The first three days of kindergarten could be summed up using the following words: exhilarating, adventurous, exhausting, unpredictable, and rewarding. Even though I say I forget how tough it is at the beginning of kindergarten every year (this year being no different), I am proud to say that this has been one of the smoothest starts I've ever had to a school year. This just goes to show how well prepared many of my students were for kindergarten. I couldn't be prouder!
Though I will give you a more detailed description next week of what we are learning in our classroom, I wanted to show you a few videos from the first few days. For reading and writing, I will eventually meet with individuals and/or small groups, but first, students must learn to work independently. To do this, we slowly build stamina working in these two areas. Through modeling and explicit instruction, students learn pretty quickly what is expected of them during this time. Each and every year, my students have practiced these expectations with success on the first day of school, but NEVER BEFORE have my students been able to read and write quietly for 3 minutes!! I was blown away by their ability to work for this amount of time the very first day. Please believe me when I say, this is NOT normal! See for yourself. It was absolutely silent!
Though I will give you a more detailed description next week of what we are learning in our classroom, I wanted to show you a few videos from the first few days. For reading and writing, I will eventually meet with individuals and/or small groups, but first, students must learn to work independently. To do this, we slowly build stamina working in these two areas. Through modeling and explicit instruction, students learn pretty quickly what is expected of them during this time. Each and every year, my students have practiced these expectations with success on the first day of school, but NEVER BEFORE have my students been able to read and write quietly for 3 minutes!! I was blown away by their ability to work for this amount of time the very first day. Please believe me when I say, this is NOT normal! See for yourself. It was absolutely silent!
If these videos are any indication of what's to come from these students, it's going to be one successful year! I cannot wait to see where they take me.
Our biggest obstacle this week is that the playground "is broken" (my students' words, not mine :). The school board recently approved the renovations that were to be done, and unfortunately, they were not completed before school began. We have been fortunate that the preschool playground has been available, so we have enjoyed playing there. Preschoolers, however, begin school on Tuesday, so that won't be an option for most of next week. We may have to resort to some good, old-fashioned organized games. I can't say I've ever imagined myself as a P.E. teacher, but you never know. It could be my gift! Either way, rest assured, your child will still get some movement, fresh air, and exercise. Once the playground is done, we will have a new black top, a climbing structure, and a shaded area. I am hopeful everything will be done by Labor Day.
Amidst new learning, play, friends, and procedures, we have had so much fun these past three days. Here are some pictures of our adventures. I will share many more with you at the end of next week. I know there are so many things yet to learn about the students in my class, but of these things I am certain: my students are smart, kind, and special. I am beyond blessed to be their teacher!
Amidst new learning, play, friends, and procedures, we have had so much fun these past three days. Here are some pictures of our adventures. I will share many more with you at the end of next week. I know there are so many things yet to learn about the students in my class, but of these things I am certain: my students are smart, kind, and special. I am beyond blessed to be their teacher!
On that note, I am going to end with a sweet story. After teaching my students how to read a letter sounds book, a sweet girl in my room shouts out, "I feel like I can read now!" From the mouths of babes! This is my hope for all of my students. They should see themselves as readers whether they can read words or not. There is power in reading the pictures and retelling familiar stories. With this belief and motivation, I truly believe my students will be real readers by the end of the year. I look forward to having a front row seat to their amazing journey.