Welcome to Kindergarten

The first day of school is an exciting day but you and your child may feel a bit jittery about it.  Here are some ideas to make your child’s first day a positive one.

·        Talk about school with your child and predict what might happen on the first day.

·         Go to the library and read books about school.  Here are some suggestions:  Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes.  Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten by Joseph Slate.  First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg.

·        Shop for school supplies and have your child help you write his or her name on them and organize them.   Talk about what (s)he thinks they might do with each of the supplies.

·        Write a little picture note or take a photograph of the family and place it in your child’s book bag to surprise them on the first day of school.

Kindergarten Thematic Newsletter

August/September

Dear Parents,

We will begin the school year with the unit How To Be A Star!”   During this theme  the following concepts will be taught:

·        People who go to school to learn are called students. 

·        Kindergarten students are members of a class.

·        A kindergarten class is assigned a classroom in which to work.

·        Kindergarten students travel to and from school in different ways. 

·        Kindergarten students know the reasons for rules and follow school, classroom, playground and bus safety rules.

·        Kindergarten students know how to follow procedures.

·        Kindergarten students display personal dispositions and social behaviors indicative of self-regard and regard for others.

We will read big books each week of our theme.  Their titles are listed below.  Please do not read these books before they are introduced in class.  However, rereading identical small books after the big book has been introduced  is recommended!

I Like Books by Anthony Brown

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom  by J. Archambault and B. Martin

The More We Get Together

School Bus by Donald Crews

Yo? Yes! by Chris Raschka

As we read our big books we will focus on the following language arts competencies:

·        Demonstrating book awareness (locates title, front/back cover, title page, shows where reading begins etc…)

·        Participates in storytelling (knows that a story is an account of something that happened).

·        Knows authors and illustrators are two types of storytellers who tell their stories through pictures and print. 

·        Differentiating alphabet letters from other symbols. 

·        Recognizing Bb, Tt, Ss, Yy,  and phonetically spelling words that begin with these sounds. 

In Mathematics, we practice daily routines:  number line, calendar concepts, weather concepts and job assignments.  We will practice forming numbers 1-10.  We will classify objects by one attribute and practice directional concepts (top, bottom, left, right…)

You can contribute to your child’s success by checking homework, reading theme related books together, listening attentively as your child talks about school activities and involving him or her in experiences which reinforce what (s)he is learning in kindergarten. 

We appreciate your interest and support!

Sincerely,

The new FGES kindergarten teamJ

Mrs. Cudmore

Mrs. Fish

Mrs. Huller

Mrs. Murphy

Mrs. Ward