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Bob R/CA - Tonight's session is brought to you by Innovative Educators, check out their website for a whole family of great learning products, "Developmentally appropriate materials for young children" - request a free full-color catalog at http://www.teachers.net/vendors/profiles/innovative-educators/
Kathleen - Tonight from 9-10 pm EDT (8 Central, 7 Mountain, 6 Pacific) the Early Childhood/Primary Group will meet to discuss ways to get to know our new students and their families. Peachy will host the session.
Peachy/K/NC - Since it's informal tonight, can we change the topic if people want to talk about Ec in general?
Laura/Chicago - This is my first time in this chat room. I'm a new kindergarten teacher after teaching 4th & 5th grade. Had fun looking up ideas tonight. Good to join you all tonight.
Kathleen - We had our Open House last week. Just a Get Acquainted Night.
Kathleen - I have my students lead their families on a tour of the classroom and building
Kathleen - For the tour, I make a sheet depicting the various Centers, main areas, include coat room, bathroom, important charts. Children lead parents to each, parents are asked to quiz child on rules, favorites, procedures. Parents love it, kids love it. I like it because the parents are engaged,not lined up waiting for me.
jpm - wow great idea kathleen
Peachy/K/NC - Sounds great, Kat. I'd like to try that.
eml - Great suggestion, I really like the ideas of a map and the class rules
Kathleen - That idea is posted in the Teachers.Net lesson collection http://teachers.net/lessons . #570. Open House one or more weeks into school year
Laura/Chicago - I've been told that I should put together a kindergarten manual for my parents for our Open House next week. Any suggestions?
Kathleen - Laura, a nice packet with welcoming letter, information about routines, prociedures, a bit of your philosophy, materials needed, misc. would be a nice gift to parents. maybe you could include a nice poem about childhood.
Roe/RI - We have a Back to school breakfast instead of an evening meeting. first time last year and it went well
Kathleen - Roe, did you have a good turnout? What time did it start?
Roe/RI - it began at 9
Roe/RI - Turnout was great!! Parents took an hour or two from work...
Roe/RI - The principal spoke to everyone first, welcome, etc.. Then parents went to child's room in 2 different 'shifts'
eml - Hi I teach 3-5 year olds and we will be having our Open House/Parent Meeting next week
eml - We have a volunteer handbook that we go over with each of our parents and then they get to keep it. We also have posters in the room describing how children learn in the various areas and how a volunteer can help in that center.
Kathleen - eml, that helps when people come by to help, right? posters on wall orient the volunteer..good idea.
Peachy/K/NC - eml, can you give us an example from one of your centers?
Peachy/K/NC - great idea eml
jpm - i am having problems with one student parent team
Peachy/K/NC - What is the problem jpm?
jpm - child came into school saying my mom says you teachers lie and i don't have to listen to you (felt like crying after heard that)
Peachy/K/NC - That's sad, jpm
Kathleen - jpm, sounds like a need to get to know the parents
jpm - talked to the mom and she said well what i told her was to stick up for herself and if the teacher blames you for something and you didn't do it then say so
jpm - good idea i keep having to say they are learning they are just learning through play
Kathleen - jpm, that is a parent that should be in the classroom, sounds defensive. You can bring someone like that around (usually) by helping them feel comfortable in the school.
jpm - yes kathleen she was 17 when she had her daughter i am around the same age as the mother must feel very intimadating for her
Roe/RI - Scholastic puts out a terrific book for parents...20 questons about Kinder that you were afraid to ask..or something like that! Great answers to K questions
Roe/RI - Every parent gets one, and they are helpful
Kathleen - You know, too often we get to know the families that don't need our help and understanding when it is the other kind of family that really needs us to go the extra mile to pull them in.
Kathleen - Roe, I'll have to look for that book...maybe we can get it into the Teachers.Net Bookshelf http://www.teachers.net/bookshelf/shopping/lit_frame.html
Peachy/K/NC - I'd love to see that book, too.
Kathleen - I like the form we send out in the summer. It gives a very good picture of what parent expectations and perceptions are. Helps us relate to them.
Kathleen - It asks parents things like: What makes a good teacher? What does a good classroom look like? How do you know your child is learning? What do you hope your child learns this year? What would you like us to know about your child?
