I teach kindergarten and I believe in homework. Yes, you heard me! There has been a lot of discussion about homework in schools over the past few years and whether or not it is best practice. I've read several articles and heard teachers share their beliefs about homework and its validity. I've given homework to my kindergarten students for the last 4 years and stand by that decision. Here's 5 reasons why I believe in homework... even in kindergarten:
1. Homework is a communication tool for parents.
Homework allows parents to see what skills we're working on in the classroom. When they sit down with their child and complete the activity together, they get instant information about specific skills we are currently practicing. Each week my students get a piece of reading homework. It asks parents to read a book with their child and provides a comprehension focus for them. By giving parents word for word questions to ask their child that match the language we use every day, we are giving them tools to support their child's learning. Parents quickly learn whether we have been discussing schema, making connections, or nonfictition text features using this single piece of homework.
2. Homework shows academic progress.
I do not use homework to determine if a child understands a skill... but parents can. When a parent sits down to complete an activity with their child, they quickly see if the child is secure with it or needs support. For example, if the assignment asks students to draw 2 patterns and the child says, "What's a pattern?" The parent knows they need practice this skill at home. If the child makes 4 correct patterns, the parent know this is a secure skill.
3. Homework teaches responsibility.
This is a much argued point. It's one that I agree with! I give my students one week to complete 2 pieces of homework. It is sent home on Monday and needs to be back by Friday. Do I have a student list I check off once homework is returned? No. Do I contact parents about missing homework? No. Do I reprimand students who don't turn it in? No. Honestly, I don't have time for that. I'm busy teaching. I do not send work home to penalize students. I do it to help students practice responsibility at whatever level they are capable of. Let's be perfectly honest. A kindergarten student cannot control whether or not their parents make time to complete homework with them (this is why I struggle to support rewards for students with completed reading logs.) But they do know it is their job to take it home, complete it, and return it. How and if they get that done, is up to the child and their parents. If I can help even 1 child practice responsibility at the age of 5, then it was a success.
4. Students get to show off!
There is nothing I love more than when a parent tells me how amazed they are with their child's knowledge. When parents are directed within reading homework to ask for a text to self connection, many are hesitant and unsure. Then... their child speaks. I don't think many parents are aware of what their children are capable of. Yes, they know their child is smart. But they don't know just how capable they are when it comes to high level responses. It's exciting for kids to share this new learning with their families! When I hold up the new homework for my class on Monday afternoon, cheers literally erupt from the crowd! The question is, how do we keep this excitement going beyond kindergarten?
5. Parents realize they are partners in their child's eduction.
Once parents realize what we are learning and how successful their child is with each specific skill, they become a part of their child's education. They feel informed. They feel knowledgeable. They feel capable of having conversations with their children that connect to those we have in the classroom. I never want parents to feel in the dark until report card day. It should not be a surprise. Homework is another way I push the door wide open for parents to communicate with me and their child about their learning. No, every parent will not be a partner in education, that's the reality. However, the door has been opened for those who are willing.
*If you'd like copies or information about the homework I use with my students, I'm happy to share. Just contact me!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Communication is Key in Kindergarten
Well the year has begun and 24 new kindergarteners have taken over the classroom! Along with those 24 kiddos come 24 sets of parents. Anyone who has ever taught kindergarten knows that these families often need lots of communication. Many of these parents are first timers when it comes to having a child in school. They have lots of questions, concerns, and anxiety when it comes to having a child in school. And rightfully so! It dawned on me this week why parents feel nervous. As a teacher who is a non parents, I often forget that these children are someones babies. I've been around several of my friends who have had babies this year. As new working moms, they were on the hunt for the best childcare possible upon returning to their jobs. They interviewed many in-home sitters and daycare center providers until they found the perfect one. Even then it was hard for them to leave their babies!
This is exactly why kindergarten parents are nervous! They are dropping their child off with someone they only met once. Someone they didn't get to choose. Someone they don't even know. My perspective on parent communication changed drastically upon this revelation! My mission: To provide parents with as much information about myself, my instruction, our daily activities, and our goals as possible. Whatever I can do to make them comfortable with their child's education, I will.
I started with an email to my parents before Open House night. I wanted to welcome them and share my excitement for the school year. I also opened up my class website to them prior to Open House. My website is something I am SUPER proud of!
I started using Shutterfly's free website template a few years ago and absolutely love it! More importantly, parents love it! If you haven't yet checked out their free sites, do it! One of the best features is the calendar. You can add events throughout the year with details for parents. The day before an event occurs, an email is automatically sent out to parents reminding them of the event. This is awesome for early dismissals, concerts, class parties, and school-wide events. We all know how busy we get as teachers, so why not let your website do the work for you? Another feature I really love about Shutterfly is their picture feature. Adding photos of your students is easy. You can add captions and allow parents to comment on photos. I usually add a new album each month to keep myself organized. Parents often tell me how much they enjoy seeing what we're doing in the classroom. It makes them feel like they are right there with us every day. Last year I even uploaded short movies of the kids Skyping with local firefighters and singing songs. Our school requires a newsletter go out to parents from each classroom every other week. I simply write an update on the homepage of our site and a notice goes out to parents that the newsletter was added. You can upload files to the website as well. I have my monthly snack/activity calendar available each month along with documents that get sent home, just in case they get misplaced :) When parents email me looking for things like the snack calendar, the newsletter, or that paper that was sent home on Tuesday, I can simply tell them to check for it in the website. Everything is in one place! I am not paid my Shutterfly (wouldn't that be awesome though) so trust me when I say that you MUST get a classroom website started through them!
