I Teach K Conference

I requested more training to improve my Kindergarten Teacher Toolbox. A teacher toolbox is a figurative toolbox containing all your teacher knowledge and know how. If you come across a problem or your students aren't responding to your normal procedure/instruction, then you reach into your toolbox and can pull out another method to try.

It doesn't mean that I don't know how to teach, it's just maybe there's a better method to doing something that I can try. 

And I will be honest with you: I do not enjoy teaching the beginning part of Kindergarten. 

It's not just the fact that I have to focus on the procedures of being at school, I don't enjoy what I am supposed to be teaching, namely introduction to the alphabet. I have been teaching it the same way for the last three years and I think there's a better way out there. 

Typically, after Winter Break is when I start to love what I teach. Yes, the children have the procedures down by then and are more independent but we also move from whole group instruction to Guided Literacy Groups and I have my stations going with different activities while I pull small groups of students and work with them at their reading level because if you don't know, some children come into my classroom not knowing the alphabet and some come in already able to read. I love my Literacy Groups because I can meet my students where they are and take them to the next level. 

I want to start my groups earlier in the school year. I want to spend time teaching the independent activities so that it my students will know what to expect before they go on Winter Break. But to do this, I have to completely change how I have been structuring the beginning part of the year, but at the same time, I am totally excited to do this since I need to make changes anyways. 

I went to my principal and we talked about what I want to do in my teaching. She was so supportive that she is sending me to the National I Teach K Conference in Las Vegas this summer. So many tools for my toolbox!

I feel like this will help me really zero in on teaching Kindergarten. After teaching 2nd Grade for so many years, there are some aspects of Kindergarten that I would like to be more aware of. I feel like my eyes are being awoken to all the possibilities!

Here are the sessions I am signed up for: 

*Fabulous Fine-Motor Fun (a total Kindergarten thing)

*Bringing the Outdoors in & Taking the Standards Out (toolbox)

*The Magic of Music & Movement (granted, we sing a lot but there's so much more!)

*Teach Sight Words So They Stick! (I hope to move away from relying on homework)

*Kick Learning Up a Notch with Literacy Center Fun (more activities!!)

*Phonemic Awareness & Phonics Fun (toolbox)

*Interactive Read-alouds through Deliberate Instruction (not covered in my teacher college)

*How to Re-Tool Your Busy Day to Get Everything Done (YES! PLEASE!)

As I've said before, I'm a good teacher. I can and do teach children to read, write, count, add & subtract. I am the best teacher that I can be at this moment. I have even won a local radio station's Teacher of the Month.

Me rocking R2D2 on the front page

But my goal is to be an amazing Kindergarten Teacher. 

Three years ago, I was handled materials and told, "This is how we do it in K." Well, hang on to your hats, cause I'm about to shake things up!