Joyful Learning: A Whole Language Kindergarten

by Bobbi Fisher (Heinemann, 1991 ISBN 0-435-08569-7.) Professional Book.
This review by Carol Otis Hurst first appeared in Teaching K-8 Magazine.

Review

Joyful Learning gets down to the basics of how to implement a whole language classroom in kindergarten. Among many, many other treasures she presents her schedule, giving explanation and rationale for each of the following :

8:50 - 9:00 - Settling in Time

Sign in
Teacher talks with individuals, take milk money, etc.
Teacher and children select some charts for shared reading time

9:00 - 9:15 - Community Circle Time

Discuss daily schedule
Share "Headline News"
Sharing from home
Sharing Table
Children as Teachers
Celebrating Me
Read Mr. Bear's journal
Talk about the calendar

9:15 - 9:45 - Shared Reading Time

Familiar songs, poems and chants (between four and six each day)
New song, poem, or chant (every two or three days)
Familiar big book (one or more)
New big book
Make a choice for choice time

9:45-10:40 - Choice Time

I CARE CHOICES: Writing, Reading, Math, Art, Science and Environmental Play
Other choices include: paint, workbench, blocks, puppet theater, housekeeping, library, book corner, sand table, snack time, dramatic play or extension of "I Care."

10:40-10:50- Sharing Time

Author's Chair
Sharing writing, paintings and constructions

10:50-11:10- Clean up and Outside Time

11:10-11:30- Preparation for Home & Story Time