Month by Month Reading and Writing for Kindergarten |
The Teacher's Guide to the Building Blocks |
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Erin - Okay, let's chat about BB. Who has started school already? I don't until next week.
Kira - I haven't started yet either - I start Wed.
lf - I thought this would be hosted by an expert like the kidwriting chat was
Cathy - My kids start on Weds., too
Erin - This will be my first year teaching with BB, although I tried some things last year.
Cathy - what is BB?
Erin - Building Blocks
Erin - The kindergarten version of the Four Blocks Literacy model
Cathy - Thanks - is that a published curriculum?
Erin - It's published by Carson-Dellosa
Kira - Yes, there are several resources for it
Erin - I think?
Cathy - My school uses SFA, and this is my first job. A lot to learn!
Erin - It all comes together, Cathy!
Kira - What is SFA?
milymo - I used Four Blocks for the last two years in second grade and moved to kinder this year. I knew that I had to use Building Blocks!
Kira - How did you like Four Blocks milymo?
JB - Anyone have a good idea for a bulletin board with a "Just Read" theme (it's our school theme this year)
Lisa - I teach Junior Kindergarten which is for 3 and 4 year olds, I'm considering using BB . . . does anyone have any feelings about whether it is appropriate for this age group?
milymo - I loved it! It just made so much sense!
Cathy - How about a list of class favorites for the bulletin board?
I Luv K - I don't know much about pre-school, but I'd guess it would work to some extent
Kira - That's how I felt when I read the BB books - that it makes so much sense
JB - that's a good idea Cathy - thanks
Erin - Ditto, Kira
I Luv K - My kinders who came from pre-k learned letters through the letter people, so why not BB to some extent?
Lisa - What are the letter people?
Erin - I spent my summer doing curriculum work to fit my ideas into the BB framework. I can't wait for the year to start
Kira - Last year was my first and I had to teach using only the "Letter of the Week" format
Cathy - Do you guys do assessment of reading and other skills upon entry? (BTW, I am special ed )
Erin - Me, to, Kira -- Using the Letter People!
JB - How do you do daily sign in? I'm trying to decide how to do it this year
I Luv K - i don't know much about it...one blowup "person" per letter
JB - No Cathy, I don't
I Luv K - that's all i knowsorry!
Erin - They are characters who correspond to the letters, Lisa. The boys are consonants and the girls vowels.
milymo - The letter people are so loveable! Mr. M is my favorite!
Erin - They each have a song -- Mr. M is the overall favorite!
Erin - With his munching mouth...
Cathy - Sign in - we will do with VisaVis pens on laminated dotted names - first names to begin with
I Luv K - JB--I made my sign-in sheet in Microsoft Works w/a table
Lisa - Last year I had a choice question for my sign in - my kinderkids had to decide which they prefered and sign their name under it
Erin - They have some sort of exagerated physical trait or favorite thing that helps students remember the letter sound.
Kira - Does anyone use letter of the week and BB? - my school is reluctant to give the letters up
I Luv K - their name is in one block the next one empty for them to use
JB - so you do your sign in on a laminated sheet with a sample for them to look at or trace each day?
I Luv K - yup...i have to do saxon phonics and BB
JB - No Kira -- letter of the week doesn't really go with BB's philosophy
Lisa - I used a laminated chart paper sheet
milymo - Is the daily sign in mentioned in the BB book? I haven't read the last couple chapters.
Erin - I am going to try to give up LOTW, but I will use tongue twisters to stress specific letter sounds.
I Luv K - yup...it's laminated and gets reused daily
Cathy - Yep (that's how they did it last year) and gradually they will sign it without the dotted name, then go to last names. I might attach their picture, too
Kira - I agree with not using LOTW - I just have to convice my team members
Lisa - Is there anybody that doesn't like BB?
JB - I did it this way last year, but this year I was thinking of just having a large blank piece of paper for them to sign in on -- and if they needed to look at their name card to copy, they could
Erin - I gave my Letter People huggables to the 8-1-2 teacher, who is working with almost nothing as far as resources!
JB - Lisa, I LOVE BB!
Kira - I only started using BB during the second half of last year but I loved it
I Luv K - how do you incorporate it w/your classroom reading series?
Cathy - Another off topic - but does anyone use direct instruction phonics programs like Distar?
