New Year, New Us

     As the second half of the year begins, I would like to let you know that the expectations of the Pre-K class have increased. We are now implementing some letter identification and letter activities. I wouldn't call them focus letters or the "Letter of the Week" but more of a brief exposure to letters. Teaching letter and letter sound identification varies from teacher to teacher. I have a strong passion for teaching about science and the scientific method so I have and will be choosing letters according to our focus in science.
     The first "unit" we have started is Lights and Shadows which will transfer to Phases of the Moon and eventually to Astronomy. This will happen of the next two weeks. During that time I plan to cover the letters, L, M, and S (Lights, Moon, and Stars).
     The structure of our day is a little bit different now too. We have certain songs that we will be doing everyday and some will change. We sang a movement song, Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, our weather song (See Lyrics below) and the Letter L Song check it out HERE. We also talk about many different letters when we write our daily message.

Weather Song (Oh my Darlin')
What's the Weather?
What's the Weather?
What's the weather everyone?
Is it rainy?
Is it cloudy?
Is there snow?
Or is there sun?

When I say "go"

Recently for my graduate class, I needed to check out a great teacher website by Brent Coley. Mr. Coley is no longer a teacher but an assistant principal. Which I thought was sad because it would appear, from his website that he was a student invested teacher.

From his website, I was linked to his blog about teaching and educational technology. On his blog, I found a post about classroom management. Before he gave directions, Brent Coley would say, "When I say 'Go'" then proceed to give his directions. He said that when he used this phrase in front of a class direction that he drastically reduced waste time in his classroom.

I tried it with my Pre-k students and it was great! They have the hang of it just after a week! I am able to give them several steps of directions instead of one step at a time.

This may be very beneficial for teachers of older students who have to keep track of student attendance from period to period for APPR purposes.

I know that time isn't something that we can just make more of as teachers but there are ways to decrease wasted time, repeating directions, that can prove to be beneficial for everyone.