ABC's Of Kindergarten

The ABC's Of Kindergarten!

All you ever wanted to know about kindergarten and more!

A

Academics-Kindergarten is a year full of learning! Over the years, the expectations for kindergarteners have risen. Students are expected to know the alphabet, phonic sounds, basic sight words, and they should know how to read at a beginning level. They are also expected to write complete sentences and have a good sense of the number system and other math concepts. We will work hard throughout the year to ensure your child performs to the best of their ability!

B

Birthdays- We will celebrate each child’s birthday as they happen throughout the year. Students with birthdays during the summer months may celebrate on their half birthday. The birthday child will get a crown to wear for the day. Treats are welcome and I will do my best to schedule their snack day on their birthday.

Book Orders- I will send home a book order several times throughout the year. You are not required to purchase anything but often times the companies offer great deals. Also, every book ordered earns points for me to spend on free books for our classroom! When ordering, please write one check made out to Scholastic, even if you are ordering from different pamphlets.

C

Conferences- Conferences will be held twice a year, November 2/10, and March 21/29. Please call the Cathy Maile in the office to schedule conference times.

D

Delays/Emergency Dismissals/Cancellations- In the case of bad weather, please pay attention to the TV and radio stations for updates. You can call the Bobcat VoiceLink for updates at: (515)-830-2164. Also, you can go online to www.kcrg.com, click on the cancellations page, and sign up to receive a free text message on your cell phone whenever there is a weather related announcement for Benton Community.

E

Emergent Leveled Literacy (ELL) books will be coming home with your child after the first few weeks of school. Students are expected to take the books home and read them to an adult each night. New books will be sent home on Monday’s, Wednesday’s, and Friday’s. See blue ELL folders for more information.

F

Field Trip- In the spring both Kindergarten classes will take a field trip together. Watch for more information in the spring.

Friday Folders-Folders will be sent home every Friday containing school and classroom information. Please be sure to check these folders every week and send them back to school on Monday.

G

Gym- Your child will have gym class (P.E.) on Day 4 and Day 5. Please make sure they wear appropriate gym shoes on those days or send a pair of gym shoes to change into. They may leave a pair of shoes at school for the year as long as their name is on each shoe.

H

Homework- I do not give homework to kindergarteners, however I may send home special projects throughout the year. There may be some homework assignments for parents as well! I expect that the students are reading or being read to at home every day to continue working on their reading skills.

I

Interest- Each week there will be a theme that we focus our reading, writing, math, science, and social studies on. I try to cover a variety of topics to catch all my students’ interests. Weekly themes will be listed on the website.

J

Jolly Phonics-This is a great program that teaches children the 42 phonic sounds that go with individual letters and specific letter pairs. There are actions, songs, books, and activities that go with each sound. Learning these sounds and their correspondence to the letters sets a framework for phonics, phonemic awareness, reading, and writing skills. Watch for a parent handbook in your child’s first Friday folder.

K

Kindergarten-Kindergarten is a great transition year for students and you will be amazed at your child’s growth throughout the year!

L

Lunch-Our class will eat lunch from 11:25-11:55 each day. Monthly lunch schedules will be sent home in Friday Folders. If the student does not like what is served on a particular day, they may choose to bring a sack lunch.

M

Math-We are using a brand new math series this year! It is a great program that uses technology and lots of hands-on to give students a framework of math/number concepts. As I become more familiar with the program, I will be sending home sheets with information on what you can do at home to help your child develop their math skills.

N

Notes- It is very important that I know where the students are to go after school. If there are any changes to their normal routine, please send a written note to school or contact me through email so that I can make sure your child gets to where they are supposed to be. Also send a note if you know your child will be late, leave early, or miss a school day for appointments or vacations.

O

Online Website- I have created a website for our classroom that is updated weekly. On the website you can find information about what we are doing in the classroom, links to kid friendly websites, pictures from our classroom and more! Please visit often! http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/EHass/

P

Parties-We will have three holiday/celebration parties throughout the year. We will celebrate Halloween/Fall in October, Christmas/Winter in December, and Valentine’s Day in February. Each student will be responsible for bringing something to one of our parties throughout the year. I will send notes home to let you know what to bring and when as the party gets closer.

Q

Questions- I am more that happy to chat with you or answer questions at any time. The best way to get a hold of me is through email: ehass@benton.k12.ia.us. You can also call the school between 7:30 and 4:00, or I am also available in the classroom after 3:20 every day.

R

Report Cards- Report cards will be sent home once a quarter (4x per year) in a manila envelope. You may keep the report card at home but please sign the envelope and send in back to school in the Friday Folder.

S

Snack-We will eat snack at 2:00 every afternoon. I ask that each student provide snacks throughout the year. I will send home a monthly calendar with snack assignments listed on it. If there are problems with the schedule, please contact me.

T

Testing- Your child will be tested in reading and math at least once a quarter. The Phonological Awareness Test (PAT) is used to test reading skills and we have developed an age-appropriate math kit to test students over their basic math concepts. Test results will be shared with you at conferences.

U

Unique- Each child is different and unique and I will do my best to meet each of their needs through whole group instruction, small group instruction, remediation, and enrichment activities.

V

Volunteers-If you would like to volunteer in our classroom please contact me. We can always use people (moms, dads, grandparents, neighbors) to listen to students read, to complete minor jobs for Mrs. Hass at home, to help out during parties, to read to the class, and to share special talents or information with the class.

W

Writing-I encourage students to write daily in the classroom. At first their writing may be mostly drawings but we will eventually move toward writing more words and basic sentences. I allow the children to use inventive spelling. For more information on this strategy, please see my website. We will also be working on handwriting skills, which should transfer to make their writing more legible.

X

XV-We have 15 wonderful students in our classroom this year!

Y

Yak-Ask your child about their day and talk (or yak!) with them about the things they did. Ask specific questions such as ‘What did Mrs. Hass read to you today?’ or ‘What phonic sound did you work on today?’ instead of simply saying ‘What did you do today?’ This helps the students work on memory recall, retelling, and sequencing and helps you stay informed.

Z

ZZZ’s-We will have a rest time for about 20 minutes every afternoon. Students are not expected to sleep, but everyone must lie down quietly on their mat. I will play soft music and turn the lights out. I prefer that children do not bring toys, stuffed animals, or blankets for rest time.

Teacher Websites © 2012 Edline