Kindergarten Literacy

With my two weeks off I have started reading a new book, Kindergarten Literacy by Anne McGill-Franzen. This is a great practice and theory type of book. This year my professional goal and teacher evaluation revolve around students data and assessment. I have that total nerdy side where I LOVE to keep data! crazy I know.

The book starts off by talking about the importance of assessing students, so you can make sure you are challenging students no matter what their level is. And sometimes the curriculum guide is not always the best route! For example is half of your class knows their letters and sounds and the other half barely knows any, is it really that helpful to teach a letter a week???? I don't think so, you need to keep challenging your above benchmark students while while doing interventions with your below benchmark students.

The assessments they suggest are: Letter-sound identification, phonological awareness, print concepts, spelling, text writing, word writing, text reading, and word reading. They also provide how to do the assessments, copies of the forms, and class recording sheet. They also give samples of student work to compare with your student's work.

I really recommend this book! I will post later what my data binder looks like, and some student work samples.

WOW!!!

Can I just say WOW! I am a first year teacher and the last four months have flown by!!!!! I had great intentions of writing on my blog a lot my often. I have kept up my classroom blog however, which is the most important. If you would like to check out how I have laid it out, the website is

http://mrsleeskinderclass.blogspot.com/

Since I cannot share everything I have done in the last 4 months I will give a quick overview, and try to continue to post through winter break.

Literacy

Daily 5 still going great! Hey know the routine down to a tee, and they are very independent. I do 3 rotations and 3 lessons, 10 minutes each. So 60 minutes of Literacy each day. The students can choose from Read to self, Writing, Word Work, Listen to Reading, and computers, or I will add small groups. Students pick their choices each morning. I ring a bell for transitions.

Read to self- students pick their books out each Monday. In the beginning of the year I let them pick any book, as they are beginning to read I am having them pick books at their level.

Writing- They can free write about what they would like. In writing lessons I give them sentence starters, or we do shared writing.

This is from one of our Shared Writings. The students were very proud!

Word Work- They do white boards, or Phonics cards. With the white boards students practice their words using Caitlyn Clabby’s (Kindergarten Smiles) Writing and Word Work Cards. The Phonics cards are from my favorite TPT Teacher, Julie Van Alst. 

Computer Work- I use www.starfall.com.

I am happy to say my students are doing great, and I think Daily 5 has a lot to do with it. They love writing, and are becoming great readers.

Math:

Math is what I want to focus on over my break. I am doing Math Work Stations by Debbie Diller. To be honest though, they are a huge mess!!! I am going back reorganizing them, putting them in new containers, adding the “I Can” paper, and getting new stations.

My students love them, but I feel like I didn't take enough time to explain how to take care of the material, and keep it organized. I also do not keep very good track of what they are doing. But as teachers we need to constantly reflect and revise, and I am not ashamed to say that! So here comes my second attempt=) When I am done reorganizing I will devote one post to just my stations!

Social Studies/Science

Another one I want to reflect on. I tried doing Science Journals with my students and they turned out kind of Messy=( I need to do some Post searching on this for help!

Well I hope to be back soon with some more posts on what I have been doing, including one on how I keep Student Data (Which is my focus this year.)

~Amber Lee

Dibels, and starting small groups

Seriously, how does the week go by so fast! This week was busy with testing our students in Dibels in math and reading. I teach at a Christian Private School so I have 9 students. 5 were at risk, 1 at strategic, and 3 above 40% in reading. In Math, 4 were at risk, 1 strategic, and 4 at level. Next week I will start small groups and can help my at risk students a little more!

In reading I am using Babbling Abby’s RTI letter recognition program for my at risk and strategic students. It was $10, but I seen a lot of good reviews so I hope it works for my little ones! You can click on the picture to go to her website.

 

For my students who know there letters and sounds I am going to use Julie Van Alst’s Write-it phonics cards.

This is good to help students learn

The beginning sounds in words.

I’m still researching what I should do in my math small groups. Though, I might have to wait to do small groups. My students need extra help getting started on workstations, so we are starting over and learning the rules again!