Lisa - I haven't heard anything bad about it - I'm just worried that it might be too difficult for my 3 & 4 year olds
Erin - I did a lot with Predictable Charts last year, then turning them into class books that everyone LOVED.
milymo - Lisa, I'm guessing anyone who's tried it, either likes it, or loves it.
I Luv K - i'm doing pred. charts in small groups this year and am very excited about it!
Kira - Lisa, I used to teach 3 & 4s and I would just taylor the program to them. I used to take down their dictations for projects to show them that words can be written.
JB - Not I Cathy
JB - I thought about this I Luv K -- it's hard with a full group!
milymo - When is everyone starting their journals. I know BB says to start in Jan. but I'm thinking of starting earlier - like next week.
Erin - Has anyone gotten the new BB book, about Interactive Charts?
JB - Good question milymo
Lisa - Hi Happy Teacher!
I Luv K - I had so many last year and I lost them after the 3rd or 4th person!
Kira - I started in Sept. last year and most kids were fine with it but the ones who had never been exposed to writing or words were very frustrated
milymo - How many kiddos does everyone have?
I Luv K - I started journals day 1
Hat - milymo-last year I started journals on day 1
I Luv K - they loved seeing the different "ways" to write and all use 1-2 of them
Hat - I have 22 students but legally we are allowed 20.
Kira - 24
JB - I really though a lot about this yesterday. I'm starting the year with literacy centers. By second quarter for sure, I will have introduced journals, and will work with small groups on them during literacy centers. Third quarter I hope to ween out of lit centers a bit and do daily journal writing as a large group. By fourth quarter we will be publishing. Anyone else on this time of timeline?
milymo - I have 15 in the a.m. and 9 in my p.m. extended day class.
Lisa - I have just six! (best job in my Board!)
Erin - Milymo, I'm going to start journals at the beginning of the year as a end-of-day collaborative piece, like Morning Message. Then, as the year unfolds we will transition to individual journals after lots of modelling. We'll see how this goes!
Happy Teacher - 16...will soon be 20 when parents figure out we are year round....LOL
Erin - I am down to 15 kids -- I just lost one.
Kira - JB - that sounds like a good plan. I do keep my lit centers going all year though.
I Luv K - 13 this year! half the size of my last class!
JB - me too Erin - I didn't do the closing journal last year, but I'm going to do it this year -- at the beginning to model and eventually, as interactive writing
EH - I have 14 in Am and 12 in PM
Erin - Wow, I Luv K! Whatever will you do?!!
Kira - Does anyone else teach full day K?
JB - Are you guys talking class #s? What nice low #s. I will be starting wtih 20 and will gain a few! It's WAY too many!
Erin - <-- Full Day
Lisa - I teach full day on alternating days
I Luv K - i would love to do it at closing but we have math til 3:10 and have to be out to buses at 3:25!
JB - Kira, what do you all do for lit cetners adn how to you manage it?
JB - I do Kira!
I Luv K - i'm just going to sit back and enjoy it!
EH - I taught full day last year with 16 but now have 2 half days. I think I like the half days better.\
I Luv K - full day
Erin - We're pretty flexible at our school about our schedules. When my door is closed, I can do whatever I want, pretty much.
Happy Teacher - EH...that sounds hard.
Kira - I have lit centers every morning for about 20-25 minutes. One group works with me, one group plays a phonemic awareness game with my aide and the other 4 groups are assigned to specific centers each day (listening, reading, writing .. . )
Erin - Isn't it tough to teach Math right at the end of the day?
JB - sounds good Kira - I'm planning to do it this year and do it in a "work board" format
Hat - there is a Lakeshore listening center. Any one use this?
I Luv K - oh, yes! By then they are ready to get going
EH - My classes last year were developmentally delayed students. But turned out to be mostly discipline delayed.
Erin - I use $5.00 Walmart cassette players for individual listening centers.
Happy Teacher - gotta go...bye
milymo - Does anyone use flyswatters for Read Around the Room? What shapes do you cut into them?
Hat - no, I meant a listening program. sorry
I Luv K - mine are rectangles
Kira - EH, why do you prefer half day?
Erin - Oops!
