The learning process might seem dry and boring to some, but it actually consists of a series of fun steps that are entirely enjoyable for youngsters as they go about gaining knowledge and understanding along with the behaviors, skills, values, attitudes and preferences associated with that new information.
Washington Primary School kindergarteners in teacher Cristina Campagnoli’s dual language class discovered just how fun learning can really be as they participated in a counting lesson late last week.
“This morning we completed our first kindergarten counting collection,” said Ms. Campagnoli last Friday morning. “The lesson engaged the students in coordinating the various aspects of counting to find out ‘how many’ are in each set of objects. Each student had a different themed counting collection ranging from underwater sea creatures, dinosaurs and farm animals to bears, bugs, and transportation vehicles.”
Huntington elementary math coach Christine Lofaro prepared and presented the lesson to the students as Ms. Campagnoli assisted the youngsters in the classroom.
Watching children have fun while learning is a priceless experience. There are wide eyes and smiles and lots of fast talking as the youngsters want to tell anyone who is willing to listen what they are doing.
“The students were actively engaged and had fun completing the task,” Ms. Campagnoli said. “With counting collections, students are given objects to count and the student organizes it as directed by a teacher or they can self-organize it. After the collections are counted, the student draws a picture of what was counted (using math drawings) and how it was counted to record their thinking.”
Ms. Campagnoli is a Smithtown High School graduate. She obtained an undergraduate degree at Farmingdale State College and a master’s degree in elementary education with a bilingual extension at CUNY Queens College. She was raised in a bilingual household with immigrant parents from Columbia and Venezuela.
Following five years at Jefferson Primary School during which she taught dual language kindergarten and second grade classes, Ms. Campagnoli came to Washington School this past September.
