Kindergarten Teachers Chatboard

Jul 12, 2016

Many of the students in your class are bodily-kinesthetic learners. They need to move! Don't fight it, use movement as a positive learning force.

Click below to read 12 ideas can help make movement be a positive learning force in your classroom.

The Benefits of School Recess - Stanford Study

Jul 11, 2016

A Stanford study shows that recess is a profoundly important part of the school day. Click below to read what the study shows about the benefits of school recess.

Students Need To Get Physical

by Kathleen

Jul 10, 2016

Schools are at war with a child’s basic human tendencies.

Will we regret having "childproofed" education?

by Kathleen

Jul 5, 2016

Public education has "childproofed" education, and we will regret it. As Dr. Mark Benden shared in our interview, “We will look back on the past generation and ask, ‘What were those people thinking making children sit still all day in school? Who thought that was a good idea?’"

kindergarten website

by mac

Jun 26, 2016

HI-Does anyone know a creative person willing to help me design a kindergarten website? I would of course pay

(1)

Julie On 6/26/16, mac wrote: > HI-Does anyone know a creative person willing to help me > design a kindergarten website? I would of course pay

I could try to help you

Jul 2, 2016

Beginning of the year book

by KB

Jun 23, 2016

What is a good book start the year with in Kindergarten? I want to use it for a week. It could deal with colors or friends.

(3)

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Flacka I like Brown Bear,Brown Bear. After a couple of readings the kids can "read" it themselves or do choral reading. I have a little book that they can color and "read", they love to act out the story with cutouts of the animals. It's great if you have a lot of ESL students or kids coming without knowing colors.

For colors...See More

Jun 23, 2016

Anne On 6/23/16, KB wrote: > What is a good book start the year with in Kindergarten? > I want to use it for a week. > It could deal with colors or friends. I use Have You Filled a Bucket Today? by Carol McCloud. It helps set the tone for a kind classroom. Be kind is my only class rule. When you are polite, safe and work hard, you are kind to y...See More

Jun 23, 2016

One of the three K teachers did a "Kinder-bration" on the last day of school, and now the principal is trying to get us other 2 to do it too. Her attitude is "All or none."

I have very mixed emotions about it, most of them negative.

So I thought I'd ask here -- who does something on the last day of school to c...See More

Kinder Celebration

by DonnaR/CA

Jun 9, 2016

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Judy2/CA No, we didn't do any kind of kinder celebration when I taught kinder but I don't think it's a big deal if it's done. My daughter went to a small preschool and they had a "graduation" the last day. I remember the kids made their own "caps" out of paper plates. The most memorable part came when they handed out little certificates ...See MoreNo, we didn't do any kind of kinder celebration when I taught kinder but I don't think it's a big deal if it's done. My daughter went to a small preschool and they had a "graduation" the last day. I remember the kids made their own "caps" out of paper plates. The most memorable part came when they handed out little certificates to each child after calling out their full name. One little boy took his certificate from the head teacher and was half-way back to his seat when he turned around and said "Hey! How do you know my last name?" Everyone laughed - he'd been in preschool for 3 years and she'd been his teacher the whole time! After that, cookies and lemonade were enjoyed by all. That was more than 20 years ago and I just remember it as a sweet time in my daughter's life.

On 6/09/16, maureen wrote: > Donna: I agree with you on all points. Some kids have > preschool graduation kindergarten graduation, elementary > school graduation, 8th grade graduation and by the time high > school graduation comes about, I wonder how special that > would be? > > I am retired now, but none of my kids or grandkids had any > kind of last day "Graduation" type program at any of the > schools they attended. My youngest completed K this spring. > Her teacher and two others (there are 8 sections of K at the > school) did a very short program about 3 weeks before the end > of school. Parents were invited and the classes sang a couple > songs and poems. Nothing "graduation wise". The rest of the > school year was school as usual. They didn't even go on any > field trips. That was perfectly fine for us and our > grandchild. > > I personally like having class as usual up until the end. I > never did it any differently all the years I taught. It isn't > necessary to celebrate moving to first grade. > > > > > On 6/09/16, DonnaR/CA wrote: >> One of the three K teachers did a "Kinder-bration" on the >> last day of school, and now the principal is trying to get >> us other 2 to do it too. Her attitude is "All or none." >> >> I have very mixed emotions about it, most of them negative. >> >> So I thought I'd ask here -- who does something on the last >> day of school to celebrate the end of Kinder? What do you >> do? How do you get the parents to not call it a graduation >> or promotion (which should be saved, IMHO, for end of >> elementary promotion, 8th grade promotion and HS >> graduation)? >> >> >>

