I know the beginning of K is CRAZY...Now that we've all started, how are your kids doing? Are they starting to "get it"? We started on September 1st, and things are going ok...I've spent the past few weeks doing lots of "fun stuff" (extra play time, extra recesses, games, community building activities, etc.), and next week is when I'm really going to dive into the curriculum, so I'm a little nervous! I have so many kids who can't even sit for 1 minute without rolling around on the ground. Should be interesting!
Whoooooo....sounds exciting in your neck of the woods. Things are running along smoothly. We've just finished our 3rd week of school and everyone's honeymoon period is over, teachers and children. :lol: Most kids are in the groove and having some great work time, while others are still not getting it completely. I usually figure that by the end of October everything is in a good groove, and until they we just keep on going and going and going....
We have been in school for 12 days. Some days are pretty good and others are horrible. Its really up and down. The mornings are going well, but the afternoons are still pretty rough. They are tired and cranky. I have had a horrible cold all week and that hasn't helped. On the positive side, I am more impressed with their incoming academic skills than I have been in a long time. I have 8 kids that can count to 100. Their letter and number recognition is also really good. In my low income district this is an unexpected surprise.
I just finished my second week (not full weeks though its been 6 days of school) I have an a.m. and p.m. session. LOVEEEE my am class-even though one kid is definely gonna give me a headache the rest are SO good that i dont even care! the afternoon is actually a really nice class too-no serious behavior issues, they just have a hard time following directions Im diving into the curriculum and a more structured time next week too. I hope it goes well!
well i posted last week that my class was killing me. But now things are starting to go along fine. We've started the centers we'll have for a while and they are doing really well in them. whole group lesson time is a little more difficult for some, but we are now going fine. THANK GOODNESS!
we started on Tuesday so its only been 4 days, but I'm feeling encouraged by what I'm reading from everyone! I am so exhausted and my throat hurts from talking (and some voice raising) all day! My kids are mostly really great but I've got about 7 who seem to think that Kindergarten is like daycare and want to constantly know "when is playtime?!?" I'm still not really sure where they are academically but I do have a few who are reading the morning message along with me, so who knows!! Thanks for reassuring me that things will get better!!!
We just finished day 6. Also started on September 1st. They are going to be a lot of work. I was pleasantly surprised when I did the letter Id and sounds assessment on them. I have one student that knows all 52 letters, three that know 50, five in the 40s, so a total of 9 students that know over 42 letters. I have two in the mid 20s, and the rest know 0,1,3,4,6,or 11 letters. So not to bad. I thought I was going to have more in the low teens. They sat for a lesson for 20 minutes. I didn't think they would make it past five minutes. So overall I am impressed at how nicely they are settling in. OH and they play well together!
Wow, this is my first year doing Kindergarten and I'm absolutely exhausted after our first 3 days of school. All I can say is TGIF! I'm feeling much better reading your posts. The afternoons have been very difficult. We have started the first day of school teaching our math program already and have to begin our reading stations this monday. It is stressful enough getting the kids into routine let alone trying to read a scripted lesson. I have 23 students and I feel like I'm reeling in a fishing line with my 5 "wanderers(sp?)" all day long. Our district has cut many aid positions and I only get help in the morning for an hour with stations. I have no choice but to be strick with the rules since day one, bringing some to tears, it makes me feel terrible.
We have been in school for 4 weeks now. The kids know what to expect after every transition and things are running semi-smooth. I have a BIG group of talkers and they will turn around while I'm teaching to chat! We can't seem to sit for calendar time. I have two students that are getting NO help at home and STILL can't write their name(after 4 weeks). One has no business being in Kindergarten. They should have waited one more year but ...it's free daycare so here he is. I still feel overwhelmed somedays but each week gets better
This class is so much more together than last years. All but 5 went to pre-school. The ones that didn't can't write their names at all. They will be practicing a lot in the next few weeks while the others will move on. I am going to make the ones that can't write their names practice for homework in addition to center time. I really don't want to spend hours on name writing when the majority can do it! Most seem to know their colors and shapes too! They are really starting to get the routines down. We were standing in line and the assistant principal complimented them on how quiet they were and how well they were standing. They seemed pretty pleased.
Well, we've been in 4 weeks, and I tend to take it day by day. I have definitely seen improvement (they do a good job walking in line) from the first week. I have a big range of kids- about 4 who knows almost all their letters, 4 who know almost none, and the others are in between, but I guess it's to be expected. Some days I feel overwhelmed and feel like they aren't learning anything, but my principal told me on Friday I was doing a good job, so I guess I'm doing something right..
We had two days of school so far - we started the 7th. We had the 9th and 10th off for the Jewish Holiday. I am going right into everything on Tuesday the 14th our 1st full day!
Reading all your posts makes me realize how much I miss Kinder! Glad it's going well for you guys though! :thumb:
I only had one day so far, and very few students showed up. We had a pretty good day, considering that one is really too young for my class (she's only 2.5) and one is really shy and has a speech impediment. From a starting off the year perspective, I like having so few students (only three showed up the first day, and as of today only five are registered), because it's sooo much easier to teach them procedures with a small group. From a curriculum perspective, it's going to be a challenge. I'm supposed to be teaching 3-5 year olds, and I have NO idea what to do with a 2.5 year old while I teach everyone else!
We started Sept. 1, too, and have done the same kinds of community building activities up until now. Monday we start out literacy centers, and I am scared! I've taught first grade the past few years, so I'm worried about how this is going to go in K. I have an aide for that time, though, so we should make it through. (I hope!) Best of luck to you as you jump into the curriculum, too!
I've had 3 days so far and I actually felt ok about Friday. It seemed to settle down a little bit. However, I am prepared for Monday to be like starting all over again. I started assessments on Friday and so far I am pretty pleased. We are also doing lots of extra recess, but I haven't introduced any choice time type activities so I need to do that this week. We are also starting our math centers this week by exploring math manipulatives. Hopefully a routine will start to form.
Great posts everyone! We've been in school 3 weeks and what a long 3 weeks it's been. They have come a long way in that short time, too! The other day when I asked them to sit on the carpet, they all sat the correct way for the first time! I took a picture I was so happy! I really am enjoying my class. I do have one child with a lot of problems, and have had to do an SST already. She will be going half day for awhile, and that helps her. I love the days when they are really focused and on task and talking at their tables with each other about what they are doing! I Kindergarten!
We have been in school for a week now, and I can say I have a very diverse group (as far as abilities go). All can write their name and I have quite a few who can write their name in beautiful cursive! Most are reading and know a few sight words, some are beginning to read (know their vowel sounds), and then I have those who barely recognize the alphabet. So I have my work cut out for me, but I am definitely enjoying K! Although we work hard, this group is a lot of fun.
We are on day 9 today and I have to say... I am so happy. Of course there is one in each class I have to sit on the whole time but they are so cute! I started centers. I just threw them to the wolves and when right in. So I am trying to monitor them closely. They don't seem to keep their attention at one center for 30 minutes yet. By 15 to 20 minutes they are telling me they are done. But we will get there.
we have been having great mornings. Our afternoons are TOUGH. I have math for 75 minutes in the afternoon and they are exhausted and just want to go home.
It seems to get better each day. We're on day 10 and I'd say the honeymoon is over, but they are really starting to settle in and 'get it' for the most part.
