What do you you do - parents only - parents & kids - kids ...See MoreI need to do a K Round up this year (yes, I know it's late) and I'm wondering what other people do. In the past I have had the Pre-K's come for a session, I talked briefly to parents & then to the kiddos to do an activity, while the principal & others talked to parents.
What do you you do - parents only - parents & kids - kids only? I'm going to do it in the evening to give our working parents the opportunity to come.
Our K round-up is just a time for parents to fill out the registration forms, have questions about the forms answered. I give the kids a short test - ID letters, see how high they can count and write their name. We are at a one K class school, so testing the kids to see on colors , shapes, if tehy can cut, etc. makes little difference, as I get all of them anyway. We kept the letter ID test as we have realized that some parents want to "show off" how smart their kids is. We hold the "round-up" from 3:00 - 5:00 on only one day in early March.
I'm there to greet the new kindergartners, to say hi to the parents, and because we hold the round up in the K classroom.
For advertising, We put a news article about the K round-up in the local free community newspaper, as well as let our one preschool inform the parents of incoming K's about the date and time of the round-up.
On each Wednesday in May, the "graduating preschoolers" come to the K class with their preschool teacher (preschool is just across the street) for an hour. We sing the song we will start the net year with, hear a story, do an art activity, and that's it. It gives the new kids a chance to see the classroom, and meet me. We also advertise these Wednesdays in the local community paper so parents of prospective kindergartners know about these "visits" so they can bring their child too if they want to. >
Thank you for the ideas! I love the idea of the PreK's coming in on the Wednesdays in May.
Thank you!
On 3/31/15, Steve wrote: > On 3/30/15, Jennifer Starcke wrote: >> I need to do a K Round up this year (yes, I know it's late) >> > > Our K round-up is just a time for parents to fill out the > registration forms, have questions about the forms > answered. I give the kids a short test - ID letters, see how > high they can count and write their name. We are at a one K > class school, so testing the kids to see on colors , shapes, if > tehy can cut, etc. makes little difference, as I get all of them > anyway. We kept the letter ID test as we have realized that > some parents want to "show off" how smart their kids is. We > hold the "round-up" from 3:00 - 5:00 on only one day in > early March. > > I'm there to greet the new kindergartners, to say hi to the > parents, and because we hold the round up in the K > classroom. > > For advertising, We put a news article about the K round-up > in the local free community newspaper, as well as let our one > preschool inform the parents of incoming K's about the date > and time of the round-up. > > On each Wednesday in May, the "graduating preschoolers" > come to the K class with their preschool teacher (preschool is > just across the street) for an hour. We sing the song we will > start the net year with, hear a story, do an art activity, and > that's it. It gives the new kids a chance to see the classroom, > and meet me. We also advertise these Wednesdays in the > local community paper so parents of prospective > kindergartners know about these "visits" so they can bring > their child too if they want to. >>
Hi Guys, I just made a great discovery: Dollar Store Bingo markers color eggs really well! It's easy to do and the neon colors work wonders! Easy and fun! Of course, I won't be dying eggs in school this year because I have lots of children who are not Christians but, it works for families!
On 3/29/15, Rita/PA wrote: > Hi Guys, I just made a great discovery: Dollar Store Bingo > markers color eggs really well! It's easy to do and the neon > colors work wonders! Easy and fun! Of course, I won't be > dying eggs in school this year because I have lots of > children who are not Christians but, it works for families!
Lori/KS/6I'll be attending the Differentiated Instruction Conference which is taking place at the same time same place as the K conference. I'm thrilled to be able to go and can only do it because my school has somehow managed to pay for my tuition. Enjoy!!!
JenniferS/KS/KI'll be going to Vegas for I Teach K! I'm SO excited.
On 3/30/15, DonnaR/CA wrote: > Is anyone from this board going to the Las Vegas conference > this year? I can't believe, my district actually helped me > pay for the tuition! > > > Donna
Kim FloydOn 3/24/15, Jan wrote: > Help! Is there a headphone that will withstand students > chewing on the cable? > > Thanks! > > Jan Jan, this makes me laugh! It is such a kindergarten problem, I would direct this question to the iPad guru Matt Gomes, he has a great blog, and answers to just about everything iPad and kindergarten
> Jan, this makes me laugh! It is such a kindergarten problem, > I would direct this question to the iPad guru Matt Gomes, he > has a great blog, and answers to just about everything iPad > and kindergarten
I know this website gives such a hassle trying to post a link, but if you can give us a Blog title, it might help us find this person's blog.
I also had to giggle at the problem. I've seen my kiddos chewing on the cords, putting the jack in their mouths, bending the jack, and this is all so "positively kindergarten"!
