Elf on the Shelf

I LOVE Elf on the Shelf and I don't even have one. I really want one for my classroom :) There is no link with this blog. This has been the topic among teachers and my little ones throughout this week beginning first thing Monday morning. I heard all about the names of their Elves and what mischief their elf got into that night. 

If you are not familiar with this phenomenon....Elf on the Shelf comes in a box with a book. You are supposed to read the book and your child would name the Elf. Each night the Elf "flies" back to the North Pole to report to Santa and is there in the morning for when your child(ren). If your child touches the Elf, they lose their power. You can find all kinds of ideas online for your Elf to be doing or have done when your house awakens in the morning. It's just a fabulous idea :)

Kudos to the creator of this! 

Things to write about....

This isn't a very exciting blog today. I've gone through my RSS feed subscriptions and nothing evokes a response.

So, here's some exciting news in my life... I finally moved out of my parents house a few weeks ago, woot woot :) I am still working at my school but I am excited for this new start and next chapter in my life. I don't feel any "older" or more responsible, maybe that will kick in someday? Here's to new beginnings :)

Happy Thanksgiving (a day late) and Holidays

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! Most of us have been together for almost a year (I can't believe it!). I'm also wishing you all an early Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays :) Enjoy your families this holiday and take time to relax before we start again in January!

No More Recess

Getting Rid of Recess?!

A teacher from Northern WI says that her school is getting rid of recess except for one at lunch. She is asking for other opinions from fellow educators. She fears that many of her kinders have long bus rides and with the dark and cold, won't get outside once home from school.

All of our students (K-6) have 2 recesses per day; about 30 min before lunch and 15 minutes later in the afternoon. For me personally, it is very obvious when my kiddos have not been able to be outside because of weather conditions. They are ever more energetic than usual! Those moments call for running time in the gym. This is the pressure that we seem to hear...serve healthier options at lunch but let's take away recess (possibly the only exercise some kids will get in their day). I don't get it.

Are anybody else's school moving to this? How many recesses are your kiddos getting?

Homework in Kindergarten

Homework in Kindergarten?

On Miss Bindergarten's blog, there is an article about homework in Kindergarten. A teacher is asking for advice on assigning hw for her kindergarteners because she had a complaint that they were given "way too much." It was interesting reading the comments from others and most are VERY against homework for kindergarteners.

At our school, all grades are given homework Monday-Thursday, no homework is given on Fridays. My students are encouraged to read each night and on Mondays I send home their reading packet that correlates to our book for the week. Some students turn it in Tuesdays and others turn it in Fridays. This year I have a student that is quite advanced and so she also has a spelling list for the week and takes home a Simple Solutions book each night to complete one page front and back.

I strongly stand by the fact that kids learn best through play but I also feel kindergarten is so much more than it used to be, everything is shifting grades. The skills they used to learn in kindergarten, they are now learning in pre-school. Part of my responsibility as their kindergarten teacher is to prepare them for first grade; not just skills but also the responsibility of having homework.

Those of you that have/had a kindergartner, what are your thoughts on this topic and did your child's school assign homework?

Moving day :)

Although it is 1:00 in the morning, it is officially moving day for me! I'm finally moving out of my parents; this is an exciting day for all :)

Cut-off date for Kindergarteners

How Young is Too Young? Let's Talk Cut-Off Dates

In this article, a fellow K teacher is asking for advice on cut-off dates for her kindergarteners and advice on readiness assessments. In her district there is no cut-off date for incoming kindergarten students, it is left up to her. Our school still goes by the "5 by December 1st" for entering our kindergarten. Our school also uses Gesell Readiness Assessment for incoming students.

Not everyone will agree with me on this and that is okay but I feel very strongly about sending a child to school and having them turn 6 in kindergarten. Parents that struggle with the option to send their child to school or not, I tell them "when in doubt, keep out." You are never hurting that child by waiting a year, you are only helping them.

Two years ago I had a girl that was going to turn 5 the very first day of school. She was very shy and after her Gesell Assessment, I recommended a year of Developmental Kindergarten (Young 5's). Her parents were very torn because she was their oldest so they had no comparison and her pre-school teacher continued to tell them she was ready (although she clearly was not). Her 1st year with me she struggled all year; she lacked confidence in every area. It was finally decided that it would be best to give her another year of growth in my classroom. Her growth year was definitely her year, she just shined! She was confident in everything she did and went from "below average" to "above average" in all areas. To this day, her mom still says she doesn't regret giving her another year with me, she can't believe the change she saw in one year. In her classmates words, "her first year was  her practice year." :)

What your thoughts about this subject?

