Getting Started

We are working our way through our alphabet review.  Curriculum is really minimal these first few weeks as we mostly focus on class rules, school rules, manners, expectations, how to move from place to place, what to do at each center (we learn one new center each day), where our supplies go, how to ask for help, etc. etc. etc.  It is a lot for these little kiddos to take in.  It is so important though. These first few days, weeks set the tone for our entire year and so far we are doing GREAT!  We finally busted out some playdough today and they were so careful.  I think I am feeling gutsy enough to teach the sand table center next week.  We have to have some serious procedures in place before we lift off that lid... otherwise I will find 100 pounds of sand in our carpet, the custodians kinda frown at that.  Last year during Teacher Appreciation Week we had our hallways filled with mom's and their kiddos as they decorated doors and the hallways after school to show their love for us!  I was in a team meeting with my other kinder teachers and when I went back to my classroom I discovered just that, all of my sand on my carpet!  A few pre-schoolers had wandered into my room and discovered sand... mom was distracted and so they just started to play... my room was a sandy MESS!  For the next 2 months my custodians lovingly called me 'Sandy' every time they saw me!  I have a bit of a sand phobia now.  That is also why I had to replace all of my sand over the summer.

What else will I be introducing next week?   ABCmouse.com  I love it!  It is FREE for classroom teachers to create an account!  My students love it, it is often their first choice at the computer center.  I will be spending part of my weekend getting my new class all loaded up so we are ready to log on next week and begin learning and exploring.  One more week of review and getting started and then we get down to business.

Have a great long weekend!