Kindergarten Teachers Chatboard

Making Deals w/Students is Ineffective

Making deals with students is not effective teaching. It teaches students that when they grow up, everything will be negotiable, and they will take no responsibility for their actions or work. (You may find some of the examples in the article silly and funny, but they are all actual "deals" that have been observed in classrooms.)
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Sep 4, 2016

phonics curriculum

by mlynn

Sep 2, 2016

Help. I am an assistant teacher this year and I am teaching phonics to kinders. I used Fountas and Pinnell in the past but didn't like all the prep. Does anyone have a favorite site or resource? I am starting next week!!!! mlynn

(1)

Grace Definitely! Go to [link removed].

On 9/02/16, mlynn wrote: > Help. I am an assistant teacher this year and I am teaching > phonics to kinders. I used Fountas and Pinnell in the past > but didn't like all the prep. Does anyone have a favorite > site or resource? I am starting next week!!!! mlynn

Sep 2, 2016

Anyone teachers journeys 2011 edition....or just teach journeys? I need help on how to teach it for my class. I was just thrown into this and have no clue how to do a whole days lesson. School bought the 2011, but I am thinking that it would be the same but just have to use my edition. Please help, any help would be appreciated.

Thank you ...See More

Journeys curriculum

by sonia davila

Aug 31, 2016

How to implement culture of consistency for student learning

Aug 30, 2016

Successful businesses, sports teams, the military, even Broadway shows—they all have a culture of consistency. So why not our schools?

Read the article linked below to see what it looks like and the specific steps you can take to establish a culture of consistency in your classroom.

How to Have Successful First Days of School

Aug 29, 2016

Successful first days of school are easily attainable. (Click below to access the article full of tips for the early part of a successful school year.)

The Key to Solving Discipline Problems

Aug 28, 2016

One of the most important articles you will read during this school year, this timeless and popular piece is better read now than later. (Click below to access the article.)

Gifted and Talented Kindergarten

by smithe147

Aug 13, 2016

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone has some advice on how to stimulate potential Gifted and Talented students in Kindergarten? They are fidgety and showing signs of boredom during routine tasks such as morning routine, where we talk about yesterday, today, tomorrow, and do some counting, blending, talk about the weather etc. I know they...See More

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Valerie I teach in Ontario, Canada, where we were challenged a few years ago to rethink the purpose of 'calendar time' and whether it is really necessary. As we went forward in inquiry based learning, my teaching partner and I decided to not post our calendar in our first year of full-day Kindergarten. I think it's the best thing I ever did! We are able t...See More I teach in Ontario, Canada, where we were challenged a few years ago to rethink the purpose of 'calendar time' and whether it is really necessary. As we went forward in inquiry based learning, my teaching partner and I decided to not post our calendar in our first year of full-day Kindergarten. I think it's the best thing I ever did! We are able to engage in so much more meaningful and purposeful conversations with the children during morning meetings. We still have a calendar, but on a much smaller scale. At the beginning of each month, we invite a small group to help create the calendar for that month on Bristol board. We write the numbers together and post important days (e.g., birthdays, holidays, pizza day) using sticky notes. This gets posted at children's eye level and used as a reference. Someone makes sure to move the 'today' label each day ahead to the current day.

On 8/16/16, Flacka wrote: > I have been wracking my brain for the name of the teacher > who created a great calendar notebook that I used - > Jessica Meacham. She used to teach K and has created some > awesome resources. Google her name and I'm sure you will > find some things you can use or adapt so you don't have to > re-invent the wheel! > > > > On 8/15/16, smithe147 wrote: >> Great ideas. You're right, open-ended is best for them. I >> will try some of these ideas. Might make a booklet up for >> them. Some of the others students might like to lead the >> class during Morning routine. Thank you both! >> >> On 8/14/16, Flacka wrote: >>> They can do the same thing, only as Emeril says, "kick >>> it up a notch". Have them keep a calendar notebook - >>> give them a blank or mostly blank calendar and fill in >>> the numbers for the month. >> If >>> they can read, have them fill out a daily question - how >>> many Fridays are in the month, if today is (date) how >>> many more days until (date, holiday, etc), how many >>> school days this month, >> etc. >>> Have them keep a graph of the weather and answer >>> questions about the graph. If you have a para, he/she >>> can lead this group or can lead the whole group and you >>> work with these kids. Give these kids more open ended >>> ways to cover the same topics so that they have to think >>> and problem-solve for the answers. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 8/13/16, Myrna wrote: >>>> On 8/13/16, smithe147 wrote: >>>>> Hi everyone, >>>>> >>>>> Just wondering if anyone has some advice on how to >>>>> stimulate potential Gifted and Talented students in >>>>> Kindergarten? They are fidgety and showing signs of >>>>> boredom during routine tasks such as morning routine, >>>>> where we talk about yesterday, today, tomorrow, and do >>>>> some counting, blending, talk about the weather etc. I >>>> know >>>>> they are not challenged in some lessons like these. >>>>> Does anyone have some ideas for how to cater for their >>>> needs? >>>>> >>>>> TIA >>>> >>>> Have you considered assigning special roles, such as >>>> calendar person, morning message helper. I have taught >>>> preschool for many years and I allowed my brighter >>>> students to write part of the the morning message, lead >>>> a portion of calendar time, etc. Eventually, other >>>> students were eager to participate and get a chance... >>>> This motivated my students who were reluctant to write >>>> or pay attention during morning meeting.

