Best practices for Classworks with Kindergarteners

Classworks is a valuable tool for kindergarteners as they develop a relationship with technology that will be foundational for the rest of their lives. Using Classworks in the kindergarten classroom enhances students’ comfort level with computers and tablets. This article reviews how you can use Classworks assessments and instructional activities effectively with your kindergarten students.

1st and 2nd Academic Quarters

During the first half of the school year, integrate specific Classworks activities into your small group and whole class instruction planning.  While every situation is unique, we recommend that the majority of kindergarten students engage with group instructional work rather than working independently. 

Let’s look at an example from a kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Jones:

Mrs. Jones also incorporated Classworks activities into her Reading/ELA lesson plans for this week.  She selected the Mini-Lesson from Initial and Final Consonants since it includes brief text samples she can use to model how to isolate initial and final sounds.  She also selected and assigned practice activities from an instructional unit that students will complete during their small group rotations this week.  

Mrs. Jones models how to complete each portion of a Classworks unit for the entire class before having them go to their small group stations. 

Mrs. Jones outlined her plan below. 

Winter Academic Screening 

Classworks recommends waiting until the Winter to screen your kindergarten students. This screening window typically occurs at the end of the 1st semester.  So, what does this screening process look like? Take a look at how Mrs. Jones administers the Classworks Universal Screener to her students.  

2nd Semester

During the second half of the school year, kindergarten teachers continue to integrate specific activities from Classworks into their small group and whole class instruction planning. This is also a time when teachers use the assessment data from the Classworks Universal Screener to help plan small-group instruction.  Many teachers also identify students who are ready to work independently on Classworks’ Individualized Learning Path (ILP) assignments.  This gradual release of responsibility helps to set students up for success in first grade. Let’s look at how this looks in Mrs. Jones’ class:

Taking Action on Your Screener Data

The Spring Universal Screeners provide an opportunity to measure the growth of each learner made during the semester. This information is also used as schools begin planning next steps for each student.  Let’s look at what the end of the year screening looks like in Mrs. Jones’ class.  Mrs. Jones and her grade level team found success with the screening plan they used during the winter window so they made very few adjustments.   

Adjusting the Academic Plan

The previous plans Mrs. Jones created meet the needs of most of her students, but after screening, she notices that a few of her students are ready for more advanced activities to better support their instructional needs.  She knows that each student’s screener results have generated a learning path within Classworks with activities the students are ready to learn. Mrs. Jones develops a small group rotation schedule that includes weekly time for this group of students to work on these activities. This will help prepare her students for first grade and their independent work with Classworks.