Kindergarten Skills Assessments

Last year I started out in a Title I classroom where I spent all of my morning working with the kindergarteners in reading. One of the things that I knew I had to do was to see where each of the student’s were at in regards to knowing their basic skills. I created an assessment in order to test all of the students in the 3 kindergarten classrooms to help determine who may or may not qualify for Title I services and to also give the classroom teachers a basis for instruction and grouping for their little ones. The assessments were then used throughout the year to see how the students were progressing. 

I worked at the beginning of the summer to get this ready to share with all of you and it has been out for about a month, but I am just now getting around to sharing it with you so here it is. (I am enjoying the freedom that summer brings just a bit too much…although I am itching to get back to the classroom.) 

Each of the assessment packs include a 2 page student assessment form that can be copied front to back, a classroom assessment log to record the scores for all the students in regards to their understanding of various beginning skills, as well as various cards that can be used to administer the assessment.

Each student will have their own two sided (or single sided 2 page doc. if you choose) document for you as the teacher to record their results. You can choose how you wish to record the students results. I often only mark the ones that they get wrong by circling them. This way I can count up the ones not circled to come up with a total score for that column. You can choose to only mark the ones they got correct. However you wish to do it is perfectly fine. 

For each section of the assessment there is a card or coordinating activity that is included for you to give to the student. In order to keep all of the assessment tools in one place I printed them out and then used a binder ring to attach them together. For me, I printed out the cards and actually used crayons to color around the edges of the cards to help spruce them up some. Please note that some of the cards will need to be printed in color because the students need to figure out the pattern on the card.

When I finished the assessments, I then went through each students inventory and tallied up the total number correct out of the total number given and recorded it on the class inventory sheet. This will allow for quick reference when you need to know how well a student did and what they need the most practice with.

This pack was a lifesaver last year and I can’t wait to use it this year with the added assessment tools.

You can grab this pack in my store by clicking on the picture below. 

Arctic Animals Unit

Here is a closer look at my Arctic Animals unit which includes information and activities for 9 Arctic animals. The animals included are: Arctic Fox, Harp Seal, Snowy Owl, Polar Bear, Atlantic Puffin, Arctic Hare, Orca (Killer Whale), Walrus, and Caribou.

What is your favorite Arctic Animal?

All my units contain various graphic organizers for you to use to help build schema for your unit. I feel it is necessary to continue supplying these types of organizers to my students in order to help with comprehension of information they are being presented. If we continue to offer these types of resources to our students it will lead to them being able to independently use these skills on their own while reading and learning, which will lead to better comprehension of text and information. There are 4 graphic organizers for each of the 9 Arctic Animals.

An activity I have been adding to all my units is a one page reading comprehension passage. It reads exactly as my “big” books and student readers do and includes 3 comprehension questions on the bottom for students to answer. All answers can be found within the text. You can have students color code the information they found to answer the question with the question in order to encourage students to make sure their answer is correct.

One of my favorite activities I include in my units is a labeling activity. Various options are provided to allow for differentiation within the classroom. A colored and black and white poster is provided to discuss the parts of each of the 9 different Arctic Animals as a whole group and to then display during your unit. 3 differentiated student labeling activities are also provided: one cut-and-paste activity, one fill-it-in using the word bank, and one fill-it-in with no word bank for each animal.

The biggest addition to this unit is the section dedicated to 9 different Arctic Animals. I know not everyone has time to study and learn about all 9. I wanted to include enough information for you to be able to pick and choose which types you wanted to take a closer look at.

For each of the 9 different Arctic Animals, there is a colorful 4 page “booklet” included. You can choose to print out the pages you wish to use or just display the pdf using your technology in your classroom. However you choose to use these colorful pages full of real life pictures is up to you as the classroom teacher. A fact book activity that correlates to the information provided for each animals is also included. Students will learn some fun facts, what the animals eat, how big they are, and where they live.

I also have Arctic Animal flip books that includes pages for each of the 9 different Arctic Animals discussed in my unit. You can check it out by clicking on the picture. It is a separate product.

Looking for more Arctic Animal resources? Check out my Arctic Animal Pinterest Board.

To find my unit in my store, you can click on any of the pictures in the post or you can find it by clicking HERE.

Need just a polar bear unit? Check mine out here or the post about it HERE.

Skating Into a New Year

I hope everyone had a very blessed Hanukkah and Christmas. It has been a spectacular time of the year and I have been so blessed. I continue to be amazed at all that God has blessed with me. :)

I have been enjoying my vacation from school very much and even got into the crafty spirit today and whipped up an activity for my kiddos to do when we come back from break.

We will be "skating” into the New Year in style and will be sporting our ice skates. We just got hit with a crazy snow storm today and it is expected to continue throughout the night with cold temps. Many of  my babies will probably be able to go ice skating over break.

This craft comes with several writing templates to usher in the New Year and also comes with winter writing templates as well. You can choose to do many different things with your skates which is what I love about this craft : )

I am in the mood to give this out to someone and would like to have a little contest. The first three people to guess who hosted the Christmas dinner I attended will get this craftivity for free. Please leave your email address. I do moderate my comments so you will not know what anyone before you has said

Have a fantastic night and good luck :)

WINNERS:  The Real Teachers of Orange County, Amanda Lawson, and Cecelia Bartram :) Congrats ladies. I hope you enjoy the craft. You should have an email waiting for you :)

Thanks to everyone who played along. If you did not win you can grab it in my store by clicking on the pictures above :)