Communication Calendars

I have been to a training this month titled AVID. I am sure many of you have been to similar training. I was in San Diego for 3 days in which we learned how to get students thinking about learning, success, and their future. As a Kindergarten teacher, I was very hesitant about this. All I knew of AVID was that students kept gigantic binders and we were checked on every now and again. As a K teacher I was certain the program was not for us.

I was that obnoxious student at the training, asking question after question because I could not relate it to my self. After a lot of one-on-one time with my trainer (Abby Nylander, who is very patient and pretty great!), I began to see what AVID is all about. It is not just about the binder people! It's a mindset, a culture and a lot of what I have already been doing in my class.

One of the great things that AVID gives us is the guidelines on keeping students organized and focused. I decided to take my normal parent communication tool and tune it a little. Many of you have seen my Behavior Calendars. I have been using them for years and they allow parents to see how their child behaved during the school day. I altered it over the years and added events, like holidays and non-school days. I added minimum days, field trips, and anything else that seemed relevant to parents.

AVID has given me the idea to take it one step further. My Behavior Calendars are now Communication Calendars. They are completely editable. I will also add a box for parents to sign during the week, as a check that they are communicating with me. Giving parents access to information is a powerful thing. Giving YOU, the teacher, access is priceless.
Check out my new calendars. Please give me feedback, as I am going to be using these in a new way this year. I will be encouraging my parents to add to the calendar. Soccer games, trips out of town, doctor appointments, mom's due date, etc. are all things that we want our parents and students to share with us. Let them share!

I will be adding more posts in the future on HOW I plan to modify my calendars. But, in case you want to get a head start, all you will need to do once you download the PowerPoint is to add a text box.

In PowerPoint, go to the Insert tab, click add a text box and place it anywhere in the calendar you want. Presto! Instant communication!

The Behavior Contract

The Behavior Contract

We all  need one. Adults and students alike. This contract is something I give out at the beginning of the year to students and parents. I give this out at our Kindergarten Meet and Greet. Parents will go over the behavior expectations for my class and will sign the contract along with their child. I save these contracts and will pull them out if needed for various reasons. Sometimes it is just a reminder to students that they promised to follow the rules. Sometimes it is for SSTs or IEPs. Either way, this is something that my Kindergarten team uses to make a clear statement on classroom expectations. Please click here is you would like an editable copy. And here if you would like it in PDF. This contract is in both English and Spanish. :)

FREEBIE Behavior Notes

Here is a freebie that I get asked about all the time. These are my Behavior Notes that get sent home with students at the end of the day. These notes are in my Behavior Calendars that I will be updating by the end of the month.

Parent-Teacher Communication

Yes, it is important. Very, very, very important. We know this, we do this, we don't record this. Ok, maybe we do, but I know I have a problem with consistent documentation. This is something I have come to terms with and trying to remedy. I am a digital person. I cannot do the binder, the index cards, the notepad. I need something digital that is with me when I need it.

This year I will be doing all of my communication logging on an excel spreadsheet. This will allow me access to it at any time, and it can be sent to others who may need it (principal, RSP teachers, counselors, etc.).
I got this wonderful idea from Teacher Karma on TpT. I created my own editable version of it, so that I can use this digitally. If you would like the PDF copy that Teacher Karma provides, click here. I thought it would be nice to share this log so here it is!

This is an editable version that can altered in anyway you need. Just remember that when you want to add multiple students you will need to add another sheet at the bottom. Each child will have their own sheet.
Steps to add a sheet:
1. Right click the arrow in the top left corner of the spreadsheet.
2. Copy
3. At the bottom of the screen you will see Sheet 1. Click the + and another sheet will appear.
4. Right click the arrow in the top left of the spreadsheet.
5. Paste
6. You have created a new tab. Repeat this for as many students as you have.
7. Once you have enough sheets, right click the tab and click rename. You can add each child's name to that tab so that you can find them easier.

Any way that we can make our days easier is something I am all for. Between the planning and the teaching and all of the extra stuff that no non-teacher person even knows goes on in a Kindergarten classroom, I need to know that I can keep myself organized. 

Student Info Sheet FREEBIE

This is the student info sheet I use the first day of Kindergarten. I actually give this to parents on what my district calls a "Preview Day". This is a day the Kinders and their families get to come into the classroom and meet the teacher, find their seat and their cubby and see what they are getting themselves into. I love it because I get to meet the kids, talk to their parents a little, and get the really important info that I need (most of which is on this sheet). It also helps with the kids' nerves on the first day. There isn't nearly as much crying as normal. (But, don't me wrong...there is always crying. )

I realize this sheet does not match exactly what everyone is looking for, so if you would like an editable version, let me know and I can send one your way.