Jun 11, 2016

Cheryl On 6/09/16, DonnaR/CA wrote: > One of the three K teachers did a "Kinder-bration" on the > last day of school, and now the principal is trying to get > us other 2 to do it too. Her attitude is "All or none." > > I have very mixed emotions about it, most of them negative. > > So I thought I'd ask here -- who ...See More

Jun 21, 2016

Marshall says: Class Dojo should "go the way of the dodo"

Jun 18, 2016

Marv Marshall, the author of Discipline Without Stress explains why he believes Class Dojo is a negative, unproductive system that should "go the way of the dodo."

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Jacque On 6/18/16, Teachers.Net Gazette wrote: > > Marv Marshall, the author of Discipline Without Stress > explains why he believes Class Dojo is a negative, > unproductive system that should "go the way of the dodo."

I agree...I tried it one year when I had an especially difficult class with 4 sets of twins, super-aggress...See More

Jun 19, 2016

Jun 19, 2016

Apps for Notetaking & Writing

Jun 17, 2016

Susan Fitzell writes about some great Apps for Notetaking & Writing in the current issue of Teachers.Net Gazette. Take a look!

How many hours a week do Kindergarten teachers work?

by thinkthinkthink

Jun 14, 2016

Hello! I need to make a serious decision please. I really want to become a Kindergarten teacher but always read horror stories about teachers almost always working 60+ hours per week. Unfortunately I have great caregiving responsibilities in my family and that would be impossible for me to do. However I was wondering if Kindergarten tea...See More

Hello! I need to make a serious decision please. I really want to become a Kindergarten teacher but always read horror stories about teachers almost always working 60+ hours per week. Unfortunately I have great caregiving responsibilities in my family and that would be impossible for me to do. However I was wondering if Kindergarten teachers work less hours? I mean TOTAL including grading, planning, parent/student meetings? Also, is it extremely hard to become ONLY A KINDER teacher because of competition? Like would I need to always teach other grades too? I am hoping to finish school to become a Kinder teacher and maybe substitute teach until I finally get a Kinder position. Do you think this is realistic? Thank you, I don't want to make a mistake pursuing this. I am in between this or just trying to work my way up in administrative type jobs as a career because I really can't work over 40 hrs a week with my family situation. I really want to do this but I'm also afraid that pursuing this may take away from my husband's ability to go back to school how much he would want to as well. Poor guy doesn't even have is High School as he came from Mexico, he's been working so so hard for us and I want to help him too. I'm thinking of waitressing weekends (I've done this many years and make good money in tips) and going to school part time but I'm not sure if I should just get some full time administrative entry job somewhere so he has more freedom for his school? We also don't have health insurance right now so we'd need to shell out lots for obama care...I feel very confused. Also with the economy right now I keep reading how hard it is for new teachers to find work.. I'm hoping subbing would help hold us off until I could get a Kindergarten classroom. As far as limited hours I can work.. Thing is when we have kids (we don't have any but are almost 30 so I'm trying to prepare) as far as hours devoted to caregiving it would be similar a single mom. My husband is wonderful but he has made it clear that he is very traditional and would always be willing to provide for us completely (most likely he would work 60-80 hrs a week) but it's clear he would leave almost everything else to me (all housework, child care, shopping etc etc). On top of that sometimes I need to help my parents as they off and on get very ill, and I am their only child. I know if I was working over 40 hrs a week as a mother I would go insane (I greatly respect and admire moms who do this but I am not that skilled). I LOVE young children and I'm hoping Kindergarten wouldn't be more than 40 hours full time or maybe I could even do 1/2 day? I'm sorry this is so long. It's just I'm SO torn as we agreed ABSOLUTELY NO student loans and have a very limited income. Do you think I should pursue this or just start in a clerical entry job somewhere and work my way up as much as possible in hope that it would be enough (maybe Executive Assistant or Senior Administrative Assistant in a University thing?). I'm just scared that that may become a dead end and then when we have kids it would be impossible for me to back to school, so I feel like I NEED to make a decision now or else.. I might sound entitled/ too picky but with our family situation I honestly can't have a career that I would need to work a lot of overtime even bringing it home. I'd also love being a Preschool teacher but I don't think it would be enough to live on. Help please from you wonderful teachers? Thank you so much....

