Primary Elementary Teachers Chatboard

I just realized I never set up the book order online for parent ordering. I am at home and I don't have any of the info here for me. I tried to go to the sight because I thought I had heard you could just select the catalogs, but I guess that is coming in the future. Can anyone help me? TIA

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jo/ma Here you go...

Apr 4, 2009

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Sue Thank you so much! This was exactly what I needed. Have a great day!

On 4/04/09, jo/ma wrote: > Here you go...

Apr 4, 2009

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What should an incoming first grader know/be able to do?

by Private School K Teacher PLEASE HELP

Apr 4, 2009

Are your students required to read at a certain reading level, know a specific number of sight words, count and write to a certain number, etc? What makes a child ready? What are red flags to you that a child is NOT yet ready to begin first grade? Also, I sometimes get children who miss the public school kindergarten cut-off by a few days (i.e. a S...See MoreAre your students required to read at a certain reading level, know a specific number of sight words, count and write to a certain number, etc? What makes a child ready? What are red flags to you that a child is NOT yet ready to begin first grade? Also, I sometimes get children who miss the public school kindergarten cut-off by a few days (i.e. a September 9th birthday). Would those children be allowed to enter first grade in your school district if I promote them to first grade, but you find that they don't read at the same level as you'd require from children who are promoted from your kindergarten?

I teach private kindergarten at a day care center (infants to kindergarten) in PA. The twelve children in my class will attend public first grade at four different school districts. Our center is NAEYC accredited and a Keystone Stars 4 star center. Basically, this means that my program is supposed to be play based and very heavy on child choice, so unlike in public schools, my classroom has blocks and a dramatic play center, and my kids are free to use them. I'm practical though, and I know my kids can't just play all day, because they need to be achieving at a level at least close to that of kids who are in public school K where they don't play, and barely have recess.

I have a language arts/reading curriculum which I augment with many more sight words than it includes (only about 10 are taught through the provided curriculum), a math curriculum, as well as science and social studies, and I do a modified Kidwriting for writing.

I read the kindergarten board, and I feel good about where my kids are in math, and pretty good about where they are in writing (most write 1-3 sentences to describe their pictures, spelling and using sight words correctly most of the time, using spaces and capitalization and punctuation with improving consistency). My main concern is in reading. The stories from the curriculum are terrible, so I augment with sight word readers, sets of leveled readers I purchased online, etc. I am not provided a means to determine a specific reading level.

