Hi there- I just discovered this board! Hooray! I usually always post on the K board. Anyway, threw out the LOTW this year and I'm trying Month by Month and I love it. EXCEPT... I ran out of things to do for the student of the day. I went through the "interview posters" and then we made an alphabet book for every kid using their name letters (my idea), then we cut up their name and reassembled, we've done the cheers, we made up rhymes for each child. What next? Thanks!
On 11/27/04, Erica/bc wrote: > > the "interview posters" and then we made an alphabet book > for every kid using their name letters (my idea), then we > cut up their name and reassembled, we've done the cheers, > we made up rhymes for each child. What next? > Thanks!
I'm like the person who posted before me. By this time of year, it has served its purpose and nearly all have the alphabet mastered so I get more mileage from morning message which still uses a child's name: Bill is the line leader or Is Bill here? Those who are ready notice ill in Bill as we erase a letter and so on. I also mentioned a few ideas on the post about using last names. Kids' names can still be used in make -a -word or sentence dictations, too.
I just want to say...don't be afraid of repetition. You may be tired of doing their names, but kindergartners thrive on the repetition....that said, I am a firm believer in giving students a great deal of input....it was a student who suggested we do an equation of the day and now my student of the day always gets to decide what to make an equation out of (something he/she is wearing...like 2 barrettes plus two stripes on each shoe becomes 2+2+2=6 or some children like to count the letters in their names and make an equation out of that. I also do a 100-chart that the SOTD builds two numbers at a time, then once built, we use the chart to figure out our equations by having the SOTD put his finger on the first number and add or subtract the next numbers......it was students who suggested we do our last names (but not until after February)....routines and rituals are the heart of kindergarten and make students feel comfortable....so try not to be too quick to change things---trust them to let you know when they are ready for a change.
We have been implementing Building Blocks in our district's Kindergarten classrooms. Next year we are switching from half day to all day Kindergarten and want to visit other schools in Nebraska that have all day Kindergarten and are using the Building Blocks framework. Anybody know who's using Building Blocks in Nebraska?
On 12/15/04, Starla Rethorst wrote: > We have been implementing Building Blocks in our district's > Kindergarten classrooms. Next year we are switching from > half day to all day Kindergarten and want to visit other > schools in Nebraska that have all day Kindergarten and are > using the Building Blocks framework. Anybody know who's > using Building Blocks in Nebraska?
I don't know of anyone in Nebraska but I do have a suggestion for you.
Debbie Arechiga does awesome Building Blocks training.
We are doing Building Blocks for All Day Everyday Kindergarten classrooms and 1/2 day classrooms training in Oct and Nov next year.
Many of my ks do not know their last name let alone recognize it-- so now I think I should do the name activities using the last names. Has anyone tried this?
On 12/23/04, kori wrote: > Many of my ks do not know their last name let alone > recognize it-- so now I think I should do the name > activities using the last names. Has anyone tried this?
Kori, yes, but by putting magnetic letters on the easel and doing the cheer, not the cutting name apart, etc. Some years I've felt the need to do this with middle names to get more letter recognition so I change the game slightly- we graph by putting name labels under a chosen letter in that person's name that day and use it for handwriting practice, too.
You could also sing Who Let the Letters out as you take away letters from the person's last name.
And for attendance, the kids put their last name under the sentence: My name has the letter (Bb) or under No. This reviews letters for those still needing it and we "stretch" the names to hear the day's letter sound. Sometimes we find words within words (Hartman has man, for ex)
I have just been doing last names because one child asked me if he could and now the rest are delighted to do theirs. I do the same routine with it.
I also have sentence strips that I put a child's first name on one side, their last name on the other, laminated and I use these to dismiss at the end of the day. They LOVE it--sometimes I do first, sometimes last and then we get silly and turn them upside down, sideways, diagonal...it is a great way to get them to recognize their names and the only problem I had was some children reading all the names, so now they can whisper read it if they know it, but they all know that everyone wants to read their own name with no help unless they ask for help. It is a great lesson in looking at more than the first letter or two.