Hat - I cut mine with square shapes
JB - milymo, I use dowel rods cut into thirds and hot glue a pom pom on the end - they love them
Erin - I'm using flyswatters this year to swat sight words on the ol' shower curtain.
Kira - milymo, I used a flyswatter with a rectangle cut for a word framer.
brian - Is this the Cheerleaders class?
EH - Is this the place for the BB chat that is scheduled for tonight?
Hat - yes, half day would be nice. K is very tiring at the beginning of the year!
Hat - yes, brian
brian - Must have entered the wrong room!
I Luv K - no kidding! i'm in bed by 9:30 every night, I'm so wiped out!
JB - I don't think I'd like 1/2 day - maybe at the beginning
brian - Hello Hat Nice legs! Should have recognised you!
Lisa - I was just reading about a teacher who uses those big plastic fake fingernails at Halloween for pointing to words around the room!
Erin - I'm going to try the idea I saw online about using paint stirrers with letters on the end to hunt for words in the room beginning with that letter.
Hat - *blushes*
Erin - I use those, Lisa -- they're great!
brian - bye going next door!
I Luv K - good idea, Erin!!
Hat - Lisa-they would have fun with that idea!
milymo - I found some light batons at the dollar store and they love those. I want to add different ones every now and then, for Read Around.
Kira - Does anyone have any creative ideas for shared writing materials? I've charted poems, nursery rhymes. . . unfortunately our school doesn't have big books and the budget didn't pass so it looks like I'm out of luck. Kind of hard to teach without them.
JB - make your own big books!
Erin - Try making some big books, Kira. It's time consuming, but if you laminate them, they can be good.
Hat - I'm going to get a kitchen and dollies and a dolly bed. I'm so happy! LOL
Erin - Lucky you, Hat!
JB - You could make them by hand, or, last year as a first year teacher, I didn't have many, and so I used the copier to greatly enlarge some little reproducible books into big books to read - not ideal, but it worked!
milymo - Erin, I just saw that idea today! I want to try it too!
Hat - thanks, Erin
Kira - Do you write your own books or enlarge other books. What about copyrights?
Erin - My kitchen stuff is falling apart. I just tor a big chunk of wood laminate off my stove that was jagged.'
Hat - JB-you're right! My students teacher made her own big book for Brown Bear Brown Bear. It was wonderful!!!!
JB - the books I'm talking about are okay to reproduce - that's what they are for. They are scholastic books filled wtih little books to copy for kids
Hat - oh, too bad, Erin
Kira - Thanks JB - sounds good
Lisa - I had my kinderkids make a brown bear style book with themselves doing things with their classmates
Erin - You can also make big charts from old books. I had a copy of The Jacket I Wear in the Snow that was falling apart. I made a big chart, cut out the pictures and glued them on, and voila!
milymo - Ohhh! I have stick puppets that I made in high school for the story Brown Bear! I will have to get those from my mom's house!
JB - No problem
I Luv K - that'd be too cute! great for a puppet center
milymo - Good idea Erin!
Kira - I was just on proteacher.com the other day and there is a post about printable puppets for Brown Bear. They're great
JB - does anyone have "book boxes" where kids keep the books they make, etc?
Erin - I do, JB
Hat - JB-I give them a large ziploc baggie
Erin - It's one of the favorite book boxes in the room!
I Luv K - all of our books go into the reading coroner to share
Erin - Oh -- do you mean a box for each child? I meant for collaborative books.
Hat - Erin-they put all their books they've made in one box?
I Luv K - corner...sorry
Kira - I put my class books in a "special place" in the reading center as well
JB - I didn't like hte idea at first, becuase I wanted them to take the books home and read them - but I'm doing it this year
JB - Any tips or ideas on these book boxes?
JB - Yes, I was talking about for their indvidual books
Hat - my students keep their own books in their ziploc bags. Once they read a book during author's chair, they take the book home.
Kira - I do send my class books home. When we're done they go in a manilla envelope or a big bag with a note on them. The note stresses that we wanted to share our books but please return it after ONE night so that everyone gets a chance to read it to his/her family.
Erin - My collaborative books "travel" to each family. They write positive comments in the back & return it the next day (we read them at Circle. Once all families have seen them, they go to our class library. At the end of the year, we have a blind lottery & send the books home with the kids.
