Life in Kindergarten
~All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten~ Robert L. Fulghum
Below is VERY important information about your child's Kindergarten classroom.
Please take time to read through this thoroughly. Taking time to understand this will ensure a smooth year for both you and your child.
Dear Parents,
Welcome to Kindergarten! We are very excited about the start of the school year and meeting and working with your wonderful kids. We are also looking forward to working with YOU to ensure that your student has a fabulous first year of school.
Kindergarten is a foundational year and it is our goal to make it as fun and full of learning as possible. Outlined in this packet are pieces of information that will prove to be helpful as the school year progresses.
Arrival/Dismissal:
Doors Tardy Class
Open Time Ends
AM 8:50 9:05 11:45
PM 12:45 12:50 3:30
ADK 8:50 9:05 3:30
Students are asked not to arrive before the doors open because teachers are preparing for the day and may not be in their rooms. At the end of the day, a teacher will remain as long as possible with children until they are picked up. However, if you are delayed it may be necessary for your child to wait in the office.
Attendance:
If your child is absent it is your responsibility to report your students’ absence through a secure system called SafeArrival. Families will be able to report and/or schedule absences through any of the following options:
Through SafeArrival, if a parent/guardian forgets to report their student’s absence, they will begin to receive automated notifications once the child is marked absent at school. The notification process ends when the parent/guardian confirms the absence through SafeArrival. Safeguards are in place to prevent students from reporting their own absence.
Birthdays:
Each child will be celebrated on his/her birthday. Every student is welcome to bring a small object (special stuffed animal, picture, book or toy) to show the class. Children with summer birthdays are welcome to celebrate their half birthdays with the class (YOU will need to keep track of this, please). Please let us know ahead of time if you would like to make these arrangements for your child’s birthday so we can ensure there is enough time set aside that day.
Classroom Rules:
As a class we will work together discussing choices and consequences to develop our own classroom rules. Respect and self-control are the backbone of these rules. Adherence to classroom rules will ensure that all children in our classroom are respected and benefit from a SAFE learning environment. For more information on specific consequences, please see your child’s “Everyday” folder.
EVERYDAY Folder:
Each child will have a folder in which to take home “mail” from school. This will include completed papers, informational flyers from the classroom or office, and papers that need to be signed and returned to school. This folder will also contain a monthly calendar that will inform you of special classroom/school activities. Please check and empty this folder EVERYDAY. All papers being returned to school MUST be placed in this folder as it will be checked by me daily as well. Do not send loose papers in backpacks or small hands as these tend to get lost before they reach me.
Homework:
After the first week of school, your child will begin bringing home a short homework assignment each Friday in his/her EVERYDAY folder. Please look for this homework and help your child complete it over the weekend. Return the completed homework in your child’s EVERYDAY folder no later than the following Friday.
Poetry Folder:
Each student will have a folder for poems. These folders will come home on Fridays (in addition to the EVERYDAY Folder) when we have a new weekly poem. Your job will be to take the poem from the pocket, enjoy the poem with your child, and fasten it into the PRONGS in the folder. Poetry folders should be returned each Monday.
Library/Computers:
We will visit the library once a week. Check the calendar in your child’s EVERYDAY folder for library days. Students may take out one book at a time and get a new one when the previous book is returned. If a book is lost, a fine must be paid before a new book can be taken out again. We will be using computers/laptops in our classrooms. Some days the students will be taking online assessments to track their progress in Language Arts and Math. The rest of the time the students will get to explore fun learning websites.
Art, Music, and Gym:
HALF-DAY Kindergarten will receive instruction in these areas within our classroom and with a “related arts” teacher once a week. ALL-DAY Kindergarten will have specials 4 days a week. Check the calendar in your child’s home folder for “related arts” days. Please have your child wear tennis shoes on his/her “related arts” day.
Alphabet Work:
Kindergarten is much different than it was years ago, and it is ever changing! In order for your child to be successful in Kindergarten, it is important that they learn ALL their letters- both upper and lowercase independently from each other (52 separate letters total) as quickly as they can. I personally believe that if children know a majority of these 52 letters by the end of the 1st 9 weeks, then the rest of their year should be smooth.
Interactive Writing:
Interactive writing is a process where the student and teacher “share the pen” in the writing process. Students learn how to stretch out words to hear the sounds separately in the word, and then record the sound they hear. This helps the child become independent writers. This type of writing uses conventional spelling and punctuation. The mechanics of writing are taught using this technique.
Writer’s Workshop:
This is when the students have the chance to practice what they have learned during Interactive Writing. Mini-lessons are taught to the whole class and then the students are given time to work independently on writing. Emphasis is given to stories and experiences from their own lives. Children move through a variety of writing stages from drawing to creating multiple page stories.
Handwriting:
Students will be practicing correct letter formation at school. Each week, part of the homework assignment will be to practice writing letters we have worked on in school WITH THE CORRECT FORMATION. Please work with your children at home, as they learn to write both the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. At school, we will start by learning all of the lowercase letters and then move on to uppercase. We are stressing the correct formation of the letters (especially lowercase) as this will enable your child to write with ease.
