Kindergarten is a wild ride! It is amazing to see their independence, understanding, and ability grow by leaps and bounds! If you are new to teaching & struggle with kindergarten...just wait! After Christmas break is when the magic really happens!!
I will say though...it is a struggle at times to have students help with cleanup. It seems to take longer to have them do it than if you did it all yourself. HOWEVER...you need to give them those opportunities to be responsible & be a part of the FULL process in the art room(which includes clean up!). One of the things that drives me crazy is watching them pick up papers. They have not mastered the art of place one piece directly on top of another!! ha ha Even after you have showed them(over...and over...and over again!).
I recently was at Dollar Tree(if you don't have them in your area...I'm sorry...THEY ARE AWESOME). I found these larger tray/container/basket things(in my fav. color too!!). I thought of how that could help the process a bit for kindergarten clean up. Now this may not be revolutionary to you...but it really has helped my classroom out a great deal!!! I have two students walk around collecting art work...the students at their seat place the work into the trey. It sometimes is still a little off....but works so much better than the helpers dropping the art 10x!!
I ALSO USED THESE WITH STUDENTS WHO HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS!!
It really allowed them to participate with clean up & feel successful!
neat idea here. i have folders but they are easy to upset too.
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