Daily 5 - Pocket Chart Work

Pocket charts are a useful way to display information but can also be used to manipulate materials. Word Work matching and sorting is one option for using small pocket charts and cards, sentence strips, and game pieces.

Learning Targets

We focus on daily learning targets in our classroom. I have a notebook file with a slide for each day (we are on a Day 1-6 schedule with specials) that I modify and display at the start, middle, and end of each day.
Each slide lists the day's number for scheduling purposes and then "Today I will learn to:" with a motivational quote that my Kindergartners also learn and memorize. Examples are: "Focus and win," "You make the world a better place by making yourself a better person," and "The things that make me different are the things that make me, me." And so on.
I also put a quick note of how they will show me their learning. I use language appropriate for Kindergartners and check back in to see if we've accomplished our goals. It's great! And it doesn't take up any extra wallspace.

Daily 5 - Alphabags

 There are so many awesome ways to utilize Daily 5 literacy instruction, by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser: http://www.the2sisters.com/the_daily_5.html. Daily 5 results are fantastic! But I found that I had so many different things to manage, so I had to problem solve the organization of this great program.
I created these Alphabags which are labeled with each student's number. In each bag is their Work-on-Writing Journal, their Write-the-Room book, and Word Work alphabet book. I also have them keep their phonics chart in the bag. This is a great storage solution for my classroom! I used removable plastic hooks: http://www.command.com/wps/portal/3M/en_US/NACommand/Command/Products/Catalog/  and taught the procedure for how to hang-up and take down the alphabags through Interactive Modeling, by Responsive Classroom.

I still have the children use their own individual book bins, but that bin is specifically for Read-to-Self and Read-to-Someone.
This has really been working well this year. The children enjoy the handling of the materials and take pride in doing it well. They love making choices in their own literacy education and I enjoy the easy management of Daily 5 time.

Conferences - Slideshow

Conferences can be overwhelming for everyone involved. I have started running a slideshow on my SMARTboard during conferences with our classroom pictures and light music. At our school, children sign a release for classroom pictures. I use the pictures to update my annual learning goal progress and to keep observational records of activities and events. I use pictures and video clips to share with my principal cool events or activities they may have missed while observing other classrooms. These same pictures and clips are great to display to parents during conferences! It's a great backdrop for shared enthusiasm for the children and their development. Sometimes, the conversation has nothing to do with the slideshow. Sometimes a parent might mention that it was cool to see what they were doing. Sometimes we stop to talk about something they noticed. No matter what the involvement, I have enjoyed using this tool during conferences.

Brain Break Sticks

 Brain Break Sticks are a great way to get kids up and moving for brief amounts of time. Kindergartners need these little breaks during a busy day! I found these fun popsicle sticks at www.lakeshorelearning.com and used a clear craft bucket with a ribbon for some flair.

Each stick has a label: Chant, Activity, Transition, Song.

At the bottom is the description of the brain break. Some of the physical activities include jumping jacks, planks, cross-body knee touches, etc. Chants include silly rhymes and songs while waiting in the hallway or during transitions like Silly Willy, 5 Green and Speckled Frogs, etc. Other activities include creating a class rainstorm, counting to a number, throwing pretend pizza dough, or playing an air band instrument.

Kids love these little activities and it helps them regroup during the day. I recommend making your own sticks with activities that you are comfortable managing in your classroom. For some fun activities, check out http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/product/99-activities-and-greetings .

 

Open House

Open House is our Kindergarten Orientation. We greet families and meet the children who will be our students for the year. It is also a time to take care of business and accomplish a few things.

 I create a "Take-Home Folder" for each child with the following labels: "To be LEFT at home." and "Bring it RIGHT back!" This helps busy families go through papers and assists with left vs. right skill building. I get these ready for each family and child before open house, with school papers and documents, my welcome packet, and favors. This year for my "bright" theme, I gave out glow sticks with the tag "We're going to have a bright year!"

Children also learn their class number and find their line order spot. (These are laminated stars with Velcro sticking them to the carpet.)



 This summer, I created Open House labels based on the checklist I have for families and students to complete together while they're here.

 

This is the set of labels I created:                         

 1. How is your child going home?
 2. Mark all of your supplies with your name.
 3. Stack tissues here.
 4. Take this home and create a page about yourself.
 5. Any extra supplies go in the baggie with your name.
 6. Sign up for conferences.
 7. Can you find your spot in line?
 8. Instructions for pencil box supplies.
 9. Put your folders in here.
 10. Where is your spot at the circle?
 11. Place your markers here.
 12. Wet wipes go here.

First students grab a checklist with their parents and try out their locker doors.

Then students put on a name tag and parents get some paperwork.

 Families also take home their first project for the year. These papers are scrapbook pages to be displayed on the "Masterpieces" art wall and then put into a class book. It's a great way to get to know one another. 

Here is my example!

At our school, we also have families sign up for conferences. They pick a time for both dates in the fall and winter and then write them down on a slip of paper. I also do reminder calls in addition to reminder notes. They are very well received!

 I keep markers, scissors, gluesticks, and glue bottles separate from our pencil boxes. We use them as community supples in bins that are color coordinated to match the tables. (Orange bin for the orange table, etc.) It's much easier to have families unpack supplies in an organized fashion that saves me time later. They follow the instructions and the community supplies are in bins together and the pencil boxes contain a box of crayons, a highlighter, pencils, and an eraser. Perfect!

Responding to a message is also a job for Open House. I love to see their faces afterwards!

 By far, my favorite part of Open House is meeting my kiddos. I talk to each child as they arrive at the door and as they leave with their families. (I also help when I can with the supply sorting.) The last item on the checklist is to tell Miss Smith one thing you like about Kindergarten already. This is a great clue as to what the students look forward to, enjoy, and feel. There was a sweetie this year who said, "I like you!"

Using Space Wisely...

With our bulletin boards on one side of the room and the SMARTboards on the other, many teachers elect to have one large circle space and another smaller space by the bulletin boards for calendar time. I thought long and hard about how to combine the spaces to make better use of my room. I chose to adhere cork squares to the back of this very sturdy cubby shelf (made by our carpenter custodian who is amazing!). By turning the shelf sideways, I create an entryway into the classroom and also a surface perfectly suited calendar time. Hooray!