Early Learning News
February 2016
Global School Play Day is February 3rd!
Creativity and Curiosity
Try this one which is designed to build deep meaning of the content.
"Be The Thing"...
1. Students are asked to place themselves in the role of an object. (Example: Square)
2. Three questions are posed (Either aloud or on chart paper/projected device, etc.)
3. Questions: How do you feel? What are your thoughts? What will you do?
If you were to use the object "square", students may answer the questions the following way.
1. How do you feel? (equal, straight, boxed in, etc.)
2. What are your thoughts? (Will anyone come inside? Can I move? I am made up of other shapes)
3. What will you do? (I will build houses. I will be stepped on. I will be useful).
Obviously this activity should be modeled first, but it will allow the fostering of creative ideas, and encourage those that aren't willing to share their creative side an opportunity to do so. Let me know if you try it. I would love to know the outcome!
Pre-K Early Learning Assessment
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment
Updates for the 2016-2017 KRA...all assessment questions will be the same!!!!
Yay!!! However, coming in 2017-2018 a 2.0 KRA version will be available. One of the changes you may notice involves the manner of assessment. Currently 50% of the test is based on observational data. The 2.0 version will only include 35%-40% observable items, and the remainder will be either direct response or performance based.
County-wide data for the most recent administration is projected to be made public after the March 2016 State Board Meeting.
Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten Registration Begins!
The first day to begin registering Kindergartners is March 14th. Remaining days include...April 25, May 16, and June 13th. Please help by communicating this to your school families.
Pre-K registration begins in March. New applications will be sent to each elementary school, and an updated application will be available on the web-site.
Monday, Mar 14, 2016, 12:00 AM
All Elementary Schools, Hagerstown, MD
Funkstown Team
A very special shout out Valerie Kaufmann, Angie Gibney, and team of the new Social/Emotional Pre-K Classroom. This program is newly afloat, and students in the program are directly instructed regarding the executive functioning skills needed to help them be successful! What a smooth start to an exceptional program.
Rebecca Griffin
Having an indoor "snowball" fight with a room full of four-year olds is a brave thing to do. However, Rebecca pulled it off with no problem...and...she implemented identification of letters, words, and a humorous text into the "fun"!
Kendal Moss
Social and Emotional Visual Tip of The Month!
Invite a child to squirt out all of the toothpaste in the tube. (Cheap brand :))
Invite a second child to come up and "put all the toothpaste back into the tube".
Discuss the fact that once words slip out of your mouth, it is impossible to put them back in. Sometimes our little ones need these quick visuals as a method of remembering necessary social skills.
Q's Race To The Top!
Every Kindergarten and Pre-K Classroom will be receiving this "on the go" set of cards that encourages conversations around appropriate emotional intelligence! Enjoy!!!
Product Description
When life doesn't allow time to sit down and play, this on-the-go pack offers 90 fun question and action cards to promote social skills, better behavior, balance and coordination. With a convenient carrying case, Q's On-The-Go pack is perfect for road trips or wait-time anywhere! Join the revolution of parents and kids across the country who have fallen in love with this fun and easy way to practice emotional intelligence skills for school readiness and life success.