~Amber Lee

Butterfly Art

Last week my class did a cute art project that goes along with the butterfly theme. I taught my students about symmetry and how it means things look the same on both sides. I cut out butterflies and my students put paint dots all over the butterfly, when they were done they folded them in half which created both sides to be symmetrical. They turned out super cute! Here is a picture

Amber Lee

Daily 5 week 3

Daily 5 in Kindergarten

I have to say I Love Daily 5. It is such a peaceful part of our morning. This week we added two new pieces. Listen to Reading, and Word Work. My students caught on very fast to Listening to Reading so we added Word Work faster too.

For Listening to Reading my students use our laptops. I only have four so I had half the students do listen to reading and half do read to self, then they switched. This is handy when you only have 9 students.

For Word Work, my students are using the white boards I bought from Target. They are practicing writing their words from theses cute “I Can spell…” cards I downloaded from Caitlin Clabby and Kindergarten Smiles. The students LOVE them!

We have been doing Daily 5 for 3 weeks now, so I am hoping by next week sometime I can let them begin picking their own stations!

I highly recommend using Daily 5 even in Kindergarten. I know I only have 9 students but I know it would work with even more.

Daily 5

In my class we are doing Daily 5 and so far loving it!I have been pretty much following the book. They suggest taking things slowly, which is definitely needed for Kindergarten! So far this is how it is going:

Read to Self: on the first day we made it to 1 minutes but after 5 days we have made it to 7 minutes! our goal is 10-15 minutes. The I-chart is a must, we review it every day before we start (kindergartners long term memory is not wthe best=)) I did as the book said and stopped the class when ever any one began to get off task. I don't scold them, we just talk about ways we can do it better next time. I also introduced my whisper phones. My students loved them! Here is some pictures of my kinders using them.

Writing: On the second week I introduced writing. the first day we only got to 30 seconds lol... they were so excited t tell each other about what they were going to write they couldn't stay silent. We are up to 4 minutes after 4 days. I have not taught them any writing lessons yet, I am letting them write what they would like. 

This week I am going to introduce listen to reading. 

The book boxes I got from Target for $1.00 each! My journals I bought from the Dollar store. 

~Amber Lee

First Week

Wow, what a busy first week! It flew by! I have an amazing group of kids though. This week we did a lot of practicing routines, and learning rules. I even had to learn my own routines, I forgot many things, ooppss=)

A glimpse of some things we did. W started our Daily 5, practiced bathroom routines over and over, did some guided discoveries, did a chicka chicka boom boom craft, and a kissing hands craft. I wish I took more pictures of the kids’ crafts to show, but next week I will for sure! Here are some of the pictures I did manage to take in the craziness!

This is a picture from our Gingerbread man tour. I read the gingerbread man book, and after a clue feel out of the book, which lead us on our tour! I did clues for each room. I had to make my own up since I am at a Christian school, no one had a Chapel clue! Afterwards we left cookies at the playground. The funny thing was my team teacher was supposed to make gingerbread man cookies but found she didn't have the cutout so she made pumpkin shaped! All day the kids asked where the gingerbread man was. We are going to carry it on through the year as a joke=)

On the 2nd day we read No, David! and talked about what makes a good student. 

 

On the first day we read The Kissing Hand and did these anchor charts. After we made a craft with Chester and put our hand print in the middle. Forgot to take a picture of this=( 

Here is a picture of my Read to Self Anchor chart. On the first day we made it to one minute! The first round one student called out I'm done with my book! so we stopped. On the second round one student said he read all of his books after one minute lol...

Here is a picture of my focus wall and calendar area. On top is my WBT rules. On the side is our classroom promise, which I got from DoBeMommy. 

Okay off I go to enjoy my weekend! 

Classroom Tour

I worked all last week for about 6 hours a day and finally have my class pretty much done! You have to remember I work at a private school that opened a few years ago so my class is pretty small, I only have 10 kinders this year. I'm pretty excited about that though!

These are pictures of my classroom as a whole, one from the door, and one from my desk. You might notice one wall open because I team teach with another teacher who is part time.

This is a picture of my calendar board. The calendar pieces are from First Grade Fascination. I wish you could see the cute owls a little better, I'm still figuring out this posting stuff=) Anyways, her set was well worth the $10. This poem I absolutely love, I will have to figure out who made this, I just downloaded it yesterday but it was on a different computer.

