March 2008

New registration for kindergarten is a day to begin building caring relationships with families.  We create anticipation for an exciting year and begin engaging parents in an important literacy partnership that will have long-term benefits for their child.

“We have a covenant that says we jointly share responsibility for teaching your child.”

           – Ernest Boyer

• Make kindergarten registration a joyful and informative time.  Consider showing a slide or video presentation of last year’s students engaged in celebrating learning and building friendships.
• Share your personal list of Fun Family Activities That Build a Love of Learning.  You are welcome to use or adapt ours: Fun Family Activities That Build a Love of Learning.
• Give parents copies of the nursery rhymes you will be using and – ideally – a tape of the rhymes “well said.”  Help parents understand the value of memorizing nursery rhymes.  (See Make Friends with Mother Goose for rhymes, articles and parent letters.)
• Share skills list with Parents: Early Indicators for Successful Kindergarteners
• Give parents booklists of quality picture books and information about how to get a library card.  Provide information about the local library storytelling hours and special summer reading program.  Include your favorite predictable book list and “books that sing and rhyme.” (See Parents as Partners articles and letters.)
• Share samples of your school’s K-1 art and writing continuum and give children a blank journal to draw and write in over the summer.
• Share Activities for Developing Fine Motor Coordination
• Parents: How to Help your Child Develop the Small Muscles for Writing Control
• Give each parent a name card showing how their child will be expected to print their name every day at school.  Encourage daily at-home practice. (See Teaching Your Child to Print Their Name Efficiently.)
• Invite Parents to Volunteer: See Parents as Partners Volunteer Information

For complete article and links see Tips For Spring Kindergarten Registration Time.

The 2008 Oregon Kindergarten Summit registration is now open on the ODE website.  We invite you to visit http://www.ode.state.or.us/news/events/eventDesc.aspx?eID=2228%20 to complete the registration process. 

The second Oregon Kindergarten Summit will be held March 19, 2008, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.   We are planning an exciting and inspirational day of keynote addresses, breakout sessions, and networking for kindergarten teachers and administrators from across the state. 

Continental breakfast and check-in for registered participants are scheduled for 8:00 am – 9:00 am in the lobby of the Portland Ballroom.  There are no registration fees.  The day-long event includes continental breakfast and lunch, which will be provided at no cost to participants.  The opening session will begin at 9:00 in the Portland Ballroom.

We hope you will join us!

Beth Blumenstein
Office Support Specialist
Oregon Department of Education
Office of Student Learning & Partnerships
Phone: (503) 947-5673
beth.blumenstein@state.or.us

Music is Magic in Accelerating Language and Literacy:
Using Books That Sing and Rhyme to Create the “I Can Read” Habit.

March 10, 2008 (Monday)

Join Nellie Edge for a “Living Room Workshop” from 4:00-6:00pm in her South Salem home. If you have not already signed up, e-mail for directions info@nellieedge.com and to let us know if you plan to attend. Space is limited. Please bring your Celebrate Language and Accelerate Literacy manual and carpool if possible.

• Explore how to transition from shared reading to guided reading, develop literacy skills, and scaffold independent reading behavior.
• Use accelerated literacy strategies to teach high-frequency words.
• Use music, sign language, and drama to make language and literacy come alive!
• Discover free resources for building individual Student-Book Boxes and filling them with “Just Right! I Can Read!” books.

A special thanks to mentor kindergarten teacher Lisa Young for her inspiring and practical model for student-led parent conferences. We hope to hear from those of you who conduct student-led conferences this month.  Tanya Wall and I plan to videotape Lisa’s conferences in action to support our continuing dialog on best kindergarten literacy practices.

We were also inspired by the Interactive Writing session with Jeff James last month.  These powerful writing-to-read classroom ideas – including fanny books – showed us how Jeff not only develops a classroom of writers, but celebrates their journey.  Jeff, your idea for using black socks to store the black pens and wipe off the white boards was brilliant!  Thank you.

It is a pleasure to anticipate spring with you.

Smiles!

Nellie Edge