Our Class Rules

I am having to replace a lot of things I have gathered throughout the years. They don't last forever! One thing I am having to replace (and improve) is my rules poster. I use this rules poster as a reference that all students can "read". Just because Kinders can't read words, doesn't mean they can't read pictures. This chart reminds them of what they should be doing in class with a picture and two words they will have memorized by the end of the week. I enlarge this to poster size in my classroom so that if a student is having a hard time with one of our rules I can ask them to read the rules about eyes, or ears, etc. It comes in handy every single day!

 Our Class Rules Poster

If you would like to use this in your classroom, daycare or homeschool please feel free to download it here. It is a freebie!

Classroom Rules

Managing a Kindergarten classroom takes a lot of discipline. Making sure your students learn the rules at the beginning of the year is time consuming, but so important. Here are three posters I place around the room for my students to have a visual reminder of their expectations throughout the day.

 Grab these posters HERE. 

 

I keep these posters in the areas I need them the most. Table Rules go on the white board, so that if I am teaching whole group I can remind those who are not doing a good job how to do better. I place the Rug Rules next to the rug area, within arms reach of reminding students how to sit and listen. I place the Line-Up Rules on or next to the door so I can remind students how their line should look before we exit the room.

Behavior Calendars 2014-2015

Behavior Calendars 2014-2015

 

Here are the 2014-2015 Behavior Calendars. I use these as my way to communicate to parents how their child is behaving in class each day. This pack includes August 2014 - July 2015. There are two versions of these calendars. One is a Happy Face/Sad Face form and the other is the Green/Yellow/Red Color form. You can choose which works for you in your classroom. I use the happy face form because it is easier for me to draw happy faces than color in squares. But, some teachers at my school have students color in the squares (this happens in 1st grade). Also included in this pack is my strategy for dealing with exceptionally difficult behavior with my "Star Sheets" and letters to go home explaining the child's behavior for the day. There are letters for sad faces, uh-oh faces and even for happy faces!

I want students to be rewarded for doing a good job. This does not mean I need to let them win a prize or even get a sticker. Just knowing that I appreciate their good day and their parents will see how great (or not so great) their day was can be reward enough. It definitely keeps my students aware of their actions. No one wants to go home with an uh-oh face. 

If you think you could use this in your classroom (and who can't?) go check it out in my TpT store.

Thanks! And I hope your classroom behavior is great! (Or at least better than before!)

DonorsChoose: Organize My Kindergarten!

I have a DonorsChoose item up! If anyone is able to donate, I am asking for chair pockets for my Kindergarten class. I would like to be able to have my students keep all of these Common Core materials they will need for the coming school year ready and available at all times. I know it will help me save time when it comes to passing things out and teach my students personal responsibility. Take a look at my project!

http://www.donorschoose.org/colorsandkindergarten

 

Thank you to all who support education. 

Behavior

Ok, we all know that behavior management is a must in any grade. In Kindergarten we need clear guidelines for our students. I use a happy face, uh-oh face, and sad face in my classroom on my white board for students to see how their day is going. (Pictures to follow soon.) It's great for the kids to know what they need to do in class and have a visual of how they are doing. You also need to be able to communicate to the parents about the students' behavior. I have attached my Behavior Calendars that I use for the year. Each month I put a new behavior calendar in their homework folders (see pictures of my folders in my last post) and it stays there the WHOLE MONTH. If a student (or parent) takes the behavior calendar out, that student cannot get a sticker on his or her behavior rewards chart until the behavior calendar is returned. If it is completely lost or destroyed (like milk spilled on it) I will replace it. I am trying to teach them responsibility for their belongings and actions. The calendars have a key at the bottom explaining what it is the parents are looking for. Pretty simple: if students stay in the happy face during the school day I will write a happy face on their chart. If it is an uh-oh or sad face, I will write that. If the behavior requires a note home explaining the behavior that needs to be corrected I will write a check mark in the box, along with the uh-oh or sad face. That way, even if the note gets “lost,” the parents will know there was a note and ask to see it. You might be thinking, “I don’t have time to write 25 happy or sad faces!!” Yes, you do. Make the time. If you want your classroom to work smoother there needs to be responsibility and consequences at school AND at home for school behavior. Overall, it takes me 3 minutes to write in their folders at the end of the day before I pass them back to go into their backpacks. Here is a copy of my behavior calendars.

Homework Folders

For the past 2 years I have been using the BEST homework folders. They are so simple, and hold so much!

The folders are Nicky's Folders and are at www.thepageprotectorstore.com. 

They are a little pricey, but worth every penny. They last the whole year, don't take up much space (I keep them in a locker crate), and are washable. There are two plastic sleeves inside and pockets on the inside and outside of the covers. I can put my weekly letter, homework, any new info, info to review, their behavior calendar, and work to send home inside. A very good investment.

At my school the Kindergarten, as a grade level, uses these folders. I have yellow, another class has red, another has blue, etc. We have even started the 1st grade using them this coming year because they are so awesome! Students take these home every night and bring them back everyday. They MUST bring them back everyday with behavior calendar still inside. Keeps everything nice and organized.