Reading:
We use a variety of books and materials to help the students learn the skills necessary to read. We focus on Phonemic Awareness (manipulating sounds and sound in words) and Phonics (putting sounds with letters). We learn “trick” words (words that cannot be sounded out). We also use what we have learned in our lessons to explore books and begin to read. Our reading program involves the use of small-group instruction to help children progress at his/her own level.
Work Stations:
We have included the use of workstations into our daily routine. Students will have the opportunity to participate in several stations each day while a teacher works with children individually or in small groups. Each station is designed to encourage student exploration and learning while reinforcing concepts that have been previously introduced.
Math:
We use a hands-on manipulative approach to teaching math concepts. We begin with number concepts and patterning skills. We also work on graphing, estimation, and sorting. By the end of Kindergarten, students are expected to count to 100, count objects one-to-one in a group up to 20, and recognize and write numbers to 20. They should also be able to create and extend patterns, sort objects multiple ways, create and interpret graphs, and identify common 2D and 3D shapes. The will learn basic problem solving skills and basic addition and subtraction skills- and be able to add and subtract to 5 fluently.
Science/Social Studies/Health:
Our science program stresses learning how to act as a scientist. We learn observation skills, collect data, make predictions and test them. We learn how to use special materials and instruments; such as balances, magnifying glasses, magnets, and mirrors. In social studies, we learn our role as students in a school, including rules, learning about our community, national symbols, and needs/wants. In health, we focus on the basics of how to stay healthy, including eating right and taking care of our teeth. Most of our science/social studies/health is incorporated with our thematic units of study.
Achievement Records (report cards):
Achievement records will be sent home every 9 weeks. These achievement records are also ONLINE. Information about this will be given during our conference. The first grading period will end in October and you will have the opportunity to schedule a conference with me to discuss your child’s progress and other concerns or questions you might have. This is the only scheduled conference, however, “by appointment only” conferences may be scheduled at any other point throughout the school year if either of us sees the need.
We hope this information has been helpful. There is a LOT of information at the beginning of the year. Handouts containing more detailed information will come home throughout the year.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you might have throughout the school year. Voice mail is typically checked before and after school. Please allow 24-48 hours for us to respond. We can also be reached via email (more readily) or voice mail (see below). Thank you for your support of our classroom and your child’s learning!
Email:
Mrs. Holloway; [email protected]
Mrs. Thompson: [email protected]
Mrs. Hogarth: [email protected]
Voicemail:
Mrs. Holloway: (614) 797-7908
Mrs. Thompson: (614) 797-8943
Mrs. Hogarth: (614) 797-8802
Welcome to Kindergarten! We are very excited about the start of the school year and meeting and working with your wonderful kids. We are also looking forward to working with YOU to ensure that your student has a fabulous first year of school.
Kindergarten is a foundational year and it is our goal to make it as fun and full of learning as possible. Outlined in this packet are pieces of information that will prove to be helpful as the school year progresses.
Arrival/Dismissal:
Doors Tardy Class
Open Time Ends
AM 8:50 9:05 11:45
PM 12:45 12:50 3:30
ADK 8:50 9:05 3:30
Students are asked not to arrive before the doors open because teachers are preparing for the day and may not be in their rooms. At the end of the day, a teacher will remain as long as possible with children until they are picked up. However, if you are delayed it may be necessary for your child to wait in the office.
Attendance:
If your child is absent it is your responsibility to report your students’ absence through a secure system called SafeArrival. Families will be able to report and/or schedule absences through any of the following options:
- An app on their mobile device School Messenger App (link on website below)
- A secure website go.schoolmessenger.com
- A toll-free telephone number 844-431-0874
Through SafeArrival, if a parent/guardian forgets to report their student’s absence, they will begin to receive automated notifications once the child is marked absent at school. The notification process ends when the parent/guardian confirms the absence through SafeArrival. Safeguards are in place to prevent students from reporting their own absence.
Birthdays:
Each child will be celebrated on his/her birthday. Every student is welcome to bring a small object (special stuffed animal, picture, book or toy) to show the class. Children with summer birthdays are welcome to celebrate their half birthdays with the class (YOU will need to keep track of this, please). Please let us know ahead of time if you would like to make these arrangements for your child’s birthday so we can ensure there is enough time set aside that day.
Classroom Rules:
As a class we will work together discussing choices and consequences to develop our own classroom rules. Respect and self-control are the backbone of these rules. Adherence to classroom rules will ensure that all children in our classroom are respected and benefit from a SAFE learning environment. For more information on specific consequences, please see your child’s “Everyday” folder.
EVERYDAY Folder:
Each child will have a folder in which to take home “mail” from school. This will include completed papers, informational flyers from the classroom or office, and papers that need to be signed and returned to school. This folder will also contain a monthly calendar that will inform you of special classroom/school activities. Please check and empty this folder EVERYDAY. All papers being returned to school MUST be placed in this folder as it will be checked by me daily as well. Do not send loose papers in backpacks or small hands as these tend to get lost before they reach me.
