ABC's of Kindergrten
A
Attendance
Attendance is very important! A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, the parent, and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key. If your child misses school, please remember to write a note or call the office telling why your child was absent.
Arrivals and Dismissals
Students should arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. Students should not arrive prior to 7:30 AM since supervision by the school staff is not available. School begins at 8:00 AM and the afternoon dismissal time is at 2:35 PM from the kindergarten playground area. Please pick up your child promptly. If you are late, look for your child in the school office.
B
Backpacks
Always check your child's backpack every day! I do not send daily papers home without something to carry them home in. They seem to get lost along the way.
Breakfast
A school breakfast is served every morning from 7:30-8:00 AM. This breakfast is a federally funded program and is free to all students. The breakfast menu generally consists of cereal or muffins with juice and milk.
Book Orders
Every two weeks, I will be sending home book order forms for you and your child to look over. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices.
C
Calendar
You will receive a school calendar to let you know what's happening at Meadow View. Please keep it and post it somewhere for easy reference.
Communication
Communication is important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern. Please feel free to call me at school (541-37215) from 7:45-8:00 AM or after school 2:35-4:00PM. My email address is [email protected].
D
Discipline
Our system for discipline is simple. We work hard to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all. Rules are agreed upon during the first week of school. Problems are looked upon as just that--problems to be solved.
E
Entry and Exits
Enter and exit the campus safely. There is a gate at the west end of the kindergarten playground for morning drop-offs. Please park in the parking lot and escort your child to the playground gate to say goodbye.
Emergency Cards
Please complete and return the emergency card promptly (if you did not complete it during registration). If your home or work phone number changes, please inform the office so you can be located quickly if an emergency occurs.
F
Field Trips
We will be going on many field trips this year. We always like for parents to go with us, but younger siblings can not go along. Volunteers must be TB tested and fingerprinted.
G
G is for the good times we will have learning all year!
H
Homework
Students will have homework every week starting in January. The homework assignments will vary and will be sent home twice a week. Please return the homework when completed. The children will earn stickers for all homework completed and returned.
Help at Home
Your child is expected to know these readiness skills:
*full name *basic colors *basic shapes *counting to 10 *printing first name using a capital letter and the rest in lower case
When time permits, work on these skills too:
*reciting the alphabet *shape names *birthday (month and date) *identify numbers to 10 *tying shoes *identifying letter names
*address *telephone number *parent's name
Your extra help at home really makes a difference!
I
Independent Reading
Children learn to read by reading, and they need plenty of opportunity to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving the children time to read both at school and at home, we can work together to provide a rich environment and a life long love of reading.
J
Journals
One strategy that will be used to help convey the vital concept that print conveys meaning is the frequent use of journal writing. The kindergarteners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills by writing in journals daily. As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from drawing and "inventive" spellings towards more conventional writing.
Don't forget to Join the Meadow View PTA. Parent participation is important and valued.
K
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat others with kindness and respect. Hitting, fighting, name calling, and making fun of others will not be permitted.
L
Letters
We will be working on 2 letters of the alphabet each week and go through the alphabet twice.
M
Money
Money is difficult for a child to keep track of. Please send money in a sealed and labeled envelop.
Math
The kindergarten mathematics curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics. We employ a hands-on, problem solving approach.
N
Nurse
Our school nurse, Sally Yates, is on staff to take care of any emergencies and needed medications. She is Meadow View every Tuesday. We also have a community aide who helps in the nurses office daily.
O
Office
Always sign your child in and out of school in the office when picking up early or dropping off late during the normal school day. The office will notify me in Room 2 if needed.
P
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held in November. I will look forward to meeting with each parent individually. Conferences are 20 minutes each.
Q
Questions
Since so many of you are new to Meadow View this year, I'm sure that you may still have some unanswered questions. Please feel free to call me at school between 7:45-8:00 AM or between 2:35-4:00 PM. My email address is [email protected].
Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!
R
ABC's and Research
The probability of a child remaining a poor reader in 4th grade given the child is a poor reader in 1st grade is 88%. The probability of a child remaining a good reader in 4th grade if a child is a good reader in 1st grade is 87% (Juel, 1988). Kindergarten and 1st grades are CRUCIAL grades in determining reading success. Please do not take kindergarten lightly. It is very important. We will be working on the following phonemic awareness strategies:
Letter naming fluency -- students name letters at a rapid pace
Onset recognition -- students can say the beginning sound of a word
Phonemic segmentation fluency -- students can break apart the sounds of a word
Nonsense word fluency -- students can blend sounds to make words
Recess
The children will play outdoors for two 15-20 minute recesses daily (unless it is raining). Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. If your child is too sick to play outside, he/she is too sick to come to school.