Lisa - JB- how about cereal boxes cut on the diagonal part way down like store-bought file boxes, then let the kids decorate them! Yu can spray paint them first for a uniform background
JB - Oh, so you are talking about class books? Kira?
Erin - Lisa, that would be a good place to use all those old stickers in my drawers, too!
Kira - I've used cereal boxes for individual readers and they worked well
JB - I think we are talking about different things. I'm not talking about class books -- I heard this for their OWN individual books to be kept and read during lit centers, etc
Erin - I like to send home the individual books for keeps, since it is the only kids literature in some of the homes.
milymo - Daughter kicked me off!
Hat - where do you keep all your cereal boxes, Kira? It seems they would gooble up my precious space
Erin - Ouch, milymo.
JB - So does everyone here send invididual books home right away? No one has individual boxes where children keep all their books?
Kira - I also saw someone use the bottom half of Tide boxes that were spraypainted for individual book boxes. They seemed really sturdy but take up a lot of space.
JB - Here's another question -- I'm going to do picture dictionaries this year. Any feedback from those of you who already do these?
Hat - JB-me!
Lisa - JB- if you are worried about space, why not give each child a big Ziploc?
JB - Hat- you do have them keep them in a box at school? Do you like it?
Kira - I had all of my cereal boxes lined up along a shelf last year. I only had 16 students though. With 24 this year, they don't fit.
Hat - JB-this summer we used these cool alphabet stickers for our dictionaries.
JB - I'm not worried about space -- they have these rubbermaid boxes they have to bring for supplies - but I have community supplies in my room so I don't have a use for them. I'm using them this yuar for book boxes. I'm going to keep their song/poetry books in their too.
milymo - I have to go. Wish I could stay, but my baby is so tired.
milymo - Goodnight all!
Kira - Bye milymo
Erin - Good night, milymo
Hat - JB-I have the students keep their books at school in a baggie. We start author's chair once they have at least 4 books and once they've read a book to the class, the book goes home.
I Luv K - i make picture dictionary pages for the writing center. the kids brainstorm a list of words for the letter and i find clip art to match
Kira - That sounds like a good idea, Hat
Erin - I like that idea, Hat
JB - okay - I see. Well, I;ll give it a try this yer!?!?
Erin - *sigh* so many good ideas, so little time
Hat - I did the same thing I Luv K, but it seemed too time consuming
rossy - hello
Hat - thanks, Kira
Lisa - Hi rossy!
JB - My kids iwll have individual picture dictionaries. They will find a word on my theme wall or around the room, write it (copy it) in their dictionary and draw an accompanying picture!?
I Luv K - i only do it once a week...we use Saxon Phonics and the dreaded LOTW...so it works for us.
JB - I agree Erin!
Kira - hello, rossy
Hat - JB-there drawing is usually poor at this level. At least my students are poor drawers.
Lisa - What is LOTW?
Erin - I am just so excited to begin this year!
I Luv K - letter of teh week
JB - why is that a problem Hat?
Kira - LOTW = letter of the week
Hat - JB-i just made a class book. Everyone had to draw something that was enormous. The pictures they drew were horrible (poor things).
Kira - I'm excited as well. So much energy from tons of ideas and no kids yet!
Hat - JB-I was thinking it would be a problem because the child wouldn't be able to use the picture later to help them figure out the word or letter
Lisa - What is so awful about letter of the week? I was thinking of trying it this year for the first time... tell me more!
Erin - lol, Kira -- wait till next week and see how much energy you still have!
I Luv K - you haven't started yet, Kira??
Terri F. - ((((((((((((((((hat)))))))))))))))))))!!
JB - Most children, in my experience, can recognize their own drawing -- even if I can't!
Kira - Kids usually recognize pictures they draw - no matter how unrecognizable they may be to us.
Hat - Terri-I'm getting my kitchen! I asked the principal and she said order what I need
I Luv K - even weeks later, though?
Kira - I start on Wed.
Hat - LOL, JB
JB - We start Tuesday
JB - Where are you located Kira?
I Luv K - lucky you! we started Aug. 15
Terri F. - lisa, I don't prefer LOTW for 2 reasons....it seems you begin to include more worksheets that become busy work. Also, in my opinion learning letters from their names and stories is more meaningful
Kira - When do you finish?
