Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Off to Kindergarten and It's Rigged!

I'm very thankful that Jeannie from Kindergarten Lifestyle has graciously let me hang out on her blog today.  I've left a little post there about how to help struggling readers read without inhibitions.  I hope that you drop by and read it, and let Jeannie know you were there as well.  Thanks!  (Click on the graphic to see what it's all about, but please do return as soon as you can.)

On a different note, I have a great group of parent volunteers, and they'll tell you that I keep them busy.  Unless they happen to be around when the kids are at a special, you won't find them copying papers, cutting, stapling, laminating, or any other menial task.  Instead, they'll be working with kids, because there's simply not enough of me to go around.  In fact, I believe that's the best way to use them.  I'll manage to get that other stuff done, but I won't always be able to pull off giving kids the heavier dose of one-on-one that some of them must have.  

Janice Sullivan, my Reading Recovery instructor/mentor fifteen years ago, introduced me to My Pile, Your Pile.  It's one of those games that my parent volunteers play with kids who need some extra help.  Create a pile of sight words.  If the child knows the word, it goes into their pile.  If not, it goes into the adult's pile.  At the end of the game, the child and the adult count their piles.  The player with the most in their pile wins, and it's always the young-in.  I like to stack the odds against the parent by making sure the child knows most of the words.  I suppose you could say it's rigged.  There are always words in the pile that the child doesn't know though, so I always ask my parent volunteers to play a second time with the child after first reviewing the words that were unknown.  


My Pile, Your Pile is also great with letters, numbers, and numerous other skills.  You might try it.  I can tell you one thing for sure.  The kids will not only walk away with some needed extra practice, but they'll also walk away with big smiles after singlehandedly beating someone's dear, sweet parent.


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14 comments:

  1. This is a fun game (although, I don't think I've heard this for the name)! The kids have the biggest smiles when they have beaten the adult! Thanks for reminding me of it. :)
    Lori
    Conversations in Literacy

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    1. Lori, thanks for always having something positive to say here on my blog. It means a lot!

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  2. love it! And AMEN to your thoughts on how to use parent volunteers! Gotta put them with those kiddos!

    Kelli
    Tales From a Traveling Teacher

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    1. Kelli, it's great to hear from you. I hope you're doing well. Thanks for coming by.

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  3. Tammy, you and I think a lot alike! I also believe in using volunteers to work with kids rather than doing busy work for me. I live by this philosophy as a teacher as well...I don't use classtime to do my busy work when kids are present. I spend my time with them. I bet you are the same way!
    Connie:)
    www.welcometofirstgraderoom5.blogspot.com

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    1. Connie, yes indeed we do. It didn't take long for me to figure that out. I know I'd enjoy working with you! Thanks for your kind comments by the way!

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    1. Paige, I'm sure you played that a few hundred times with us!

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  5. I too use my parent helpers to work with the children, rather than doing things for me. I would like to say it's because I am such a dedicated teacher... but really... I am quite anal about my resources etc! lol They have to be just so... and no one does them like I do! (It is all about the kids - honest!)

    thanks for stopping by my blog, I too and now following you.

    Carolyn
    Sowing Seeds of Learning

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    1. Carolyn, I can be anal about some things too! Too funny. Thanks for following!

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  6. Hi Tammy - I LOVE this idea and I am going to do it next year for sure. Thank you so much for sharing. It's a great idea and I have tons of parent helpers. :o)
    Vicky
    Traditions, Laughter and Happily Ever After

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    1. Vicky, I'm glad you've found this useful. I hope your kids next year have fun beating those parent helpers of yours!

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  7. I've never heard that name. It's very cute and it's the simple things like that the kids get excited about. Great use of parent time!
    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers

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    1. Barbara, I sure do want my parents to feel like they're using their time well. Thanks for coming by.

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