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Kindergarten Teachers Chatboard Topics

New easy way to color eggs!

by Rita/PA

Mar 29, 2015

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!

Jessie to Rita Thanks for the idea, Rita. Do you have any trouble with the ink smearing or rubbing off?

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 ye...See More

Mar 30, 2015

very challenging student

by sunrisemom

Mar 25, 2015

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 difficul...See More

Kim On 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.

Mar 29, 2015

Headphones for Students

by Jan

Mar 24, 2015

Help! Is there a headphone that will withstand students chewing on the cable?

Thanks!

Jan

Kim Floyd On 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

Mar 29, 2015

DonnaR/CA On 3/29/15, Kim Floyd wrote:

> 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 u...See More

Mar 30, 2015

by DonnaR/CA

Mar 23, 2015

I have a little guy in my classroom who still cries over one thing or another, EVERY DAY. Most days he bursts out into tears at least two or three times. It's usually that he didn't get his way about something, or somebody took cuts in front of him, or something that might look "petty" to us big-people, but are very important to him. ...See More

view previous comments

Diane I have had several criers over the years. I had a discussion with one about how her parents work out to exercise their muscles and make them stronger. We were going to work on her feelings to make them stronger so they wouldn't be so easily hurt. Then she wouldn't need to cry so much. When she would start to whimper, I would flex my arm like making...See MoreI have had several criers over the years. I had a discussion with one about how her parents work out to exercise their muscles and make them stronger. We were going to work on her feelings to make them stronger so they wouldn't be so easily hurt. Then she wouldn't need to cry so much. When she would start to whimper, I would flex my arm like making a muscle and look at her. This was our private signal for strong feelings and helped her pull it together.

With another, I explained that I wanted to help him but I couldn't understand him if he was crying. As soon as he could catch his breath and use his words, I stepped in to try to help him out, usually by holding his hand at the front of the line and making him my special helper. I explained that I was rewarding his STOPPING crying, not his crying.

For another, I designated a small step stool as the crying chair. Anytime she needed to cry she was free to do so, but had to sit in that chair while crying. It didn't take too long and the chair became more boring than what the rest of the class was doing.

No one solution fits all, and they all take patience. None will work right away especially if this has been going on since the beginning of the year. I always did this in consultation with the parents and the school's counselor. Don't try to work in a vacuum. Reach out and good luck to you and your kinder!

Diane

On 3/23/15, DonnaR/CA wrote: > I have a little guy in my classroom who still cries over one > thing or another, EVERY DAY. Most days he bursts out into > tears at least two or three times. It's usually that he > didn't get his way about something, or somebody took cuts in > front of him, or something that might look "petty" to us > big-people, but are very important to him. > > One of the kids finally said something to him today, after > he burst into tears because somebody moved his paper across > the table, "You cry EVERY day, stop it!" That caused the > little guy to cry even harder and insist that he did NOT cry > every day. > > I took him aside and quietly tried to calm him down, and I > told him, yes, you do cry every day. We don't know whether > it's something really important, like you got physically > hurt, if you got your feelings hurt, which does hurt, or if > you just misunderstood somebody else. This isn't the first > time I've tried to talk with him about this problem. > > I don't know what else I can do or say to him. Any ideas? Is > this just a maturity thing? This is my first year teaching > straight K after 10 years of Music K-12, so I'm still > learning about full-timing it with 5 and 6 year olds. > > > Donna

Mar 23, 2015

pksped One thing I do with surprising success is to have him bring a picture of his Mom/Dad in (and put it in a ziplock bag.) When he gets sad, he can carry it with him. He can write them a note that says "I missed you today." (Depending on his skills, he may draw a pic/scribble/copy your dictation/actually attempt it.) That seems to help. Good ...See MoreOne thing I do with surprising success is to have him bring a picture of his Mom/Dad in (and put it in a ziplock bag.) When he gets sad, he can carry it with him. He can write them a note that says "I missed you today." (Depending on his skills, he may draw a pic/scribble/copy your dictation/actually attempt it.) That seems to help. Good luck. It is so frustrating (as the teacher) if the crying is loud and affects the class environment, but if a child is heartbroken, that has to come first.