Terri F. - Hat! congrats!!!!!
okcteacher - I still use LOTW. Most of my kids are Hispanic and limited English speaking. We have to take it slow.
Erin - My kids can tell me what they draw if it's within a few days, but as a week or so passes, they don't remember.
Lisa - Thanks, Terri!
I Luv K - Also Saxon's LOTW is tons of WS and drill. Yuck!
Hat - that's what I was thinking, I Luv K! Yesterday a little girls just scribbled all over her paper. When I got to her she looked at the picture and had no idea what she had drawn.
I Luv K - me too, Erin
Erin - We don't start with kids until next Thurs.
okcteacher - We don't do many worksheets though.
Kira - Lisa, I used LOTW last year and most children know the letters before you can even finish the alphabet. I find that Building Blocks gives more meaning to what they are learning.
I Luv K - i see that a lot too
Hat - all my kids are Hispanic and we take it slow but I don't use LOTW.
Terri F. - don't get me wrong, done properly- you can have worksheets and drill, but not to the point that the assignment is just there to fill a slot of time or takes from developmental activities
JB - I agree!
JB - Gotta run! It'
Lisa - Kira- my kinderkids are 3 & 4 years old, and come from mostly literacy poor homes.
JB - Oops - gotta run. It's been great chatting with you all!
Hat - bye JB
Terri F. - lisa, do you teach pre-k?
JB - BYE! Thanks again everyone! These are so helpful!
Erin - Kira, I keep hearing people say that about abandoning LOTW, and I'm going to jump in without it this year, but I'm nervous as all get out!
Kira - Bye, JB
Erin - Bye JB
Terri F. - nite jb
Lisa - Terri- I teach Junior Kindergarten in Ontario - like pre-k in the rest of the world!
Terri F. - erin- I was petrified my first time
rossy - hello, this is the very first time i get here may somebody tell me what's this about
Hat - I was scared too. They really do pick it up.
Terri F. - rossy, building blocks is a method of teaching to kindergarten. It's outlined in a book from Pat Cunningham
Kira - I'm not nervous Erin, because I believe very strongly in the program. I also only used LOTW for one year so I'm not attached to it.
Erin - We have 5 kindergarten sections, and they all use the same Letter People that my kids' parents used when they were in Kindergarten. I am looked at like some kind of rebel, rocking the boat.
Erin - But, in a friendly way!
Hat - Erin-a lot of people don't like change (me included).
Terri F. - erin, last couple of years I used zoo phonics along with building blocks. This year I am using the publisher's "alphafriends" which is sorta like zoo phonics, just not a good
Erin - I'm looking forward to doing the "Getting to Know You" name activities, and seeing how much they pick up from that.
Kira - How does that go over in your school Erin? We had some trouble with teachers using different methods. Our principal likes everyone to do EXACTLY the same thing.
Terri F. - hat- I hear you on that one, lots of change going on at my school this year
Hat - In the same boat, Terrri. I'm trying to go along,
rossy - ok, Terry, is this just for kindergarten kids?
Terri F. - what is with administrators always wanting exactly the same? What happened to creativity? Don't they trust my years of college education?
Hat - Terri-are you starting unit 1 in HM next Tues.?
Kira - I agree Terri. It was the source of many disagreements last year.
Terri F. - rossy, there is the more commonly known 4 blocks method for 1-6
Lisa - Our grade 1/2/3 teacher is trying 4 blocks for the first time this year - it sounds so great I really want to try the BB, but I worry about setting my little 3 and 4 year olds up for failure!
Erin - I have kind of the opposite problem, Kira. My team is made up of GREAT teachers, but my principal loves that I am trying new things and wants them to follow suit. This goes over like a lead balloon, as you can imagine.
Terri F. - hat, we were forced to start the welcome section the first day of school and told every k teacher is to be on the same lesson each day
Hat - Lisa, the techniques we use would be perfect for your little ones.
Hat -!!!!! Terri!!!!
Terri F. - lisa, I wouldn't do BB with such young ones personally
I Luv K - wow! that would be rought, Terri!
Kira - Lisa, the program is set up so that it is very multi-leveled. Your children will definitely benefit from it.
Lisa - Terri that sounds awful!
Terri F. - hat, did you do the welcome section?
Lisa - Terri - I meant your school situation, not your advice about BB! (LOL)
Erin - I feel pretty lucky when I hear about situations like yours, Terri. I hope you don't get discouraged!
