A Peek Into the Classroom: Mrs. Rockensuess's Developmental Kindergarten Class

It’s a snowy Wednesday morning, but Mrs. Rockensuess’s developmental kindergarten classroom at Way Elementary School is warm and inviting. Students are gathered on the carpet listening to Mrs. Rockensuess read Arctic Fives Arrive, a picture book about arctic animals who meet on a hilltop to view the northern lights. 

Mrs. Rock, as she is affectionately known by her students, takes her time reading. She pauses periodically to ask questions like, “Do we think more animals will fit on the iceberg?” or “What do you think the animals are looking at?” and students raise their hands to answer. At one point someone asks, “What’s an iceberg?” and Mrs. Rock takes a moment to explain. As usual, storytime is intentionally interactive, stretching students’ attention spans and keeping them engaged. 

Mrs. Rock says, “Now we are going to make our own arctic animals!” She shows an example, explaining that they will use a plastic fork to paint on construction paper, then cut out eyes, ears, and mouths to add to the face. She calls out names three at a time to choose their animal design, then go to their cubbies and collect scissors and crayons. This practice with turn-taking, patience, and independence is intentional, and an important part of each day in the DK program. 

As students begin to cut out their animal designs, it is clear that most have mastered the fine motor skill of using scissors, something they practiced often in the fall. Some encounter challenges along the way. “I dropped an eye!” cries one student, who can’t seem to locate it on the floor. “That’s okay, we have more,” says Mrs. Rock calmly. Another student is concerned about paint on his hand, and Mrs. Rock empathizes with, “Oh no! What do we want to do?” They discuss using a paper towel or wet wipe, and ultimately the student handles it independently. 

When the project is over, Mrs. Rock asks the class to collect the garbage and wipe down their tables. Five-year-old fingers are clumsy, and distractions are frequent, but the clean-up process is an important part of the lesson. 

The DK program at Bloomfield Hills Schools prepares students for many skills they will need in kindergarten, including independence, social interaction, and emotional regulation. “It helps to master these skills before focusing on academic content later on,” says Mrs. Rockensuess.