On 3/23/15, Diane wrote: > I have had several criers over the years. I had a discussion > with one about how her parents work out to exercise their > muscles and make them stronger. We were going to work > on her feelings to make them stronger so they wouldn't be > so easily hurt. Then she wouldn't need to cry so much. > When she would start to whimper, I would flex my arm like > making a muscle and look at her. This was our private > signal for strong feelings and helped her pull it together. > > With another, I explained that I wanted to help him but I > couldn't understand him if he was crying. As soon as he > could catch his breath and use his words, I stepped in to > try to help him out, usually by holding his hand at the front > of the line and making him my special helper. I explained > that I was rewarding his STOPPING crying, not his crying. > > For another, I designated a small step stool as the crying > chair. Anytime she needed to cry she was free to do so, > but had to sit in that chair while crying. It didn't take too > long and the chair became more boring than what the rest > of the class was doing. > > No one solution fits all, and they all take patience. None > will work right away especially if this has been going on > since the beginning of the year. I always did this in > consultation with the parents and the school's counselor. > Don't try to work in a vacuum. Reach out and good luck to > you and your kinder! > > Diane > > On 3/23/15, DonnaR/CA wrote: >> I have a little guy in my classroom who still cries over > one >> thing or another, EVERY DAY. Most days he bursts out > into >> tears at least two or three times. It's usually that he >> didn't get his way about something, or somebody took > cuts in >> front of him, or something that might look "petty" to us >> big-people, but are very important to him. >> >> One of the kids finally said something to him today, after >> he burst into tears because somebody moved his paper > across >> the table, "You cry EVERY day, stop it!" That caused the >> little guy to cry even harder and insist that he did NOT > cry >> every day. >> >> I took him aside and quietly tried to calm him down, and I >> told him, yes, you do cry every day. We don't know > whether >> it's something really important, like you got physically >> hurt, if you got your feelings hurt, which does hurt, or if >> you just misunderstood somebody else. This isn't the first >> time I've tried to talk with him about this problem. >> >> I don't know what else I can do or say to him. Any ideas? > Is >> this just a maturity thing? This is my first year teaching >> straight K after 10 years of Music K-12, so I'm still >> learning about full-timing it with 5 and 6 year olds. >> >> >> Donna

Apr 4, 2015

Need ideas and suggestions

by K teacher

Mar 16, 2015

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 n...See More

view previous comments

Angela 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. ...See More

Mar 22, 2015

Angela I 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 McD...See More

Mar 22, 2015

Your professional development is personal

by Teachers.Net Gazette

Mar 12, 2015

Professional Learning- Make it Personal by school principal Bethany Hill

After 17 years of service in education, I have come to an understanding regarding professional development...

gazette.teachers.net/gazette/wordpress/bethany-hill/professional-learning-making-it-personal/

by Macey

Mar 11, 2015

Hi!

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! :)

Self-Regulation

by mv/bc

Mar 10, 2015

My colleague and I are putting together a presentation on self-regulation for a group of parents with preschool aged children. I know there is a lot of info on the web, but if you personally know of a really good resource or particular article that would help us with our presentation that would be really appreciated!! Thank you.

registered and legal!

Mar 7, 2015

So, I used to be here every night! I now have my kids kind of grown up! I had to re-register/sign in. Hoping to find some friends...old and new!

Flacka Welcome back! This board has been very quiet for quite some time.

On 3/07/15, Riley wrote: > So, I used to be here every night! I now have my kids kind > of grown up! I had to re-register/sign in. Hoping to > find some friends...old and new!

Mar 8, 2015

what are we doing?

by Riley

Mar 7, 2015

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?

view previous comments

pktchr 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 "mi...See More

Mar 15, 2015

Pksped 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 w...See More

Mar 17, 2015

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