KT - Does anyone know when the BB Literacy Chat begins tonight?
Terri F. - lisa, I understood you
Erin - You're smack dab in the middle, KT
Terri F. - this is it KT
Kira - This is the BB chat
Lisa - Welcome to the BB Literacy Chat KT!
Hat - Terri-I've take somethings out of it. We are starting HM when we want.Everything has gone very slowly this week.
Erin - It started at 9 PM, EST
okcteacher - Welcome, KT
okcteacher - My school adopted HM this year too. I didn't like the welcome section overall.
KT - I thought it started at 9 and it is only 8:45 now.
Terri F. - hat, it's a pretty wasted 2 weeks. I wish I could have just taken from it what I wanted and moved forward
Erin - Where are you, KT?
Kira - KT, Its 9:52 here on the east coast!
KT - I am in Indiana and we use EST
Erin - Hmm... Check your watch?
Terri F. - it's 6:52 in California
I Luv K - it's 8:50 in MO!
Erin - The transcript of what you've missed will be posted later on in the archives, KT.
Hat - Terri-i would prefer not starting HM on Tues. But since testing must be completed by Sept. 24, it's necessary
Lisa - Does anybody have any ideas for a pre-BB program for my little guys?
KT - Thanks, I have been trying to hit one of these chats at the beginning sometime.
okcteacher - Wow, it's hard to believe most of you don't have kids yet. We had our 12th day of school today!
Erin - I'd say use alphabet books, definitely, Lisa
Terri F. - today was our 4th day of classes
I Luv K - day 11 here
KT - Our school adopts a reading program for the entire school but never buys the material for K. We have to chug along on our own.
Terri F. - hat, we talked to our principal and she agreed that next year all grades shouldn't start any curriculum until the 2nd week so that we can get all this dumb assessments done for the district.
Hat - do poems, songs, chants for your little ones (I'm sure you do anyway)
okcteacher - I think I would rather be on my own than to have HM. I am not impressed so far!
Erin - We have a staggered start. I see half of my class next Thursday, the other half Friday. The next week, we see the first half Monday & second half Tuesday, the first half's parents Wednesday for conferences, the second half's Thursday, and I won't see my whole class together at once until two weeks from tomorrow!
Katie - What can I do to help the kindergarten teachers in my school feel they are part of the program?
Hat - KT-you're not missing much
Terri F. - nursery rhymes are always a great choice
KT - I do however follow the BB program and get many ideas off of the internet.
Kira - That's interesting Erin. Do you find it works well starting that way?
KT - I have used BB for two years now and find it successful in most cases.
Terri F. - erin- it's better than the 1996 version of scholastic that we had!
Lisa - I was looking at something called Anchors and Sails where you teach the letter of the day starting with frequently used consonants, then adding "a" so they can combine to make words. Also you teach the sounds, not the names to begin with to keep it simpl
Hat - yes, the internet is wonderful for idea, KT
Erin - I love it, Kira. We get so much of the "procedural" learning done on those first two days.
okcteacher - Nursery rhymes are so important. Most of my students don't even know the most common ones!
KT - We have been in school for 11 days already.
Terri F. - brb....baby crying
Hat - yes, sounds are more important than names.
Erin - I'm surprised at how many of the kids DO know nursery rhymes -- from watching Barney!
Kira - Do you do a nursery rhyme unit or do them throughout the year?
Hat - I do nursery rhymes all year long. I give them a poetry folder.
I Luv K - we sing the nursery rhyme song on Dr. Jeans Is Everybody Happy
Kira - I wanted to do nursery rhymes in Sept. this year but have heard of teachers focusing on one a week.
KT - I have used the name activity with my kis and they seem to learn the letters quickly that way.
okcteacher - I read Little Bo Peep the 1st week of school. Only 3 kids said they had heard it before.
I Luv K - i was suprised how many didn't know those. I'm planning a whole unit this year!
Kira - Wow, okcteacher. How sad!
okcteacher - I don't do a big unit, but we do read/recite nursery rhymes every day. I do one or two per week.
Erin - Dr. Jean's latest CD has bunches of nursery rhymes set to music. It's great.
