Kindergarten News

Kindergarten News January 12, 2017 Happy 2017!  We hope everyone had a wonderful vacation.  The children have quickly been getting back into the routines and procedures we follow in kindergarten.  Routine at home is very important to be successful at school.  Set bed times and meal times and plenty of active/outdoor play will help your child to be at his or her best.  Note:  Pediatricians recommend 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night for children ages five and six. Reminders: 1.  Orange home/school folders need to be checked, emptied and put into your child's backpack every day.  Daily work that comes home should be reviewed with your child. 2.  Read your child's library book to them nightly, record on recording sheet, put book in library book bag and then in child's backpack. 3.  Children need to read two or more take-home books from their book box and practice kindergarten words every day (at least four days a week). 4.  Send in one healthy snack daily. 5.  Sneakers must be worn on gym days. If your child wears boots to school please pack sneakers in backpack. Health and Safety/Self Help Skills Children need to wear warm coats, hats and mittens to school, as they will go outside weather permitting. Zipping, buttoning and tying shoes are important self -help skills that kindergartners should practice at home. Illnesses If your child is sick with a fever, upset stomach with the vomiting or diarrhea, please make sure that they are symptom-free for 24 hours before sending them back to school. Math News In math we have been focusing on addition, or putting numbers together. The children have been doing a lot of problem-solving.  When we solve math problems the children are encouraged to use math manipulatives, numbers, words and number sentences. Literacy Your child has been bringing home a large number of white take-home books to keep in his or her book box.  Please make sure that two or more of these books are read nightly.  If your child

Kindergarten News 11-17

            Kindergarten News                                 November 17, 2016 Report Cards Report cards are scheduled to be distributed next week.  Please note that for the first quarter kindergarten students are graded in the area of social and learning skills only.  There will also be a narrative section which briefly describes how your child is doing in school.  We further elaborated on your child’s progress during parent teacher conferences.  Academic grades will be given during the second, third and fourth quarters.      We ask that you sign and return the report card envelope.  You may keep the report card.   Kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast Reminder Next Wednesday, November 23 is our Thanksgiving Feast.  The children will be making many side dishes, breads and dessert.  We are asking everyone to buy hot lunch that day because turkey breast will be served.  The students will eat it during the feast.  Hot lunch costs $2:45.  Please send in as soon as possible (unless your child is free/reduced lunch).  Thank you!   Kindergarten Math In math we have been focusing on attributes such as size, shape, color, weight/mass.  The children have been doing a great job identifying these characteristics as they sort math manipulatives. Literacy In Reader's Workshop we have been focusing on how to determine the meaning of an unknown word using context clues within a story.  We have also been focusing on answering questions regarding: who, what, when, where, why and how.  You can help further develop your child's comprehension by asking questions such as these while reading your library books together at night. Kindergarten Sight Words To date, the following site words are on our kindergarten word wall:  A, a, and, go I, like,  see, my, play, we, will, the. These are important kindergarten words that children should recognize by sight.  Have fun with your child at night while reading books and try to look for these words.  Ask your child if the

Kindergarten News

Kindergarten News October 6, 2016 Happy October!  Autumn is upon us and the children have been observing changes in our schoolyard trees during science.  Please discuss the seasonal changes that you and your child observe together in your own backyard and neighborhood. On October 31 the kindergartners are going to the Apple Rehab/Clipper for community service and some Halloween fun.   The children will sing songs while visiting with residents and go trick-or-treating.  We are in need of treat donations for this field trip.  Suggested items include Halloween pencils, erasers, fish crackers, raisins, pretzels, stickers, popcorn, etc. Additional Upcoming Field Trips Thursday, October 27:  Carpenters Farm Thursday, November 3:   Westerly Fire Station Children and Technology Recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics: Set limits and encourage playtime. Make unplugged playtime a daily priority.  This is very important for young children. Play... Unplugged ....together as a family, it encourages social interactions bonding and learning. Prioritize face to face communication: young children learn best through two way communication .Talk time is critical for language development. Don't use technology as a way to calm a child down:  help children learn healthy ways to handle emotions and problem-solving Create tech free zones:  keep meal times and other family and social gatherings tech free. Literacy In Fundations we have learned the following letters;  Tt, Bb, Ff, Mm, and Nn. Students must be able to identify the letters, make the associated sounds and write them using proper letter formation.  Please practice these letters at home while reading together at night.  The expectation is that the children know these letters once they have been taught and reviewed over time. Kindergarten Words We have introduced a few words to put up on the word wall, including; the, A,a,I, like, play.  Have fun looking for these words while

K News 9/30/16

Kindergarten News September 30, 2016   October is almost here......our new month will be a busy one!  We have plans for some exciting field trips in the near future.  On October 27th, we will be going to Carpenter's Farm.   On November, we will be visiting the Westerly Fire Station in honor of fire prevention month.  More information will be forthcoming as it becomes available.   Literacy In Fundations we have been focusing on the letters T,B, and F this week.  The children are learning how to identify the letters, make the associated  sounds, and write them using proper letter formation.  Practicing these letters at home will help to reinforce them.  The expectation is that the children know these letters once they have been taught and reviewed over time.   Each student is making their own alphabet book.  Please help your child locate and cut out, or download pictures of objects of things that begin with M and N and put the pictures in separate baggies or envelopes marked with your child's name. (A few students have not yet brought in pictures of things that begin with T,B,F.... please do so and send them to school).   Word Wall We have introduced a few words to put up on the word wall, including; the, A,a, and I .  The words are magnetized.   When a student needs to write  a word their journal they can go up to the word wall,  take it to their seat and copy it.   Please look for these words while reading together at night.  Make a game of it I playing I Spy and find the words in environmental print.   Reminders Please remember to send your child to school with one healthy snack every day and pack it separately from lunch. Please label it “Snack” with your child’s name.   Sneakers need to be worn on gym days (Mondays and Wednesdays)   Library books need to be read nightly and returned daily we will begin exchanging books with peers next week if all students have their books each day..   Classroom Rules The children di

Kindergarten News

Kindergarten NewsSeptember 16, 2016                                                                                   It has been a great first week of school!  We are looking forward to a wonderful year!  The children are doing a great job transitioning into kindergarten.  They are getting used to new faces, new friends and a new school.  Please review the following information to help you and your child become acclimated to our program. The kindergarten curriculum is designed to be enriching, developmentally appropriate and challenging.  My main goal is to help children grow socially, emotionally, cognitively and creatively by engaging them in positive learning experiences, play, exploration, and discovery.  It is my hope that by providing students with a positive kindergarten experience it will ignite a spark that will lead to a life-long love of learning and school! IMPORTANT REMINDERS:Book Bags:It is required that all children have book bags in order to safely transport their belongings safely, to and from school.  Book bags must be large enough to hold a lunch box, snack bag and home/school folder.    Please put your child’s name on his or her bag. Home/School Folders:Home/school folders are for important school notices, notes and school work.  Anything that needs to be sent to school, such as notes, lunch money, signed forms, etc., should be placed in this folder.  Please check folder daily and review your child’s school work with them.  Home/School folders need to stay in backpacks and should come back to school everyday. Routines:Young children thrive on routine.  Having a set schedule for meals and bedtime makes for a happier child!  Pediatricians recommend anywhere from 10 to 12 hours of sleep per night for young children.   Snacks: In keeping with Springbrook School’s nutrition policy, please send your child to school with a healthy snack and drink everyday.   You may also want to pack an extra wa