Kindergarten Teachers Chatboard

Feb 17, 2016

Early Childhood education guru Cheryl Hatch has written a primer on teaching math to young children. You don't want to miss it. Also, please share the link with colleagues!

I have a student who is a class clown. He disturbs the others at all times throughout the day by making noises, talking inappropriately, blowing in faces, etc...When I ask him to stop the behaviors he does but then restarts as soon as I turn away. I have found the best thing is to send him to the back corner of the carpet away from touching distanc...See More

behavior

by Jane

Feb 13, 2016

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jane On 2/14/16, Jacque/WA/K-1 wrote: > I answered the mail-ring post but I'll answer here too... > I have a similar child this year, though mine was also > violent (choking others, wrapping jumpropes around the neck > of others, poking, pushing, shoving, blowing on others). > I'm happy to say that by January, he has improved > dramati...See MoreOn 2/14/16, Jacque/WA/K-1 wrote: > I answered the mail-ring post but I'll answer here too... > I have a similar child this year, though mine was also > violent (choking others, wrapping jumpropes around the neck > of others, poking, pushing, shoving, blowing on others). > I'm happy to say that by January, he has improved > dramatically---instead of several times each day, we > haven't had a violent incident for 6 weeks. He can get a > little squirrelly at times, but is now listening to > reminders. Here's what I did....he is my youngest child > (August 30th birthday and our cut-off date is Sept. 1st--- > WHAT WERE THEY THINKING!!! He's also an only child). I > gave him a little rug to sit on right by me because > personal space knowledge seemed to escape him. I sought > out ways to improve my relationship with him which was > enormously difficult since I spent so much time in the > beginning having to discipline him. He also refused to > work at times, but after I put my hand over his and forced > him to complete work twice, he has never bucked working > again. He also would be purposely slow to pack up, making > the whole class wait on him so I told him we would no > longer wait for him, I couldn't let him make the bus > children late for their buses, so anyone slow was just left > (I did inform parents beforehand that I was going to do > this---he was perfectly safe, knew the way out)...it took > just 3-4 times and now he packs up and is ready to go---the > second time I just left him, he said to me, "I hate this, > why would you do this?" and I told him, "I can't let you > make the others late for their buses". We had him hold > hands with myself or another adult if he couldn't walk in > line without bothering others--he didn't like that either > so shaped up pretty quickly. One of the biggest parenting > issues was parents who excused his behaviors with "it was > an accident" or "I was only hugging"---those excuses did > not fly with me and he was held accountable---no longer > says that. I asked him in late January, after several > weeks of steady improvement, if he'd like to try without > his rug and he was excited to do so. He's been a bit > squirrellier (is that a word?), movement-wise, but has > listened and responded to reminders, sometimes if I just > gently touch his shoulder or cup his chin in my hand helps > him to maintain. There are times I sent him to his table > in the beginning because that seemed to work too. I also > made the child who was injured or bothered look him in the > eye and tell him what they didn't like, then he would have > to respond with a suggested apology and/or a mandatory, > "I'll try not to do that again"....every time...consistency > is SO important. Though his mom was resistant at first, > she worked in my classroom and saw him first-hand and was > onboard for whatever I felt was necessary. We had many > conferences and I sent home a simple behavior note every > day because he never would tell her anything about his > behavior. Hang in there! Hope some of this will help. > > > On 2/13/16, Jane wrote: >> I have a student who is a class clown. He disturbs the >> others at all times throughout the day by making noises, >> talking inappropriately, blowing in faces, etc...When I >> ask him to stop the behaviors he does but then restarts >> as soon as I turn away. I have found the best thing is to >> send him to the back corner of the carpet away from >> touching distance of the others or send him to his own >> desk instead of allowing him to stay at the table with >> the others. Mom is furious that I would isolate him. What >> would you do with a student like this? I'm open for ideas >> that will allow for my other children to learn and stay >> safe.

Feb 15, 2016

Jane Thank you! Good ideas.

Feb 15, 2016

looking for snowflake poem

by K.Fair

Jan 9, 2016

Does anyone know of a simple poem about catching snowflakes with your tongue? I want to post it with the pictures my kids made of the same...

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DonnaR/CA Ah, found one! How about....