S
Sharing
We will do sharing at school. Your child will have one day during the week to bring and share one item from home. You will soon learn what day of the week sharing is for your child.
T
Please help your child learn to tie his/her shoes. We hope that everyone knows how by the end of December.
U
I will always treat your child with lots of love, respect, and understanding.
V
Volunteer
I love parent volunteers! If you have some time to offer in the classroom, please let me know that you are interested in volunteering. Help is always needed and appreciated. If you aren't able to come for any reason, please give as much notice as possible. We count and plan on you. You must always sign in at the office and get a visitor pass. New district policy is that you must also have a current TB test and be fingerprinted.
W
Have your child wear practical clothes and shoes to school. We will make every effort to protect your child's clothes. Also, please label with your child's name on all jackets, sweaters, backpacks, and lunch boxes with permanent ink.
X
extra clothes
We have extra clothes in the nurse's office if your child has an accident, gets wet, etc. If our child needs a change, the school nurse has some articles of clothing that she will lend out. The supply is very limited! These clothes need to be washed and returned as soon as possible. NOTE: If you have any old clothes to donate to the school, it would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to send an extra pair of underwear and pants/shorts to school specifically for your child, you many do so. Put the clothing in a plastic ziplock bag with their name on it. I will keep it for the year and return it to you at the end of kindergarten.
Y
Please remember that you are your child's first and most important teacher. No one can influence your child's life in the way that you can!
Z
Z is for ZOOM! Sit back and watch your child's skills take off. You will be amazed and surprised at the changes this year.
A
Attendance
Attendance is very important! A successful school experience is the responsibility of the child, the parent, and the school. Your child's progress, both academically and socially, is influenced to a great extent by daily participation. Regular attendance without tardiness is a key. If your child misses school, please remember to write a note or call the office telling why your child was absent.
Arrivals and Dismissals
Students should arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. Students should not arrive prior to 7:30 AM since supervision by the school staff is not available. School begins at 8:00 AM and the afternoon dismissal time is at 2:35 PM from the kindergarten playground area. Please pick up your child promptly. If you are late, look for your child in the school office.
B
Backpacks
Always check your child's backpack every day! I do not send daily papers home without something to carry them home in. They seem to get lost along the way.
Breakfast
A school breakfast is served every morning from 7:30-8:00 AM. This breakfast is a federally funded program and is free to all students. The breakfast menu generally consists of cereal or muffins with juice and milk.
Book Orders
Every two weeks, I will be sending home book order forms for you and your child to look over. These clubs offer wonderful books at reduced prices.
C
Calendar
You will receive a school calendar to let you know what's happening at Meadow View. Please keep it and post it somewhere for easy reference.
Communication
Communication is important. Feel free to contact me whenever you have a question or concern. Please feel free to call me at school (541-37215) from 7:45-8:00 AM or after school 2:35-4:00PM. My email address is [email protected].
D
Discipline
Our system for discipline is simple. We work hard to make the classroom a positive and safe place for all. Rules are agreed upon during the first week of school. Problems are looked upon as just that--problems to be solved.
E
Entry and Exits
Enter and exit the campus safely. There is a gate at the west end of the kindergarten playground for morning drop-offs. Please park in the parking lot and escort your child to the playground gate to say goodbye.
Emergency Cards
Please complete and return the emergency card promptly (if you did not complete it during registration). If your home or work phone number changes, please inform the office so you can be located quickly if an emergency occurs.
F
Field Trips
We will be going on many field trips this year. We always like for parents to go with us, but younger siblings can not go along. Volunteers must be TB tested and fingerprinted.
G
G is for the good times we will have learning all year!
H
Homework
Students will have homework every week starting in January. The homework assignments will vary and will be sent home twice a week. Please return the homework when completed. The children will earn stickers for all homework completed and returned.
Help at Home
Your child is expected to know these readiness skills:
*full name *basic colors *basic shapes *counting to 10 *printing first name using a capital letter and the rest in lower case
When time permits, work on these skills too:
*reciting the alphabet *shape names *birthday (month and date) *identify numbers to 10 *tying shoes *identifying letter names
*address *telephone number *parent's name
Your extra help at home really makes a difference!
