Kcons (Kindergarten Icons)
Free teaching guide available below
Kcons are symbols that kindergarten students will use to help them navigate what has traditionally been a name-based environment. After each student has chosen one, the Kcons are included next to names on class rosters, learning center assignments, the classroom jobs chart, or any of a dozen other displays.
"One thing I like about using Kcons is that my students are able to read the Kcons of the students who are in their buddy group. Before Kcons, this wasn't possible. Even when every student could read and write his own name, he wasn't always able to read the names of other students. With Kcons, it's easy for even the lowest reader to identify other students."
--Shelley Foster, Kindergarten Teacher
As you will see in the section below, the artwork has been designed so that each student will be able to reproduce his own Kcon with a pencil or crayon.
Student practices drawing Kcons in order
to decide which one to choose.
Downloadable Artwork
Here are forty symbols you can use in your classroom to help your students, especially the non-readers, navigate more successfully.
To get a symbol:
- Click on it.
- When you see the larger version, right-click (PC) or control-click (Mac) on it.
- Choose "Save Picture As..." (PC) or "Save Image As..." (Mac).
- Create a folder called "Kcons" and save the image in your new folder.
- Repeat this process for each image you want.
The images--png files--can be imported into most word processing or page layout programs so that you can create name tags, bulletin board images, check-off lists, or anything you can think of to take advantage of the these kid-friendly shapes.
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New Images
If there is an image you would like to see added to the collection, just send me an email.
Kcon Teacher's Guide
To download your free book, just click on the link below.
KCONS: A Shape-Based Identity System for Kindergarten Classrooms
1.77 MB PDF file
Kcon Master Sheet
Although there is a one-page sheet that shows all 40 Kcons in the eBook, I thought I should make a duplicate copy available here.
Kcon Master Sheet
333 KB PDF file
Kcon Bulletin Board Artwork
Here's a ten-page PDF document that has all 40 Kcons in 4-inch size. They're designed to be xeroxed and used for bulletin board displays.
Kcon Bulletin Board Artwork
792 KB PDF file
Kcon Drawing Sheets
I've grouped the Kcons into 5 sets based upon the difficulty of drawing them. (Totally subjective on my part. I'll learn which ones are the most difficult as I work with a friend's kindergarteners this year.)
Each page has 8 Kcons with slowly fading copies of the Kcon to the right of the original image. The idea is to have students trace over the faded copies and then draw it in the blank space on the right side of the sheet. I thought this might help to avoid frustration on the part of the student who picks a Kcon he can't draw well. Granted, with time, he'll get it down; nonetheless, it would be nice to start the year with as little wailing and gnashing of teeth as possible.
Kcon Drawing Sheets
656 KB PDF file
Ideas to Add
If you've got an idea that you would like me to include in the guide, just send it to me. Be sure to include your name and the name of your school.
Here's the first one I received:
"I took the crown Kcon as my own Kcon. After all, I am the queen of the classroom."Here's another:
"It's so easy now for busy parents to find their child's work on a crowded bulletin board. The Kcon really stands out."And one more:
"I like that students who really struggle to write their names on their papers can quickly and easily draw their Kcons. I know they will slowly get better at writing their names, but it's nice to see some of them use the Kcon and not get so frustrated. I want writing to be something they like to do."
Coming Soon
Preformatted Word and AppleWorks files for creating Avery file labels that show the Kcons with a student name text box next to each one.
