All About MeAll About Me

My name is Sondra Maxwell and this is my 6My name is Sondra Maxwell and this is my 6thth year of teaching. I have year of teaching. I have

taught Kindergarten and First grade. I have taught in Oklahoma and taught Kindergarten and First grade. I have taught in Oklahoma and

Illinois. This will be my 2Illinois. This will be my 2ndnd year at Sorento Elementary teaching year at Sorento Elementary teaching

KindergartenKindergarten..

Definition of ReadingDefinition of Reading

At the Kindergarten level reading begins by learning each letter makes a sound. At the Kindergarten level reading begins by learning each letter makes a sound. When you put these sounds together, they create a word. When you put When you put these sounds together, they create a word. When you put

words together they make a sentence. words together they make a sentence.

When children learn to read it opens the door to imagination. When children learn to read it opens the door to imagination.

I have the privilege of teaching beginning readers the love of books. The best I have the privilege of teaching beginning readers the love of books. The best way to teach the love of reading is by modeling. Interacting and discussing way to teach the love of reading is by modeling. Interacting and discussing

the book before and after activates the imagination. Even when students have the book before and after activates the imagination. Even when students have trouble reading, they learn to enjoy books by picture walking and listening to trouble reading, they learn to enjoy books by picture walking and listening to others read. By listening they are still able to activate prior knowledge and others read. By listening they are still able to activate prior knowledge and

make predictions. The great thing about books is there are so many to choose make predictions. The great thing about books is there are so many to choose from. You will find something to fit every child interests.from. You will find something to fit every child interests.

My QuestionMy Question

Will using Character Education encourage student Will using Character Education encourage student engagement, student relevance, and help them engagement, student relevance, and help them

make connections?make connections?

AssessmentAssessment

Diagnostic Testing-Diagnostic Testing- A diagnostic reading assessment is used A diagnostic reading assessment is used to measure students' skills in each of the five components of to measure students' skills in each of the five components of reading: vocabulary, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency reading: vocabulary, phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency

and comprehensionand comprehension..Read more: Read more: What Is a Diagnostic Reading Assessment? | eHow.comWhat Is a Diagnostic Reading Assessment? | eHow.com

http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008531_what-diagnostic-reading-http://www.ehow.com/facts_5008531_what-diagnostic-reading-assessment.html#ixzz0sCRoZmO6assessment.html#ixzz0sCRoZmO6

Diagnostic testing consists of letter naming, initial sound Diagnostic testing consists of letter naming, initial sound fluency, phoneme segmentation, nonsense word fluency and fluency, phoneme segmentation, nonsense word fluency and

oral reading. These tests are used to monitor the students oral reading. These tests are used to monitor the students progress at the beginning, middle, and end of the year . Our progress at the beginning, middle, and end of the year . Our

school uses Dibels to assess the students.school uses Dibels to assess the students.

AssessmentAssessment

Formative assessment Formative assessment - focuses on improving students - focuses on improving students performance and classroom instruction. Formative performance and classroom instruction. Formative

assessment is designed to give immediate feedback during assessment is designed to give immediate feedback during the learning process. Following the assessment, teaching and the learning process. Following the assessment, teaching and

activities are adapting to the child’s learning style.activities are adapting to the child’s learning style.

Formative assessment is done everyday in the Kindergarten Formative assessment is done everyday in the Kindergarten classroom by observation, checking work and discussion.classroom by observation, checking work and discussion.

AssessmentAssessment

Summative assessmentSummative assessment= = cumulative evaluations used to cumulative evaluations used to measure student growth after instruction and are generally measure student growth after instruction and are generally given at the end of a course to see if learning goals have been given at the end of a course to see if learning goals have been met. Examples of summative assessment are:met. Examples of summative assessment are:

State-mandated assessments District benchmark or interim assessments End-of-unit or -chapter tests End-of-term or -semester exams Scores that are used for accountability for schools (AYP) and students (report card grades)2

This is done at K level with Report Cards

StrategiesStrategies

ImageryImageryCause and effect Cause and effect Picture walkingPicture walking

Making predictionsMaking predictionsGuided ReadingGuided Reading

DiagramsDiagramsRhymingRhyming

ComparisonsComparisonsVocabularyVocabularySight WordsSight Words

Word FamiliesWord FamiliesSequencingSequencingJournalingJournaling

Creative WritingCreative Writing

Sorento Elementary Sorento Elementary building great character building great character

together!together!