Finally, simple emails make all the difference. After our first day of school, I sat down and typed up a brief account of our day. I told parents there would be some pictures of our first day on our website too. I got several emails back in response within a couple of hours. Parents were so grateful for my constant communication and said how relieved they were to know their children were in good hands. All they needed was to know their child was safe and cared for. Within a few days, many of them knew that; and that was my goal. Now as the second week begins, I need to be sure that my communication remains constant. It's easy to get busy with assessments, data results, organizing the classroom, and lesson planning, and forget the basics. But now I really understand the importance of communication. It leads to trust. Trust leads to a partnership. And great teacher-parent partnerships mean a successful education for children.
(If anyone wants help with setting up a Shutterfly website for their class, just leave a message. I'd be happy to help! I do not have a link here to my website because it is secure. Parents must be invited by me to have access to it. Nothing is more important to me than the privacy of my students and their families. Another plus to the Shutterfly website!)
This is exactly why kindergarten parents are nervous! They are dropping their child off with someone they only met once. Someone they didn't get to choose. Someone they don't even know. My perspective on parent communication changed drastically upon this revelation! My mission: To provide parents with as much information about myself, my instruction, our daily activities, and our goals as possible. Whatever I can do to make them comfortable with their child's education, I will.
I started with an email to my parents before Open House night. I wanted to welcome them and share my excitement for the school year. I also opened up my class website to them prior to Open House. My website is something I am SUPER proud of!
I started using Shutterfly's free website template a few years ago and absolutely love it! More importantly, parents love it! If you haven't yet checked out their free sites, do it! One of the best features is the calendar. You can add events throughout the year with details for parents. The day before an event occurs, an email is automatically sent out to parents reminding them of the event. This is awesome for early dismissals, concerts, class parties, and school-wide events. We all know how busy we get as teachers, so why not let your website do the work for you? Another feature I really love about Shutterfly is their picture feature. Adding photos of your students is easy. You can add captions and allow parents to comment on photos. I usually add a new album each month to keep myself organized. Parents often tell me how much they enjoy seeing what we're doing in the classroom. It makes them feel like they are right there with us every day. Last year I even uploaded short movies of the kids Skyping with local firefighters and singing songs. Our school requires a newsletter go out to parents from each classroom every other week. I simply write an update on the homepage of our site and a notice goes out to parents that the newsletter was added. You can upload files to the website as well. I have my monthly snack/activity calendar available each month along with documents that get sent home, just in case they get misplaced :) When parents email me looking for things like the snack calendar, the newsletter, or that paper that was sent home on Tuesday, I can simply tell them to check for it in the website. Everything is in one place! I am not paid my Shutterfly (wouldn't that be awesome though) so trust me when I say that you MUST get a classroom website started through them!
Finally, simple emails make all the difference. After our first day of school, I sat down and typed up a brief account of our day. I told parents there would be some pictures of our first day on our website too. I got several emails back in response within a couple of hours. Parents were so grateful for my constant communication and said how relieved they were to know their children were in good hands. All they needed was to know their child was safe and cared for. Within a few days, many of them knew that; and that was my goal. Now as the second week begins, I need to be sure that my communication remains constant. It's easy to get busy with assessments, data results, organizing the classroom, and lesson planning, and forget the basics. But now I really understand the importance of communication. It leads to trust. Trust leads to a partnership. And great teacher-parent partnerships mean a successful education for children.
(If anyone wants help with setting up a Shutterfly website for their class, just leave a message. I'd be happy to help! I do not have a link here to my website because it is secure. Parents must be invited by me to have access to it. Nothing is more important to me than the privacy of my students and their families. Another plus to the Shutterfly website!)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Get Skyping in Kindergarten!
Thanks to the Skype Education site (http://education.skype.com/) our class had connected with a 5th grade class in Arizona and kindergarteners in Boston. We work with our friends in both states 1-2 times each month. Skype Education allows you to post what kinds of classes you're looking for and describe the experiences you'd like to have with them. Discussing trees in science? Find out if there are classes who'd like to share the trees in their region with you! Want to discuss holiday traditions around the world? Make a post requesting classes from other countries to work with you!
Below is a video of our friends in Arizona reading to us during our "Celebrate Reading Week" at school. Each child in the 5th grade class read a page from a book to our class. When they were done, my students stood up in with their guided reading groups and read a book together to the 5th graders. Such a motivating experience that built up their confidence as readers! I
My point? Make on of your New Year's resolutions to utilize technology more! Throw open the doors of our classroom and welcome in students from around the state, country, and even the world. See what happens with just a little bit technology, some creativity, and a whole lot of fun!
Would love to hear the ideas you come up with and hey, maybe our class can Skype with yours!!
Below is a video of our friends in Arizona reading to us during our "Celebrate Reading Week" at school. Each child in the 5th grade class read a page from a book to our class. When they were done, my students stood up in with their guided reading groups and read a book together to the 5th graders. Such a motivating experience that built up their confidence as readers! I
My point? Make on of your New Year's resolutions to utilize technology more! Throw open the doors of our classroom and welcome in students from around the state, country, and even the world. See what happens with just a little bit technology, some creativity, and a whole lot of fun!
Would love to hear the ideas you come up with and hey, maybe our class can Skype with yours!!
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