I have a half day K program and the most important thing for me is not to try to do everything at once. The children spend the first 15 minutes of each day with table toys while I deal with milk money, notes, attendence, etc...
Then cirlce goes for about 30 minutes. This includes my news and name activities. Unless we have music or gym, circle is followed by some work at their seat for 15 minutes. (a worksheet or writing of some kind to appease the grade 1 teachers)
We then come back to the rug for either a predictable chart or a shared reading. (I alternate them each week...not enough time for both)
Centers is next; this is a 20-30 minute block. I do my centers a lttle differently. I have 5 centers with various activities, and the children go to one center each day so at the end of the week they have done them all. At the start of the year I have 2 academic centers and 3 play. Now, I am up to 3 academic and 2 play.
We usually end centers have snakc, read a story and go home.
Hope this helps.
On 1/11/05, Heather wrote: > How is Building Blocks set up for half-day Kindergarten? > Can someone email me a schedule?
How do you fit in math? I'm assuming that you're working in science/health/social studies into a thematic approach.
On 1/14/05, Beth wrote: > I have a half day K program and the most important thing for > me is not to try to do everything at once. The children > spend the first 15 minutes of each day with table toys while > I deal with milk money, notes, attendence, etc... > > Then cirlce goes for about 30 minutes. This includes my news > and name activities. Unless we have music or gym, circle is > followed by some work at their seat for 15 minutes. (a > worksheet or writing of some kind to appease the grade 1 > teachers) > > We then come back to the rug for either a predictable chart > or a shared reading. (I alternate them each week...not > enough time for both) > > Centers is next; this is a 20-30 minute block. I do my > centers a lttle differently. I have 5 centers with various > activities, and the children go to one center each day so at > the end of the week they have done them all. At the start of > the year I have 2 academic centers and 3 play. Now, I am up > to 3 academic and 2 play. > > We usually end centers have snakc, read a story and go home. > > Hope this helps. > > > > On 1/11/05, Heather wrote: >> How is Building Blocks set up for half-day Kindergarten? >> Can someone email me a schedule?
I recently heard of Laurie Berkner. She does children's CDs but I have never heard her CDs. Does anyone use these in their classrooms? How does she compare with Dr. Jean? Thanks!
I teach K and we love Laurie Berkner. I have 3 cd's and just ordered #4. I like Dr. Jean but it was good to have some new things to sing. She was our favorite this year!
Anyway, too much information. Try Dan Zanes or Ralph Covert. Both are great singers and instrumentalists, and their songs are entertaining even for grownups
Does anyone have guess the covered word ideas=I have used all the ones in the Kindergarten book. Are there any sites that already have them prepared . Thanks N
what if you had the kids write or dictate words (in advance) that they would like to use for guess the covered word? Then you'd have a long list of words that are important and meaningful to your students. I know a 1st grade teacher who does this and it is part of their daily calendar routine, so it takes very little time!
On 2/19/05, ali wrote: > what if you had the kids write or dictate words (in advance) > that they would like to use for guess the covered word? > Then you'd have a long list of words that are important and > meaningful to your students. I know a 1st grade teacher who > does this and it is part of their daily calendar routine, so > it takes very little time! Ladies, Am I missing something good? I haven't played "Guess the Covered Word" in Kindergarten. What book are you referring to? I have Month by Month, and The Teacher's Guide to Building Blocks in Kindergarten...I don't recall reading about it.
If anyone is interested, I am selling my copy of the Building Blocks Plan Book Plus for $5 plus $2.50 shipping. For more information, go to teacher's net classifieds: [link removed]
On 11/27/04, Erica/bc wrote:
>
> the "interview posters" and then we made an alphabet book
> for every kid using their name letters (my idea), then we
> cut up their name and reassembled, we've done the cheers,
> we made up rhymes for each child. What next?
> Thanks!
I'm li...See More