I
Independent Reading
Children learn to read by reading, and they need plenty of opportunity to read independently. Sufficient time and appropriate materials are necessary to develop and strengthen reading abilities. By giving the children time to read both at school and at home, we can work together to provide a rich environment and a life long love of reading.
J
Journals
One strategy that will be used to help convey the vital concept that print conveys meaning is the frequent use of journal writing. The kindergarteners combine their emerging writing skills with their drawing skills by writing in journals daily. As the children are exposed to a variety of phonics and reading experiences, journal entries will move from drawing and "inventive" spellings towards more conventional writing.
Don't forget to Join the Meadow View PTA. Parent participation is important and valued.
K
Students in our classroom are encouraged and expected to treat others with kindness and respect. Hitting, fighting, name calling, and making fun of others will not be permitted.
L
Letters
We will be working on 2 letters of the alphabet each week and go through the alphabet twice.
M
Money
Money is difficult for a child to keep track of. Please send money in a sealed and labeled envelop.
Math
The kindergarten mathematics curriculum provides students with mathematical experiences that help them develop number sense and a positive attitude towards mathematics. We employ a hands-on, problem solving approach.
N
Nurse
Our school nurse, Sally Yates, is on staff to take care of any emergencies and needed medications. She is Meadow View every Tuesday. We also have a community aide who helps in the nurses office daily.
O
Office
Always sign your child in and out of school in the office when picking up early or dropping off late during the normal school day. The office will notify me in Room 2 if needed.
P
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parent/Teacher conferences will be held in November. I will look forward to meeting with each parent individually. Conferences are 20 minutes each.
Q
Questions
Since so many of you are new to Meadow View this year, I'm sure that you may still have some unanswered questions. Please feel free to call me at school between 7:45-8:00 AM or between 2:35-4:00 PM. My email address is [email protected].
Quick goodbyes leave dry eyes!
R
ABC's and Research
The probability of a child remaining a poor reader in 4th grade given the child is a poor reader in 1st grade is 88%. The probability of a child remaining a good reader in 4th grade if a child is a good reader in 1st grade is 87% (Juel, 1988). Kindergarten and 1st grades are CRUCIAL grades in determining reading success. Please do not take kindergarten lightly. It is very important. We will be working on the following phonemic awareness strategies:
Letter naming fluency -- students name letters at a rapid pace
Onset recognition -- students can say the beginning sound of a word
Phonemic segmentation fluency -- students can break apart the sounds of a word
Nonsense word fluency -- students can blend sounds to make words
Recess
The children will play outdoors for two 15-20 minute recesses daily (unless it is raining). Please keep this in mind when helping your child to select clothing for the day. If your child is too sick to play outside, he/she is too sick to come to school.
S
Sharing
We will do sharing at school. Your child will have one day during the week to bring and share one item from home. You will soon learn what day of the week sharing is for your child.
T
Please help your child learn to tie his/her shoes. We hope that everyone knows how by the end of December.
U
I will always treat your child with lots of love, respect, and understanding.
V
Volunteer
I love parent volunteers! If you have some time to offer in the classroom, please let me know that you are interested in volunteering. Help is always needed and appreciated. If you aren't able to come for any reason, please give as much notice as possible. We count and plan on you. You must always sign in at the office and get a visitor pass. New district policy is that you must also have a current TB test and be fingerprinted.
W
Have your child wear practical clothes and shoes to school. We will make every effort to protect your child's clothes. Also, please label with your child's name on all jackets, sweaters, backpacks, and lunch boxes with permanent ink.
X
extra clothes
We have extra clothes in the nurse's office if your child has an accident, gets wet, etc. If our child needs a change, the school nurse has some articles of clothing that she will lend out. The supply is very limited! These clothes need to be washed and returned as soon as possible. NOTE: If you have any old clothes to donate to the school, it would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to send an extra pair of underwear and pants/shorts to school specifically for your child, you many do so. Put the clothing in a plastic ziplock bag with their name on it. I will keep it for the year and return it to you at the end of kindergarten.
Y
Please remember that you are your child's first and most important teacher. No one can influence your child's life in the way that you can!
Z
Z is for ZOOM! Sit back and watch your child's skills take off. You will be amazed and surprised at the changes this year.