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Thanks jo, that was VERY helpful! NFM On 4/04/09, jo/ma (long) wrote: > First, I just want to thank you for asking about this. It > sounds like you are absolutely on the right track for > preparing your kids for public school first grade. Every > year I get 2 or 3 kids from play-based kindergartens and we > do struggle for months trying to catch them up to their > pee...See MoreOn 4/04/09, jo/ma (long) wrote: > First, I just want to thank you for asking about this. It > sounds like you are absolutely on the right track for > preparing your kids for public school first grade. Every > year I get 2 or 3 kids from play-based kindergartens and we > do struggle for months trying to catch them up to their > peers. They do usually catch up by June. Our kindergartens > tend to do academics in the morning and play centers in the > afternoons with 2 outside recesses daily and are not NAEYC > accredited. Here’s some of the skills the private school > kids are often lacking. > > Classroom Skills: > >>Be able to sit at a table and on the rug for at least 15-20 > min at a time and focus on the adult or activity the whole > time in a large group of 25. It is very hard for the kids to > get used to sharing the teacher’s attention with 24 others. > >>Realize you can’t just get up and walk around, leave the > room, get a snack, or go to a play area any time you want > to. There are set times for different activities. > >>Take care of your belongings, handle your own bathroom and > clothing (except tying shoes) and pack/unpack your backpack. > >>There’s a big adjustment for all the kids coming up to first > (public ones too) with non-stop academics, tiny recesses, and > little time to socialize with each other. > > Reading/Writing: > >>We hope the kids are reading at DRA-3 (Guided Read level C) > but it’s not a requirement. > >>Identify upper- and lower-case letters and put the letters > in ABC order. > >>Identify all consonant and short vowel sounds. Recognize > and produce rhyming words. > >>Segment the sounds in simple words (you say “feet” and the > child says the /f/-/ç/-/t/ ). > >>Blend sounds to read most simple CVC words with regular > short vowels (fox, dog, run, etc). > >>Read approx. 20 beginning sight words. > >>Draw pictures and use letters and phonetically spelled words > to write a 1 sentence story. (Your kids are way ahead!) > >>Print first name (capital followed by lowercase letters), > all upper- and lower-case letters, and some simple words. > > Math: > >>Rote count to 30. Skip count by 5s and 10s to 50. >>Match quantities up to 10 with numerals and number words. > >>Compare sets of objects (more than, fewer than, equal to, > one more than, etc). > >>Identify, describe and compare 2-dimensional and 3- > dimensional shapes (sides, corners, etc). > >>Understand positional concepts (beside, inside, next to, > close to, above, below, apart, etc.), measurement vocabulary > (longer, taller, shorter, same length; heavier, lighter; > holds more, holds less, etc.) and fractions (whole and half). > >>Identify U.S. coins by name and tell time to the hour. > >>Solve simple addition and subtraction problems using > concrete objects. > > These kids also come with great strengths that I wish the > public school kids had. Their oral language skills and > social skills are far better. They have more experience with > songs, fingerplays, poems, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and > good literature. They tend to do a wonderful job of > predicting, retelling a story, remembering important facts, > and making story connections. They come with good experience > in sorting/classifying objects and patterning. Most of all, > they seem to get along with one another better, being able to > negotiate and compromise when disagreements arise on the > playground. > > In my district, there are no hard and fast rules about who > gets promoted to first grade, other than age. Kids must be 6 > yrs old by Sept 1st, even if they have gone to private K. > Retaining in K is done on a case-by-case basis and is usually > for social immaturity. Parents can decline if they choose. > We also get kids who have never been to kindergarten (not > homeschooled either) and they frequently repeat first grade. > > Hope this helps. > > > > On 4/04/09, Private School K Teacher PLEASE HELP wrote: >> Are your students required to read at a certain reading >> level, know a specific number of sight words, count and >> write to a certain number, etc? What makes a child >> ready? What are red flags to you that a child is NOT yet >> ready to begin first grade? Also, I sometimes get >> children who miss the public school kindergarten cut-off >> by a few days (i.e. a September 9th birthday). Would >> those children be allowed to enter first grade in your >> school district if I promote them to first grade, but you >> find that they don't read at the same level as you'd >> require from children who are promoted from your >> kindergarten? >> >> >> >> I teach private kindergarten at a day care center (infants >> to kindergarten) in PA. The twelve children in my class >> will attend public first grade at four different school >> districts. Our center is NAEYC accredited and a Keystone >> Stars 4 star center. Basically, this means that my >> program is supposed to be play based and very heavy on >> child choice, so unlike in public schools, my classroom >> has blocks and a dramatic play center, and my kids are >> free to use them. I'm practical though, and I know my >> kids can't just play all day, because they need to be >> achieving at a level at least close to that of kids who >> are in public school K where they don't play, and barely >> have recess. >> >> I have a language arts/reading curriculum which I augment >> with many more sight words than it includes (only about 10 >> are taught through the provided curriculum), a math >> curriculum, as well as science and social studies, and I >> do a modified Kidwriting for writing. >> >> I read the kindergarten board, and I feel good about where >> my kids are in math, and pretty good about where they are >> in writing (most write 1-3 sentences to describe their >> pictures, spelling and using sight words correctly most of >> the time, using spaces and capitalization and punctuation >> with improving consistency). My main concern is in >> reading. The stories from the curriculum are terrible, so >> I augment with sight word readers, sets of leveled readers >> I purchased online, etc. I am not provided a means to >> determine a specific reading level.

Apr 4, 2009

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check your local school website Standards are highly variable across the country. If you go on the county/township school website they should have standards posted. Check out the standards for 4th quarter or end of kindergarten.

On 4/04/09, Thanks jo, that was VERY helpful! NFM wrote: > On 4/04/09, jo/ma (long) wrote: >> First, I just want to thank you for askin...See MoreStandards are highly variable across the country. If you go on the county/township school website they should have standards posted. Check out the standards for 4th quarter or end of kindergarten.