The OT was in observing another student and couldn't help but notice the student in question. She said he is a sensory seeker and we need to feed his system with stimuli: lifting heavy things, pushing/pulling heavy loads. I guess things to help him feel grounded. Mom did agree to a weighted vest which is supposed to have been ordered.
I'm not sure what else to do - taking away privileges does not help. Rewarding with good behavior does not help - well, they both are effective in the moment but neither stop the behavior from happening again.
Any advice would help! Does this situation remind any of you of a similar one? Thanks in advance!
KimOn 3/25/15, sunrisemom wrote: > hello, > I have been dealing all year with a very challenging > student. He has a very difficult time attending, > controlling his body (and his mouth), keeping his hands > off of others, focusing at times, and generally following > the rules. He has gotten kicked out of 2 day cares and 1 > presc...See MoreOn 3/25/15, sunrisemom wrote: > hello, > I have been dealing all year with a very challenging > student. He has a very difficult time attending, > controlling his body (and his mouth), keeping his hands > off of others, focusing at times, and generally following > the rules. He has gotten kicked out of 2 day cares and 1 > preschool. He is now in my kindergarten class and is > having a difficult time - as are the other students and > I. His mother flat out refuses to get any sort of help. > She knows there is an issue but thinks it's allergies or > the fact that he is tired some days. I have met with her > on numerous occasions but she will not have him tested, > labeled, or medicated. NOt that I suggested any of those > but the school psychologist mentioned testing and I > mentioned an OT screening and she wants none of it. > > The OT was in observing another student and couldn't help > but notice the student in question. She said he is a > sensory seeker and we need to feed his system with > stimuli: lifting heavy things, pushing/pulling heavy > loads. I guess things to help him feel grounded. Mom > did agree to a weighted vest which is supposed to have > been ordered. > > I'm not sure what else to do - taking away privileges > does not help. Rewarding with good behavior does not > help - well, they both are effective in the moment but > neither stop the behavior from happening again. > > Any advice would help! Does this situation remind any of > you of a similar one? Thanks in advance!
I had a student like this awhile back. His parents and I decided on creating a place in the classroom where he could go and "relax" with a basket of sensory oriented toys and a few of his personal, favorite books. He had a soft, kid sized chair, and a basket with things like squishy balls, stuffed animals, etc. The little boy had the freedom to go there whenever he/ or I thought he needed his own space. He also loved to play in the water, so I would sometimes let him wash all of the paint brushes, whether they needed it or not. He became peaceful, and I was able to attend to the other students for a bit longer without his interruptions.
AngelaOn 3/17/15, LK McDonald wrote: > On 3/16/15, K teacher wrote: >> A kindergarten student transferred into my class at the >> beginning of Feb. from another school in the district. He >> knew 37 letters and 7 sounds which is about the same >> as he knew in Oct. according to a district wide >> assessment that he took. ...See MoreOn 3/17/15, LK McDonald wrote: > On 3/16/15, K teacher wrote: >> A kindergarten student transferred into my class at the >> beginning of Feb. from another school in the district. He >> knew 37 letters and 7 sounds which is about the same >> as he knew in Oct. according to a district wide >> assessment that he took. Since then we have worked >> with him every day to learn the letters and sounds but I >> assessed him today and he now knows fewer letters but >> about 5 more sounds. He has trouble matching >> magnetic letters to an alphabet chart and is inconsistent >> with the letters he can name. >> >> I am a very experienced teacher but this is the first time >> I've had a child make so little progress. Any ideas or >> suggestions? > > > As an assistant I am working with similar student. We are > using "Textured Tracing Cards" I make him trace each letter. > Starting with green dot following to red dots. We sound out > these letters. We talk about what word starts with this letter, > etc. I even use picture cards from other games, or activities > for him to use together. This is one-on-one using one letter > at a time, reviewing each "learned" letter. You can also pair > student with a higher level student allowing them to work > together to help your lower student.
On 3/17/15, LK McD...See MoreI use the letter arch from the Florida Reading Research site. We first practice matching letter to a letter we say in the alphabet song. Then, I hold up random letter cards for the students to locate on the arch. They can use the alphabet song to help them find the letter. This has helped to scaffold some of my students.