This is my listening center for Daily Five, and my small group table. I love how my crate seats turned out! And that is my Noah in the background.

This is my Daily 5 and Math Work station rotation chart. I really like how these turned out. I bought the charts from Targets dollar bin. Awesome price! On the first day I will take pictures of the kids to laminate so they know where to go.

Here is my behavior chart and job chart, also from First Grade Fascination.

Here is a picture of my mini library, I'm still slowly collecting books. I want it to be twice this size!

Okay time to clean windows=( Fun family Sunday =)

Amber Lee

Good Bye Poem

When I was substitute teaching I always seen Kindergarten teachers using that cute Good Bye poem, (Bye Bye Butterfly…) but I couldn’t find one already done so I made one last night and wanted to share it on-line.

**Just click the picture and it will take you to the sight.

P.S. This is my first time posting on TPT, exciting moment!

Schedule and Pacing Guide

I have finished my schedule and pacing guide! Only two weeks before school starts, Yikes. Pressures of a new teacher. My kinders are full day, which helps with planning but it seems the afternoon goes to everything else. So most of our learning is in the morning.

Sorry about the weird schedule! I was having a hard time uploading it=(

Week	NOTES	Writing	LETTERS/ SOUNDs	SIGHT WORDS	LITERACY	MATH	BIBLE	SS/SCI. 1st half- SS 2nd Half- Science
1 Sept. 2	Getting ready for Kindergarten	drawing				Discovery stations		Getting ready for K
2 Sept. 9th	Curriculum night (10th)				Daily 5 setup	Discovery stations	We can count on God 2 Samuel 5:1	All about me
3 Sept. 16th					Daily 5 setup	Discovery stations	God wants us to be kind 2 Samuel 9	Butterflies
4 Sept. 23rd		Drawing	A-E		Print concepts, rhymes Assessing	0-5 *Introduce math stations	Tell God you are sorry when you do wrong 2 Samuel 12:1	Families
5 Sept. 30th	Clifford	Drawing	F-J	*Heart word lists introduces	Print concepts Rhymes Assessing	0-5	God says don’t be selfish 2 Samuel 15:1	Communities
6 Oct. 7th		Labeling	K-O	I	PA: Rhyming words and single sounds	0-5	God teaches us Kings 2:1	Fall/ Pumpkins
7 Oct. 14th	Pumpkin Patch	Labeling	P-T	Like	PA: Beginning sounds	0-10	The Bible shows us how to live Kings 4:29	Fall/ Pumpkins
8 Oct. 21st		Captions	U-Z	The	PA: Beginning sounds, words in oral sentences	0-10	Worship God only Kings 11:1	Brown Bear/ colors
9 Oct. 28th	End of Quarter	Guided & Class stories	Sound M	and	PA: Beginning sounds, words in oral sentences	0-10	Obey God Kings 11:28	My senses
10 Nov. 4th		Guided Class Story	Sound S	BROWN	PA: Beginning sounds, words in oral sentences	0-20	God takes care of us Kings 17:7	Pilgrims
11 Nov. 11th	Children’s Museum	Descriptions/ word choice	Short A	See/ PURPLE	Blend onset and Rime	0-20	Serve God Kings 18:16	Indians
12 Nov. 18th		Descriptions/ word choice	Sound T	We/ Yellow	Blend/ Segment onset and rime	0-20	God can help us be good friends 2 Kings 2:1	Indians
13 Nov.25th	Thanksgiving	Descriptions, Captions / word choice	Sound C	A/ BLACK	Blend/ Segment onset and rime		God helps us 2 Chronicles 20:1
14 Dec. 2nd		Descriptions/ word choice	Sound P	to	Blend Phonemes	COMPOSE/DECOMPOSE 0-10	Jesus does great things Psalm 72:1	Ginger bread men