On 4/04/09, Thanks jo, that was VERY helpful! NFM wrote: > On 4/04/09, jo/ma (long) wrote: >> First, I just want to thank you for asking about this. It >> sounds like you are absolutely on the right track for >> preparing your kids for public school first grade. Every >> year I get 2 or 3 kids from play-based kindergartens and we >> do struggle for months trying to catch them up to their >> peers. They do usually catch up by June. Our kindergartens >> tend to do academics in the morning and play centers in the >> afternoons with 2 outside recesses daily and are not NAEYC >> accredited. Here’s some of the skills the private school >> kids are often lacking. >> >> Classroom Skills: >> >>>Be able to sit at a table and on the rug for at least 15-20 >> min at a time and focus on the adult or activity the whole >> time in a large group of 25. It is very hard for the kids to >> get used to sharing the teacher’s attention with 24 others. >> >>>Realize you can’t just get up and walk around, leave the >> room, get a snack, or go to a play area any time you want >> to. There are set times for different activities. >> >>>Take care of your belongings, handle your own bathroom and >> clothing (except tying shoes) and pack/unpack your backpack. >> >>>There’s a big adjustment for all the kids coming up to first >> (public ones too) with non-stop academics, tiny recesses, and >> little time to socialize with each other. >> >> Reading/Writing: >> >>>We hope the kids are reading at DRA-3 (Guided Read level C) >> but it’s not a requirement. >> >>>Identify upper- and lower-case letters and put the letters >> in ABC order. >> >>>Identify all consonant and short vowel sounds. Recognize >> and produce rhyming words. >> >>>Segment the sounds in simple words (you say “feet” and the >> child says the /f/-/ç/-/t/ ). >> >>>Blend sounds to read most simple CVC words with regular >> short vowels (fox, dog, run, etc). >> >>>Read approx. 20 beginning sight words. >> >>>Draw pictures and use letters and phonetically spelled words >> to write a 1 sentence story. (Your kids are way ahead!) >> >>>Print first name (capital followed by lowercase letters), >> all upper- and lower-case letters, and some simple words. >> >> Math: >> >>>Rote count to 30. Skip count by 5s and 10s to 50. >>>Match quantities up to 10 with numerals and number words. >> >>>Compare sets of objects (more than, fewer than, equal to, >> one more than, etc). >> >>>Identify, describe and compare 2-dimensional and 3- >> dimensional shapes (sides, corners, etc). >> >>>Understand positional concepts (beside, inside, next to, >> close to, above, below, apart, etc.), measurement vocabulary >> (longer, taller, shorter, same length; heavier, lighter; >> holds more, holds less, etc.) and fractions (whole and half). >> >>>Identify U.S. coins by name and tell time to the hour. >> >>>Solve simple addition and subtraction problems using >> concrete objects. >> >> These kids also come with great strengths that I wish the >> public school kids had. Their oral language skills and >> social skills are far better. They have more experience with >> songs, fingerplays, poems, nursery rhymes, fairy tales, and >> good literature. They tend to do a wonderful job of >> predicting, retelling a story, remembering important facts, >> and making story connections. They come with good experience >> in sorting/classifying objects and patterning. Most of all, >> they seem to get along with one another better, being able to >> negotiate and compromise when disagreements arise on the >> playground. >> >> In my district, there are no hard and fast rules about who >> gets promoted to first grade, other than age. Kids must be 6 >> yrs old by Sept 1st, even if they have gone to private K. >> Retaining in K is done on a case-by-case basis and is usually >> for social immaturity. Parents can decline if they choose. >> We also get kids who have never been to kindergarten (not >> homeschooled either) and they frequently repeat first grade. >> >> Hope this helps. >> >> >> >> On 4/04/09, Private School K Teacher PLEASE HELP wrote: >>> Are your students required to read at a certain reading >>> level, know a specific number of sight words, count and >>> write to a certain number, etc? What makes a child >>> ready? What are red flags to you that a child is NOT yet >>> ready to begin first grade? Also, I sometimes get >>> children who miss the public school kindergarten cut-off >>> by a few days (i.e. a September 9th birthday). Would >>> those children be allowed to enter first grade in your >>> school district if I promote them to first grade, but you >>> find that they don't read at the same level as you'd >>> require from children who are promoted from your >>> kindergarten? >>> >>> >>> >>> I teach private kindergarten at a day care center (infants >>> to kindergarten) in PA. The twelve children in my class >>> will attend public first grade at four different school >>> districts. Our center is NAEYC accredited and a Keystone >>> Stars 4 star center. Basically, this means that my >>> program is supposed to be play based and very heavy on >>> child choice, so unlike in public schools, my classroom >>> has blocks and a dramatic play center, and my kids are >>> free to use them. I'm practical though, and I know my >>> kids can't just play all day, because they need to be >>> achieving at a level at least close to that of kids who >>> are in public school K where they don't play, and barely >>> have recess. >>> >>> I have a language arts/reading curriculum which I augment >>> with many more sight words than it includes (only about 10 >>> are taught through the provided curriculum), a math >>> curriculum, as well as science and social studies, and I >>> do a modified Kidwriting for writing. >>> >>> I read the kindergarten board, and I feel good about where >>> my kids are in math, and pretty good about where they are >>> in writing (most write 1-3 sentences to describe their >>> pictures, spelling and using sight words correctly most of >>> the time, using spaces and capitalization and punctuation >>> with improving consistency). My main concern is in >>> reading. The stories from the curriculum are terrible, so >>> I augment with sight word readers, sets of leveled readers >>> I purchased online, etc. I am not provided a means to >>> determine a specific reading level.

Apr 8, 2009

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After school activities

by Ms. H

Apr 4, 2009

I teach 2nd grade and i was wondering what type of after school activities (besides tutoring) you might have at your schools for students?

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teaching 1st On 4/04/09, Ms. H wrote: >We received a 21st Century Grant that will cover us for 2 years. We have snacks and wiggle time for the first 15 to 20 minutes. Then we have 1 hour that is used for homework and enrichment. Since I teach 1st and do 1st afterschool I usually do not get to enrichment - but students who are done with their homework do read...See More

Apr 5, 2009

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Thanks tallytchr and Grace! NFM

by emma

Apr 4, 2009

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Please share your portfolio ... someone posted one...

by Kindernut

Apr 4, 2009

A lady had wrote she wanted to relocate to a district her son was at. I had read it and thought it was WONDERFUL! I am working on mine and was looking for tips. Thanks for sharing!

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Leah You may get some ideas from the following list

Apr 5, 2009

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Humpty Dumpty

by I TEACH FIRST

Apr 4, 2009

I am working on a unit for my first grade with Humpty Dumpty. I am looking for a pattern with the oval body, arms and legs for the kids to design. Thanks!

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