Mary K&1 - Kathleen, would it be possible for you to share that with us - maybe on the EC Board?
Peachy/K/NC - Yes, Kat. Please do.
Kathleen - Mary, the form? yes I will.
Mary K&1 - Kathleen, yes, the form, and thank you
eml - Dramatic play - in this area children learn to use their imagantion, share, communicate. You can help by encouraging sharing, discussions etc. If anyone would like more infor they may email me and I will get the info for them.
Peachy/K/NC - jpm, did you try having them help set up the rules for housekeeping. Believe it or not, I've found that helpful.
jpm - no peachy well actually sort of i asked genereal questions if this area was set up like a resturant how would we play what is in a resturant who works who visits
Kathleen - Does anyone have ideas for getting to know the kids? I think I need to do more there, sooner.
Kathleen - Maybe an interest survey?
eml - I work for headstart and we have 2 home visits a month with the child and parents, so we are able to get to know the kids and their families fairly well.
Addie k/mo - in month by month for k they suggest interviewing the special person of the day....i didnt choose to do that activity though, since it also suggested to be sure that whatever you chose you did for everyone, so i didnt go overboard, so that i would make sure and do the same for each student
Kathleen - Head Start does that well. A model for the rest of us.
cathy k/pa - HI everyone! Kat, I had the kids bring in one or two items in a bag on the first day. These items told us something about each of us.
Kathleen - Addie, interview in front of class, or alone with child then present the info?
eml - another class in our building sends home a I'm me box with a letter stating for the child to bring back 3-4 things that are special to them. The next day the child gets to show what they brought.
Kathleen - cathy, that sounds like a good idea. Did it work well? Did you establish guidelines, like no power Rangers?
Addie k/mo - also, we sing a song with each persons name when they are leader. we have a class meeting daily where the kids give a compliment to another person and they are required to use the person's name and speak loud enough to be heard.
cathy k/pa - To know the kids more I'm having a " Star Student" each week. Thst child brings in photos,and his parents fill out a form that asks questions about the child.
KTeach2000 - Hi everyone.
Addie k/mo - the way i understood the interview was that you and the kids would ask the special person questions, so yes, it would be in front of the class
cathy k/pa - Kat, it worked great!! I gave examples with a letter home and I did not get toys.
eml - i like that idea cathy - what do you do if they don't have any photos or the parent doesn't fill out the form
cathy k/pa - Addie, my name thing really bombed on the first day!!
Addie k/mo - also, when the kids draw pix if you do a journal or writing workshop time, you can circulate the room and talk to the kids about their pix and learn more about what they like
cathy k/pa - eml, I teach at a Catholic school and we have great parent cooperation. If that would happen I would take a picture of the child and I would ask the cxhild questions!
Peachy/K/NC - I've been doing the name activity and my kids like it and seem to be getting acquainted easier.
Addie k/mo - cathy, what went wrong? our name activities have gone great!
Kathleen - Oh, I should do my "Story of My Name" activity earlier as a get to know you activity. It's just asking the parents to discuss then record for me how the parent selected the child's name.
KTeach2000 - I saw a cute first day name deal. There was a tree of apples and each child was an apple..The teacher wore a tag that was a tree. "The teacher was the tree and her students were her apples and together they grow."
Addie k/mo - also, on our daily news we write a sentence about each leader.....right now it is so and so is the leader. but later we will write...so and so likes ___________ or so and so went to _______________ or so and so can ________________-
cathy k/pa - addie, here's what happened. The first child I selected was Alexander except his mother called him Alec! He saw that long name and said his name only had 4 letters and there was not an X in his name.
eml - kathleen I would appreciate a copy of the "Story of My Name" it sounds great!!!!
Peachy/K/NC - My first two were long names, too....Christian and Caroline...
cathy k/pa - Addie, I told this child we could do both names but he insisted that his name only had 4 letters. It's all cleared up now.
Anne/k/Fl - I got some wild stories about how the kids got their name!
Kathleen - I also the apple/name/puzzle idea that was in the eC mailring. One large apple. All children's names glued on, then the apple cut into puzzle pieces, each with one name. Then children color, decorate (markers, sequins, etc.) and put the apple back together. Glue it to background, display.