Ogden Nash in his Winter Morning Poem:

Winter is the king of showmen Turning tree stumps into snow men And houses into birthday cakes And spreading sugar over lakes Smooth and clean and frosty white The world looks good enough to bite That’s the season to be young Catching snowflakes on your tongue ...See More

Jan 15, 2016

kfair On 1/15/16, DonnaR/CA wrote: > Ah, found one! How about.... > > Ogden Nash in his Winter Morning Poem: > > Winter is the king of showmen > Turning tree stumps into snow men > And houses into birthday cakes > And spreading sugar over lakes > Smooth and clean and frosty white > The world looks good enough to bite > Th...See More

Feb 12, 2016

How to teach the value of diversity by Leah Davies

Feb 10, 2016

Children’s identity and self-respect are related to how others treat them, and ultimately to their future success...

How can administrators and staff help children value diversity? [Click below to access the article.]

Stickers? Name on board? The better way...

Feb 7, 2016

In his short article on motivating students, Dr. Marv Marshall writes: A very important difference between the two types of motivation concerns building characteristics and values such as integrity, kindness, generosity, caring, perseverance, and responsibility.

Getting attention from kids

by Joyce

Jan 10, 2016

I am a kindergarten teacher (children from 3 to 5) who's been facing troubles to get them attention. I feel they don't give me any respect, since they start chatting as soon as I come to the class. Some of them turn back and just don't care about the class. I am very disappointed! When I taught adults and teens a few years ago it was totally differ...See More

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DonnaR/CA I use a lot of singing, music and rhythms in my classroom, which I find gets their attention easily. Among my favorites:

Transition Times - I use my iPad to create musical cues. The app is called ClassCues, and it's available for iPad and iPhone -- not sure about Android. I have music for Rotations (by far, the most used), Snack/Recess, an...See More

Jan 31, 2016

Flacka If you are their classroom teacher, have a class meeting and talk about what is going on and solicit their ideas. They sometimes have very good insight and can take ownership of the ideas.

One thing many teachers do is let the behavior slide and they pay for that all year. If they don't line up quietly, send everyone back to their seats a...See More

Jan 31, 2016

First year teaching

by Cassie Richards

Jan 9, 2016

Hi!

I just graduated college and landed a kindergarten teaching position! However, I will be starting in the middle of the year. This class is now my own, and I will be teaching at this school from here on out. Does anyone have any advice for me!?

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Mike On 1/09/16, Cassie Richards wrote: > Hi! > > I just graduated college and landed a kindergarten > teaching position! However, I will be starting in the > middle of the year. This class is now my own, and I will > be teaching at this school from here on out. Does anyone > have any advice for me!?

Be prepared a week ahea...See More

Jan 9, 2016

Kat On 1/09/16, Mike wrote: > On 1/09/16, Cassie Richards wrote: >> Hi! >> >> I just graduated college and landed a kindergarten >> teaching position! However, I will be starting in the >> middle of the year. This class is now my own, and I will >> be teaching at this school from here on out. Does > anyone >...See More

Jan 9, 2016

online read-alouds

by Mary-Ann

Dec 10, 2015

I am trying to locate a website that offers free online book readings. I use my local library's website but their choice of books is limited. If you know of a good website that offers this, please share. Thanks!

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DonnaR/CA On 12/10/15, Mary-Ann wrote: > I am trying to locate a website that offers free online book > readings.

There are a number of books on YouTube - search the title of the book that you are looking for.

Donna

Dec 12, 2015

Jessie On 12/10/15, Mary-Ann wrote: > I am trying to locate a website that offers free online book > readings. I use my local library's website but their choice > of books is limited. If you know of a good website that > offers this, please share. Thanks!

Reading A-Z is a website that offers stories that are read aloud to the student....See More

Jan 7, 2016

Counterwill: The Most Misunderstood Teacher-Student Dynamic

Jan 6, 2016

Although adults experience this phenomenon, we seem to be surprised when we encounter it in young people.

Children's Book

by Lovelymoosie

Dec 28, 2015

Where should I begin looking for a children's book publisher? There are so many things that come up when I type in children's book publisher. What should I look for in a publisher? Thanks!

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