The Triumph: We had a great first day back from spring break! Through most of the day today, the kids (all 28 of them!) were working on math stations. All of these stations were centered around shapes since we will be moving towards geometry! It was great to see kids making the shapes that were in front of them, as well as new shapes that they came up with using the HandWriting without Tears materials. We worked all day with shapes and it was great to see the student engagement!
The Struggle: Like I said, there were 28 of them. It was great to see them all again, but difficult to make connections and observations about all of the students on a day with 28 kids! My friend and other Kinder intern asked me how one of my students was doing today, and I had to really think about how he was. Normally this student stands out to me, but when there are 28 kids demanding my attention, I had to think if he was even there! I'm so grateful that we have two smaller classes and that there will only be a few more big Mondays left!
The Ludicrousness: It is mind-boggling to me how long it takes for these kids to get in a line quietly! And how difficult it is for them to stay in that line as we move through the halls! We had lots of opportunities for practice since the Mondays with 28 kids are also the Mondays that we have Music and P.E. At one point as we were walking down the hall today, two boys were facing each other (meaning one was walking backwards!) and high-5ing each other! REALLY?!!? Is that a good time for high-5ing?!
Showing posts with label Kindergarten. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kindergarten. Show all posts
Monday, April 11, 2011
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Robert Munsch Day
I am hoping that this will be my only delayed blog entry. Too much happened on Friday and I just didn't get a chance to blog then. It is so much harder to reflect two days later than it is that same night, so I'll do my best!
The Triumph: My CT and I survived the last day of school before spring break. We had a Robert Munsch Day and watched a ton of his books on this website called tumble books. It's through the local library and the books are read out loud and it was AWESOME!! We have been reading Robert Munsch for quite awhile now and got through all of his books that we have in the classroom. It was so nice to have a low key day and I know that the kids loved it too!
The Struggle: Honestly, I can't think of a specific struggle from that day. I think that more and more I am realizing how important it is for the kids to come everyday. We have a few kids who would be so much more successful during the day if they had the routine of the school day down, but since they aren't there everyday it is hard to get them to a routine!
The Ludicrousness: While we were watching a series of books on the SmartBoard, one student raised his hand and yells out, "My foot is asleep!!" This is the kid who previously couldn't contain his excitement about the type of pizza he likes to eat. He just kept saying that his foot was asleep, and something about the blood in his foot and we told him to just stretch out his legs. He would not do it though! Luckily I was sitting near him and helped him move his legs to a stretched out position and the problem was solved.
There'll be a break in posts, since I am now officially on Spring Break!!!!! WOOOO!!! See ya in a week!
The Triumph: My CT and I survived the last day of school before spring break. We had a Robert Munsch Day and watched a ton of his books on this website called tumble books. It's through the local library and the books are read out loud and it was AWESOME!! We have been reading Robert Munsch for quite awhile now and got through all of his books that we have in the classroom. It was so nice to have a low key day and I know that the kids loved it too!
The Struggle: Honestly, I can't think of a specific struggle from that day. I think that more and more I am realizing how important it is for the kids to come everyday. We have a few kids who would be so much more successful during the day if they had the routine of the school day down, but since they aren't there everyday it is hard to get them to a routine!
The Ludicrousness: While we were watching a series of books on the SmartBoard, one student raised his hand and yells out, "My foot is asleep!!" This is the kid who previously couldn't contain his excitement about the type of pizza he likes to eat. He just kept saying that his foot was asleep, and something about the blood in his foot and we told him to just stretch out his legs. He would not do it though! Luckily I was sitting near him and helped him move his legs to a stretched out position and the problem was solved.
There'll be a break in posts, since I am now officially on Spring Break!!!!! WOOOO!!! See ya in a week!
Thursday, March 31, 2011
It was HORRIBLE!!!!
The Triumph: We successfully took a walking field trip to the creek today. Our school has been raising salmon in a tank near the office and students have been watching them grow from eggs to little teeny fish. And we had the opportunity to release them in the creek that is about a 15 minute (a 15 minute walk for Kinders) walk from our school. Kids knelt over the side of a bridge and dropped the small salmon in. I thought for sure one of our kids would go in, but they all stayed dry!
The Struggle: There have been a lot of small disagreements and arguments and feelings being hurt in the classroom lately. There were about 5 times today where one girl in particular was coming up to me, saying that some girls wouldn't include her. We need to have some conversations about how to be a friend and that we all need to be nice to each other, but with there only being one day until Spring break, it won't be as useful, especially since not all kids come everyday!
The Ludicrousness: Ok, I have to share two Kinder comments for this one today. They both made me laugh and both occurred as we were returning from releasing the salmon. As we are walking down the hallway towards our classroom, the school secretary came out to meet us and asked "How was it?" And one of my students yells out "IT WAS HORRIBLE!" He did not like the walk there and back and I think he may have even said something like, "We had to walk a really long way to get there and back!" I laughed out loud.
Then, as we are still in the hallway, on our way to the classroom, one of my girls noticed the tank where the salmon had been growing and she says "Hey are the salmon all dead? Where are they?" My only response was "Do you remember the creek we were just at? Those fish we just put in the creek? That was them!" Still has me laughing now!
