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 <[email protected]>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 > [email protected] > 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 [email protected] 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.