On 3/17/15, LK McDonald wrote: > On 3/16/15, K teacher wrote: >> A kindergarten student transferred into my class at the >> beginning of Feb. from another school in the district. He >> knew 37 letters and 7 sounds which is about the same >> as he knew in Oct. according to a district wide >> assessment that he took. Since then we have worked >> with him every day to learn the letters and sounds but I >> assessed him today and he now knows fewer letters but >> about 5 more sounds. He has trouble matching >> magnetic letters to an alphabet chart and is inconsistent >> with the letters he can name. >> >> I am a very experienced teacher but this is the first time >> I've had a child make so little progress. Any ideas or >> suggestions? > > > As an assistant I am working with similar student. We are > using "Textured Tracing Cards" I make him trace each letter. > Starting with green dot following to red dots. We sound out > these letters. We talk about what word starts with this letter, > etc. I even use picture cards from other games, or activities > for him to use together. This is one-on-one using one letter > at a time, reviewing each "learned" letter. You can also pair > student with a higher level student allowing them to work > together to help your lower student.
I used to be on here most every night. Now kids are raised...I have some minutes at the end of the day. Just read through a few posts. Does anyone else wonder what the heck we are doing to 5-6 year old kids. I read mostly about assessment. What in the world are we doing. Hoping your kids can still have some "choice" time?
My apologies. I've never cared for the term. The military kids I've been around were for the most part far from "brats". It's always bothered me that people who don't know a lot of military kids might think the phrase is accurate.
On 3/15/15, pktchr w...See More Just today, I made the comment that I am surprised each time I assess. I feel like all I do is assess; I wonder when they actually had the chance to learn something. I am an Air Force brat. I am proud of the title, but I see the stunned facial expressions every time I use the phrase with someone not accustomed to it.
On 3/15/15, pktchr wrote: > On 3/15/15, Donna wrote: >> On 3/14/15, pktchr wrote: >> >>> back to a different district in IL. A little consistency >>> would have been helpful. Being a "military brat" isn't >>> easy. >> >> For the record, I hope no offense was taken with the use >> of > the >> term "military brat". I'm a wife of a retired military >> man, we raised two "military brats", and I have taught on >> a military > base. > > > My apologies. I've never cared for the term. The military > kids I've been around were for the most part far from > "brats". It's always bothered me that people who don't > know a lot of military kids might think the phrase is > accurate.
Our district has been, up to now, pretty easy. Get parents to donate iTunes gift cards, load up to 5 iPads with a given app, use accordingly.
All of a sudden, they're telling us that the iPads will be wiped clean in June and we must apply for approval to reload each app (different form for each app). If we spent our own money to buy the app or used a parent-donated gift card to buy/upgrade the app, too-bad-so-sad.
Needless to say, I'm upset. I've spent almost $100 in parent gift cards on apps (all of them educationally sound), not to mention hours-upon-hours to do the research to find the apps, download them, and try them to ensure they're good ones.
So I'm doing my research, to see what other districts do. These are school-owned iPads.
I own an iPad. I was issued one by the county. I have per...See MoreOn 2/25/15, kinderesl wrote: > We have two district apple accounts that can be used to load > apps. One is for free apps only. I can load anything > (educational of course!) that is free. All paid apps MUST be > purchased through the district account with prior approval.
I own an iPad. I was issued one by the county. I have permission to use three (the same three) out of a locked cabinet in another teacher's room. The tech person told me I could use my apple id to install any apps I want on all 5 of the iPads. This has made using the iPads a joy! The three I borrowed only have apps for the older students... and one app that is a drawing program. It is useless and a waste of time! I am so happy to be able to use these educational apps in my room! There are many available that are outstanding! Maybe I'll change my tune at the end of the year when they want to wipe the iPads (3)clean. I guess I'll just wait and see. For now, I'm loving the use of them!
I am told that our District will wipe all the iPads clean at the end of the year. I had created a new iTunes account for the classroom iPads, and have changed that password. I'm told (right now) that unless the District finds a way to lock the iPad into the District's iTunes account, it is a simple thing to change the iPad back into my iTunes account. Then just as simple to re-download (but just more work).
My kids love the iPads. I make them part of Language rotations, putting individual students onto certain apps for "Differentiation". For Math rotations, I can do the same thing. We did have one get dropped and the glass broke. Fortunately, our school bought the replacement insurance, so in the meantime, I got a newer one. I found it easy to change out of the District's iTunes account and into my classroom account, to reload all of the old apps. On Fridays, my students have more choice in the apps: they can choose anything they want. One of the most popular apps is an old Windows 95 game: Number Munchers.
I am a student teacher in Wyoming and was thinking about starting pen pals for my advanced reading group. If any other kindergarten class would be interested, please let me know! :)
Our K round-up is just a time for parents to fill out the registration forms, have questions about the forms answered. I give the kids a short test - ID letters, see how high they can count and write their name. We are at a one K class...See More