Students in Teacher Page Sole’s Turtle Classroom, along with Paraprofessional Kristen Bunce, have engaged in discussions about how people and animals care for themselves during the winter. They have also collaborated to complete various winter-themed small group activities.
Sole asked students how they could keep themselves warm in the winter.
“We wear our jackets,” one student said.
“Turn on the fireplace,” another student added.
Sole then asked students how animals are supposed to keep warm.
“Fur helps keep them warm.
They like to lay in the sun,” a student answered.
“In the fall, they collect food and store it for winter. Whenever they get hungry, they eat it,” another student said.
Sole applauded her class for their answers and reminded them about what hibernation means. The class practiced “hibernating” by pretending to sleep on the play mat. Then, the class practiced “migrating,” pretending to be birds, butterflies, and bats flying south for the winter by traveling back and forth across the classroom.
Once the class settled, Sole read a story about a hibernating bear, enhancing the students’ understanding of seasonal concepts.
After story time, the students enjoyed small group time, completing winter-themed activities.
The children split into groups to complete different activities.
Sole read another winter story to one group, and Bunce showed some students how to complete winter crafts utilizing their cutting and tracing skills. More students created seasonal art with building blocks while the others played a picture-matching game.
Sole has been a teacher for 28 years. Twenty-seven of those years have been in pre-k.
Sole has been married to her husband, Kent, for 35 years.
Together, they have three adult sons. When she is not in the classroom, Sole loves gardening, cooking, and exercising.
Sole discussed why she chose to teach long-term in the Jones County School System.
“I moved to the area with my husband’s job in 2000. After looking at surrounding counties, we decided that this county, and the school system in particular, was where we wanted to raise our boys,” the teacher said.
Sole’s favorite activity to complete with her students is work time.
“During this block of time, I work with children individually.
This allows me to get to know them and their likes and needs,” the teacher said.
She continually reminds her students that they are “the best kids in pre-k” and says she finds that her students live up to her expectations.
Sole mentioned her favorite aspect of teaching.
“The growth in this one short year is amazing to watch.
Knowing that we played a part in that is so rewarding,” Sole added.
This school year is Bunce’s first year in the classroom as a paraprofessional.
She previously was a substitute teacher at the pre-k and decided she wanted to work with students full-time. Bunce plans to continue her education and eventually obtain a degree in special education.
When not at school, Bunce enjoys hanging out with her family, including her three teenage children, and making cakes.
Bunce loves to work with her students in small groups.
“Small group is my favorite time of day. I enjoy seeing that moment when the children get it,” Bunce said.
As the winter season continues, Sole and Bunce will work with students, teaching them about the seasons, how they change, and how it impacts the environment.
