This document summarizes cooperation between Ársalir kindergarten and Árskóli primary school. It discusses their Comenius project which formalized information sharing and increased meetings between teachers. It describes mutual workshops teachers attended on using play-based learning. It also outlines a draft booklet called "Farsæll" that would provide primary schools with information about incoming students' backgrounds, development, and needs to ease their transition from kindergarten to primary school. New ideas are proposed to further improve this transition process.

1. Comenius Regio
19th -21st May 2014

2. Cooperation between Ársalir and Árskóli

3. Overview of our introduction
Cooperation before our Comenius project
The effect of the Comenius project, what has changed?
The visiting schedule for the school year
„Farsæll“ the formalization of information about kindergarten students
New ideas to improve the transition
Pictures speak louder than words
´´Learning by doing“ Play to learn more
Participants on this seminar will take part in some of the every day work the students in both schools deal with every day.

4. Before our Comenius project
Mutual visits between the schools were just as many as today
There used to be one meeting where the visits were organized
Meeting held every spring where concerns about students with special needs that will attend Árskóli the fall are presented. Those who attend this meeting are: the head of the special needs department and the head of the primary department in Árskóli, the Kindergarten teachers in Ársalir, a social worker from the municipality and the parents
Meeting held in August each year, where 1st class teachers in Árskóli get verbal and informal, information from the Kindergarten techers in Ársalir about every student that transferes to 1st class from Ársalir

5. The effect of the Comenius project
More frequent meetings between teachers
Professional work
Organization
Job Swapping
Attending mutual workshop (Play to learn more)
Formalization of information given to Árskóli about kindergarten students (Farsæll)
New ideas about ending of Kindergarten and beginning of school (the transition)

6. Mutual workshop
The teachers from both schools have attended mutual workshop called Play to learn more
The purpose was to make use of similar/same teaching methods in both schools
We are interested in further cooperation like that

7. Play to learn more (PTLM)
A teaching method where academic subjects, physical exercises and movements are combined
Suits all 3 – 10 years old children
Partly based on the theory that moving and learning at the same time is a highly effictive way to learn
Can be taught in large and small groups
Can be taught in large and small classrooms
Can be taught inside or outside

8. Why do we choose the teaching method PTLM?
In the general section of the National Curriculum from 2011 is discussed a lot about various teaching methods and the teachers´ professional responsibility to choose the most efficient way of teaching and learning to obtain the best result according to competence the teachers are aiming on each time. Therefore it is required to ensure students varied study conditions.
Motion/physical activity increases the ability to store new knowledge and method of retrieving it. Single track and guide to learn subject seem not to contribute to the long term memory whilst the experience in coordinating with the environment helps the brain to develop new synapsis
(Bransford, Brown & Bocking 2000, Field McManes, 2006)

9. Farsæll a draft of a booklet where information is formalized
The aim is to give the primary school informative information about the children in order to fulfill their needs in the school
Farsæll allso gives parents information on cooperation between Ársalir and Árskóli
Parents permission wanted
Content
Background information
A profile of the child at kindergarten´s graduation
Social status
Language development
Motor development
Character trait

10. New ideas to improve the transition
The 1st grade teachers (the following school year)and the head of primary school in Árskóli will atend the graduation in Ársalir every spring.
On the first school day in August, a kindergarten teacher from Ársalir will work with the 1st grade teachers in Árskóli