Addie k/mo - do you have to teach their real name? or can you use shorter versions? i would have just explained that this was the long way to write his whole name, and then gone ahead and used alec if that is what he goes by
Kathleen - eml, e-mail me to remind me (there isn't much to it, just the concept really) kat@teachers.net
cathy k/pa - Addie, we are using Alec. Can't see upsetting the little guy!
Addie k/mo - i kinda rigged mine and made sure that the name i drew out was short! after that it has been the luck of the draw. except tomorrow, cause there are three names left and one is a little girl who is going to be absent thurs and fri, so she is going to get drawn out tomorrow!
Peachy/K/NC - LOL, Addie! Good thinking!
cathy k/pa - addie, I will make sure I do that next year....use a short name first!
Addie k/mo - that is good, cathy....we had this discussion on the mailring not too long ago...my son's real name is chester, but he has always gone by chet.....i would have been upset and so would my son if a teacher insisted he be chester!
Peachy/K/NC - I don't have a single 3 letter name this year.
eml - I can relate to a shorter name confussion my son goes by T.J. but when he entered first grade everything at school had Timothy on it. He knew his long name but had never seen it in print as he used T.J. in preschool. It can be really confusing to a child. He wasn't sure for awhile if those were his things.
Addie k/mo - yeah, even later the kids kinda freaked on christopher!!!! and it was 2 weeks into school. "i cant write that!" "thats too long!" of course i said, "yes, you can, you just try your best and christopher will be very happy with the picture you draw and how you write his name." of course when they tried they surprised themselves!
Kathleen - You know, I'm just thinking that it might be revealing for us, and cathartic for parents if we asked them to write (being careful about requests like this in case they have literacy weaknesses) about the best and worst teachers THEY had in school (no names).
Peachy/K/NC - I am amazed at how it seems to be helping their printing. Have you noticed that, Addie. Just the modeling of how to write each name helps.
Addie k/mo - might help us understand where they were coming from kat! some people really are reluctant to darken the door of the school, because of past experience
Kathleen - If we understand them, we can diffuse those defensive, crippling bad feelings
Kathleen - You know, just asking some families to fill out the information forms we send out might make them feel threatened if they have immigrated from other countries where they were oppressed or felt threatened. Yet, we can be SO insistent that everyone do what we tell them.
Addie k/mo - yes, peachy and their drawing!!! i cant believe how well they are drawing already and the details they include because of the daily discussion. today my leader had a shirt with a dinosaur and the word dinosaur...so one of the kids was describing his shirt and said "it has a dinosaur and a word on it" i started to draw and asked if anyone knew what the word was. (one little guy guessed "jurassic park"....how cute!) but then i told them it said dinosaur and wrote it on the overhead. several kids copied it on to their pictures.
Addie k/mo - and they were so proud that they had written "dinosaur"
Peachy/K/NC - That's cute, Addie. Mine love taking home all those portraits!!
Kathleen - About names, I'm not so sure we need to be as firm as we are about insisting upon which name a child uses in pre-k, k. Families have the right to "name" their children. And the child might suffer if people in the foreign setting of school call him/her an unfamiliar name.
eml - kat I have lots of forms and information that I am suppose to get from our parents sometimes it seems so intrusive
Kathleen - ok, somebody push me off the soapbox :-)
Addie k/mo - mine do too and they want to know if they can draw me! i think i will let them when we finish all the leaders and let them write my name, cause several of them are always asking how to spell it , so that would help those kids learn it
Addie k/mo - kat, you have been pushed!!! LOL! dont slip in the suds!
Kathleen - OOOPS, down I go, thanks :-)
Peachy/K/NC - Good idea. I write mine a letter each day and just sign it Mrs. T.
Kathleen - I'm suffering from the enlightenment of old age, I think
Addie k/mo - also, i will be able to keep those pix since they will have to give them to me, like everyone else and i can save them in their portfolios to show how they have improved
Kathleen - I have to pause to ask you to consider ordering a catalog from Innovative Educators, one of our favorite sponsors. Help Teachers.Net by supporting those who make it possible for the site to exisit. http://www.teachers.net/vendors/profiles/innovative-educators/
Kathleen - (when you are old, you think you are always right)
Peachy/K/NC - I have ordered one. I really like it!
Addie k/mo - plus we will do this on friday, since that will be the last day for this activity and we will start something new on monday and it is picture day, so i will be all dressed up pretty...LOL!
Kathleen - Innovative Educators has a real nice collection of stuff...check out their collection of "transitions" resource books.
Peachy/K/NC - I wish you could share them with us!
Addie k/mo - hey kat....i think i am always right and i am not old and i know it, because i am right!
Kathleen - Does anyone tell parents about yourelf? We don't do much of that, do we?
Peachy/K/NC - I just tell them a little when I introduce myself at the first parent meeting. I like the idea of the teacher being the star of the week.
Addie k/mo - i only tell them basic stuff like how long i have been teaching and where and when i graduated....and i share a little about why i like teaching and how i am looking forward to a great (whatever is coming up)
Kathleen - Some years I have given a brief bio, tell about my credentials, too. That in an effort to give them confidence in my skills, and to humanize me in their eyes.
Kathleen - Yes, Addie, that's what I mean. I think that is a good idea.
eml - Kat I sometime share things about myself especially my experiences on Head Lice in our home. It helps my parents to know that it can happen to anyone.
Michelle - This my first "conference" and I am having trouble posting a message. I hope this gets there. I wasn't trying to ignore you, Peachy. :0)
Kathleen - Does anyone display your diplomas, training certificates, awards plaques?
Peachy/K/NC - Training certificates, but nothing else.
eml - I work in a room with eight other people, we have no place to display diplomas or certificates
cathy k/pa - KAT, I am displaying my teacher award this year because I am very proud of it.
Kathleen - cathy, as you should be! :-)
Addie k/mo - i will tell them other things in given situations if i think it will help them see that i really do empathize with whatever their situation is
Kathleen - eml, sounds crowded!
Mary K&1 - I always thought that doing that is a bit much, but I have to display my RR certificates - I don't diplay my others
cathy k/pa - My area is small so most people know me.
Peachy/K/NC - eml, that is very brave of you and considerate. It really can happen to anyone( the head lice)
Kathleen - Well, the thought is that we have to be like other professionals: lawyers, doctors, engineers, architects, etc. all display their credentials to inspire respect and confidence from their clients. (I also read my dentist's credentials :-)
Addie k/mo - i dont hang my credentials, but share them in my beginning letter...that i jokingly tell parents to commit to memory and there will be a test sent home the next week! but really, just hang on to it...it was a lot of work to type this up so i would appreciate it if you read it :-)
Mary K&1 - There are very few people who don't know me - This is my 30th year in the same building! This year I have several students in my Kinder class who are the grandchildren of some of my high school classmates! Maybe I've been around too long!
Michelle - Out of 32 children, 30 of mine are bused! So displaying things is taking on new meaning this year. I am having to be a lot more creative!
Kathleen - Mary, you must be like an institution there:-)
Mary K&1 - I don't know about that, Kathleen, but there are those who think I should be in one!
Kathleen - I have to leave now. Thanks Peachy and all! And don't forget to order an Innov. Ed catalog at http://www.teachers.net/vendors/profiles/innovative-educators/
cathy k/pa - Mary, once I was called a Legend by a parent so you and I are both legends at our schools!
Addie k/mo - mary, that is pretty amazing! and you are so up to date and interested in keeping up with the latest! i think it is great!
Peachy/K/NC - Thanks for coming, everyone!! Goodnight!!
Michelle - I have been riding the bus once a week just so that I will even see my parents!
Mary K&1 - You'll be the same, Addie, one doesn't change that much!
Addie k/mo - our "legend" retired last year and everyone keeps teasing me about stepping into her shoes (she was the "queen") i just laugh and tell them i will keep my own shoes, thank you!
Kathleen - Michelle, as I was logging off I saw your message about riding the bus. What a great idea!! I might do that sometime. I don't live in the town where I teach..great idea! thanks! (Mary I had logged off, just came back to tell Michelle "great idea to ride the bus". bye for real now!!
