"Our Kindergarten Class"

The following story was dictated by the class.

In our class, we learn letters.  We read books and the Bible.  We learn about numbers.  We play with toys.  We go to centers.  We have a word wall.  We spell and write our names neatly.  We have friends.  We have fun.

They thought it was awesome to write their own story.  They did a great job and only needed help a couple of times.

Community Helper Day

Our class has studed different Community Helpers for the past nine weeks. We wanted to close this study by allowing each child to dress-up in the Community Helper that they wanted to be when they grew up. We had two waitresses, two firemen, a policeman, and a preacher. Our preacher, Jacob, wanted to preach so we gave him the opportunity to preach to our class, the preschoolers, Pastor Coley and our principal, Bro. Josh. He was so excited about it. Afterwards, Pastor Coley asked Jacob to sign his Bible beside many other great preachers.

 

 

Veterinarian Dr. Bain's Visit

We invited Dr. Bain from Taylor Animal Hospital to visit our classroom to share his veterinarian duties and allow the children to ask him questions concerning his job.  The children enjoyed his visit as well as seeing D-dog one of his family pets.  Dr. Bain shared many details from his job and brought several items from his office for the children to feel and see.  He showed the children several parasites that he had removed from some of his patients which of course the children found very interesting.  The most important thing that he shared with the children was his devotion which centered around the treasure we have in salvation and the key if found in God's Word.  Dr. Bain gave each child a red stone to remind them of Christ's blood that was shed for our sin.

  

Learning About Farming

I believe the more the children use their senses (feeling, seeing, tasting, hearing) in learning the more they will retain.  We not only want to impart information we want them to actually experience it first hand.  This is also why we try to have special visitors in the classroom to share their knowledge, materials and experiences with the children.  This weeks community helper was the farmer.  The children enjoyed taking a virtual tour of a dairy farm yesterday and today Mrs. Jessica brought several items from her farm to share with the students.  She talked about what an important tool the wheelbarrow and pitchfork is to a farmer.  She talked about the different animals that she has on her farm (horses, calves, hens/chickens, etc.) and how she cares for them. They learned several interesting things.  The younger a hen is the smaller the eggs and that not all eggs are white.  Horses wear shoes to protect their feet but their shoes look a little different.  Sometimes Mrs. Jessica feeds calves with a bottle but the bottle was a little bigger then the bottle that their mother fed them and their siblings.

  

T   

Children feeling the chicken feed.

Jacob & Natalie looking at the horse feed.

  

Police Officer Visit

Today the children enjoyed having Officer Travis Mull visit the class.  He discussed several issues with the children: importance of calling 911 only in a true emergency, using a seat belt, and he told the children a little about what he did as a police officer.  Of course, the children's favorite thing was going outside to see his squad car.  I am not for sure that they enjoyed the loud siren but had fun looking inside the squad car.  Officer Travis does visits the class every year.  He always does a great job and we appreciate him taking the time out of his busy schedule to talk with us. 

                                       THANK YOU, OFFICER TRAVIS

Writing Activity

One of the favorite activities the children participated in was when they practiced writing their names and the letter I in shaving cream.  I like this activity because it has a twofold purpose: Children practice their writing skills as well as clean their desk.

First Day of School

Wow! We had a terrific day.  The students listened attentively to the Bible lesson about Heaven.  They colored and cut out a  picture of an octopus which we hung up on the fishing net in the classroom.  We reviewed some letters, counted, talked about colors, played outside, and of course every one's favorite playing in the learning centers.  Everyone settled down and did well during nap.  When the came back in from P.E. this afternoon, they asked if they could go play in centers and was shocked when I said it was time to go home.  Glad they enjoyed their day =)

Parent/Teacher Day

I enjoyed meeting the students today and reading each of them the story "The Night Before Kindergarten." They all seemed to  be excited about school especially the learning centers focused on an ocean theme.  Each student will be assigned a mandatory learning center (phonics, math, books/listening, writing, science, or art) each day where they will have to complete an activity and then they can visit an optional center (sand/water, manipulatives (puzzles), computer, blocks, kitchen).  Looking forward to a great year and watching my students grow spiritually, physcially, academically, and socially.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulgrum

All I really need to know about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School. These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life--learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup--they all die. So do we.
And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned--the biggest word of all--LOOK.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere. The Golden Rule and love and basic sanitation. Ecology and politics and equality and sane living.
Take any one of those items and extrapolate it into sophisticated adult terms and apply it to your family life or your work or your government or your world and it holds true and clear and firm. Think what a better world
it would be if we all--the whole world--had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.  And it is still true, no matter how old you are-- when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.
--Robert Fulghum

Classroom Wish List

Dr. Peet's Talk Writer Software $59.95

This award-winning software includes these: ABC games a talking/singing word processor an Editable Picture Dictionary an INTERNET-SAFE E-mail Wizard!  It also has adaptive features for those with visual and physical challenges, which makes this a well-rounded early literacy package for 3-yr.-olds and up. Windows 95, 98, 2000, SE, XT

Seashore Eyewitness DVD
DK Publishing - Author
$12.99


Video: DVD
5.74 x 5.23in
3720 Minutes
ISBN 9780756662967
19 Jul 2010
Dorling Kindersley
8 - 17 years


DK's award-winning Eyewitness Video series, now on DVD! From crashing waves and blasting winds to placid tide pools, discover what makes our coastlines so alluring to the masses of wildlife and humans who gather there in Eyewitness DVD: Seashore.




A Street Through Time
Anne Millard - Author
$19.99


Book: Hardcover
10.62 x 14.17in
32 pages
ISBN 9780789434265
09 Nov 1998
Dorling Kindersley
0 - 17 years


Demonstrating the unfolding of history, with bold panoramic views. Follow the evolution of a Stone Age riverside settlement into a twentieth-century city. Visit ancient European cities, glimpse daily life of early city-dwellers, and learn how cities developed into what we know today.


Awards and Notable lists:
Society of International School Librarians Best Book in Social Studies K-6
CBC/NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2000
2000 NCSS Notable Books


Easy Assessments for Pre-Kindergarten (Teaching Resources) [Paperback]
by Laurie Fyke $14.95


Essential Kindergarten Assessments for Reading, Writing, and Math [Paperback]
by Laurie Fyke
$14.95


Classroom items:
Wikki sticks
Plastic ocean animals

Recommended Books and Websites

The Five Love Languages of Children

by Gary Chapman and Ross Campbell

Each child, like an adult, express and receives love through one of the five different communication styles. This truth can work against parents who speak different love languages than their children. However, when properly prepared moms and dads can use this information to help meet their children’s deep emotional needs. For more information on this book visit the Dr. Chapman’s website at www.fivelovelanguages.com.

For the Children’s Sake: Foundations of Education for Home and School
by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Every parent and teacher wants to give their children the best education possible. Everyone would like education to be a joyous adventure and celebration of life, as well as a solid preparation for living. Susan Schaeffer Macaulay shows education can be a wonderful, life-enriching, joyous experience.


Training Your Children to Turn Out Right!
A Biblical Guide for Christian Parents
by David Sorenson

He shows how to apply the scriptural teachings of righteousness, discipline, consistency, and godly separation to the rearing of children to become teens and young adults that love, obey, and serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
by Dr. Kevin Leman

Raising a child these days can be daunting. But if anyone understands why children behave as they do, it's Dr. Kevin Leman. This internationally known psychologist, author, and father of five shows how to bring out the best in your kids-without letting them get the best of you!

In his humorous, direct style, Dr. Leman shows how-and why-his reality discipline works. He also explains how to:
- foil finicky eaters, turn off temper tantrums, and minimize sibling rivalries
- get children to be responsible and successful
- get kids to do what you want them to do
- understand why children misbehave and what to do about it
- set suitable allowances, curfews, and privileges
- use authority and decisiveness to show your kids you care

The following is a list of educational websites I have visited:

http://www.familyeducation.com/

http://www.family.com/

http://www.superkids.com/

http://www.scholastic.com/

http://www.education.com/

http://www.starfall.com/

Class Schedule

7:50 - 8:00 Arrival

8:00 - 8:10 Opening Procedures (attendance, lunch, prayer and pledges)