Honesty

Respect

Trustworthy

Perseverance

Responsibility

Courage

Loyalty

Caring

Patience

““To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society. “educate a menace to society. “

Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt

““Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”    Abraham Lincoln quotesAbraham Lincoln quotes ( (AmericanAmerican 16th US President (1861-65), 16th US President (1861-65),

““Our character is what we do when we think no one is Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking.”looking.”  

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. quotes (American best selling writer, author of Life's H. Jackson Brown, Jr. quotes (American best selling writer, author of Life's Little Instruction BookLittle Instruction Book))

Character = Attributes that determines a persons moral Character = Attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactionsand ethical actions and reactions

Webster DictionaryWebster Dictionary

Unit OverviewUnit Overview

Character Education is an important part of a Character Education is an important part of a students education. Good character builds a better students education. Good character builds a better student and a better student builds a better school. student and a better student builds a better school. Our school highlights a different characteristic each Our school highlights a different characteristic each month. I will incorporate the character trait of the month. I will incorporate the character trait of the

month and develop a lesson around the word. month and develop a lesson around the word. The lesson will include hands on activities to enhance The lesson will include hands on activities to enhance

learning in the classroom and help us reach our learning in the classroom and help us reach our school and community.school and community.

Character Education Lesson Plans Character Education Lesson Plans 2010-20112010-2011

AugustAugust CooperationCooperation= Working and = Working and socializing together respectfullysocializing together respectfully

Learning the rules of our school. How Learning the rules of our school. How to be a good citizen and student.to be a good citizen and student.

Meet school personal and learn the Meet school personal and learn the jobs they do to make our school jobs they do to make our school great.. great..

SeptemberSeptemberRespectRespect= Demonstrating = Demonstrating

consideration, appreciation, consideration, appreciation, tolerance, and good manners tolerance, and good manners

toward self, others, authority and toward self, others, authority and property property

Learn how to treat others, proper Learn how to treat others, proper manners, random acts of kindness, manners, random acts of kindness, how to keep our school clean.how to keep our school clean.

OctoberOctoberResponsibility= Responsibility= Being Being

accountable for your own actionsaccountable for your own actionsLearn about drug awareness (Red Learn about drug awareness (Red

Ribbon Week), fire and traffic Ribbon Week), fire and traffic safety and Halloween safety, All safety and Halloween safety, All about Meabout Me

NovemberNovemberCourage= Courage= Holding to your beliefs Holding to your beliefs

and opinions even when it is and opinions even when it is difficultdifficult

Learn about Veterans Day, First Learn about Veterans Day, First Thanksgiving, Native Americans, Thanksgiving, Native Americans, PilgrimsPilgrims

DecemberDecemberIntegrity=Integrity= Doing the right thing Doing the right thing

even when no one is lookingeven when no one is lookingLearning about good deeds, doing for Learning about good deeds, doing for

others, Christmas seasonothers, Christmas season

JanuaryJanuaryHonesty=Honesty= Speaking and acting Speaking and acting

with truthfulness in all situationswith truthfulness in all situationsLearn about beginning a new year Learn about beginning a new year

and resolutions, Martin Luther and resolutions, Martin Luther King Day, FamilyKing Day, Family

FebruaryFebruaryPatience=Patience= waiting calmly in spite waiting calmly in spite

of difficulty or oppositionof difficulty or oppositionLearn about Presidents Day, Learn about Presidents Day,

Valentines Day, appreciating Valentines Day, appreciating differencesdifferences

MarchMarchSelf Control= Self Control= Restraining your Restraining your

impulses and behavior in all impulses and behavior in all situationssituations

Learn about manners, St. Learn about manners, St. Patrick’s Day, SpringPatrick’s Day, Spring

AprilAprilCaring=Caring= Demonstrate kindness, Demonstrate kindness,

courtesy, and compassion courtesy, and compassion towards others.towards others.

Learn about feelings, hero’s, Learn about feelings, hero’s, Earth Day, animalsEarth Day, animals

MayMayService=Service= Expanding time and Expanding time and

effort to help otherseffort to help others

Learn about community, Learn about community, Memorial Day, chores at Memorial Day, chores at home and school, jobs in home and school, jobs in America, America,

Assessment ideasAssessment ideas

These can be done in the form of a paper, poster, power point, or role play depending on grade level. For lower levels you could use diagrams to compare

and contrast.

Name a famous person you look up to and list any pillars of character they possess.

How can the pillars of character help you resolve problems you may face in life?

What pillar do you personally want to work on? How will you work on this?