Black Friday --> Thursday? No Way!

Worker: Don't Start Black Friday on Thanksgiving

So, every morning I strive to watch at least 30-45 min of the Today show before I go to work, it doesn't always happen but it's a good start to the day when it happens. Today, Wednesday, I was able to watch a teeny bit and had the "pleasure" of catching this story.

Target is looking to move black Friday shopping to Thanksgiving and a Target worker doesn't like this idea. She had planned to spend Thanksgiving with her family and then was scheduled to work. She wrote an online petition to keep black Friday shopping on black Friday. Well, her petition went viral. At some point, this story ended in the arms of the Target 'big dogs.' They sent her a letter stating that she would receive no backlash and she could gladly have Thanksgiving off to spend with her family. She turned them down! Really?!

I don't get it. You went to all that trouble of writing the petition and getting THOUSANDS of signatures, they give you the day off and you tell them no? What was the point then?

WOO HOO!!!

I was able to order 5 iPads today for my classroom! I am so excited :) Anybody have suggestions for apps either your students or own children (Kindergarten age) enjoy?

Online Universities: Why They Still Don't Measure Up

Online Universities: Why They Still Don't Measure Up

This article ticked me off; according to some people and companies, all the work we are doing for these classes is not respected and pretty much a joke. If a job comes down between two people, a company will hire the person that went to a university before someone with an online degree unless the online degree person has something else remarkable on their resume. (Ugh!) I feel I work just as hard in my grad classes than I worked in my undergrad. I'm learning more and most of it is pretty interesting. Do I wish some days I was in a classroom because it's easier than emailing back and forth when there is an issue, yes, but at the same time, I can not imagine sitting through a 2-4 hour class on a Friday evening after working all week. I was really nervous to take online courses because I knew they were going to be quicker and more difficult but I absolutely love it because it works for my schedule. For those people out there that haven't lived or worked with someone taking online classes, just talk to my parents and co-workers, the stress level to finish assignments is no different then someone physically going to class.

"Can Girls Play Football?"

Girl, 9, crushes all-male pee-wee football league

I just came across this article on MSNBC and thought it fit perfectly with something one of my boys asked me last week; "Ms. N, can girls play football?" My response to him, "absolutely!" I've always tried to teach my students the motto "pink is not just for girls and blue is not just for boys." Every year, the conversation arises about a boy liking the color pink. I just tell my students the above quote. Would I put my baby boy in a pink sleeper or my baby girl in a blue sleeper, no, but eventually kids begin to come into their own and I feel they should grow up knowing nothing is impossible and they can wear whatever color they want. If you get a chance, check out this video, she is quick and a tough cookie!

iLearn Technology

iLearn Technology

I found this site the other day and posted it to my delicious. It's an education blog for integrating technology in the classroom. There are a ton of technology based activities for all different grade levels.  It also lists some great websites for each level of Bloom's Taxonomy. Check it out!

I'm Trying

Let's Not "Fall" Behind: 3 Tips to Help You Stay Organized

Ahhh organization, my arch-nemesis! Each year I am getting better and better at staying organized; this year being my best year yet. I always start off the year organized and then somewhere along the way we get separated and disorganization takes over. In the article, the author writes that by November, some teachers are feeling disorganized and unprepared. I'm there! I have less students this year and yet I feel as if I am falling behind everyday. One of the tips in the article, "Write it Down!" This is one of my only ways (some days) of attempting to keep up with life; if it's not written down, forget it! Maybe by the time I retire I will be organized?

iPads

Teacher Experience and Expectations for the 1:1 Elementary Classroom

I enjoyed this post from teachers' experience with iPads for each of their students. The teachers gave some great feedback about using iPads in their classrooms. Some offered up names of their favorite apps they use with their students. Some teachers discussed their expectations they go over with their students before use. Informative and helpful article

Hurricane Sandy for younger students

Classroom Resources to Help Teach About Hurricane Sandy

I found this article the other day and was very interested in it to help teach my students about this recent hurricane. I have the privilege of working in a parochial school so our conversation began the other day by praying for those in the states affected by the hurricane and those helping them. My kinders were very interested in what a hurricane is and then the conversation switched to the difference between hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornadoes. The Sesame Street video on the feed talked about weather leading up to the hurricane, things that should be done before the hurricane, and ways to try and stay safe. I liked this video because it was age appropriate and understandable for my students.