8:10 - 8:30 Bible

8:30 - 9:00 Phonics

9:00 - 9:20 Fruit Break & Restroom

9:20 - 9:40 Meeting Circle

9:40 -10:00 Writing

10:00 -10:30 Math

10:30 -10:45 Science/Social Studies/Language

10:45 -11:00 Learning Centers

11:00 -11:10 Restroom

11:10 -11:40 Lunch

11:40-12:15 Activity Time

12:15-12:30 Restroom

12:30- 1:45 Rest time

1:45 - 2:00 Wake-up/restroom

2:00 - 2:15 Fruit Break

2:15 - 2:40 Outside Play

2:40 - 3:00 Prepare for dismissal

** Chapel on Friday

*** Activity Time: P.E. on Tuesday and Thursday, School Librarian visits on Monday, Music on Friday and Art on Wednesday

Supply List

1 large pencil box


1 zipper pencil pouch

1 clear pencil pouch with 3 holes for notebook

1 packet of #2 pencils

Large eraser

3 packs of 24 count crayons

1 pair scissors

Small pack of construction paper

1 boxes of Kleenex

2 rolls of paper towels

1 tub of baby wipes

1 pkg. of Clorox wipes

1 ream of white copy paper

1 ream of white cardstock paper

2 pkgs. of watercolor paints

1” 3 ring binder

2 composition notebooks

3 plastic double pocket folders

1 dz. Glue sticks

1 bottle of washable glue

1 Manila paper tablet

1 pkg. of fine point black dry erase markers

1 - 10 pack of primary colored washable markers

2 boxes of Ziploc snack size bags

2 boxes of Ziploc sandwich size bags

Back Pack (no rollers)

Paint Shirt (Dad’s old t-shirt works well; no buttons)

Large towel & crib sheet in a zippered bag for nap time.

NO PILLOWS OR QUILTS PLEASE

1 full change of clothes

(including undergarments)

PLEASE, label scissors, backpack, & pencil box with

child’s name!!

Discipline Plan

In order to provide our students with the excellent educational climate they deserve, we have developed the following Classroom Discipline Plan that affords every student guidance in making good decisions about their behavior and thus an opportunity to learn in a positive, nurturing class environment. Your child deserves the most positive educational climate possible for his/her growth. Together, we will make a difference in this process. The plan below outlines our rules, possible reward and consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behavior. The rules are:

CLASSROOM RULES

1. Eyes on teacher

2. Lips closed

3. Ears Listening

4. Sit up straight

5. Hands and feet quiet

We will demonstrate and teach the students the behavior that is expected. We will praise the appropriate behavior frequently and at times choose to reward the students with stickers and prizes.

However, if a student chooses to not comply with expected behavior, the teacher will hold the student accountable for his/her actions. The consequence assigned will make the student responsible by requiring the student to correct the damage or harm caused by the misbehavior.

Our classroom management procedures relate to a treasure chest and gold coins. The student begins each day with three gold coins for his/her treasure chest. On Fridays, children can purchase items from classroom treasure chest with their remaining gold coins.

First offense … child receives a verbal warning

Second offense …child gives back one gold coin and goes to thinking/prayer bench for five minutes

Third offense … child give back second gold coin, misses five minutes of playtime, and written note will be sent home.

Fourth offense … child gives back third gold coin and parents will be contacted by phone to talk with child.

Severe Clause: If your child is involved in fighting, vandalism, defying a teacher, bad language, or throwing a temper tantrum you will be contacted immediately to pick up your child from school. A behavior report form will be completed.

About Me

My name is Mrs. Jennifer Taylor and I have the pleasure of teaching kindergarten at Shenandoah Baptist Academy.  I received my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education from Chattanooga State in 1992 and graduated in June 2010 with a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education with an emphasis in Special Education. I have been in the educational field for a total of twenty one years. I have taught for a total of seventeen years with eleven of those years teaching at Shenandoah and have also been in childcare administration for seven years.

I came to Chattanooga to attend Tennessee Temple University in the fall of 1984, where I completed one year of study in Elementary Education and this is where I also met my husband, Larry. I was married in 1986 and we had our son Logan in 1994.