(5)

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Kat_Kong I work ALOT of hours per week. I was a sped teacher and that was similar work hours (more paperwork in the evenings though). If you are having second thoughts about this then you should select a job that is more manageable and that you have more control over the working conditions. Being a teacher (seems like any grade) I don't feel that I have al...See More I work ALOT of hours per week. I was a sped teacher and that was similar work hours (more paperwork in the evenings though). If you are having second thoughts about this then you should select a job that is more manageable and that you have more control over the working conditions. Being a teacher (seems like any grade) I don't feel that I have alot of control over my hours, evening committments, etc.

On 6/15/16, Sherri wrote: > On 6/14/16, thinkthinkthink wrote: >> >> >> Hello! >> I need to make a serious decision please. I really want >> to become a Kindergarten teacher but always read > horror >> stories about teachers almost always working 60+ hours > per >> week. Unfortunately I have great caregiving > responsibilities >> in my family and that would be impossible for me to do. >> However I was wondering if Kindergarten teachers work > less >> hours? I mean TOTAL including grading, planning, >> parent/student meetings? Also, is it extremely hard to >> become ONLY A KINDER teacher because of > competition? Like >> would I need to always teach other grades too? I am > hoping >> to finish school to become a Kinder teacher and maybe >> substitute teach until I finally get a Kinder position. Do >> you think this is realistic? >> Thank you, I don't want to make a mistake pursuing this. >> I am in between this or just trying to work my way up in >> administrative type jobs as a career because I really > can't >> work over 40 hrs a week with my family situation. I really >> want to do this but I'm also afraid that pursuing this may >> take away from my husband's ability to go back to school > how >> much he would want to as well. Poor guy doesn't even > have is >> High School as he came from Mexico, he's been working > so so >> hard for us and I want to help him too. I'm thinking of >> waitressing weekends (I've done this many years and > make >> good money in tips) and going to school part time but I'm >> not sure if I should just get some full time administrative >> entry job somewhere so he has more freedom for his > school? >> We also don't have health insurance right now so we'd > need >> to shell out lots for obama care...I feel very confused. >> Also with the economy right now I keep reading how > hard it >> is for new teachers to find work.. I'm hoping subbing > would >> help hold us off until I could get a Kindergarten > classroom. >> As far as limited hours I can work.. Thing is when we >> have kids (we don't have any but are almost 30 so I'm > trying >> to prepare) as far as hours devoted to caregiving it would >> be similar a single mom. My husband is wonderful but he > has >> made it clear that he is very traditional and would always >> be willing to provide for us completely (most likely he >> would work 60-80 hrs a week) but it's clear he would > leave >> almost everything else to me (all housework, child care, >> shopping etc etc). On top of that sometimes I need to > help >> my parents as they off and on get very ill, and I am their >> only child. I know if I was working over 40 hrs a week as > a >> mother I would go insane (I greatly respect and admire > moms >> who do this but I am not that skilled). I LOVE young >> children and I'm hoping Kindergarten wouldn't be more > than >> 40 hours full time or maybe I could even do 1/2 day? >> I'm sorry this is so long. It's just I'm SO torn as we >> agreed ABSOLUTELY NO student loans and have a very > limited >> income. Do you think I should pursue this or just start in > a >> clerical entry job somewhere and work my way up as > much as >> possible in hope that it would be enough (maybe > Executive >> Assistant or Senior Administrative Assistant in a > University >> thing?). I'm just scared that that may become a dead end > and >> then when we have kids it would be impossible for me to > back >> to school, so I feel like I NEED to make a decision now > or >> else.. I might sound entitled/ too picky but with our family >> situation I honestly can't have a career that I would need >> to work a lot of overtime even bringing it home. I'd also >> love being a Preschool teacher but I don't think it would > be >> enough to live on. Help please from you wonderful > teachers? >> Thank you so much.... >> >> > You sound like a sweet and giving person. But as a K and > 1st grade teacher for 8 years, you don't sound like you > have the time necessary to become a PRODUCTIVE > teacher. You would be cheating either yourself or the > students and neither can afford to be cheated. Might I > suggest that you become a paraprofessional until your life > settles and you can see more clearly.