The Struggle: There have been a lot of small disagreements and arguments and feelings being hurt in the classroom lately. There were about 5 times today where one girl in particular was coming up to me, saying that some girls wouldn't include her. We need to have some conversations about how to be a friend and that we all need to be nice to each other, but with there only being one day until Spring break, it won't be as useful, especially since not all kids come everyday!
The Ludicrousness: Ok, I have to share two Kinder comments for this one today. They both made me laugh and both occurred as we were returning from releasing the salmon. As we are walking down the hallway towards our classroom, the school secretary came out to meet us and asked "How was it?" And one of my students yells out "IT WAS HORRIBLE!" He did not like the walk there and back and I think he may have even said something like, "We had to walk a really long way to get there and back!" I laughed out loud.
Then, as we are still in the hallway, on our way to the classroom, one of my girls noticed the tank where the salmon had been growing and she says "Hey are the salmon all dead? Where are they?" My only response was "Do you remember the creek we were just at? Those fish we just put in the creek? That was them!" Still has me laughing now!
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I've Been to the Zoo!!
I'm exhausted, so this will be a short one today.
The Triumph: Another successful lesson taught today on writing. I have been working on my think-alouds to students, and I think this skill really needs to be practiced more! It's more difficult than I thought to tell students what my thinking process is, especially when they are a bunch of 5 year olds who just want to join in and help tell my story!
The Struggle: There are a few students in my class that I have no idea how to motivate to start writing. So many kids have such great ideas, know their letter sounds, and come up with sentences that go along with their pictures. Yet, there are only a small handful of kids that will add words to their books, and even fewer who will add full sentences!
The Ludicrousness: There were many points throughout the day today where I found myself laughing quietly (and hiding my face from the children), including during my writing lesson to the Kinders. As I write my story to them, I am always reminding them that "it is my story, so it is my turn to talk" and that they will have a chance to share their own stories in their books. That having been said to them (several times, of course) I still saw many small excited hands waving in the air at me. So I still include them in my story by making statements like "If you like to have green peppers on your pizza, tap your nose and if you don't like green peppers tap your knee." Well, for some kids that just isn't enough and they feel like they HAVE to share a statement with me. One boy in particular is always extremely excited to share and as I was telling them my story of how I got pizza with another intern, he patiently raised his hand. I talked about the crust, the sauce, the peppers, the mushrooms, the tomatoes. I reminded students that it was my story so I wouldn't be calling on them, but this one boy still had his hand raised the entire time. Finally, I asked him if he had something that he needed to tell me. He said yes, so I asked if it was about my story. He said no. So I told him he had to wait, save it in his head and tell me when we were done in a few minutes.
Well, he just couldn't wait anymore! "But Miss Castleton, I LOVE CHEESE PIZZA! AND PEPPERONI TOO!" Well, I do too, friend! And that was the first of several excited outbursts from that student today! I'm ready to hear what he has to share on Friday!
*"I've been to the zoo" was another outburst from this student during a story about a fish! One of my favorites so far from him!
The Triumph: Another successful lesson taught today on writing. I have been working on my think-alouds to students, and I think this skill really needs to be practiced more! It's more difficult than I thought to tell students what my thinking process is, especially when they are a bunch of 5 year olds who just want to join in and help tell my story!
The Struggle: There are a few students in my class that I have no idea how to motivate to start writing. So many kids have such great ideas, know their letter sounds, and come up with sentences that go along with their pictures. Yet, there are only a small handful of kids that will add words to their books, and even fewer who will add full sentences!
The Ludicrousness: There were many points throughout the day today where I found myself laughing quietly (and hiding my face from the children), including during my writing lesson to the Kinders. As I write my story to them, I am always reminding them that "it is my story, so it is my turn to talk" and that they will have a chance to share their own stories in their books. That having been said to them (several times, of course) I still saw many small excited hands waving in the air at me. So I still include them in my story by making statements like "If you like to have green peppers on your pizza, tap your nose and if you don't like green peppers tap your knee." Well, for some kids that just isn't enough and they feel like they HAVE to share a statement with me. One boy in particular is always extremely excited to share and as I was telling them my story of how I got pizza with another intern, he patiently raised his hand. I talked about the crust, the sauce, the peppers, the mushrooms, the tomatoes. I reminded students that it was my story so I wouldn't be calling on them, but this one boy still had his hand raised the entire time. Finally, I asked him if he had something that he needed to tell me. He said yes, so I asked if it was about my story. He said no. So I told him he had to wait, save it in his head and tell me when we were done in a few minutes.
Well, he just couldn't wait anymore! "But Miss Castleton, I LOVE CHEESE PIZZA! AND PEPPERONI TOO!" Well, I do too, friend! And that was the first of several excited outbursts from that student today! I'm ready to hear what he has to share on Friday!
*"I've been to the zoo" was another outburst from this student during a story about a fish! One of my favorites so far from him!
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Does 'cat' rhyme with 'turtle'??
