Help support Mrs. Sobalvarro's Classroom

The transition from Pre-K to kindergarten is tough on students as they transition from a play-based curriculum to the full day of kindergarten academics. To ease this transition, I am working toward blending the two models in order to have a portion of our day where my students can engage in rigorous academic work through play. We are asking for the light table in order to create a space for purposeful play in order to support joyful and essential learning in kindergarten. As all of my students are language learners, I believe providing them a space to engage with content through exploratory play and scientific discovery will benefit them academically in developmentally and linguistically appropriate ways. For example, for students who are working on anything from letter recognition to spelling, they can demonstrate learning by using plastic letters on the light table. This not only engages many modalities of learning but also provides a safe and fun space for our five and six-year-olds to practice their learning. The light table will also create a space for conversation and language development as students innovate and create with the Magna-Tiles, recycled materials, painting bins, color-mixing dishes etc. Navigating conflicts and figuring out how to share develops students’ conversation and language skills, which are most often developed during play and peer-to-peer interactions for kindergarten-aged students. Lastly, the light table will assist students who struggle with fine motor skills, such as holding a pencil. Each week we plan to have a new fine motor activity on the light table during writing and choice time, to build muscles through play. Such ideas are “writing” in colored salt with paintbrushes, threading string through straws, cutting water beads in half, and using loose parts to trace lines, shapes, and letters.

About my class

The transition from Pre-K to kindergarten is tough on students as they transition from a play-based curriculum to the full day of kindergarten academics. To ease this transition, I am working toward blending the two models in order to have a portion of our day where my students can engage in rigorous academic work through play. We are asking for the light table in order to create a space for purposeful play in order to support joyful and essential learning in kindergarten. As all of my students are language learners, I believe providing them a space to engage with content through exploratory play and scientific discovery will benefit them academically in developmentally and linguistically appropriate ways. For example, for students who are working on anything from letter recognition to spelling, they can demonstrate learning by using plastic letters on the light table. This not only engages many modalities of learning but also provides a safe and fun space for our five and six-year-olds to practice their learning. The light table will also create a space for conversation and language development as students innovate and create with the Magna-Tiles, recycled materials, painting bins, color-mixing dishes etc. Navigating conflicts and figuring out how to share develops students’ conversation and language skills, which are most often developed during play and peer-to-peer interactions for kindergarten-aged students. Lastly, the light table will assist students who struggle with fine motor skills, such as holding a pencil. Each week we plan to have a new fine motor activity on the light table during writing and choice time, to build muscles through play. Such ideas are “writing” in colored salt with paintbrushes, threading string through straws, cutting water beads in half, and using loose parts to trace lines, shapes, and letters.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mrs. Sobalvarro's Classroom Edit display name

Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Mrs. Sobalvarro's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Past projects 1

Brighten Our Day With a Light Table!

About my class

About my class

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Mrs. Sobalvarro's Classroom Edit display name

Support her classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Support Mrs. Sobalvarro's classroom with a gift that fosters learning.

Past projects 1

Brighten Our Day With a Light Table!

About my class

About my class

Share this classroom

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.