k to first grade

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Home : 2002 : February : 27

k to first grade
By Cathy-Dee

Well the good news is that many of your resources, lesson ideas, web sites, books etc., will still be wonderful for first grade.

I think you'll enjoy the change, I did. I taught Kindergarten my first year, then a 2/3 split
and then into grade 1. Since Kindergarten is not mandatory in Alberta there was no "real" curriculum to follow. I love having a curriculum to work with. I also see the progression in the children, many from non-readers to readers and that is wonderful too.
You also see a different type of maturity even at this young age. Kindergarten children especially at the beginning of the

year are much more needy I found. And the workload at least for me was different. In Kindergarten I did more of the initial prep work - pre-cutting to make their cutting out easier, well organized crafts, etc., With grade 1 we are trying to move the students into being less dependent on us so they do more of the work. I have more marking, etc., but I prefer that over the fussiness I felt I was doing in kindergarten. And I hated planning for the Kindergarten grad, I'm not into whole gym decorating.

And although I love first grade there are times when I think a change would be nice just to have some new topics, etc., to cover. Plus I think I've bought just about every resource I can so now I need a new grade just so I can spend more money I think changes help to keep us fresh and interested in our careers.