Ideas for Flipgrid in a Kindergarten Classroom

I love summertime.  It gives me time to relax and learn about new tools for the classroom.  This summer I learned about Flipgrid.  Flipgrid is this really awesome platform where you create video grids around a question or a topic.  It then can be shared with your students, colleagues, PLN, etc.  Those people upload video responses.  You can then respond to responses and so on.  It is GREAT!

So, with all these new tools and platforms, I always want to know how it would work with my kinders.  I know that my kids are capable of doing anything they put their mind to, however, there are some technology tools out there that really are not very kinder friendly.  This one, Flipgrid, is!

Here are some ways to use Flipgrid in your Kindergarten or elementary classroom!

• Book Reviews - Students upload a review of a book they read (you can even create a separate topic for each genre if you would like: non-fiction, poetry, fantasy, etc....that would be good for upper grades!)
• Weather Reports - One of our big science standards is to understand weather and how it changes over time.  My kids will submit reports on the weather.  I hope to collaborate with classrooms across the country or globe to have them submit weather reports as well.  My kids could really see how weather is different all over the world!
• Culture Reports - One of our big social studies standards if to understand how cultures are the same and how they are different.  I hope to have people from my PLN and classrooms around the globe add videos to a Culture Grid.  Topics will include food, clothes, traditions, etc.  We can then look through videos and learn about many cultures!
• Genius Hour Pitches - Use this as a place for your kids to pitch their ideas for genius hour
• PBL - Use Flipgrid as a place for students to reflect on PBL
• Math Word Problems - I am going to let me my kids be the teachers!  They will submit a response where they state a word problem they create.  Students can then access the grid and solve their classmates word problems.
• Writing Process - Create a grid with a topic for each part of the writing process - have students check in after each step!
• Individual Portfolios - Create a topic for each individual student.  Let that serve as a digital portfolio for that student.  They can share any work on their individual Flipgrid topic that they would like - writing samples, word problems, counting, book responses, etc.

How are you going to use Flipgrid in your classroom?

Reader's Theater in Kindergarten!

So many of the standards that we are required to assess are language standards - can the student speak audibly and clearly?  Can our students form complete thoughts? And so on...

One way that I promote speaking and listening in my classroom is through using Reader's Theater skits!  Stick with me for a few minutes before you think this idea is crazy (and feel free to think it is still crazy at the end of this..but at least get through it!)

 WHAT:  Reader's Theater in my room consists of simple scripts based off of books that children know.  The students get a part (usually just a line) and a prop/character (usually a picture they wear as a necklace) and they recite their line.  The scripts are retelling the popular story you have read a couple times to your kids!

 WHO: The kids are the stars!  Each play features around 10 students. Each student has 1 line.  It makes it quick to get the whole class involved and allows students the chance to participate in a variety of parts!

WHERE: You don't need a stage to use Reader's Theater!  Just use your carpet space!  Go outside!  Any space works!

WHEN: I start with Reader's Theater at the beginning of the school year (YES, when my kids ARE NOT READING!).  Why?  The skits are simple enough, come from familiar stories, have a pattern to them, and include visuals to help the students.  They can do these the first weeks of school!  They are very kindergarten friendly.

WHY: Students need practice "presenting" in front of one another.  Reader's theater covers so many skills that are fabulous for our little learners: Retelling, Listening Skills, Print Concepts, Reading Behaviors, Characters and Setting, Speaking Skills, Following Directions, Expression and A Love for Reading!

HOW:  It is simple!  Find a book you love! Think about the main ideas and create a simple script.  I include a pattern in my scripts as well as images so that all the kids can succeed!  Read the book to the kids (I like to spend a day or two on the book) and then spend the next day (or two) implementing reader's theater!  If you don't want to spend time creating scripts, check out the ones that I already have made!

I Love My Shoes - Based off the popular Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

I Love My Pants - A twist on the popular Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

Pig & Pancake - Based off of the book If You Give a Pig a Pancake 

Mouse & Cookie - Based off of the book If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

Dog & Donut - Based off the book If You Give a Dog a Donut

Moose & Muffin - Based off the book If You Give a Moose a Muffin

(You can get all the Mouse & Friend Packs in a BUNDLE here!)

The Itsy Bitsy Spider - Based Off of the Nursery Rhyme

Hickory Dickory Dock - Based Off of the Nursery Rhyme

Humpty Dumpty - Based Off of the Nursery Rhyme

Jack and Jill - Based Off of the Nursery Rhyme

Hey Diddle, Diddle - Based Off of the Nursery Rhyme

Little Miss Muffet - Based Off of the Nursery Rhyme

(You can get all the Nursery Rhyme packs in a BUNDLE here!)

Help Your Child

Do you want to help your child (or students) to become a better reader?  Great!  We all have the same goal!  This can be a tricky, and sometimes frustrating, process.  Here are a few tricks, tips, and resources to help your child become a better reader!

Tips & Tricks:

• Don't make them do all the work.  There is a lot of pressure put on kids to read.  If they are the ones forced to read all the time they will learn to hate reading!  We want them to enjoy it!  Continue to read stories to your child!  They are still a kid afterall!
• Take turns!  I read, You Read.  This makes reading more enjoyable. You read a page, then have them read a page.
• Celebrate the little things! Whether your child is reading only a sight word or is guessing words based on pictures, CELEBRATE IT!  We want to raise confident little readers!
• Let them pick!  Kids will love reading if they are reading about topics they enjoy!
• Expose your child to a variety of texts - cereal boxes, cook books, road signs, postcards, magazines, newspapers - text is everywhere - exposure is always good!
• Read every day. Studies show positive correlations between kids academics and exposure to books at home.

Looking for resources?  Check out this packet - Help Your Child Become a Better Reader.

The packet contains:

• Sight word activities
• CVC word activities
• Comprehension Retelling Sheets
• Easy to use resources
• Simple directions for activities
• Kid and Parent Friendly Activities

All of these activities can easily be implemented at home!  I give this to parents in my class and they absolutely love it.  They find it to be great guidance for how to help their child at home.  It is easy to support materials I send home as a teacher (books and sight words) because they have an abundance of resources to help them!

People have said:
"It is a great resources to give to parents." -K.I.
"The parents really appreciate the page about helping their child become better readers." -C.H.