Back in the classroom today!! And I can't wait for tomorrow, since I'll be seeing some of my students that I haven't seen in weeks!!
The Triumph: Recently, we have begun working on rhyming words. We have been reading books that have rhymes, as well as a song that has rhyming words that we can switch out. For example, "Did you ever see a sheep in a jeep?" We have been working on making new sets of words that also rhyme, and today, we started our own books that have rhyming words in them. These books have the same layout as our song, so students were just searching for two rhyming words, and then writing them in their books. During the book writing activity, I sat with two boys who have really been working hard on learning their letters and letter sounds. At first, when we were trying to come up with rhyming words, they were really struggling. They would give me a suggestion, and we would talk about the end of each of the words and if they sounded the same. It took quite a few tries, but finally the boys were able to come up with some awesome rhymes, including "Have you ever seen glue in a shoe" and "Have you ever seen a hook in a book?" It was great to see that idea really click for them, and will be even better to see if it settled for them!
The Struggle: A huge problem in our classroom as been using respectful language and respectful behavior. This is a problem between students, as well as between students and myself. There are so many different parts of the day where students are coming up to me saying "She said I can't be her friend" or "They said I can't play with them" or students disrespecting me by repeating what I say in a mocking tone (which I can not stand!!!) or just making noises that are inappropriate during a lesson. I have been talking with students in small groups, or even individually, depending on the situation, but it really has been time consuming and difficult to deal with. We need to have a whole class discussion about how we should treat friends in our room.
The Ludicrousness: This morning while doing math review with some of my students, one of my boys noticed a small object on the floor. He picked it up and wished to keep it, so I told him he had to put it in his pocket, or put it in his backpack. He looked real excited and said "I have a pocket on my shirt!" He then went up to reach for the pocket on his button up shirt. He was feeling around for it, when I noticed that his shirt was on inside-out. But it was buttoned the correct way. I brought this to the boys attention and he thought it would be best to go down to the boys bathroom to fix it.
About a minute later he returned, shirt still inside out, but somehow the buttons were all off by one. At this point, he said that he still couldn't get it fixed and moved to the back of the room, where there is an art area. He hid behind our easel so that he could unbutton and fix his shirt. The funny thing is, in the past, this student has made himself clothes out of paper during work time, including an outfit that consisted of white butcher paper wrapped around his waist and no shirt on! I was so glad that day that he had kept his pants on under his paper made clothes! You turn your head for 30 seconds in a Kindergarten classroom and anything can happen!!
I'm not sure what changed his ideas about removing clothing in the classroom, but I'm glad that they have changed!!
And we were able to successfully get his button-down shirt on the correct way!
The Triumph: Recently, we have begun working on rhyming words. We have been reading books that have rhymes, as well as a song that has rhyming words that we can switch out. For example, "Did you ever see a sheep in a jeep?" We have been working on making new sets of words that also rhyme, and today, we started our own books that have rhyming words in them. These books have the same layout as our song, so students were just searching for two rhyming words, and then writing them in their books. During the book writing activity, I sat with two boys who have really been working hard on learning their letters and letter sounds. At first, when we were trying to come up with rhyming words, they were really struggling. They would give me a suggestion, and we would talk about the end of each of the words and if they sounded the same. It took quite a few tries, but finally the boys were able to come up with some awesome rhymes, including "Have you ever seen glue in a shoe" and "Have you ever seen a hook in a book?" It was great to see that idea really click for them, and will be even better to see if it settled for them!
The Struggle: A huge problem in our classroom as been using respectful language and respectful behavior. This is a problem between students, as well as between students and myself. There are so many different parts of the day where students are coming up to me saying "She said I can't be her friend" or "They said I can't play with them" or students disrespecting me by repeating what I say in a mocking tone (which I can not stand!!!) or just making noises that are inappropriate during a lesson. I have been talking with students in small groups, or even individually, depending on the situation, but it really has been time consuming and difficult to deal with. We need to have a whole class discussion about how we should treat friends in our room.
The Ludicrousness: This morning while doing math review with some of my students, one of my boys noticed a small object on the floor. He picked it up and wished to keep it, so I told him he had to put it in his pocket, or put it in his backpack. He looked real excited and said "I have a pocket on my shirt!" He then went up to reach for the pocket on his button up shirt. He was feeling around for it, when I noticed that his shirt was on inside-out. But it was buttoned the correct way. I brought this to the boys attention and he thought it would be best to go down to the boys bathroom to fix it.
About a minute later he returned, shirt still inside out, but somehow the buttons were all off by one. At this point, he said that he still couldn't get it fixed and moved to the back of the room, where there is an art area. He hid behind our easel so that he could unbutton and fix his shirt. The funny thing is, in the past, this student has made himself clothes out of paper during work time, including an outfit that consisted of white butcher paper wrapped around his waist and no shirt on! I was so glad that day that he had kept his pants on under his paper made clothes! You turn your head for 30 seconds in a Kindergarten classroom and anything can happen!!
I'm not sure what changed his ideas about removing clothing in the classroom, but I'm glad that they have changed!!
And we were able to successfully get his button-down shirt on the correct way!
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