Tools Kindergarten visit: Ms. Fraser’s class uncovers connections!

If you’ve never visited a Tools classroom, join us as we take a look at what’s happening inside! Each month, one Tools kindergarten teacher posts photos and updates on their classroom happenings. Meet our January Tools Kindergarten Teacher of the Month, Annemarie Fraser, who posts about her Fairview Elementary kindergarten students from their classroom in Pulaski, WI.

Decoding detectives make connections

Ms. Fraser, a 5th year teacher in her 3rd year of teaching Tools, is amazed by the connections her children are making this year. Both in their own classroom and across their school, links to their learning are popping up everywhere! 

“This year’s class has been so good at noticing words, finding word patterns, and seeing our learning in other places - the lunchroom, during another read-aloud, the library, [and more!]”
- Tools Kindergarten Teacher Annemarie Fraser

Ms. Fraser says her students find “every way possible” to connect ideas back to the main characters in the Magic Tree House book series used in Kindergarten Tools classrooms. Even on their class trip, children were on the lookout for Jack and Annie. Could they be on the trip, too?

In the picture below, Ms. Fraser’s kindergarteners put their decoding skills to the test to sort out Jack and Annie’s riddles. 

Building on learning to get creative

Jack and Annie always engage her students, but Ms. Fraser’s kindergarteners make meaningful connections during other Tools activities as well. During Science Minds, they participate in hands-on activities that encourage them to make connections between what they read and experience and the science concepts they are learning.

Below, Ms. Fraser’s students apply their knowledge and experiences with rainforest layers, shelters, and camouflage to their creative drawings.

Ms. Fraser’s kindergarteners demonstrate their learning through the amazing connections they make each day. Here, a child applies what she already knows about emergent layer animals to invent her own. Creations like these include features that can actually be found on an animal living in the emergent layer, showing not only an understanding of science concepts, but also the ability to apply them to new scenarios.

“I love Tools and the learning it creates for my kiddos!”
- Tools Kindergarten Teacher Annemarie Fraser

Thank you to Ms. Fraser and her class for sharing some of the ways they apply their learning to make connections in and outside of the classroom. To see more from Ms. Fraser’s class, check out her posts here. And check out our most recent Tools Kindergarten Teachers of the Month posts here.