Extensions for 1-8Extensions for 1-8

Kindergarten has a letter of the week. Each week we will post a Kindergarten has a letter of the week. Each week we will post a letter with motivational quotes to go with the letter. As the letter with motivational quotes to go with the letter. As the year progress I will ask different grades to come up with year progress I will ask different grades to come up with motivational quotes to post. This will incorporate literacy (for motivational quotes to post. This will incorporate literacy (for the upper grades) and phonemic awareness (for the younger the upper grades) and phonemic awareness (for the younger grades). An example is: B= Believe in yourself. These will than grades). An example is: B= Believe in yourself. These will than be posted around the school as reminders of Character be posted around the school as reminders of Character Education.Education.

Play

Instructions:

1) Divide into Teams2) Ask a Question to a Team3) If correct, click the Spin Wheel Button to choose the number of points that team will receive. 4) Type points from wheel into Team Score Box5) Continue until out of questions.

Play

Team OneTeam One

Team TwoTeam Two

Team ThreeTeam Three

Team FourTeam Four

Team FiveTeam Five

Team SixTeam Six

Team SevenTeam Seven

Team EightTeam Eight

Points

AssessmentAssessment

Pre-assessment is done at the Pre-assessment is done at the beginning of the year. I will beginning of the year. I will

asses the students as we go by asses the students as we go by

observation and participationobservation and participation..

Each Kindergarten student will Each Kindergarten student will keep a binder portfolio of the keep a binder portfolio of the

activities for each month. activities for each month. These activities will include These activities will include

writing, interviewing, reading, writing, interviewing, reading, etc. There will also be activities etc. There will also be activities for the parents to do with their for the parents to do with their

child at home.child at home.

RestatementRestatement

Will using Character Education encourage student engagement, Will using Character Education encourage student engagement, student relevance, and help them make connections?student relevance, and help them make connections?

My answer is YES! My answer is YES!

Character Education puts the student in the driver seat. They are Character Education puts the student in the driver seat. They are in control of how they act towards others and to authority. in control of how they act towards others and to authority. They are in charge of their education and they will only get They are in charge of their education and they will only get

out of it what they put into it. out of it what they put into it.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    “It is extremely important that we do everything we can to encourage our students to keep reaching for success. As they begin to blossom as learners, we can help inspire them to not only believe in themselves but expect more from themselves.”

Kimberly Johnson

Surprise!!!!Surprise!!!!

I have learned character education is a daily part of a child’s I have learned character education is a daily part of a child’s

education.education. It puts them in charge of their actions and how It puts them in charge of their actions and how they relate to those around them. Character education is they relate to those around them. Character education is

something that can be carried on the rest of your life.something that can be carried on the rest of your life.

New IdeasNew Ideas

Service is a HUGE part of character education. In research and Service is a HUGE part of character education. In research and seminars I have learned doing for others is a benefit to how a seminars I have learned doing for others is a benefit to how a

child perceives the world around him. child perceives the world around him.

Review of LiteratureReview of Literature

As a kindergarten teacher the greatest joy I have is teaching As a kindergarten teacher the greatest joy I have is teaching children the love of reading. Family literacy plays a huge part in children the love of reading. Family literacy plays a huge part in how a child embraces reading ( Marrow, 2005). If a child is not how a child embraces reading ( Marrow, 2005). If a child is not read to at home and reading is not emphasized It is my job as read to at home and reading is not emphasized It is my job as teacher to show them the importance and love of reading. My teacher to show them the importance and love of reading. My job as is to be the “Master Reader”, or ‘Thinker”, not always job as is to be the “Master Reader”, or ‘Thinker”, not always talking but thinking aloud with my students (McEwan, 2004). By talking but thinking aloud with my students (McEwan, 2004). By thinking aloud I am activating prior knowledge and showing thinking aloud I am activating prior knowledge and showing them they are able relate to the text. Even early readers can them they are able relate to the text. Even early readers can relate to a story. According to ( Marrow, 2005) there are 5 relate to a story. According to ( Marrow, 2005) there are 5 elements to reading success, phonemic awareness, phonics, elements to reading success, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency. For assessment, vocabulary, comprehension, fluency. For assessment, observation of engaged activities, focus on goal of curriculum, observation of engaged activities, focus on goal of curriculum, diversity into account, varied format, knowledge based.diversity into account, varied format, knowledge based.

BibliographyBibliography

Marrow, Leslie Mendel, 2005; “Marrow, Leslie Mendel, 2005; “Literature Literature development in the early yearsdevelopment in the early years” Pearson ” Pearson Education.Education.

McEwan, Elaine K., 2004McEwan, Elaine K., 2004; “7 Strategies of ; “7 Strategies of Highly Effective ReadersHighly Effective Readers” Corwin Press” Corwin Press

All AboardAll Aboard!!