Kira - There's great ideas on thevirtualvine.com for a nursery rhyme unit
I Luv K - and then reviewing them all year
I Luv K - do you know the name of it, erin?
KT - I have always started the year with nursery rhymes and the kids love them even if they already know them.
okcteacher - Definitely.
Hat - I love the CD with Ella Jenkins that has nursery rhymes. She asks for students to complete the rhyme
Terri F. - I plan on doing a nursery rhyme/other poem each week. Use it for phonemic awareness, phonics, tracking, anything I can for the 5 days
Erin - Don't remember -- I'll go check; my son has a copy.
I Luv K - thanks
Lisa - My time is up guys - thanks so much for all your advice and ideas!
KT - I met Ella Jenkins in Chicasgo when my college class visited her studio. She is great.
Kira - bye lisa
Erin - It's Rockin' Rhymes & Good Old Times
Hat - KT-she has such a soothing voice
Kira - I'm heading out too. Bye everyone. Thanks!
Terri F. - I start name activities from BB tomorrow. I'm using my own name first
Erin - There are 29 tracks!
I Luv K - gotta write that down! thanks!
Terri F. - bye kira and lisa
Erin - It's got an orange cover
Hat - Terri-good idea! I've never used my own name
okcteacher - bye!
Erin - Bye kira & Lisa
Terri F. - My name (foster) is better than some of the names I have this year: Tavarian for one
KT - I am still using songs from her collection in my classroom...
I Luv K - thanks erin!
I Luv K - i'm off! goodnight everyone!
Erin - There are all kids of old favorites, not just nursery rhymes, including Wheels on the Bus
Terri F. - good nite I luv K
okcteacher - Does anyone have any ideas for teaching ESL students? I am always looking for new ways to teach English and build their vocabularies.
Hat - I think my students' names cover all the letters of the alphabet (except Q)
Erin - Good night, I Luv K
Erin - I have a Quinn this year!
Terri F. - I have a Q, but in the middle of his name: Enrique
Hat - lucky, Erin!
Terri F. - Last year I had Xavier
Erin - I just lost a Lorenzo, though. There goes my Z
Hat - I have Jazzmin
Hat - Osvaldo
okcteacher - Yovanny and Yesenia
KT - I have an ESL student this year. I use a sight called Dictionary.com and it translates anything you want to say from Eng. to Spanish and some other languages also.
okcteacher - also Yander
Erin - Wow. Those are some names
okcteacher - We have the Y's covered!
Hat - Erin-how long was he in your class? Maybe you could keep his name up! LOL
Erin -We haven't started yet!
Hat - oh, well, Erin!
okcteacher - I don't have to do that. I have a bilingual assistant half a day. Our school is 70% Hispanic.
Erin - Well, I've got to go to bed. Early morning travelling for the holiday. Good night everyone! It's been fun and informative!
Hat - nite, Erin
Terri F. - I better go too, need to get some laundry done
KT - My morning class is pretty much up on letter sounds already. But my PM class is needs lots of work.
KT - I was hoping to keep both classes close together but am afraid they will be far apart soon.
okcteacher - My kids just come in the morning right now, but start coming all day next week.
okcteacher - I've never done all day before. It will be an adjustment, but I am excited.
KT - Our K kids come the same day the rest of the school starts. It is always so chaotic.
okcteacher - Ours start 1/2 day so we can do testing in the afternoon. Yuck!
KT - Last year I had an all day class and it was so hard to keep their attention in the PM. Several wanted to sleep an hour or so. We did academics in AM and motor skills and art projects in PM mostly.
okcteacher - This year we have to give the Brigance and the Basic REading Inventory.
okcteacher - I am wondering how it will go. We will have 30 minutes of rest time, but I have several who are ready to go at 11:00.
okcteacher - I have a required literacy block from 9:00 to 10:30 daily. It's great to have the uninterrupted time, but it is going to force me to do math in the p.m.
KT - Our school begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:00. I like the half day sessions I have this year because it givres me prep time. Last year I only had two 40 minute periods a week for prep. Compared to the 250 minutes a week the other teachers had. This year I have an hour a day plus my lunch.
okcteacher - We are fighting to get our planning time this year.
KT - Some of my students last year could not handle a full day and had to leave by noon.
