Spotlight Saturday

Phew! I don't know about any of you other teachers out there but I'm EXHAUSTED!  I have really challenged myself this year by revamping my whole curriculum to incorporate more play and sensory, new behavior management system, and new seating arrangement.  I went back to work after being on maternity leave for 6 wonderful months and trying to do it all is very tiring (especially getting a 2 year old and 6 month old ready each morning and out the door by 7:15) BUT I'm loving it!

That being said, I've taken a break from blogging for a few weeks but I'm back at it and glad to be linking up with Erin at Kindergarten Dragons for Spotlight Saturday! This week I'm spotlighting Pocket of Preschool's Question of the Day/Week.

I knew I was wanting to start doing a different way of taking attendance.  In the past I had a student be the attendance helper and they went around to check if everyone was there.  It just ended up being a social time for them, and not what I wanted.  So I put everyone's name on a label, girls went on pink paper and boys on blue, and they were then laminated.  I attached a magnet to the back and placed them in the bottom box on my chalkboard.  I made the boxes from Washi Tape.  Each question is placed in the top portion of the box and there are yes and no boxes as well.  As soon as students enter the classroom in the morning they put their bags up, grab their crayons and go straight to the board to answer the daily question.  Students have a different question each day.  We started the first couple of days doing color words and students caught on REALLY quickly! I even stopped answering the "What's the question today?" question, other students would pipe up and tell the answer!

I have bought all of the sets so if my calculations are correct I have 214 options for the year.  Since we go to school for 180 days I have more than enough options! 

Included in each purchase is a label for the bags/boxes you keep all of the pieces in.  You can also see on the top bags I have used small magnets on the back so they are ready to go.  I prefer the Lakeshore peel and stick magnets.  

Here is what my question of the day looks like.  Students come in and grab their crayon box and head up to the chalkboard.  Student names are kept in the bottom box (moved back to the bottom every day by my attendance helper), The question is housed in the top box and the yes/no boxes are in the middle. 

Most students don't have to be reminded to answer the question and often times it isn't me that does the reminding.  I was worried about having to read the question to each student but that hasn't happened.  I read it a handful of times as students are entering the room and those students that have answered then relay the message to students coming in later.  Since this particular question has dealt with counting I have had to help some students a little more than the previous colors question.  

All in all I'm loving this new portion of my day! It's a quick assessment too... I can tell who can count to 7, who needs assistance.... Who knows their colors, etc.  without it feeling like a test!