Aug 20, 2016

smithe147 Thank you I will look up Jessica Meacham.

The whole class creation of the calendar is a great idea too!

On 8/20/16, Valerie wrote: > > I teach in Ontario, Canada, where we were challenged a few > years ago to rethink the purpose of 'calendar time' and > whether it is really necessary. As we went forward in > inquiry...See MoreThank you I will look up Jessica Meacham.

The whole class creation of the calendar is a great idea too!

On 8/20/16, Valerie wrote: > > I teach in Ontario, Canada, where we were challenged a few > years ago to rethink the purpose of 'calendar time' and > whether it is really necessary. As we went forward in > inquiry based learning, my teaching partner and I decided to > not post our calendar in our first year of full-day > Kindergarten. I think it's the best thing I ever did! We > are able to engage in so much more meaningful and purposeful > conversations with the children during morning meetings. We > still have a calendar, but on a much smaller scale. At the > beginning of each month, we invite a small group to help > create the calendar for that month on Bristol board. We write > the numbers together and post important days (e.g., > birthdays, holidays, pizza day) using sticky notes. This > gets posted at children's eye level and used as a reference. > Someone makes sure to move the 'today' label each day ahead > to the current day. > > > > On 8/16/16, Flacka wrote: >> I have been wracking my brain for the name of the teacher >> who created a great calendar notebook that I used - >> Jessica Meacham. She used to teach K and has created some >> awesome resources. Google her name and I'm sure you will >> find some things you can use or adapt so you don't have to >> re-invent the wheel! >> >> >> >> On 8/15/16, smithe147 wrote: >>> Great ideas. You're right, open-ended is best for them. I >>> will try some of these ideas. Might make a booklet up for >>> them. Some of the others students might like to lead the >>> class during Morning routine. Thank you both! >>> >>> On 8/14/16, Flacka wrote: >>>> They can do the same thing, only as Emeril says, "kick >>>> it up a notch". Have them keep a calendar notebook - >>>> give them a blank or mostly blank calendar and fill in >>>> the numbers for the month. >>> If >>>> they can read, have them fill out a daily question - how >>>> many Fridays are in the month, if today is (date) how >>>> many more days until (date, holiday, etc), how many >>>> school days this month, >>> etc. >>>> Have them keep a graph of the weather and answer >>>> questions about the graph. If you have a para, he/she >>>> can lead this group or can lead the whole group and you >>>> work with these kids. Give these kids more open ended >>>> ways to cover the same topics so that they have to think >>>> and problem-solve for the answers. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On 8/13/16, Myrna wrote: >>>>> On 8/13/16, smithe147 wrote: >>>>>> Hi everyone, >>>>>> >>>>>> Just wondering if anyone has some advice on how to >>>>>> stimulate potential Gifted and Talented students in >>>>>> Kindergarten? They are fidgety and showing signs of >>>>>> boredom during routine tasks such as morning routine, >>>>>> where we talk about yesterday, today, tomorrow, and do >>>>>> some counting, blending, talk about the weather etc. I >>>>> know >>>>>> they are not challenged in some lessons like these. >>>>>> Does anyone have some ideas for how to cater for their >>>>> needs? >>>>>> >>>>>> TIA >>>>> >>>>> Have you considered assigning special roles, such as >>>>> calendar person, morning message helper. I have taught >>>>> preschool for many years and I allowed my brighter >>>>> students to write part of the the morning message, lead >>>>> a portion of calendar time, etc. Eventually, other >>>>> students were eager to participate and get a chance... >>>>> This motivated my students who were reluctant to write >>>>> or pay attention during morning meeting.

Aug 27, 2016

Let's get the ball rolling

by Flacka

Jul 25, 2016

Lets get a discussion going...

What new things do you want to try this year?

What book/program/idea really changed the way you teach (in a good way)?

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DonnaR/CA On 7/25/16, Flacka wrote: > Lets get a discussion going... > > What new things do you want to try this year?

It's not a new thing, but I'd really like to have a real writing center -- one with different types of paper, different pencils and pens, etc. I'm being thwarted right now by the lack of a table that fits in the area that I...See More

Aug 6, 2016

ZIP On 7/25/16, Flacka wrote: > Lets get a discussion going... > > What new things do you want to try this year? > > What book/program/idea really changed the way you teach (in a > good way)?

My new thing is a class website for parent commnication. using Bloomz.I am hoping to have this very technological group of parents get ...See More

Aug 26, 2016

How To Start Class Every Day

Aug 26, 2016

A study showed that in the classroom where the teacher greeted the students at the door, there was an increase in student engagement from 45 percent to 72 percent. How it's done makes a difference.

Read the linked article by Harry and Rosemary Wong to learn simple and enjoyable techniques for starting class every day.