21, 2013

The Story Cydney often chooses the dramatic play, art center and table games during choice time. She would rarely go to blocks. However, today Cydney decided she wanted to go to blocks. She was asked what her plan was in building. She stated that she wanted to build her jungle home. First she drew her jungle home then she taped her blueprint on the shelf to assist her when building. Cydney created two tall towers attached to each other. Cydney said she was almost done with her building. However, she was asked how the people would get into the tower. She paused, having to figure out where she can create a door. She proceeded to the writing center where she cut out the door and glue it to the blocks with a glue stick. Being that the door was too high from the ground, she was asked how the people are getting into the door. She knew right away that steps were needed. However, she put four quads down in a row then she put another four quads on top of it against the door. There she declared that she made her steps. Again she was informed that there was no door now since the quads blocked the door. Not only that, the people would have to jump up to get in as opposed to walking up the steps. At that moment, Cydney was unsure of how she can create steps and unblock the door. With support, I brought Cydney outside of the classroom to the staircase. We walked up the stairs and into the door as if we were pretending to go into the tower. She was guided by looking at the stairs and how it is formed. When she returned to the block area, she spend time figuring out how she could create steps. Finally she made her steps. However, it was still blocking the door. She was praised for coming to a solution of creating steps. She was also encouraged to solve the problem of unblocking the door. Not so long after, she moved the quads around where she created steps going up and then steps going down into the door! There she was with glee that she had finally solved the problem!

What makes Learning Visible? Cydney was actively and confidently engaged in her building. She was engaged in problem solving where she attempted multiple ways to create her steps and unblocking the door. Cydney used her creativity to come to a solution of how she created her entrance since we are consumed to one way of getting into a door. Cydneys creativity allowed her to experiment by trying different ways to accomplish her goal. She demonstrated persistence where she maintained focus during her task. With persistence, she continued to modify her building until she completed her task. Most importantly she used her mathematical practice of geometry during block building. For instance, how Cydneys use of blocks assisted her to create symmetry of her towers. In addition to how she analyzed and compared with blocks to create steps.

The Next Step With prompting and support continue to encourage Cydney to be involved in the block area frequently to promote a mathematical thinking.

NYS Pre-Kindergarten Common Core Standard Domain 1: Approaches to Learning Approaches to Learning: Foundational Skills Engagement Actively engages in problem solving. Identifies a problem and tries to solve it independently. Attempts multiple ways to solve a problem. Communicates more than one solution to a problem. Engages with peers and adults to solve problems

Persistence Demonstrates persistence. Maintains focus on a task. Seeks assistance when the next step seems unclear or appears too difficult. Modifies strategies used to complete a task.

Domain 5: Cognition and Knowledge of the World Math Geometry Identify and describe shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles). Analyze, compare, and sort objects.