Friday, August 12, 2011

Letters, Forms, Packets, and Behavior...oh, my!

I will finally be able to get into my classroom next week and then we begin August 23rd. I haven't changed much of my documents, but I thought I would share them with anyone who just wanted to take a peek!


This is my welcome letter. I know it looks pretty plain but that's because I print it out on cute computer paper. Our first day of school is actually an Orientation Day. Parents and students come with all their supplies (which I have them sort into boxes in the hallway) and then we go over the curriculum and the in's and out's of our room. Lots and lots of questions!!!


All documents contain fonts that are copyright DJ Inkers. Virtually all documents contain graphics that are copyright DJ Inkers. They are used with permission. Please visit http://www.djinkers.com/, for wonderful clipart and fonts.
Kindergarten Orientation Letter 2011

The ABC's of Room 17 has been greatly condensed! Our school had us take out all the information that is in the School Handbook...makes sense, right? 
ABC's of Room 17

OK, if this format of the Parent Volunteer Form is yours, please let me know and I will most certainly give you credit. I saved it in my Google Doc's and can't remember for the life of me who I got it from. Anywho, I just tweaked it so it fit my classroom.
Parent Volunteer Form

One thing that I tell EVERY new teacher is this little nugget...book orders for the first month are a MUST. Why, you ask...because the first order gives you the most bang for your buck. You can really rack up points to be used later on with that first order. I spend a good amount of time practically begging parents to buy $10 worth of books with that order. I tell them EXACTLY how many points we will get and what those points can buy. I tell them they can save the books for a gift later on :)


It has never failed me. My first order of the year has never been under $200. I've gotten a listening center, hundreds of books, and TONS of literacy/math center items. Of course, every order after the first is usually less than $20, but I won't complain!
Book Order Letter

I've seen this Behavior Clip Chart all over the blogosphere! After much thinking, I decided I would give it a go! I tweaked it a bit to fit my room, and I am praying that I love it as much as everyone says I will. Here is my chart.
This is the explanation that I am giving out to parents. Yes, as you can see, I am giving rewards. I kept on thinking that it just stinks that those kids who move up don't get anything other than recognition. So, anyway you can read the chart to see what they get for rewards and consequences. My Kinder-Hoppers that make it to the top will receive a sticker on their clip...first red, then orange, yellow, and so forth. When they have all the colors of the rainbow on their clip, it will be retired to the top and they will get a new jazzy one. **My jazzy ones were nicely dyed clips and then I sprayed them with silver glitter and now they are more ghetto than jazzy, so I am rethinking what to do about it.
Behavior Clip Chart Explanation

My students each have a green, plastic folder (F.R.O.G folder) that they take home each night. I staple a behavior calendar on the left side. Students color their folder at the end of each day with the color they ended their day on. The students that make it to the top will be able to color the corresponding square in rainbow colors. I am fairly certain I am going to cut the actual table description of the chart and tape it behind the behavior calendar so parents can reference it.
2011-2012 Behavior Calendars

22 comments:

  1. I love the calendar idea! We have a take home binder that is campus wide, but I could easily have my kiddos color in a section to show what color they ended on. Thanks!
    Margaret
    ourkinderjourney.blogspot.com

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  2. Hi Shannon,

    Your orientation letter is wonderful. I wanted to let you know before you send to your parents that you repeated a line in the last paragraph. You are encouraging parents to visit your website.

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  3. I just finished reading all your resources. Great job. I'm inspired to create my own ABC's of room 128. Thank You for sharing your wonderful resources!

    Cheryl

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  4. Thanks for sharing - it was interesting to read your ABCs and compare them to mine - pretty similar/ I'll be interested in how you like the clip it program - I read about it this summer and made a chart for my KinderStars - but haven't decided if I am going to use it yet.....we are also implementing "Bucket Filling"-which I like. Thanks again!

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  5. Thanks all!

    Cheryl, thanks for letting me know!

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  6. I'm using this behavior system, too! (pics on my blog) Next week, I'll see if coloring each day works out. I'm wondering how to reflect that a student moved down and then back up....I might be drawing arrows!

    May your time be stretched as you complete your classroom set-up. Good luck!
    ReadWriteSing

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  7. Thanks for sharing your ABC's and that little tidbit about book clubs! I've seen that behavior chart all over. I have a Pre-k room and am deciding whether they will understand it....I don'
    t know, maybe I'll try it and see.
    Thanks Again :)

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  8. You are amazing!!!! I love it all. I wish my children would have had you for a K teacher:-) Thank you!

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  9. My behavior chart is similar to yours however it is a rocket. It has sayings like, mission control, malfunction, severe malfunction, prepare for lift off, lift off. I got it from my student teaching mentor teacher. I always find it hard to remember to let the kids move to the top. Thank you for sharing!!

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  10. thanks for all the forms! hope you have a great start back to school!

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  11. Where did you get the polka dot paper for your behavior chart? Love it!! Thanks for sharing your docs!!

    Miss J @ smilescrayonsandendlessstories

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  12. Thanks Shannon, this post was very helpful!

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  13. Hi Shannon,

    Thanks for sharing your resources! The theme of my class is the Fantastic Frogs and I love the Froggie clipart you used on the Book Order form but can not figure out which CD it is from! I have been goggling and have had no luck--would you mind sharing where it came from so I can stop pulling my hair out! LOL.. Thanks a bunch..Good Luck with your school year.

    Gloria

    http://thefantasticfrogs.blogspot.com

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  14. Shannon,
    Thank you so much for sharing the ABC's of Kindergarten idea. I loved it and made my own! Thank you!!!

    Jodi

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  15. You are extremely creative and generous! Thanks so much for sharing all of your ideas!

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  16. Wow thank you so much for all this! Come check out the giveaway at http://petersonsprimarypeeps.blogspot.com/

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  17. Thank you for all of the things you so generously share!!! I love the clip chart explanation/titles for each color. Your clip chart itself was adorable! I made one similar to yours after you inspired me to make it not so boring.....like I was going to do b/c I was running out of time! I love all of your work, and really appreciate you sharing!

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  18. Your blog is AMAZING! I found it when I was looking for K ideas for my good friend that was transferred to K. Do you know of a 1st grade blog that is EXACTLY like yous? I love it!

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  19. Thanks for sharing! I'm a new Kindergarten teacher and your ideas are awesome!

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  20. I wanted to send a HUGE thank you for all of the information and resources you provide on your website. As a new kindergarten teacher (I have taught middle school for ten years), I was completely overwhelmed with the amount of little things that need to be created. Fortunately, I found your website! Now, when I have a new week to plan, I visit your site first:-) Thank you!

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  21. Good heavens, you are busy! Thank you so much for all of the posts and all of the dedication and enthusiasm you have for teaching. My daughter will be starting in your class this year and we couldn't be more excited!! -Jen Quirke

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  22. I'm a new follower of your blog, but I'm so in love with many of your ideas. Thanks for taking the time to post them!

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