Jun 15, 2016

Jennifer S./KS I've taught Kinder for 21 years and I spend a LOT of time above and beyond my school day on school stuff. I LOVE my job and wouldn't trade if for the world, but sometimes I wish I could come home from work and do nothing. There are a lot of extra hours to this job, any teaching job, really.

On 6/14/16, irishday wrote: > On 6/14/16, thi...See MoreI've taught Kinder for 21 years and I spend a LOT of time above and beyond my school day on school stuff. I LOVE my job and wouldn't trade if for the world, but sometimes I wish I could come home from work and do nothing. There are a lot of extra hours to this job, any teaching job, really.

On 6/14/16, irishday wrote: > On 6/14/16, thinkthinkthink wrote: >> >> >> Hello! >> I need to make a serious decision please. I really want >> to become a Kindergarten teacher but always read horror >> stories about teachers almost always working 60+ hours per >> week. Unfortunately I have great caregiving responsibilities >> in my family and that would be impossible for me to do. >> However I was wondering if Kindergarten teachers work less >> hours? I mean TOTAL including grading, planning, >> parent/student meetings? Also, is it extremely hard to >> become ONLY A KINDER teacher because of competition? Like >> would I need to always teach other grades too? I am hoping >> to finish school to become a Kinder teacher and maybe >> substitute teach until I finally get a Kinder position. Do >> you think this is realistic? >> Thank you, I don't want to make a mistake pursuing this. >> I am in between this or just trying to work my way up in >> administrative type jobs as a career because I really can't >> work over 40 hrs a week with my family situation. I really >> want to do this but I'm also afraid that pursuing this may >> take away from my husband's ability to go back to school how >> much he would want to as well. Poor guy doesn't even have is >> High School as he came from Mexico, he's been working so so >> hard for us and I want to help him too. I'm thinking of >> waitressing weekends (I've done this many years and make >> good money in tips) and going to school part time but I'm >> not sure if I should just get some full time administrative >> entry job somewhere so he has more freedom for his school? >> We also don't have health insurance right now so we'd need >> to shell out lots for obama care...I feel very confused. >> Also with the economy right now I keep reading how hard it >> is for new teachers to find work.. I'm hoping subbing would >> help hold us off until I could get a Kindergarten classroom. >> As far as limited hours I can work.. Thing is when we >> have kids (we don't have any but are almost 30 so I'm trying >> to prepare) as far as hours devoted to caregiving it would >> be similar a single mom. My husband is wonderful but he has >> made it clear that he is very traditional and would always >> be willing to provide for us completely (most likely he >> would work 60-80 hrs a week) but it's clear he would leave >> almost everything else to me (all housework, child care, >> shopping etc etc). On top of that sometimes I need to help >> my parents as they off and on get very ill, and I am their >> only child. I know if I was working over 40 hrs a week as a >> mother I would go insane (I greatly respect and admire moms >> who do this but I am not that skilled). I LOVE young >> children and I'm hoping Kindergarten wouldn't be more than >> 40 hours full time or maybe I could even do 1/2 day? >> I'm sorry this is so long. It's just I'm SO torn as we >> agreed ABSOLUTELY NO student loans and have a very limited >> income. Do you think I should pursue this or just start in a >> clerical entry job somewhere and work my way up as much as >> possible in hope that it would be enough (maybe Executive >> Assistant or Senior Administrative Assistant in a University >> thing?). I'm just scared that that may become a dead end and >> then when we have kids it would be impossible for me to back >> to school, so I feel like I NEED to make a decision now or >> else.. I might sound entitled/ too picky but with our family >> situation I honestly can't have a career that I would need >> to work a lot of overtime even bringing it home. I'd also >> love being a Preschool teacher but I don't think it would be >> enough to live on. Help please from you wonderful teachers? >> Thank you so much.... >> >>

Jun 15, 2016