Welcome to Kindergarten By C Hartman by C. Hartman Teachers: Mrs. Nickerson Ms. Hartman Ms. Werdehoff Mrs. Barnes

Questions? This document will answer important questions you might have regarding kindergarten procedures, curriculum, schedules and expectations.

As a team, we will work together to make your child’s first year in school, a monumental experience. We love teaching and take our responsibilities as teachers very seriously. We promise to care for, love, and teach your child. The following are examples of our “Team” efforts: We have the same high expectations in each room. We meet weekly to plan our lessons together. We give the same assessments and report cards. We plan field trips together. We focus on Michigan Standards and follow state guidelines.

Meet the Office Staff Mrs. Hermel Mr. Hartman

Our Daily Activities (Times vary as our instructional aides travel from room to room.) 8:15 Children Take Care of Their Belongings 8:30 Morning Meeting (letter intro, songs, calendar etc.) 9:00 Literacy Centers 10:00 Math 11:00 Lunch & Recess 11:40 Story Time 12:00 Rest 12:20 Writer’s Workshop 1:00 Gym or Music 1:30 Science or Social Studies 2:30 Recess 3:15 Dismissal

Work Centers Children Will : work in groups. learn to sit and work by others. learn to help themselves and help others. learn how to hold pencils and cut with scissors. create and display art. learn reading strategies and number skills.

Calendar Activities Children will learn:  why we need and use a calendar  to recite the days of the week and months of the year  the seasons and what clothing we need to be prepared for the seasons  how to graph information  how to make and count tally marks  about today, tomorrow and yesterday

Language Arts Skills  Learn each letter by name & sound “Aa”  Learn words that begin with each sound “Apple”  Learn to sit and enjoy a story or book without interrupting  Learn terms such as: front & back cover, spine, title, author and illustrator  Learn to read and write 30+ sight words  Learn Reading strategies such as: Following words from left to right Sliding finger under each word as they listen or read Using picture clues when reading Focusing on beginning letter sounds to read unknown words

Sight Word Practice (30 + words)

Writer’s Workshop Daily assignments include: Mini lessons (writing tips) Drawing a story Labeling words with sounds Using conventional spelling to tell a story Sharing and reading stories

Math Goals Name the basic shapes Build Patterns: AB, ABB, ABC & AABB Count in order to 100 Count objects to 30 Name numbers to 30 Write numbers from memory to 30 Sort objects by color, size and shape Identify ordinals: First,Second,Third & Fourth Count by 10’s to 100 Count by 5’s to 100 and build and read a graph

Friday Folders Friday Folders are Very Important! 1.Please look through the folder each weekend. 2.You will find your child’s work, a weekly note from your child’s teacher,homework, field trip notes, other important papers from the office or PTO, local activities and more! 3.Return folder each Monday, with: homework, lunch money and other information your teacher may need to know about.

Label Child’s Belongings Lunch boxes, coats, snow pants, boots, backpacks, etc I think that’s mine Let’s run! No one will know who we belong too! Right on!

Large Backpacks Please make sure your child has a LARGE backpack! Those cute little ones will not hold a Friday folder.

Cubbies Your children will have his/her own cubby to keep backpacks, lunches and coats.

Shoes  If your child is not ready to tie, send slip-on or Velcro shoes.  Transition your child into shoes that tie when ready.

Snack Time  All teachers have a snack time each day.  Be sure to check with your child’s teacher, to see her snack routine.

Rest Time Children have a daily rest time. Check with your child’s teacher to find out specific rules.

Lunch Students may: Bring a lunch from home or Choose a school lunch School Lunch Includes:  a milk  salad bar  vegetables  fruit  fries upon request Mrs. Galvin & Ms. Becky

Specials  Gym: twice a week  Music: twice a week  Library: once weekly Mrs. Pack & Mr. Summerfield

Bus Procedures We strongly encourage you to make a pick up plan. We strongly encourage you to stick to that plan. Calling the school for changes are strongly discouraged. This is not a good time for a young person to be confused. We have close to 500 people walking around our elementary school at this time. Buses line up in the same order each day. Buses are labeled with an animal’s name & picture. The first weeks of school, we walk children to their buses. Thank you for taking this seriously. Please encourage your friends to do the same.

Friendship & Fun

Thank You for Coming! We look forward to meeting and working with all of you. Sincerely, Your Kingsley Kindergarten Team