When I taught kindergarten, I actually had an ongoing list much like Melissa's: Using the soap dispenser to dispense soap only once. Throwing away paper towels. Storing hats and mittens in coats. Using baskets to pick up scraps. Looking toward teacher when chimes ring. Etcetera. With kinders, you can't ASSUME anything and MENTIONING anything is worthless. MODELING and PRACTICING and RETEACHING and PRACTICING....
On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 7:31 PM, Melissa Kile <tchkg...@gmail.com> wrote: > I taught K for 21 years (with 1st and preschool mixed in occasionally) > before moving to 2nd 2 years ago. Just one word comes to mind: > > MODEL, MODEL, MODEL > > If you want blocks put away in a certain fashion, model, then let them > practice. If you want the writing center materials to be used in a certain > way, model, then practice. Same goes for handwashing, lining up, signing up > for lunch, going through the lunch line, dismissal, packing up backpacks, > using math manipulatives, unpacking in the a.m., moving from their seats to > the floor, moving from rows on the floor to a circle around the rug, > playing > on the playground equipment, etc. I think you get my drift!! 8-) > > Your year will run (mostly) smoothly if you will dedicate the first 6 weeks > to do all this modeling, practicing, reinforcing, and reminding. Meanwhile, > you're still reading aloud, using big books, teaching math, doing the > calendar, starting reading and/or writing workshop, but the same thing > applies. No matter what you want them to do you MUST model it! You will > begin to wonder come the end of September if it will EVER get any better, > and then, magically, about 6 weeks in, they will be lining up like pros > when > you say, "time for lunch!". They will quickly put center materials away > when > you put on the clean-up song. > > Have lots of fun with them--sing, dance, be silly, show them how to care > for > one another. > > Enjoy! > Melissa/VA/2nd > > On Thu, Jul 23, 2009 at 6:41 PM, Kelly Doyle <yellowmustan...@hotmail.com > >wrote: > > > > > Hello, I have been teaching first grade for the past 3 years. This year I > > will be teaching kindergarten for the first time. I was wondering if > anyone > > had any advice or suggestions for me to help next year be a successful > year. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Kelly > > _______________________________________________ > > Mosaic mailing list > > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Mosaic mailing list > Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org > To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to > http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. > > Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive. > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list Mosaic@literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
