Welcome to Kindergarten!

 

  Playing:

              Exploring our world through play is very important to the brain development of children. Kindergarten children develop understanding through play and other natural learning strategies. Each day will include a Free Choice time.

Below are just a few of the skills that children are developing as they work in daily free choice centers.

 

Instruction

 

Reading Objectives:

-Learn letter recognition and letter sounds.

-Learn how to use various reading strategies and sight words

-Begin reading and listening comprehension

 

The reading lessons are based on the Houghton Mifflin Anthology Series. This curriculum includes whole group instruction (read aloud, vocabulary, and phonics mini-lessons), as well as center activities designed to encourage practice and exploration of reading skills.

 

The children will also take an assessment test called DIBELS. The testing will consist of both capital and lower case letter recognition, and initial sound recognition. It is one of the ways to judge progress throughout the year in those skills. I hope to complete the testing by the end of the third week of school. The children are retested throughout the year to monitor progress being made in the tested skill areas.

 

Writing Objectives:

-Learn to write all letters, both capital and lower case.

-Learn the basics of when to use capital or lower case letters.

 

Math Objectives:

-Learn to write and recognize 0-30.

-Learn basic addition and subtraction concepts.

-Learn to graph, sort, classify the basics of money, patterning, and shapes.

 

          We will use the Scott Foresman Adison Wesley math curriculum. This curriculum allows us to use a variety of manipulatives and activities in our daily math.

 

 

Religion:

Our religion curriculum is called Blest Are We. The focus of the curriculum is that God loves us. We also study the gifts God gives us in the world, in ourselves, and in the people we love. We will also learn basic prayers (Hail Mary, the Sign of the Cross, and mealtime prayers).

 

Science:

Our Science curriculum comes from the Foss kits. The units we will study are; Wood (properties of wood and woodworking) and Animals Two by Two (Goldfish and Guppies, Land and Water Snails, Big and Little Worms, and Pill Bugs and Sow Bugs).

The Foss kits are used in our classroom to conduct hands-on explorations.

 

Art

A variety of art experiences will be provided weekly.

 

Social Studies

Social studies will concentrate on the child, family and community relationships.

 

Specialists 

On Tuesday and Wednesday we will have P.E.

*On those days, please ensure that your child is wearing appropriate shoes.

On Monday and Thursday we will have Music.

On Wednesday we will also have Library.

*Library books are due the week after they are checked-out.

 

Homework 

Homework will be being read to for 20 minutes per night. A reading record will be sent home on Fridays to be filled out by both the reader and child. They are due the next Friday. Discussing what has been read, what might happen next and “what if”s” about the story helps promote your child’s reading and comprehension skills.

Friday Folders

Most Fridays I will send home a "Friday Folder" with the weeks work in it. Please go over your childs papers with your child. (explaining what they did for work helps reinforce learning) Please return the empty folder on Monday.

Absences 

Many of our classroom experiences are created and cannot be reproduced. Therefore work missed due to an absence is difficult to make-up. So, please do all that you can to make sure your child comes it to school every day. If your child is absent his/her work will be collected for the day and given to them upon their return. They will then be able to take the work home to complete.

 

Discipline

When students are being disruptive in class they are asked if they are making a positive choice. I may phrase the question as “is what you are doing helping yourself or others to learn?”  I emphasize doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do. If the behavior continues they will be given a time out. When they are ready to make a positive choice they return to the activity. If a negative behavior continues the student's parents will be contacted.

 

Communication 

I will send home a monthly newsletter. The letter will inform you about what will happen throughout the next month as well as any other classroom news. Please read the letter with your child so that they too may be informed about the happenings in their classroom. I will occasionally send home update newsletters on Fridays.

 

Please contact me at any time. If you notice a change in your child's behavior or attitude please let me know. I will also be sure to contact you if I notice any changes, whether positive or negative. I can be contacted through the school office or school email. You may also send a note with your child.

 

 

 

Birthdays 

We would love to celebrate each child's birthday in our classroom. Please let me know a couple days ahead of time if you wish to bring in a treat for your child's birthday, so that I can plan accordingly. I suggest a small size treat such as cookies or the very small cupcakes because most children tend to not be able to eat the larger size and then they get thrown away.

 

**Please do not bring birthday invitations to pass out at school, even if the whole class is invited. Thank you.

 

Water Bottles 

Please feel free to send a water bottle to school with your child, as there is not a water fountain in our classroom. Please make sure that your child's name is on their water bottle.

 

Show and Share 

Monday: Arthur, Matthew, Elias, Shylie

Tuesday: Clayton, Joseph, Gage, Amaiyah

Wednesday: Braxton, Kokneeka, Jezalijiah, Dierdra

Thursday: Xander, Mandy, Alicia

Friday: Joshua, Federico, Tyler

 

Show and share is a fun way to learn listening, speaking and information gathering skills. Please have your child bring the show and share object in a bag. They will give the class three clues about what they have in the bag. The class will have three guesses and then we will get to see what is in the bag. The show and share child will then get to share information about the object. If your child forgets his or her day bringing show and share the next day is fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just Playing
Author Unknown

When I'm building in the block area,
Please don't say I'm "Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play: about balance and shapes.
Who knows, I may be an architect someday.

When I'm getting all dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies,
Don't get the idea I'm, "Just Playing."
For, you see, I'm learning as I play: