Terri Hoornstra

Posted on 7/11/09

On 7/10/09, Wendy wrote:
> I would love ideas on how to teach a k/1 combo. I will have
> about 18 Ks and 12 firsts. The Ks go home at noon. We won't
> have aides. I am suppose to get the independent older Ks,
> but who knows!! I would love to know...
> 1. Do I still need a play center for the Ks
> 2. What will the firsts do during the play center time?
> 3. What do Ks respond to as far a discipline? (I've been
> teaching frist for many years and am a pro at that)
> Any input would be appreciated!!!

I will also be teaching a K/1 combo this fall. I've been
teaching for 35+ yrs., over 20 in K and a total of 9 in
first, including the past 3. I am also looking for any
suggestions, but I'd like to address the play centers issue:

I will only have 6 Ks, and the other two straight Ks are
taking 3 each for their play centers. Play centers are SO
important for Ks and good for 1st as well. If the other Ks
weren't taking them, I'd make a Centers time that both K and
first can do at the same time, using activities that can be K
or first. At my first grade centers, I have construction
(blocks, legos, other); read/listen to story on tape with a
written (1st)/drawn (K) response; learning games/puzzles (you
can make them grade-level appropriate), art (something that
doesn't need too much supervision, or get a parent helper);
and computers (learning games such as I Spy, multi-level math
review games). Sometimes they'd be science and math. Centers
teach interpersonal skills (working with a group, sharing,
conversation skills, winning/losing. so much more!) along
with the learning skills. I just got a letter from a K
student from 10 years ago, and the main thing she remembered
from Kdg. was Centers. It was her impression we did those
"most of the time", when in fact it wasn't more than 30
minutes a day!

Discipline: Keep the Ks BUSY! Prevention is 90%. But they are
less "civilized" - hopefully they will have preschool
experience. You have to assume, if they make disciplinary
"mistakes", that they may well not have been exposed to the
social skill, or classroom etiquette yet. You should calmly
direct their attention to the applicable rule, which you've
developed with the class at the start of school; i.e.
"Remember our rule says "Be nice to each other." Is ....
(state the behavior)... being nice to (Name)? They will take
their cue from you as to how calm they should be. This is
important because Ks CAN still have temper tantrums.

I'm not sure what kinds of things Ks can do when I'm working
with the firsts. When I taught K, I was always "with" them.

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