2018 Education

Page 6 2018 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2018 Progress over the year At the start of the school year the differences between the incoming kindergarten and first grade students are wider. Kindergartners come in not able to read or write, less mature, and not familiar with rules and protocols in a classroom. But that quickly changes Mrs. Burke says, they quickly develop reading and writing skills, and behaviors are modeled by the older students. The differences between the two age groups narrowed rapidly and everything got easier for everyone as the younger students began working more independently, she said. What is important to teaching this group, Mrs. Burke says, is “I have to have a paper for each presentation, know where it’s at [the paper], and be ready. I have to be very, very organized and have a plan from the time the bell rings in the morning to the time the bell rings in the afternoon.” She says, “It’s a lot of work, but it is very rewarding.” As she goes to bed at night she often finds herself thinking of class the next day because she knows how important it is to ready. Illustrating how quickly the daily experience changes as the year progresses and the some of the differences of the blended class, Mrs. Burke said, “When the kindergartners come in they are not reading, and now they love to come in and sit in their comfy chairs and read.” She adds, “It’s really nice to see the older ones reading to the younger ones. I’d guess to someone just coming in, it might seem a little noisier, but the students are so engaged they don’t notice.” Mrs. Kessinger reflected on the experience this year and said one of the big adjustments for the teachers is the schedule. They teach a subject to their class, the students work in groups, and then it is time for half of the students to go out to do something with their grade level. Students are always coming and going. Smiling she says, “You are always left with someone in your room.” At those times, the students feel like this is their “special time.” She laughs again, “You go from a class of 18 and for the next period you have just eight, CONTINUED → Above: Mrs. Kessinger teaching second/third-graders.