kindergarten goal setting

Donta

We have had a busy start in kindergarten this fall.  The class sizes were smaller than expected so we lost a teacher and had to combine three classes into two.  After starting with the new class, we introduced classroom champions again and started working on our goals.  I feel like we may have rushed through a bit, so we may revisit this in the coming months as well as mid-year to make sure we are on track. 

The kindergarten students selected from a variety of choices to work on including reading, writing math and social skills.  I am proud of them for the choices they made, many students recognized their areas to improve in.  Several students said during the project, “I already know how to do this one, so I won’t pick it”.  That is very smart for so early in the academic year.  I talked with those students and suggested how they could make the goal harder so it would be something they could work towards. Like with counting to 100, the student could work towards counting to 1000.  This was very exciting to students as 1000 seems like a fantastic number when you are five. 

Ava, Malina, Oliver

Suriyah, Theo, Hendrik, Johm

I sat down with each student and discussed a single goal that they wanted to make their short and long term goals around.  This goal may have been one from the previous activity, but this time we would break it down to find two steps to get to our big goal.  I drew three steps for the students to see the first two steps, then the top with the end goal.  We wrote down together the big, long –term goal, then figured out two good short-term goals to get there.  I think this visual helped many see they can’t just get to the big goal, but need the steps before along the way to reaching the goal. 

Ava and Malina

I hope to spend additional time with each student in the winter and again in the spring to review the progress and if those first two steps are being met, to reach that top step.  I have had maternity leave the last two school years, so I look forward to being here all year with these students to check in with them regularly and see their progress. 

Sylvia, Joy, Ruby, Kei-Anna, Sydnee

Clara and Aurelia

The kindergarten students are very excited to spend the year getting to know Kerry Simmonds and learn from her each month.  We are looking forward to getting into our fair play lessons.