Homework:
After the first week of school, your child will begin bringing home a short homework assignment each Friday in his/her EVERYDAY folder. Please look for this homework and help your child complete it over the weekend. Return the completed homework in your child’s EVERYDAY folder no later than the following Friday.
Poetry Folder:
Each student will have a folder for poems. These folders will come home on Fridays (in addition to the EVERYDAY Folder) when we have a new weekly poem. Your job will be to take the poem from the pocket, enjoy the poem with your child, and fasten it into the PRONGS in the folder. Poetry folders should be returned each Monday.
Library/Computers:
We will visit the library once a week. Check the calendar in your child’s EVERYDAY folder for library days. Students may take out one book at a time and get a new one when the previous book is returned. If a book is lost, a fine must be paid before a new book can be taken out again. We will be using computers/laptops in our classrooms. Some days the students will be taking online assessments to track their progress in Language Arts and Math. The rest of the time the students will get to explore fun learning websites.
Art, Music, and Gym:
HALF-DAY Kindergarten will receive instruction in these areas within our classroom and with a “related arts” teacher once a week. ALL-DAY Kindergarten will have specials 4 days a week. Check the calendar in your child’s home folder for “related arts” days. Please have your child wear tennis shoes on his/her “related arts” day.
Alphabet Work:
Kindergarten is much different than it was years ago, and it is ever changing! In order for your child to be successful in Kindergarten, it is important that they learn ALL their letters- both upper and lowercase independently from each other (52 separate letters total) as quickly as they can. I personally believe that if children know a majority of these 52 letters by the end of the 1st 9 weeks, then the rest of their year should be smooth.
Interactive Writing:
Interactive writing is a process where the student and teacher “share the pen” in the writing process. Students learn how to stretch out words to hear the sounds separately in the word, and then record the sound they hear. This helps the child become independent writers. This type of writing uses conventional spelling and punctuation. The mechanics of writing are taught using this technique.
Writer’s Workshop:
This is when the students have the chance to practice what they have learned during Interactive Writing. Mini-lessons are taught to the whole class and then the students are given time to work independently on writing. Emphasis is given to stories and experiences from their own lives. Children move through a variety of writing stages from drawing to creating multiple page stories.
Handwriting:
Students will be practicing correct letter formation at school. Each week, part of the homework assignment will be to practice writing letters we have worked on in school WITH THE CORRECT FORMATION. Please work with your children at home, as they learn to write both the upper and lower case letters of the alphabet. At school, we will start by learning all of the lowercase letters and then move on to uppercase. We are stressing the correct formation of the letters (especially lowercase) as this will enable your child to write with ease.
Reading:
We use a variety of books and materials to help the students learn the skills necessary to read. We focus on Phonemic Awareness (manipulating sounds and sound in words) and Phonics (putting sounds with letters). We learn “trick” words (words that cannot be sounded out). We also use what we have learned in our lessons to explore books and begin to read. Our reading program involves the use of small-group instruction to help children progress at his/her own level.
Work Stations:
We have included the use of workstations into our daily routine. Students will have the opportunity to participate in several stations each day while a teacher works with children individually or in small groups. Each station is designed to encourage student exploration and learning while reinforcing concepts that have been previously introduced.
Math:
We use a hands-on manipulative approach to teaching math concepts. We begin with number concepts and patterning skills. We also work on graphing, estimation, and sorting. By the end of Kindergarten, students are expected to count to 100, count objects one-to-one in a group up to 20, and recognize and write numbers to 20. They should also be able to create and extend patterns, sort objects multiple ways, create and interpret graphs, and identify common 2D and 3D shapes. The will learn basic problem solving skills and basic addition and subtraction skills- and be able to add and subtract to 5 fluently.
Science/Social Studies/Health:
Our science program stresses learning how to act as a scientist. We learn observation skills, collect data, make predictions and test them. We learn how to use special materials and instruments; such as balances, magnifying glasses, magnets, and mirrors. In social studies, we learn our role as students in a school, including rules, learning about our community, national symbols, and needs/wants. In health, we focus on the basics of how to stay healthy, including eating right and taking care of our teeth. Most of our science/social studies/health is incorporated with our thematic units of study.
Achievement Records (report cards):
Achievement records will be sent home every 9 weeks. These achievement records are also ONLINE. Information about this will be given during our conference. The first grading period will end in October and you will have the opportunity to schedule a conference with me to discuss your child’s progress and other concerns or questions you might have. This is the only scheduled conference, however, “by appointment only” conferences may be scheduled at any other point throughout the school year if either of us sees the need.
We hope this information has been helpful. There is a LOT of information at the beginning of the year. Handouts containing more detailed information will come home throughout the year.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you might have throughout the school year. Voice mail is typically checked before and after school. Please allow 24-48 hours for us to respond. We can also be reached via email (more readily) or voice mail (see below). Thank you for your support of our classroom and your child’s learning!
Email:
Mrs. Holloway; [email protected]
Mrs. Thompson: [email protected]
Mrs. Hogarth: [email protected]
Voicemail:
Mrs. Holloway: (614) 797-7908
Mrs. Thompson: (614) 797-8943
Mrs. Hogarth: (614) 797-8802