15 Dec. 9th		Descriptions/ word choice	Review	Come/ Me	Blend phonemes	COMPOSE/DECOMPOSE 0-10	God is Good Isaiah 7:13 Jesus is Born Luke 2	Christmas-birth of Jesus
16 Dec. 16th		Descriptions/ word choice	Short A Blending	Come/Me	Blend phonemes	COMPOSE/DECOMPOSE 0-10	We Worship Jesus Matthew 2:1	Christmas- Birth of Jesus
17 Dec. 23rd	Christmas Break
18 Dec. 30th	Christmas Break
19 Jan. 6th		Sentences	Sound n Blending	With/ My	Blend Final Sound	Addition		Our earth
20 Jan. 13th		Sentences	Letter F Blending	You/ What	Blend Final Sound	ADDITION	God Takes care of us Matthew 2:13	Weather
21 Jan. 20th	Library MLK Jr. Day no school	Story	Letter B Blending	Are/Now	Blending Middle Sound	SUBTRACTION	Jesus is God’s son Matthew	Weather
22 Jan. 27th	End of Quarter	Stories	Review	YES/ NO	Blending Middle sounds	SUBTRACTION	Jesus is our Friend John 1:35	Wind
23 Feb. 3rd		Message	Short I Blending	Is/ How	Blending Middle Sound	COMPOSE/DECOMPOSE 11-20	Follow Jesus Matthew 4:12	Ground hogs day/ presidents day
24 Feb. 10th		Message	Sound g	Find/ This	Blending Segment Phonemes	COMPOSE/DECOMPOSE 11-20	God blesses us when we choose his ways Matthew 5:1	Valentines/ 100th day
25 Feb. 17th	Mid-winter break
26 Feb. 24thth	Portland Aquarium	Letters	Sound R Blending	Will/ Be	Blending Segment Phonemes		Help others see Jesus Matthew 5:13	Ocean
27 Mar. 3rd		Stories	Sound d Blending	Go/ For	Blending Segment Phonemes	MEASUREMENT	Jesus helps us believe Matthew 14:22	Ocean
28 Mar. 10th		Stories	Review		Blending Segment Phonemes	MEASUREMENT	Jesus loves everyone Luke 19:1	Insects
29 Mar. 17th	Valentines	Lists	Short O Blending	Make, Play	Blending Segment Phonemes	MEASUREMENT	You are important to Jesus Mark 10:13	Dr. Seuss B-day
30 Mar. 24th		Lists	Sounds x, j	Said, Good	Blending Segment Phonemes Substituting	CLASSIFING	We pray to God Matthew 6:5	Spring/st.patricks day
31 Mar. 31th		Invitiations	Short e Blending	She, All	Blending Segment Phonemes Substituting	CLASSIFING	God Meets   our Needs John 6:1	Easter
32 April 7th	Spring break End of Quarter
33 Apr. 14th	OMSI		Letter h, k Blending	He, No	Blending Segment Phonemes Substituting	Position	Jesus gives us life in heaven John 3:1	Life cycle
34 Apr. 21st			review	review	Blending Segment Phonemes Substituting	POSITION	Jesus loves everyone John 4:5	Life Cycle
35 Apr. 28th		Responses, opinions	Short u Blending	Do, down	Substitute phonemes	2-DIMENSION SHAPE	God wants us to love others Luke 10:25	Plants
36 May 5th		Responses, opinions	Sounds l, w	Have help	Substitute phonemes	2-DIMENSION SHAPE	Jesus gives us hope 11:1	Plants
37 May 12thth	Mothers day	Responses, opinions	Sounds v, z	Look, out	Substitute phonemes	2-DIMENSION SHAPE	We praise Jesus Psalm 118:19	Animals
38 May 19th	zoo	Reports	Sounds y, q	Off, Take	Track syllables	3 DIMENSION SHAPE	Jesus is Alive Matthew 27:27	Animals
39 May 26th		Reports	Words with s, ing	review	Track syllables	3-DIMENSION SHAPE	Believe in Jesus Peter 1:3	Farms
40 June 2nd		Poems	Long Vowels		Track syllables	3-DIMENSION SHAPE	Tell others about Jesus Matthew 28:16	Review
41 June 9th	End of Quarter	Poems	Long vowels		Review Assessing	Review	God’s family takes care of each other Psalm 23, Acts 2:42	graduation
							We’re brave for Jesus Acts 6:8
							We can count on God 2 Samuel 5:1
44