All About this Kinder Teacher

Today I am linking you with the new Kinder Tribe blog {HERE} to share a little bit about myself. 


Name: That is pretty self explanatory! 

Years teaching/Years in K: I have been teaching since 1996. I thought I wanted to teach 4th or 5th grade. My first job was teaching Pre-K and I loved it. I taught 1st grade in between my Pre-K and K years. I have been in K for 5 year now. 

I can't live without: My Promethean Board; and that means I have to keep my computer. I love letting the kids 'be the teacher'. It also helps with behavior. If you are playing, you miss your turn. I teach a high poverty and high ELL population, at least 80% ELL. They don't have the background knowledge many kids come to school with. I find short videos on YouTube to show them things like snow (we live in Florida) and animals, instruments, even household items. It really gives them a better understanding of the word to see it  versus me just telling them. 

Favorite school supply: Markers.... Dry Erase, Sharpie, Flair, Sketch, Crayola, You name it, it is probably in my marker bucket! 

Favorite Kinder Book: IMPOSSIBLE... there are too many to name. I like the 'stand bys' The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, No David!, Dr Seuss. The Bear series, The Pigeon books, and on and on and on.

Favorite Kinder Blog: I can't answer this one. Really, I am a content reader. If the post looks interesting I will read it. I enjoy Simply Kinder, Smedley's Smorgasboard of Kindergarten, and I have recently added several more to my Bloglovin' feed. 

I love Kindergarten because: They are 5!!! I tell people I teach 5 year olds, it is so easy to have a generic picture of an elementary age child in your head. Our students are 5, they are relatively new to the whole idea of school. They have so much to learn and so much potential. I love the 5 year old brain, it can soak up so much learning, it doesn't filter what it says (not always a good thing), it want to explore. 

I tie lots of shoes, buckle belts, help with jackets, and so many motor skills that I can't name them all. BUT, I teach them the letters, those letters make words, with words you can READ! I teach them numbers, to count, to add and subtract, to talk about shapes, and much more. I can see the progress so easily. They change so much by the end of the year, so much more independent. I love it!

I will have a new group of 5 year olds in just a few weeks. I can't wait to see what we can accomplish this year. 

Check out more Kinder teachers on the All About this Kinder Teacher Linky. 



20 comments

Unknown said...

I love my interactive whiteboard too! Sometimes too much and I have to remind myself to do something hands on. Haha! I enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for linking up with us!

-Katie Millard
Miss Kate's Desk

Molly Karpowicz said...

Love how you talked about teaching 5 year olds!!! Sometimes we have to remind ourselves that they aren't going to get everything right away and that it is okay to be silly! That definitely helped me survive my first year!! Thanks for linking up with us :)

Yukari said...

Your post reminded me that I can't live without my SMARTBoard either! I had one for the first time this year and it changed my teaching life! And I love so many kinder books and blogs too that it was so hard to pick just one or two to share! So I feel you there!

Yukari
A Pinch of Kinder

Unknown said...

I am with you...these babies are 5! That means they have only been on this earth for 5 or 6 years!! I can 'feel' your passion through this post and I LOVE it!

Deirdre Garcia said...

Picking a book is SO HARD! I love so many!

I do love using videos, too. They help so much to give context to a desert or a rainforest! I wish I had a Promethian to project it with, we show it on the wall!

Deirdre
Mrs. Garcia's Super Scholars!

Unknown said...

Hi Candice! So excited to meet you & be part of our new "kinder family"! I'm really looking forward to sharing & collaborating with you and our "tribe"! I love your blog!
Annie Veas ~ The Learning Studio Bug :)

Holly @ Research and Play said...

Getting a Smart Board this year!! Can't wait!!

KFUNdamentals said...

Using videos to enhance understanding is a great way to open up the world to your little ones. Great post, Candice!

Amanda Pauley said...

Candice, I should show you my almost embarrassingly large marker collection sometime. You name it I have it....Mr. Sketch, Scentos, Sharpie, Flair, Crayola, etc. You can never have too many markers!
Amanda
Mrs. Pauley’s Kindergarten

Kelly Burlinski said...

I have a smartboard. It is AMAZING!!!! My class LOVES it. I like that I can see what the kids are doing even when I am working with my small group.
My Fabulous Class

Kimberlee said...

I Love my SmartBoard Too!! I use it for EVERYTHING!!! I love that it helps put technology in their tiny hands and introduces the to a whole new world!! Thank you for sharing.
Kimberlee
http://itskindertime.blogspot.com/2015/07/all-about-this-kinder-teacher.html

chevronandcenters said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
chevronandcenters said...

I couldn't choose a blog either there are too many!! I also can not live without my smart board! How did we ever teach without them?
I love your blog design and getting to know you through this kindertribe!!!!
Jill
Chevronandcenters

Teaching Under the Sun said...

Jill, thanks. I did it myself and constantly worry that it needs something else.

Hip Hooray in K said...

Ok friends I need some major help better implementing my Smart Board - does anyone have good posts on what you do in your rooms? I have been concentrating on implementing iPads and SmartBoard activities have fallen by the way side.

I love that you also find the joy in our kiddos being 5! Such a fun age to learn with!

Love your blog,
Kirstin

Unknown said...

I had a hard time deciding on a book too! There are so many great books!! I also love markers! I have to make sure to get one of every box of crayola!! :)

Teaching Under the Sun said...

Kirstin, ask on the FB page. I can give interactive board help, not specific to SMART though. :) I'd be glad to help

123kteach said...

I love my interactive whiteboard too. Excited to meet you and be a part of this growing Kindergarten teacher family.
123kteach

Carrie said...

Seriously! Aren't promethean boards the best! Honestly I do not know how people survive without them! Something about the possibility of getting their hands on that little pen makes everyone engaged!!
I look forward to working with your and collaborating as part of our Kinder Tribe!
Buzz Into Kinder Blog
Buzz Into Kinder on Facebook
Buzz Into Kinder on TPT

Danielle said...

I love my smartboard, too. The kids are obsessed with it! I've had one since I started student teaching, so I can't even imagine teaching without it.

Danielle
Carolina Teacher