Believe it or not, all kindergarteners do not enter your doors equal in shape, size or readiness.
The first couple of weeks of school is the perfect time for pre-assessing for readiness and understanding. Allow for exploration of centers, materials and manipulatives and you can’t imagine what you find out. Instead of spending two weeks teaching shapes, in those first few days of school, you might discover that most of your class already has already mastered that topic. Those that have mastered them can move on and expand their understanding.
Andrea says
These look great! What a good idea!
This posting could not come at a more appropriate time for me. Our county started our state version of the common core this year and next year we go to the national common core. However, the standards are hard to understand because they do not match the student’s abilities for this time of the year. I am in a year round school and we have finished our 6th week. Thanks again for the great information.
Thankyou so much for this post! I completely agree that we rely too much on teacher manuals to depict how long we should stay on a topic. Thankyou also for the checklists-they were just added to my cart! You’re a genius-seriously:)
I wouldn’t put it out there if I didn’t use it everyday in my own class. If you’re like me and on the go 24/7 in your class, this is a simple, easy tool to keep track.
I’m glad you like it.
Marsha
Thankyou so much for this post! I completely agree that we rely too much on teacher manuals to depict how long we should stay on a topic. Thankyou also for the checklists-they were just added to my cart! You’re a genius-seriously:)
Great post! I love your visuals! I think it can be easy to get so caught up in planning you forget where you need to start – with your students’ levels.
– Sasha
The Autism Helper
I love the quote about how the children who enter our classrooms are so different. The picture speaks volumes. I would love to use it in my presentation for back to school night. Would that be ok, as long as I give you credit? You are so intentional about differentiating! Thank you for providing so many strategies.
Amy
mellosmemos@gmail.com
Mello’s Memos
Certainly, go for it. I’d love for you to use it.
Marsha
great post and you are sooo right about our kids being at all different places…Our jobs is to meet and raise each one…..
jeannie
Kindergarten Lifestyle
This is amazing! I am so impressed! π
Michelle
Apples and ABC’s
p.s. I just pinned it! π
Love this! I love ALL your stuff!!!!! My goal this year it is differentiate more because I never feel like I am able to push my advanced students because we typically put such an emphasis on the ones who can’t. Both of these are now in my cart and will be purchased very soon. THANK YOU!!!!!
Heather
Mrs. Shelton’s Kindergarten
Such a great post! We just finished our first week and my kinders are all over the place with their knowledge!
Lindsey
Lovin’ Kindergarten
Very true. I don’t know how people can begin teaching before they know where their kids are academically. Kinder kids do have such a broad spectrum of abilities.
NotJustChild’sPlay
Great and timely article!
Thanks for the great insight and advice Marsha! I was wondering if you have ever posted about how you organize your portfolios? And how do you organize your observation notes?
~Jessica
Fun in PreK-1 is Having a Giveaway!
I teach 2nd grade, but I LOVE your checklists. They are so much more easily organized and have a great layout which makes it easy to see what you’re looking for and make a note. I wish I could find some for 2nd grade! I’m trying to make some myself based on how you did yours for kinder. It will be a project for this summer! Thank you for the wonderful idea!!! π
Do you have these on Teachers Notebook? constant login problems with TPT it’s not even worth my time…