Lydia - how long has everyone been in school
Lydia - tomorrow i will have finished my 3rd week this year
KT - That was only 2 of my 16 students.
okcteacher - Today was 12 days for me
KT - I have been in school for 11 days now.
Lydia - i teach 2 sessions each day
okcteacher - I have one that I think will have to leave by 11:00 because of behavior issues.
okcteacher - I am full day for the first time.
KT - How long is each session?
Lydia - i get prep time 4 times a week for 40 minutes'
Lydia - i also get a duty free lunch from 11-12
Lydia - my am is from 8-11 and pm is 12-3
okcteacher - Wow! That's great!
KT - Our lunch times are only 25 minutes.
KT - Some of our time is taken away while we are waiting for parents to come pick up their kids.
Lydia - i have been doing the name activcities for the last 2 weeks
Lydia - yes sometimes i have to wait on parents
okcteacher - We have a major problem with that.
Lydia - after 10 minutes students are sent to the office for them to call parents
KT - Our school said they will call welfare and say that the children are being neglected if it happens too many times.
okcteacher - We have done that.
Lydia - what are your schools doing for 9/11
milymo - I wondered if anyone would still be here.
Lydia - just got here
milymo - There hasn't been any talk of doing anything for 9/11.
Lydia - i want to do something even if it is just to encourage everyone to wear red, white, and blue that day
milymo - How many years have you taught kinder?
Lydia - this is my 4th year
Lydia - how about you
KT - I have taught K about 11 years of my 30 years of teaching.
milymo - I'm on my fifth year. First year in kinder - 3 years in second - and now back to kinder.
Lydia - which is better k or 2nd
milymo - I am exhausted! There's so much to do at school and at home, plus I'm taking grad courses.
Lydia - i also am working on my masters
KT - I am glad to be in K because I do not have to be bothered with all the testing and paper work of 2nd. grade which I taught for quite a while.
milymo - I LOVED 2nd! I was transferred to K because of class sizes.
Lydia - i'm enrolled in the Olivet Nazarene distant learning program
KT - I have been working on my PHD but haven't finished yet.
Lydia - i also enjoy not having to test and grade lots of papers
milymo - I'm in the Marygrove Distance Learning program.
KT - I graduated from Olivet Nazarene. Where are you located.
Lydia - i have not hear of marygrove
Lydia - i live in southern indiana
Lydia - i graduated from Indiana State University
KT - We must be on the opposite ends of the state.
Lydia - i received my k endorsment from St. Mary of the Woods college
milymo - I always imagined myself as a kinder teacher. I just need to get used to it again.
KT - I got my Masters from IU
Lydia - kt do you live in northern indiana?
milymo - I live in OH. I graduated from Anderson U. in Indiana. Marygrove is in Michigan.
KT - I live in Plymouth, IN Home of the Blueberry festival.
Lydia - oh i live in washington, indiana home of nothing
Lydia - we do have amish people around
milymo - I live in Sterling, OH Home of the cornfields and cows!
KT - Are any of you going to the Indiana Kindergarten Converence in Indy?
KT - It is Dec. 9-10
Lydia - no k conference for me
milymo - I won't. But I will probably go to an Ohio conference.
Lydia - how many students do you have this year
KT - Does your school pay for your PD.
Lydia - i have 16 in both classes my afternoon class has 12 boys and 4 girls
milymo - 15 in the a.m. and 9 in my p.m. extended day class.
KT - I have 14 in my AM and 13 in my PM
Lydia - wow we all have very small classes
milymo - Our district pays.
KT - This is rare. Most of the time we had 18-20.
Lydia - what is your favorite part of building blocks
KT - I like the names and predictable charts.
milymo - Last year our kinder teacher had about 26.
Lydia - i also like name activities
milymo - I like the predictable charts, but I've only been using it for four days now. I'm a newbie to the BB. I used 4 Blocks for the two previous years.
Lydia - kids are learning so much through the name activities
KT - Last year with my all day developmentally delayed class I had 16 with a half day aide. The other teacher had two 1/2 day classes with 23 and an aide.
Lydia - need to go housecleaner is coming tomorrow and i still need to pick up my junk
Lydia - good night
milymo - Yes, I suppose I should go too. I need to pick up too!
KT - Good night all. Enjoyed the chat.
milymo - Daughter made huge messes.
milymo - Goodnight!
